Category Archives: Light Bulb General Information

This category contains general information about current and future light bulbs including discussion on market trends. It provides consumer information and thoughts regarding the selection and practical use of the different light bulbs.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design

A Guide to LED Emergency Lighting

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E1LED Emergency lighting is usually meant for emergency situations where the primary power supply gets disconnected and every normal illumination fails. This could result from a power cut or a fire outbreak. It’s essential that LED emergency lighting automatically operates fully and provides sufficient illumination to enable all occupants to leave the premises safely.

So, if you are considering LED emergency lighting system, here is all you should know:

LED Emergency Lighting: The basics

Most buildings nowadays incorporate sophisticated LED emergency lighting fixtures installed during construction; the design of equipment being chosen by the architect as per the current local authority requirements as well as Building Regulations. Emergency LED lighting is often sub-divided into standby lighting and emergency escape lighting.

Cost matters

Generally, the decision to utilize a self-contained LED Emergency Lighting system or a central battery will probably be determined by cost. If an installation is durable and has low maintenance requirements, then central batteries, though quite expensive, might be ideal for larger projects. Typically, costs and luminaries are major issues of concern, especially on smaller jobs, and it’s this criterion that makes the self-contained systems more popular.

LED emergency lighting driver temperature

Ensure that your LED emergency lighting has been subjected to aging plus electronic load tests. This helps to ascertain whether the LED emergency lighting panels can withstand excessive temperatures. This guarantees performance, safety, and stability.

Emergency escape lighting

Emergency escape lighting refers to that part of the emergency lighting system, which supplies illumination for the safety of persons vacating a location or attempting to end a potentially hazardous process beforehand.

Standby lighting

Standby lighting is often provided to allow normal activities to continue substantially without being changed.

Consultation and design

The first thing to do when installing LED Emergency Lighting escape illumination is consultation and design. Both the fire risk assessor and the designer should meet and make comprehensive decisions on where the system is required and chalk up a plan illustrating the type of power supply, the locations to be covered, facilities, duration, and mode of operation.

The next step…..

Having decided on the type of LED emergency lighting system you’d like to install, then go ahead and choose specific positions for the lighting signs and units within specific premises. This will then help you choose the right equipment. Remember, emergency LED lighting signs should be carefully sited in order to create clear exit routes that lead to the ultimate exits from the building. Where the exit isn’t identifiable, a visible sign should be utilized instead of a lighting unit. Special concern should be paid to directional changes, individual stairways, floor level changes, corridor intersections, plant rooms, and toilet areas. Access to firefighting equipment as well as fire alarm call stations should be properly illuminated.

Mode of operation

Mode of operation is a vital factor to consider when choosing LED Emergency lighting systems. Thus, you should take into considerations principle factors like maintained or non-maintained. The use of the premises in question determines whether to go for a maintained or non- maintained LED Emergency Lighting system.

LED Emergency Lighting: The advantages

• Installation is extremely fast and affordable
• Low hardware material costs
• Standard wiring material might be used
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Burn-through will automatically fulfill the need for luminaries to be lit
• No unique sub-circuit monitoring requirements
• Increased integrity and efficiency

LED Emergency Lighting: Disadvantages

• Testing requires isolation
• With varying environmental conditions throughout the system, the batteries might be severely affected by high or low ambient temperatures
• Battery life is often limited to four years, depending on the application

Bottom line

E2LED Emergency Lighting systems have become very popular these days- thanks to their low energy consumption, efficiency, and flexibility. However, before you rush into getting your LED Emergency Lighting system, it is vital to understand the basics (what they are and how to choose the best). The above guide will help you in getting the best.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design, Technologies

The advances in G9 LED capsules

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CAPSULE 1With the escalating need for new lighting systems, it seems you are living in the world of new trends, where the possibilities of emergent technologies are endless. New lighting systems like G9 capsules (popular lighting systems) have continued to rock the lighting industry. The G9 capsules are ideal in small spaced settings that require a higher amount of light. Since their discovery, these LED options have continued to be a whimsical alternative to ancient halogen capsules. The G9 LED capsules save energy, are cheaper to run, and do emit the same amount of light as ancient halogen capsules.

