Before our eyes, a real revolution in lighting is taking place: the world is rapidly switching to LEDs. Just five years ago, LED lamps were still a technical novelty, but now LED lighting is used in all spheres of life: LED lights can be found even in villages, many offices, hotels and public buildings are illuminated with LED lamps, the vast majority of concert and theater lighting has become LED. Lamps of this type appear in many apartments, because they can be bought even in grocery stores, and in household goods their range is wider than other types of lamps.
An LED lamp is a rather complex electronic device with several dozen parts on which the quality of light, its safety for health and the durability of the lamp depend.
Force
The power indicator is one of the main characteristics when choosing. One of these technical characteristics of lamps affects efficiency. It is best to give preference to lamps that have a power rating of 6 - 8 W; they are distinguished by high-quality lighting.
Note! A significant factor when choosing which LED lamps are best is voltage. After all, light bulbs emit from 12 to 220 V. If the room is quite humid, for example a bathroom, then it is best to choose 12 W lamps. But such devices will not save money.
The color temperature of the LED lamps is visible. The following connection is highlighted. The higher the temperature, the cooler the glow will be.
The photo of LED lamps clearly shows this relationship.
Experts do not advise giving preference to LED lamps, which have fairly bright daylight. They are most often used to furnish an office or production facility. For an apartment or home use, this option is not entirely suitable.
The range should be in the region of 2700-3000 K. This range is a yellowish glow that resembles daytime sunlight. Most often, the manufacturer indicates the color on the packaging.
Note! Choose “warm white” or “soft white” models. They are best for vision and perception.
Types of LEDs used
Additionally, the devices differ from each other in the type of diodes installed in the lamp body.
indicator elements are considered obsolete and are extremely rare in everyday life. The quality of the light output and the overall safety of these products do not meet the requirements accepted today.
SMD chips are the most common and most widely used type. The minimal size and low base heating of the working elements make SMD lamps the most attractive among analogues.
Their use has no restrictions and is allowed in any systems and conditions.
The only disadvantage of SMD-type diodes is their small size. Because of this, you need to install them in a light bulb in large quantities, and this is not always convenient or advisable.
Units operating on high-power diodes of 1.3 and 5 W can be very productive in some situations.
But the high level of heating during operation and the difficulty of organizing correct heat removal from a small case significantly reduce their popularity.
If any problems arise with the light bulb, it is not necessary to immediately run to the store and demand an exchange or refund. Simple problems can be easily fixed at home, even by craftsmen who do not have much experience in such work.
COB diodes are an innovative chip manufacturing technology. It is being developed very actively now. Due to direct mounting of diodes on the board, heat dissipation increases significantly, and the overall reliability of the device increases.
Thanks to the improved optical system, the light flow is distributed more evenly and creates a pleasant background glow in the room.
Filament is a progressive type of chip, invented in 2013-2014 by a group of scientists. Intended for lighting purposes only.
It is fully used for arranging original and unusual decorative lighting for domestic and industrial premises for various purposes.
A light bulb with filament-type diodes has all the useful features characteristic of LED sources. It looks stylish and attractive, lasts a long time, consumes a minimal amount of energy and provides uniform illumination of the room within a 360° radius.
Provides a spectrum of light that is pleasant to the human eye, similar in characteristics to the burning effect of a traditional incandescent lamp. In this parameter it is many times superior to similar SDM and COB type products.
In company stores it is sold at a reasonable price and is considered a practical option for an economical light source.
Base
It is worth choosing standard plinth sizes. The option that was installed initially will be suitable. If we consider the option of installing a spotlight, it is worth noting the need to install a GU 5.3 base.
Depending on the shape of LED lamps, different types can be distinguished. This is a pear shape, elongated, or round. It is worth giving preference, first of all, to your own preferences, taking into account the stylistic composition of the room.
Are LED lamps profitable: let's talk about savings
Using LED lights is considered a great way to save energy. Let's figure out how this happens.
On average, the operating voltage of the LED fluctuates between 2 and 4 V. The power consumption indicator is no more than 1 W. In this case, the light output of the devices is approximately 80 lm/W.
For comparison: incandescent lamps emit only 10 lm/W, and fluorescent devices up to 60 lm/W. At the same time, they consume much more energy.
It turns out that with minimal energy consumption, the luminous flux of LED lamps is much brighter than that of incandescent lamps and fluorescent devices. If you consider that LED devices also last longer, you can make a clear choice in their favor.
