Types Of Light Bulbs: How To Choose The Right One
9/1/2021
There are many factors that go into choosing the right light bulb. How you decide to illuminate your home will not only affect how you feel but also your pocketbook. Certain types of lighting serve a specific purpose, and when it comes to your home, you want the right type, depending on the purpose of your room.
But which light bulbs should you choose? For the most part, lighting function falls in one of three categories: ambient, task, and accent. Depending on its intended purpose, the type of bulb you choose will determine what the light will look like. Different bulbs perform differently, and there are four basic types:
- Incandescent: Incandescent light bulbs are the oldest, least expensive & most commonly used light bulbs available on the market. Though incandescent bulbs can produce a reasonable amount of warm light, they have the shortest lifespan. They use more energy, but the budget-friendly price point makes them easier to replace.
- Compact Fluorescent (CFL): CFL bulbs are usually more budget-friendly than LED bulbs. They emit a softer glow and use minimal amounts of electricity. CFLs are 4 times more efficient than incandescent light bulbs – and produce the same illumination in minimal energy consumption. You can replace a 100-watt incandescent light bulb with a 22-watt CFL bulb. One drawback of CFL light bulbs is that it takes some time to warm up and get brighter. You should be careful when handling CFL light bulbs since they do contain mercury.
- Halogen Light Bulb: Halogen light bulbs are another efficient alternative to incandescents. Halogen bulbs provide crisp, radiant light and render color that is vibrant and extremely realistic, making them perfect for galleries, workshops, retail, jewelry stores, and the fashion industry. Halogen bulbs are great for indoor and outdoor flood light applications.
- Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Lightbulbs: LED is the most energy-efficient light bulb available. They produce no heat, contain no mercury, and emit a brighter light than fluorescent light bulbs. LED light bulbs often require more upfront investment, but they are also more energy-efficient. Made without hazardous ingredients, they are environmentally friendly and have an exceptional lifespan.
How to choose the right one?
Choose the right base & shape for light bulbs. Figuring out your base type is the first thing you have to understand before you choose the right light bulb.Remove the old light bulb to inspect the threading, size, and shape. You can use this as a reference or take it to the store with you when you go to buy your new bulb. Light fixtures typically come in three different sizes.
Decide how many watts of light bulb you actually need. Watts refers to the amount of energy a light bulb uses. The more wattage a light requires the more power it will consume to produce light. Purchase a bulb that’s designed for the voltage of your fixture. You can look on the back of the fixture for a sticker listing the maximum wattage.
Choose a lightbulb with the precise color of white. Though most lightbulbs emit which color, the shade can vary from warm, yellow light, cool, daylight blue, or somewhere in between. To find the right color shade, look at the color temperature (in degrees Kelvin) measurement in the specification. The lower the Kelvin temperature number, the more yellow (warm) the light will be. The higher the kelvin temperature number, the bluer (cold) the light will be.
We hope this post will prove useful to you and offer valuable insights into choosing the proper replacement light bulbs for your needs. If you have any questions, contact your trusted electrician in order to get the best and most accurate information.