With that in mind, here is what you should know about the advances that have catapulted the LED revolution.

But, first get the basics right.

Why move from watts to lumens?
Watts is a measure of how much energy the light bulb uses, while lumens are used to measure the amount of light the lighting system gives out. Similar to watts, the higher the value of lumens, the brighter your light will be. For instance, a 1521 lumen bulb (which is a 100W equivalent) is brighter than an 800-lumen bulb (which is 60W equivalent).

G9 LED Capsules

G9 LED Lamps & Capsules can be direct replacements for G9 halogen capsules, however, they can be a lot larger than normal halogen capsules; so, it is important to check if they will fit into the fitting or not. It is also imperative to check that the LED G9’s have adequate ventilation because otherwise the LED’s or internal drivers can overheat resulting in failure.

G9 capsules are LED in nature. As such, they emit minimal heat, which makes G9 capsules efficient and energy-saving. In fact, they can save up to 88% amount of energy as compared to standard capsules.

Omni-directional

The Omni-directional G9 LED capsule is  indisputably effective due to the fact that they emit light equally, effectually as well as multi-directionally. Moreover, they do not heat up –which allows the LED capsules to be surprisingly efficient and reliable. Most G9 LED capsules feature a warm white color which perfectly suits interior living areas.

G vs. ES

The most common type of light bulb is indisputably the Edison Screw (ES) light bulb. Actually, ES is the threaded connector which Thomas Edison had patented and utilized. These types of bulbs are available in sizes like E11, E14, as well as E17. The numbers denote the base size. On the other hand, the “G” in G-type LED bulbs represents “glass,” from which they were initially made.

The G-Type revolution

CAPSULE 2Invented towards the end of the 19th century, the G-type bulbs offer a fantastic alternative to conventional bulbs to circumvent Edison’s patent. That is why they have a unique base shape. Similar to the Edison Screw bulb, the G bulb is manufactured in different sizes, the G9 light bulb being one of them. The “9” is meant to denote the actual number of millimeters in between the 2 adjacent pins.

1. Wider beam angle

With a 360° beam angle, the G9 capsule bulbs offer the widest beams you can find on the market today. So you only need a fewer number bulbs to light up larger spaces.

2. Durability boosted

They last over a decade.

G9 technology takes care of how long your LED lighting system will last. The technology ensures that your lighting system lasts for at least 25,000 hours, which is about 15 years (on average use) of service.

The bottom line

LEDs are ruling the lighting sphere. They are efficient and consume low energy. That is why, if you haven’t embraced this new trend, you are missing a lot. Try LED capsules today and redefine your living space!

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design

Buyer Guide To LED Tubes

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TUBE 1Purchasing lighting systems used to be a cinch. When your 80-watt incandescent burnt out, all you could do is simply buy more 60-watt bulbs. However, incandescent could waste lots of energy and created warm a glow. Consequently, they were phased out. As technology advanced, energy-saving CFLs were introduced to replace incandescent, temporarily, and as time went by, LED tubes arrived in major electrical stores.

Solicitous choice for your living room

Energy-efficient, long-life, as well as environmentally friendly, LED tubes are the solicitous choice for any modern living room. Contemporary LED lighting choices are becoming more and more diverse. This means that they can find their way into any home, whether as exquisite chandeliers, lighting beneath your kitchen cabinets or vivifying the exterior of your compound. To help you get the best deal in the market, this article is going to deep dive you into the basics of buying the best LED tubes for your living space.

Choosing the LED that’s right for you- Factors to consider?

Almost all lighting manufacturers have migrated to LEDs. So if your lighting fixture is non-LED, you are missing a lot. Make a move today.

Shop for a LED lighting system that addresses your lighting needs. Nonetheless, it is vital to understand your preferred design.

