LEDs are widely replacing incandescent light bulbs because they are more energy efficient and more durable. But often, when choosing lamps, buyers bypass these “LEDs” because they cannot understand their markings.
The technical characteristics of LED lamps are more varied: previously it was enough to select the power in Watts, but with new sources of artificial light everything is somewhat more complicated.
To choose the right LED light bulb, you need to study all its parameters. The light it emits differs from the more familiar emission of incandescent lamps. Moreover, this luminous flux is far from being as uniform as before.
LEDs differ greatly in color rendering shade (color temperature), scattering angle and other parameters of the emitted glow.
When buying an LED lamp, the main attention should be paid not to large advertising figures, but to the description of the parameters in small print - all the most interesting things are there. Studying them in detail will help you avoid many mistakes.
The abbreviation "LED" stands for Light-Emitting Diode. These are LED artificial lighting lamps, which are sold in lighting stores. They are used in lighting devices installed both outdoors and in rooms of various purposes.
There is no uniform mandatory labeling for all LED lamps. Each manufacturer creates its own article number. Of course, it contains the main technical characteristics of the product. However, this is often done in the form of abbreviations, which are not so easy to understand. In this case, a number of parameters are indicated only on the light bulb box.
All this must be taken into account when choosing LED. It is recommended to select LED lamps individually for each room and lighting area. In this matter, not only the color temperature is important, but also other characteristics of the LED lamp, and it has many of these parameters.
Light color/color temperature
On the packaging of each LED lamp, the color temperature indicator is always in the most visible place. This is the main characteristic of this lighting device. If for conventional light bulbs with a tungsten filament the color of light is in a narrow range of 2200–2800 K, then for LED bulbs it fluctuates over a much wider range.
Often the “color temperature” of an LED lamp is mistakenly equated with the “heat” it emits, but LED, unlike the “Ilyich light bulb,” practically does not emit thermal energy when illuminated
This indicator does not correlate in any way with the heating temperature of the surface of the LED light bulb and the heat emitted by it. At maximum, the LED can heat up to 60–65 0 C. For comparison, an analogue with a 100 W incandescent filament heats up to 250–265 0 C.
Almost all the electrical energy in an LED is converted into light. And no matter what color spectrum it belongs to, the surface heating temperature will always be approximately the same.
All LED lamps according to color temperature (color of light) are usually divided into three groups:
- WW (Warm White) – “warm white” with an emission spectrum of 2700–3300 K.
- NW (Neutral White) - “natural white” with a range of 3300–5000 K.
- CW (Cool White) – “cold white” with light emission >5000 K.
According to human perception, the first option approximately corresponds to the illumination on the street from the sun at the horizon. The second is sunlight at lunchtime in clear weather. The third at the beginning of the range coincides with the sun shining at its zenith, and when it goes to 6500–7500 K it is equal to natural light during the day when it is cloudy.
The color temperature of the LED indicates the shade of light emitted by the lamp in the lighting fixture - warm “WW” tones calm, and cold “CW” tones, on the contrary, invigorate and set the mood for work
When choosing the color of light, you need to focus on where the lamps will subsequently be used. Warm yellow shades are more suitable for bedrooms, and whites of a natural or cool spectrum are more suitable for a corridor or kitchen. Selecting LEDs wisely is a science. And the main thing here is to start from the most illuminated room. An incorrectly selected LED light bulb can greatly harm a person’s vision.
Lighting designers have to take into account not only the color of the LED, but also the brightness and color rendering of the light source. In this case, the influence of the created lighting on people’s perception also plays an important role. The human eye, when entering a room from the street, has to quickly adapt to the changed illumination. Often the colors of objects even seem distorted and incorrect in the first minutes.
Color rendering degree of LED lamps
The second most important indicator of the light of an LED lamp is the color rendering index, designated CRI or Ra. This indicator is responsible for the natural transmission of all shades of color from an object that falls into the beam of a lighting device.
The maximum Ra is 100 (this is the reference sunlight that a person encounters at noon in clear weather) - usually this parameter for LED lamps ranges from 80–90
If Ra<80, то предметы в освещенной LED комнате визуально будут казаться тусклыми. При этом надо понимать, что восприятие цветов индивидуально у каждого человека. Плюс с возрастом еще и происходит его искажение. За эталон Ra=100 принято принимать неискаженную цветопередачу, которая формируется при освещении объекта лучами солнца. То есть так мы его обычно видим на улице при ярком естественном, а не искусственном внутрикомнатном освещении.
The color rendering index of LED lamps can be divided into four classes:
- 100 is the maximum, which is equivalent to the perception of color in natural light.
- From 100 to 90 – these bulbs are designed for places where the most accurate color reproduction is required (laboratories, work desks and areas).
- From 90 to 80 - options for ordinary living rooms and general lighting.
- Below 80 – lamps for luminaires for corridors, toilets and utility rooms, where high quality shade transfer is not so important.