Radiator
Its presence is necessary in order to remove the temperature from the LED block. If the system does not provide for this point, then you should not opt for this model.
Manufacturers often use plastic material for drainage. This applies more to budget models. You should not use these types of LED lamps. After all, plastic material has many disadvantages, among which low cooling efficiency occupies a special place. The reviews are mostly negative, so you shouldn’t choose this model.
Another point is the choice of a transparent or frosted light bulb. If you choose a matte device, then the installation of a radiator, or its absence, will not be noticeable. Before buying such a device, you should think about it.
Note! To determine the presence of a radiator in a light bulb, you should pay attention to the weight of the product. If the product is quite heavy, then it is presumably equipped with an aluminum radiator. This type is most suitable for home use.
Current manufacturers and models
Leading positions in the market segment of LED equipment and related elements are occupied by European concerns Philips and Osram .
They offer the client the widest range of certified products that meet all the most stringent international requirements for the quality of light sources.
LED lamps from Phillips and Osram are considered to be among the most reliable; they can withstand intense operating loads and fill rooms with pleasant light that is not irritating to the eyes.
Products from Russia demonstrate normal quality at a low price. The line of LED products includes lamps of various configurations, including modules designed for installation in furniture.
Ice lamps produced under the Gauss . The brand sells both budget and premium modules and provides a 3-year warranty on its products.
For an LED lamp to live up to your expectations, you should buy it not at the market or a table near the metro, but in specialized brand stores. This will help protect against defective or downright low-quality products.
The Russian company Era is a newcomer to the LED market, however, its consistently high-quality products have already attracted the attention of clients.
Now the company is actively developing production and in the future it plans to squeeze out competitors and even get ahead of them in the battle for buyers.
Resources
Another important characteristic of the product is its working resource. Today's developments and research show a figure of 50,000 hours. But, this is not entirely true. This figure is reliable under ideal conditions of use. It is worth remembering that LEDs degrade over a certain period of time. Their quality characteristics deteriorate significantly.
Therefore, when choosing, pay attention to the warranty period of the product. This indicator is worth starting from. Most often, this is 3–5 years, during which, if it breaks, you can replace the product with a new one.
The following practice has been noticed: domestic manufacturers set a service life that does not exceed 3 years. Foreign companies, on the contrary, establish a warranty period of about 5 years.
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How LED light sources differ from others
We have already discussed the characteristics and benefits of LED light bulbs. Let's move on to comparing these light sources with others. Let's look at the differences from fluorescent, halogen and incandescent lamps.
Halogen lamps
The main disadvantage of such lamps is strong heating. The temperature inside the flask rises due to circulating gases. This does not happen with diode sources, because the main difference is the operating principle.
Halogen lamps can operate for up to 4,000 hours. This means that their service life is almost 10 times less than that of LED devices.
Halogen lamp for spotlight
Fluorescent lamps
The main element of a luminescent device is a tube with a phosphor. Over time, the material fades and the lamp becomes unusable. It is worth noting that it has a fairly long service life. However, the maximum operating time of the device is 20,000 hours. That is, 2.5 times less than that of LED devices.
Another argument against fluorescent devices is that over time they change color and lose brightness. This occurs precisely as a result of burnout of the phosphor.
Fluorescent lamp for lamp
Incandescent lamps
The main difference between incandescent lamps and LED products is the light element. In these devices, it is a metal spiral, which, when heated, begins to emit streams. Such products become unusable after approximately 1,000 hours of operation. However, their use is generally abandoned due to high energy consumption.
Incandescent lamp for lamps
Scattering angle
This criterion is also worth taking into account. The nature of lighting is directly related to the presence or absence of a diverging lens. The location of the LEDs also plays a role. If they are on the same surface, then you will see narrowly focused lighting. Multi-level placement of particles affects the lighting; it will be diffuse.
Flask
Which lamps are better - with a matte or transparent bulb? The LED is a point and very bright light source. If the lamp is visible in a chandelier or lamp, for example it is directed downward, then with a transparent bulb an irritating effect may occur, similar to a welding arc.
However, the matte diffuser does not have this drawback. Decide what is best for you - even, soft and diffused light, or very bright.
An exception is crystal chandeliers and similar lamps.
For them, point and sparkling light sources are better, which give a play of light on the edges of crystal elements.
Color rendering
In order for the room to be bright and properly illuminated, it is worth paying attention to the light transmission coefficient. Its value should not be less than 80. The cost of the product will be much higher if the indicator becomes 95. Manufacturers most often indicate the value of this indicator on the packaging.