So, if you’ve been looking a “set-and-forget” like LED lighting fixture that can serve you for years to come, here are the factors you should consider:

 

  • Thermal Management: Always ensure that your LED lighting fixture has been designed with proper thermal management plus heat dissipation.
  • Color Quality and Accuracy: Always ask for a proof that the LED fixture has the color you want.
  • Safety Certifications: Don’t forget to check the UL listing and RoHS registry to ascertain the safety of your lighting fixture.
  • Material Quality: Then material used determines the fixture’s performance and longevity.
  • Test Reports: Always ask your supplier for test reports to confirm claims of brightness as well as longevity.
  • Warranty: Also, demand to be given a warranty.

Pros of LED lighting fixtures

In simple terms, LED lights are efficient. Typically, a LED light fixture uses about 90% less of electricity when compared to an incandescent version. Also, LED light bulbs tend to last significantly longer than their traditional counterparts-the incandescent lighting system. As such you won’t spend much effort and time replacing your living room’s bulbs. Think about those recessed lamps that are hard-to-reach, especially in a vaulted ceiling!

Other benefits of using LED lighting fixture include:

  • Robustness/Durability: LED lighting fixtures are relatively sturdy, a feature that minimizes the risk of breakage and continual repairs/replacements.
  • Safety: LED lighting systems are safe since they do not heat up like conventional light bulbs. This reduces the risk of light-related fires and burns.

LED fixtures: The options

TUBE 3You can swap out your living room’s existing light bulbs for LED tubes, or update the fixtures to one featuring integrated LEDs, or go for lamps which have been built into the lighting fixture’s design.

While you were used to LEDs primarily for task lighting and outdoor spaces, the versatility of new design means that you can use them in any room of your choice, including:

  • Decorative ceiling lighting systems
  • Recessed lighting settings
  • Wall lighting system
  • Bath lights
  • Vanity lights
  • Desk and task lamps
  • Under cabinet lighting systems
  • Outdoor and landscaping lights

 

 

LED tubes

Here are common LED tubes you can buy in the market today:

T4 LED tubes

T4  tubes are compact, light, and easy to install, which makes them ideal for lighting up your kitchen counter and worktop. These tubular bulbs consume 8-10 times less energy than conventional light bulbs and will realise a 50% saving on fluorescent tubes.  This makes them a perfect choice for households looking to save big on energy costs

T5 LED tubes

T5 LED  tubes are installed to light-up almost everything -from aquariums to factories, learning institutions, modern offices, retails shops and supermarkets, and underground railway tunnels. T5 tubes are cost effective and can effectively light up larger spaces. They can last 30,000+hours and feature relatively low mercury content, which ensures that they have negligible environmental impact.

T8 LED tubes

T8 tubes possess excellent color rendering capabilities, which vividly bring out the details of your clothes as well as furniture. Common settings where T8 LED tubes can be used include retail stores, auto garages, modern offices, schools plus conference rooms.  These come in a variety of lenghts 2 foot, 4 foot, 5 foot and 6 foot with the most polular being the 5ft led tube .

 

The diversity of LED tubes

LED lighting fixtures possess exceptional directionality features, which makes them a great option in lighting applications like task and reading lamps, pendants and overhead, accents and displays, cove lighting, outdoor and landscape accent lighting, linear strip lighting ,ceiling cans, and stair as well as walkways. LEDs can also be used in art lighting since they do not produce Ultra-Violet (UV) radiation, which makes them safe for artwork.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design

LED Ceiling: Let Your Style Shine From Above

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Image 4 LEDLEDs are rapidly gaining popularity. High-tech LED bulbs last longer, are highly efficient and offer more quality lighting than other forms of illumination.

Ceiling lights can sufficiently light up your entire room. But that isn’t all- they’re also an incredible way to show off your personality and style. From spotlights and flush ceiling lights to pendants that create a design statement, you’ll find something that fits your space, and specific lighting needs.

