How to choose the perfect LED bulb?
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In this category you can find all the types of light bulbs that we offer to illuminate and decorate your home or business.
In the search for the perfect LED bulb, there are several technical aspects that a consumer should dwell on. Some concepts are totally different from the more traditional ones (such as 'power', for example) so it is worth developing them and explaining them with the detail they deserve, so that the choice of an LED bulb is not left to chance and meets the expectations of whoever is selecting it.
1 What parts is an LED bulb made up of?
Whatever the type (of which there are many and to cover a wide spectrum of needs) any bulb of this type shares a series of elements in common, some of which have a direct influence on choosing the best one:
- cap: Special attention is required to this specific part, since it is the mechanism that fixes the bulb in the corresponding lamp holder. It ensures that the mains voltage reaches the interior of the bulb so that it can fulfill its function, that is, turn on. As you can see below, there are many types of socket, although the E27 is the best known today.
- HeatsinkThis is where what is known as the driver is housed, an element whose influence is direct on the dissipation of the heat emitted by the bulb. They are usually made of aluminum, or even ceramic material, so that the dissipation can be high. The number of useful hours of each bulb directly depends on the greater or lesser degree.
- Diffuser: Choosing the best LED bulb for each space also depends on the opening angle, and therefore the surface illuminated with a single luminaire. The best known is the diffuser that is shaped like a 'balloon'.
2 What are the most common LED bulbs?
There are a large number of bulbs of this type on the market. Each one of them has the mission of serving a specific use, hence a certain knowledge of the existing material, in this case the type of bushing, is essential for success in the choice. Although the list is long, there are some more common types with a large market share:
- E27 LED Bulbs: Popularly known as "fat screw LED bulbs" they are the most common and widely implemented. At the domestic level they are the order of the day, mainly because they are available in a wide range of powers, shapes, designs and, of course, opening angles.
- GU10 LED Bulbs: despite not having a nickname, they are also one of the most widespread. And they are for a practical reason, since they have become the perfect substitutes for halogen bulbs and portholes. Generally, they operate at 220Vac, so replacing an old bulb with one of this type is more than simple.
- E14 LED Bulbs: together with the previous two they complete the list of the most common LED bulbs. In fact, it is most likely that they are the ones indicated for a user who is simply looking for the energy efficiency and savings of bulbs of this type. Unlike the E27, the E14 have a thinner socket, specifically 14mm. Domestic use is also the most widespread.
3 Choosing the power of an LED bulb
When decide the type of lighting in a house or the most suitable bulb, it is not only the type of socket that matters. You should not lose sight of the room where you want to place the LED bulb, and the activity that will take place inside. Once this aspect and the type of bulb to be selected have been determined, other relevant aspects such as power or the number of lumens required will be taken into account. The emergence of LED lighting has made it possible, among many other things, to stop thinking about watts of power. Currently, the number of watts does not determine the amount of light a bulb emits, which in the case of LEDs is measured in lumens. However, watts are still a relevant piece of information when choosing the new bulb, since it is necessary to know the equivalence between both technologies, a specification that is always included in the characteristics of an LED model. Once the concept of watts has been 'discarded' and lumens have come into play, it is imperative to clarify that the latter indicate the amount of light that an LED bulb emits. But, be careful, if you ask for more or less luminous flux from the ideal bulb, you will have to select it based on its luxes, or opening angle. Why is this aspect important? Because it directly affects the uniformity of the light and also the number of luminaires that we must use in each case.
4 Does color temperature matter?
Talking about color in the world of light bulbs seems contradictory, although the truth is that degrees kelvin, the unit of measurement that determines the temperature of a light bulb, also has a fundamental decision-making power in choosing a luminaire. This unit varies from 1000 K (redder tone) to 10000 K (bluer tone). Despite variations in graduation, it is normal to talk about cold white, natural and warm white. Once again, the room where the bulb is placed will have a great influence on the choice. For example, cold white is usually chosen for kitchens, while warmer light is chosen in bedrooms in search of more welcoming environments.
5 Estimated life and ignition cycles
Because lighting a garage is not the same as lighting a kitchen, the hours of useful life of an LED bulb They are also an important point of attention during the election process. Depending on the model chosen, we can talk about 30,000 hours of estimated life. On the other hand, ignition cycles roughly detail the number of times a light bulb can be turned on and off before it begins to fail.