There is no direct connection between color rendering and color temperature. These are independent characteristics of an LED lamp.
Scattering angle and glow intensity
One of the advantages of LED lamps over conventional lamps is the narrow directionality of the lighting flow. By itself, one LED produces a light beam only directly in the direction from its body. An LED light bulb usually contains several or a whole array of them to create a specific cone of light. The same incandescent light bulb, on the contrary, shines in all directions at once, all around.
Lamps with a narrow scattering angle are widely used in zoning rooms and in night lamps; with their help, designers place light accents and highlight a separate space in the interior
The luminous flux of LED bulbs can be scattered at an angle from 60 to 340 degrees. Narrowly focused options are used to organize oriented spot lighting and to illuminate specific areas in the interior. Wide angle lamps are designed for general ceiling lighting.
Glow intensity (luminous output) reflects the emission efficiency of the LED lamp. This characteristic is measured in lm/W. The value in lumens (lm) is the value of the luminous flux, and Watts is the power of the light bulb. In the marking they are indicated together as a single figure in lm/W or separately.
The higher this indicator, the more energy efficient and economical the LED lamp is. On the other hand, the higher the luminous flux of a particular light bulb, the fewer such products will be needed to illuminate the room.
Design: base and bulb
Structurally, the LED lamp consists of:
- printed circuit board with a driver for converting alternating current into direct current;
- light source (one or more LEDs);
- diffuser bulbs designed for uniform light dispersion;
- base and housing.
Plus, there is a small radiator inside that dissipates the thermal energy generated when the LED crystal glows. Although it is formed a little, it is still there.
Of all these elements, only the shape of the bulb and the base may be of interest to the buyer of an LED lamp. The remaining details are not even described in the markings and data sheets of such light bulbs.
LED lamps are now available with all types of bases (threaded, pin, soffit, etc.) - this is specially done for their wider distribution and easy replacement of old analogs
Most often, at home, LED lamps are used with standard threaded sockets. They have the letter “E” in their designation and a number indicating the diameter size. E27 is a standard option, similar to a regular household lamp with a 60, 80 or 100 W filament. In homes you can also find light bulbs with E14 minion sockets (“candles” for sconces).
The bulb shape of an LED lamp can be anything from classic pear-shaped to twisted and tubular - for each lighting project there is the most suitable option
Models with a G or GU pin base are designed to replace halogen counterparts. And GX are small flat lamps for recessed lighting. They are mounted in furniture walls and ceilings.
Housing designs also differ in IP protection level. In dry rooms without much dust (for example, corridors and bedrooms of apartments), IP20 or IP21 will be sufficient. For installation in kitchens, bathrooms or garages, a lamp should be selected with IP56 or higher. And only models with at least IP65 are suitable for outdoor use.
Power and power parameters
The LED is powered by a constant voltage of 12–24 Volts. In order for an LED light bulb to be screwed into a 220 V lamp, its housing contains the necessary transformer. For LED strips, this converter is an external device. For lamps it is initially already built into the base.
If there is a voltage drop in the network, a high-quality LED lamp will not burn out and will continue to shine; it has built-in protection. However, the light output at reduced voltage will be lower than with proper power supply
For incandescent lamps, brightness and power consumption are directly related. The higher the first indicator, the higher the second. With LED analogues the situation is somewhat different. Here, the brightness is determined by the characteristics of the LEDs installed inside and their number. At the same power, different LED lamps can vary greatly in luminosity and color temperature.
Choosing LED for different rooms
Lamps with natural white light are the least likely to tire your eyesight. However, for residential premises it is still recommended to select LEDs with a soft yellow tint. Artificial light from them is more comfortable when exposed to the eyes for a long time. Bright indoor lights will sooner or later start to irritate.
The most optimal option for LED lighting for the home is “warm yellow” diffused light from the ceiling and spotlights with a neutral white spectrum by zone
Lamps with blue cool shades are more suitable for offices. There, the vigor and concentration “generated” by them will come in handy. But in the bedroom and nursery, such options are definitely not worth installing.
Another point is the pulsation of LED light bulbs. If the LED transformer board is not designed professionally, the lamp will pulsate. This is a result of its AC power supply.
In the vast majority of cases, this is not even noticeable to the naked eye. However, this constant pulsation has a negative effect on vision and the brain. When buying LED lamps, you should not chase excessively cheap prices. It is at this point that many careless manufacturers save money, later creating problems for consumers with their well-being.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
To make it easier for you to understand how to choose an LED lamp, we have made a video selection with reviews from different manufacturers and a detailed description of their work.
Comparison of different LED lamp models:
Description of LED characteristics in full detail:
How do LED light bulbs designed for household lighting work:
When choosing an LED lamp for a household lighting device, it is necessary to take into account all its parameters and technical characteristics without exception. There are quite a lot of them, but the time spent studying will definitely pay off later. And not so much with money, but with the good health and well-being of the household.