LED ceiling decors are a stylish way to add charm and serenity to your home. Many people are switching to this new technology as they’re cheap and have an impressive lifespan. If you like to stay modern, then this form of decorative lighting can be the perfect solution for you. Apart from being highly sophisticated in terms of cutting edge technology, they’re also very fashionable in style. They will definitely suit new buildings and contemporary houses; their stylishness and modesty are the sure way of your room’s future.

Before choosing your LED fixture, it’s worth determining whether the design needs a control gear. Even if they’re recessed in a ceiling that’s unlikely to get splashed, they should have the necessary protection, known as IP rating. Be sure to check this out with your stockiest without making any purchases. However, there are several other factors you should take into consideration while planning to install LED ceiling lights in your living space.

Pro tips when choosing LED lighting plus things to look for

Image 5 LED

Flexibility

Be sure to choose something that’s dimmable. Ability to adjust the intensity of lighting will be important if you’re planning to fit LED ceiling lights into your residential or commercial space. This will help you achieve more comfortable and intimate light levels.

Warm or cool white light

If you’re looking for a lighting system that’s more convenient for relaxing, it might be wise selecting a LED fixture with a warm white fixture. On the other hand, practical areas like the kitchen or hallway may require an intense cool white light.

Diffused light

Some LED lights incorporate diffused shades that are meant to soften the distribution of light. They’re generally great for bathrooms as it softens the tune creating a gentler atmosphere. You are sure to find all shapes and sizes, with premium fittings available for any kind of space. Whether you have a stately house or a terraced home, you can utilize these lamps to good effect.

This type of illumination isn’t only beautiful, but it’s also economical. Such bulbs are a lot more durable than traditional models and use minimal energy (up to 90% less). If you’re replacing old fixtures, then you’ll enjoy a significant reduction on your bills.

Light emitting diodes have long been utilized in motor vehicles and outdoor lighting applications, but have recently gained popularity in interior home decors. Lighting manufacturers usually offer the most refined fixtures with regular LED options.

Another good thing with LEDs is that they can easily be installed with the use of stretched ceiling covers, but careful choice of the light design and concept is required beforehand. Because of this, it’s important that you get acquainted with standard rules of lighting design.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design

Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Try LED Lights Today

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Image 1 LEDTransform your living room into an attractive home with a huge selection of LED ceiling light fixtures. Revamp any space easily and enhance your décor for a truly personalized style that makes your home an elegant gathering place. When you compare them to traditional methods that are available in today’s market, you’ll realize that LED ceiling lights are by far the most efficient, cleanest and smart solution for illumination. It’s basically an exclusive digital light that comes with many different amazing benefits.

In fact, these sophisticated designs make a massive leap in technology that can be considered as advancement from analog to digital. They offer numerous benefits to all users and to the environment as well; that’s why many people are passionate about LED lighting.

Durability- These lights are amazingly long-lasting

One of the best things about LED lights is durability. These bulbs can last more than 20 years before you would have to replace them. They don’t burn out and stop functioning like standard light fixtures; moreover, the illuminating diodes produce low output voltage over a lengthy period of time.

Energy saving

LED ceiling lights are today’s most reliable and efficient way of lighting. About 90% of electrical energy is transformed into light, whilst 20% gets converted into other useful forms of energy like heat. The long functionality serves as a booster and helps achieve more efficiency, particularly for large scale applications and when thinking in terms of metropolitan infrastructure projects, such as airports, cities, and railroads. You’ll realize that you can make substantial energy savings regarding maintenance and replacement because of the long operational life offered by LED lighting.

Environment friendly

LED illumination is non-toxic and eco-friendly. Most conventional fluorescent bulbs contain several toxic materials like mercury that’s extremely dangerous for the environment. These lights are simply the perfect step towards a greener future.

No Ultraviolet emissions

They produce little-infrared rays and absolutely no UV emissions. And this is what makes this form of lighting is highly suitable for goods and materials, which are sensitive to heat; for example, museums, archeological sites, and art galleries.

Design

Image 2 LEDLEDs exist in different sizes and shapes that can be tactfully combined to yield highly efficient illumination. Certain LEDs can be dimmed to achieve a dynamic regulation of light, distribution, and light. Well-designed systems can create fantastic lighting effects for both the eye and the mood. Light emitting diodes are already being utilized in classrooms, restaurants, airplanes, and many more locations.