Note! It is by this parameter that you can determine a conscientious, high-quality manufacturer. If the indicator has a really high value, and the device is cheap, then you can be sure that it is a fake. The service life of such a lamp is quite short.
Useful tips for choosing
When choosing a lamp based on LED elements, you need to find an environmentally friendly, economical and safe product with a suitable glow temperature, no flicker, optimal light output and the correct dispersion angle.
The lighting system, equipped with warm spectrum lamps, creates a feeling of comfort and a relaxed, intimate atmosphere in the bedroom. The soft glow does not irritate the eyes, calms and has a calming effect on a person
If you need to illuminate a living space, you should take a module from the warm spectrum marked 2700-3200 K. This will provide a pleasant atmosphere in your house or apartment, conducive to spending a long time in the rooms for the purpose of relaxation or communication.
You can install 3700-4200 K lamps in the bath, kitchen, hallway or bathroom. They will fill the room with bright, neutral white light, reminiscent of the glow of the morning sun.
All objects with this lighting option will acquire additional clarity and will look a little harder. But this will not cause unnecessary strain on the eyes, because a person does not spend a lot of time in such rooms.
When the goal is to provide high-quality lighting for utility rooms, it is appropriate to use lamps of 6000 K and higher. They will bring a stream of light to every corner and not a single centimeter of the room will remain in the shadow.
Flickering is one of the weak points of LED modules. Popular manufacturers claim that this drawback is characteristic only of unnamed Chinese products, and branded products do not have it.
It is very easy to verify the veracity of these words. At the time of purchase, all you need to do is screw the lamp into the base and hold your smartphone camera close to it. When the light bulb pulsates, the image that appears on the screen will certainly flicker.
Some brands will only provide warranty replacement under certain circumstances. For example, when more than 5% of the diodes in a lamp have burned out or the light flux has lost 10% saturation
In branded stores, when purchasing ice lamps, customers are provided with a guarantee from the manufacturer. It usually lasts from 1 to 3 years depending on the brand.
In order to use it and replace a faulty product with a working analogue, the buyer will have to keep the cash receipt and coupon, where the seller noted the date of purchase and certified it with his signature.
Dimmer
Not all models can be connected to a dimmer. This feature should be read on the packaging upon purchase. In addition, the packaging must contain information about the manufacturer, indicate the lamp power and warranty period. The type of base and luminous flux, color temperature and color rendering coefficient must be indicated. You can also see a barcode on the packaging.
LED strip or LED lamp: which is better?
In addition to luminaires with LED lamps, LED strips are used to organize lighting. They are a flexible board with small LEDs placed in series. Such products can emit both multi-colored and monochrome glow.
Varieties of colored glow tapes:
- RGB: A system that combines blue, green and red hues.
- RGBW: a tape where, in addition to the three main shades, there is cool white. Thanks to the additional diode, the color spectrum of the glow expands.
- RGBWW: a tape where, in addition to all the shades listed above, warm white is added.
It is not entirely correct to compare lamps and strips, because the latter perform slightly different tasks. They are not intended for main lighting - only for decorative lighting.
There are still some points for comparison. For example, power, placement nuances, service life. A brief review of LED strips and lamps, based on real experience in using LED lighting, will help you choose your option.
Monochrome LED strip
conclusions
There are a number of criteria that must be taken into account to select a quality product. The operating time of the device depends on certain parameters. Taking into account all the basic recommendations of experts, you can avoid mistakes and make the truly right choice.
Dimming
Controlling the brightness of lighting using a dimmer is a very useful and convenient feature. However, most LED lamps do not support this feature.
Finding a dimmable LED lamp of the desired shape, size, power and color is not easy and is almost always expensive.
It should be taken into account that dimming occurs by controlling the frequency parameters of the supply voltage.
And this will definitely cause pulsation on the lamp.
If you don't want ripples, skip dimming.
You can control the brightness in another way - by turning various lighting groups on and off.
Although this is less elegant, it is more effective and safer for your health.
Ripple
How do you know if a lamp has pulsation? Every major store has the ability to check product functionality.
Turn on the light bulb and just look at it through your mobile phone camera.
If there are stripes on the screen, the lamp is pulsating.
It is not advisable to use such products in residential premises. Their purpose is to illuminate entrances, garages, corridors and utility rooms.
If there are no stripes, then the lamp does not pulsate.