Flexibility

LED ceiling lights are ideal for use in all temperature settings, both cold and low outdoor. For conventional fluorescent lamps, low-temperature thresholds might affect operation and bring a challenge, but modern LEDs operate well in cold temperatures, like for freezer rooms and outdoor winter settings. They’re designed to focus light and direct it to a specific location without using an external reflector, achieving more efficiency than traditional lighting.

Also, they allow you to switch them off more frequently without tampering with their lifetime or light emission.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design

Grand Designs Live 2016

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granddesignslogo

Saving-Light-Bulbs and our sister company Classical Chandeliers have spent the last 9 days exhibiting at the annual Grand Designs Live at ExCel in London. Grand Designs live is an exhibition of just over a week where different companies and businesses exhibit and show their innovative products to help give better ideas of what you could do in your own designs. Each year many people attend the exhibition, ranging from designers who have specific products or companies in mind, to punters who are just looking to get ideas. It was great to meet you all, hear your ideas and be able to give advice to enhance those ideas in any way we could.

Grand Designs covers a variety of different areas, from garden to technology, kitchens and interior design – pretty much anything you could ever want or need for your home is available at the exhibition – it covers all bases! Throughout the exhibition you are also able to listen to talks from experts in their field and even from Kevin McCloud himself (Channel 4 Grand Designs presenter). Hearing from their previous mistakes and situations, learning from them and getting advice for any future endeavours. Whether you are just starting your journey of home renovation, looking to get into or part way through, you will undoubtedly come away from Grand Designs live more knowledgeable and inspired than when you entered.

grand designs live

We shared a stand with our sister company Classical Chandeliers, so we had a variety of chandeliers we sell for viewing on the stand as well as our infamous lamp lady who we can always rely on to attract a lot of attention!

For Saving-Light-Bulbs, we had a number of our light bulb products available to be “tested”; customers could switch the light bulbs on and off, dim them if that option was available, change the colour of the RGB strip channel with the use of a remote and open a cupboard door to show off the IR sensor with the light turning on as the door is opened, amongst many other products.

filament bulbs collage

The bulbs that got the most attention were the traditional filament bulbs. These bulbs we have available in globe, squirrel cage and candle flame tip. The reason they are so popular is because of the vintage, traditional feel they give off – the way the filaments stand out really gives an eye catching effect. The candle flame tip was shown in a chandelier on the stand to demonstrate the extract effect they can add to an already exquisite chandelier. Unfortunately, at the time of the show we only had all of these available in bayonet fittings, however, we have good news! The globe, squirrel cage and flame tip are all going to be available in screw fitting as well! Keep looking out for them on the website! Alternatively, please get in touch if you are looking for these smaller or in different sizes etc.

screwless varilight

Varilight switches also proved popular, especially the screw less switch option and the fact that they are available in a large variety of different finishes (http://www.varilight.co.uk/ranges/decorative-finishes.html). On our website, we have a small selection of Varilight (http://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk/accessories-and-controls/varilight) products, but if you look at the Varilight website, everything you can see there we can also get for you. Paul at Saving-Light-Bulbs is great with advice and giving any information you might need with regards the designs or technical side of Varilight, lighting your home or wiring it.

led strip channel

LED Strip Channels also had a lot of interest; strip channels can be used in any location and also have the option of being white in colour or RGB which means the colour can change. What you need to take into consideration when buying LED Strip channel is that the channel is available in different IP ratings – the IP ratings are what identifies how exposed the channel can be to water. Starting at IP20, this is the standard IP rating, going up to IP65 which can be fully submerged in water. After speaking to people about their ideas, many were looking to put LED strip channel in their kitchen or to line their stairs. Strip Channel is an option which can be used with LED Strip channel that many don’t know about, LED strip channel allows the strip to be fitted so you can see the glow of the LED light instead of the LED strip. It helps give a very stylish and modern visual effect. For any more information on LED’s channels or literally anything else, please do get in touch.

It was great to meet you all at the show and get to hear about everything you are planning to do in your homes, we look forward to working with you in the future.

Light Bulb General Information, Technologies

How do LED’s actually work?

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It is true, LED’s can save you a lot of money, but some of you might be wondering how LED’s actually work; this article is going to go into more detail about the technical side of LED’s and show you how they work. But be warned, it could get very scientific!

LED’s actually stand for Light Emitting Diodes; now diodes are the important factor in this. You may have heard of diodes before, they have actually been around for a long time, but their use with light is a newer development. A diode is an electrical component that allows electricity to flow through it in one direction only.

junction diode

A diode contains two types of silicon – a p type and an n type (if you look at the diagram above it identifies them as red or green). When you combine them this becomes a junction diode because the extra electrons and holes that both the p type and the n type contain, will swap so normal silicon can start forming again. There is a gap in the middle of these though which is called the depletion zone where no electrons or holes enter.

There are type types of junction diodes, a forward-bias or a reverse-bias. These different junction diodes occur when you attach a battery to the junction diode. When you attach the negative end of the battery to the n type silicon, the depletion zone between the p type and the n type shrinks, electrons and holes move across in opposite directions and a current flows; when this happens it is a forward-bias. The diagram below indicates some of the electrons from both the n type and p type have moved across.forward bias

The opposite current is when the negative battery is attached to the p type, when this happens the depletion zone gets wider and prevents current from flowing. This is called reverse-bias. The opposite of what happens in a forward-bias happens here (shown in the diagram below).reverse bias

It is only through a forward-bias current that LED’s actually light up; the light comes from the electrons and holes moving around – when an electron combines with a hole, it disappears but creates an atom which becomes stable and gives off a photon of light.

So to summarise, LED’s are diodes that are designed to emit light. At different wavelengths, LED’s can also be red or blue; for red LED’s you would need between 630-660 nanometres wavelength and for blue 430-500 nanometres wavelength. It was in these colours that LED’s were originally, but the technology has been developed for them to be available in white light now too. LED’s can also make infrared light so are often used in smoke detectors or intruder alarms.

red leds

LED’s have been designed and developed to be the better source of light in a variety of different ways;

They are:

  • Rounded plastic bulbs to make the light brighter and more concentrated.
  • Small and relatively inexpensive.
  • Easy to control electronically.
  • Long lasting.
  • Save a lot of energy because they don’t get hot.

What are you waiting for? You have learnt how they work, you know how much they can save you money, so why haven’t you converted yet?! For any more questions or more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

led

Light Bulb General Information

Dimmable LED’s

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LED’s are changing and transforming lights as well as saving money, which is all well and good but what if you want the LED’s to be dimmable?

You’ll be pleased to know that LED’s can be dimmable! However this isn’t necessarily easy… All bulbs are on circuits and dimmable bulbs have to be on circuits that are compatible with their design in order for their brightness to vary. There are mainly two types of LED’s available on the market; dimmable and non-dimmable.

dimmable and non dimmableIf you are switching from incandescent to LED’s therewill be a few things that you need to look out for. In order to be dimmable, all bulbs will be attached to a driver which will help them to dim steadily and effectively. However, these drivers cannot be used in conjunction with LED’s because their circuitry is not co0-10v LED Driver Controllermpatible. Traditional dimmers reduce the voltage used by the fixture to then reduce the amount of light that it emitted, but this wouldn’t work with LED’s because they would still give off the same amount of light even if the voltage is reduced.

It can be possible to use a dimmable LED in a non-dimmable circuit although this would defeat the purpose, but should the wrong bulbs have been bought etc, the bulb wouldn’t need to have a compatible driver to dim so would be shining like normal.  A non-dimmable bulb definitely can’t be put in a dimmable circuit though because it could cause damage to the bulb and/or the circuit.

What can happen to the bulb/circuit if they are incompatible?

There can be a variety of effects that can happen if the incorrect bulb is put into the incorrect circuit. The worst being that the bulb doesn’t turn on because the circuit can’t function and therefore prevents the bulb from emitting any light. Other effects can be that the bulb doesn’t dim but only works at 100% brightness, which isn’t ideal if you are wanting to great a mood or atmosphere with the lighting. Another situation is the bulb works (yay!) but hums which isn’t what lighting was created to do! Bulbs making noise is never a good sign, and points to the bulb becoming damaged. Finally, a very common problem is that the bulb flickers, either all the time or at certain dimmer levels. This is also very damaging to the bulb and likely to the circuit as well. Electricians are needed to change dimmer switches, but once this change has happened you’ll be good to go!

dimmer

Lighting can be a practical and beautiful way to light your home but also create great atmospheres throughout. Dimmable lights are especially good at this because visual appearances can be altered and moods can be changed. Dimmable LED’s are even better because they save energy as well as still being able to change everything else! So don’t be put off by the confusion of dimmable LED’s and non-dimmable LED’s, upgrade and convert both your bulbs and dimmers and start saving money! Hopefully this article has illuminated what you need to look out for with dimmable LED’s and what could need to be changed in order for everything to work as it should. If you have any further questions or want to talk drivers, please get in touch and we will help you as best we can.

Light Bulb General Information

Converting to LED’s

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led bulbs

Lighting uses a lot of power in the home but thankfully it is one of the easiest things to change! People can be indecisive and question whether or they not should switch and convert to LED’s. It is understandable as to why people would question this; the initial cost of LED bulbs are expensive in comparison to halogen bulbs which is immediately off putting for a lot of people.

There can be a lot of questions surrounding LED’s, can they be dimmable, do I have to change all the bulbs if one goes in a circuit, how to I choose the LED equivalent to my current bulb? Don’t worry, these are all normal questions and it can be daunting trying to figure it all out! This article is here so you don’t have to figure it out on your own – and if it’s not enough, we are always more than happy to help in any other way we can! Just ask.

ledsThe first biggie is the price of LED’s; yes they are expensive but don’t let this put you off, it is the payback time calculation that is important! Over a year, LED’s will save you a lot more than any other bulb, so it may be tempting to purchase a cheaper bulb at the time, but looking into the future, you will be much better off purchasing a LED bulb in the first place.

If your light is dimmable but you want to save money, that’s not a problem! – LED’s are also available dimmable. You just need to look out for the dimmable logo on the packaging! If this is the first time you are using LED’s though, you need to be wary about the dimmer switch. It is likely the dimmer switch will need to be changed to accommodate LED’s; normal dimmer switches handle approximately 240W but LED’s only give out 30W so they wouldn’t be compatible. Certain bulbs already have a built-in circulatory to manage dimmers, but there isn’t a specific way to tell if you have these bulbs, the only test is to change the bulbs and if they flicker then you know you need to change the dimmer switch. Dimmer switches aren’t expensive, they cost the same as normal switches so rest assured, you wouldn’t be forking out for a new dimmer switch.

led driverYou also need to take into consideration that the driver may also need to be changed when it comes to converting to LED’s, in a mains circuit there shouldn’t be a problem to immediately switching them out, but quite often the driver would need to be changed to an LED driver. Transformers can be overpowered for the small amount of electricity the LED’s need. Changing the driver would require the help of an electrician, but the cost of this, wouldn’t outweigh the overall saving you would get from the long term use of LED’s.

colour temperature diagramColour temperature is a big deal when it comes to LED’s, and it’s mainly all down to personal preference. LED’s are measured in Kelvin, and the colour of the light can vary – you can get a cool white and warm white. The lower the number of Kelvins, the warmer the colour of the light and the higher the Kelvins, the whiter and brighter the light. There can be certain light colours for certain rooms, if you look at the diagram (pictured above), it identifies it more clearly.

Once you’ve changed to LED’s simply throw away or recycle your old ones; to find out where you can go to recycle, follow the link by clicking here. Please make sure you are NOT throwing away CFL’s though because they contain mercury.

Overall, we think switching to LED’s is a great idea and we hope this article has also swayed you to changing; to begin with there is some uncertainties – like the possibility of having to change the driver or dimmer switch – but these are minor blips and in the long run, it will so be worth it!LEDS-Save-Money

Once you’ve decided to switch, find out which lights are on the most in your home and convert these to LED’s, this will ensure you are getting the maximum saving. The technical aspects of bulbs can be tricky when you are figuring out the LED equivalent of your original bulb; the general rule is that the wattage of LED’s tends to be 10% of the wattage of normal bulbs. Ensuring you have the correct fitting is also essential, it is advisable to take your old bulb with you when you go shopping so that you know it definitely fits!

We hope this has helped and if you have any other questions or would like more clarity, we are always happy to help.

Light Bulb General Information, The Environment

Do Energy Saving Light Bulbs actually save you money and energy?

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energy saving bulbs3

There is always a lot of speculation over whether or not energy saving light bulbs actually do what they’re named to do; save you energy! With the increase in climate changes and global warming, it is becoming more and more essential to do what we can to prevent climate change from worsening and to protect our world from any further destruction.

An energy saving light bulb, or a compact fluorescent light bulb as it is also known was originally designed to replace incandescent bulbs which have previously been banned for not being energy efficient enough. CFL’s used a tube which is curved and folded to fit into the same space of an incandescent bulb.

There is a saying that says if you want to change the environment start by changing a light bulb; now one might think that this is ridiculous and wouldn’t actually work but you can’t knock or question figures… A study has been carried with results which suggest if every household changes just 1 light bulb to an energy saving one, we would save £1,300 billion pounds! It would also save the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road. To think of it in numbers like that, you just simply can’t argue it!

Many can be sceptical because the price of the bulbs to buy initially is actually higher which can put people off to begin with, but over the course of their lifetime, each bulb can actually save over 5 times their original purchase cost. To mention even more savings, an energy saving bulbs lifetime in comparison to an incandescent bulbs is 12 times longer! Incandescent bulbs lifetime is usually 750-1000 hours which is the equivalent of 5 months use, CFL’s can last up to 6 years. Just think of all the savings!

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You may be thinking, but if they save energy and money they must be compensating somewhere for it – maybe they don’t have the same brightness of light or even the same colour of light. I’m sorry but at the same time very proud to say that they give off the same amount of light! When buying an energy saving bulb, just make sure you look out for lumen rating! This is the rating which indicates how much light a bulb gives off. The wattage of a CFL is usually a quarter of that of an incandescent bulb; for example, when you are looking for a 60W bulb, it will most likely be a 15WCFL lamp you will be wanting.

With regards questioning whether or not they have the same colour temperature of light, yes they do! CFL’s are available in the same amount of variations, sizes and shapes as incandescent bulbs – so much so they are even available to be purchased in dimmable and have the options of indoor or outdoor lighting! In fact, when Tony Blair was Prime Minister, he made a statement of using a CFL in the outdoor light of 10 Downing Street to show that even the government was making an effort to save our world physically too.

Sadly, yes there is a negative of compact fluorescent bulbs, which is because of their design, the way they work and are made the bulbs contain mercury. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal which can cause serious health problems if it is inhaled or ingested in large doses or over long periods of time. CFL’s only contain 5mg of mercury and when the light is in use this wouldn’t be inhaled so there is no fear for harm, but obviously it is recommended that these bulbs are recycled to prevent any toxicity leaking into landfills and causing the damage we are trying to prevent from using them. This seems like such a small price to pay though for saving so much money elsewhere! The fact that these bulbs have to be recycled almost didn’t feel like it was worth a mention!

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So to recap;

  • CFL’s use two thirds less energy than standard incandescent do.
  • They provide the same amount of light and can last up to 10 times longer.
  • 70% less heat is generated from CFL’s which makes it safer to operate.

So what are you waiting for? Switch to energy saving bulbs, save money, energy and help the environment!