LED lamps; 13 questions and answers needed before buy

Lighting with LED lamps

LED lighting is no longer a trend but a whole reality. There are many homes that use or are replacing your outdated incandescent and halogen bulbs by light emitting diode bulbs (LED stands for Light Emitting Diodes), known as lamp of LEDs .

Although we can all recognize that we are facing a much more efficient lighting from a saving perspective energy in electricity, in truth, is a great unknown, both for the options, technologies and types of bulbs led that the market offers us as its correct use.

Now, we are going to answer many questions that before the purchase of some lamps LEDs …

What kind of light bulbs exist to save energy at home?

The buying and selling market is very broad and even, It varies by country, but the current options are several.

Leaving cutting-edge technology or special lighting aside. We have three technologies that will help us save and that we will find in any store; LED, halogen and eco halogen.

1. LED lamps . They are the most efficient on the market and have a useful life between 15,000 – 25,000 hours on average The estimate in the reduction of consumption energy is about 90% compared to light bulb traditional. For example, with enhanced features like the GU10 model of common led lights in the different spaces household dwellings. Very good!
2. Halogen bulbs . Its useful life is around between 6,000 and 10,000 hours. Energy consumption is reduced about 80% compared to lamps traditional.
3. ECO halogen bulbs . its useful life around 2,000 hours. They are the least efficient, and reduce the energy consumption between 20 and 30%.

Note: Consecutively, we are talking about prices, about major to minor. Yes, well, quality is paid for, and it's like everything in this life, to a higher quality; has a longer useful life color reproduction is better, they are more efficient, etc.

In a practical way and before looking at it in more depth, We added the following infographic to compare the wattage (W) equivalencies between the LEDs, the fluorescent, halogen and incandescent :

And now, we begin to answer some common questions…

How much money can I save depending on the type of efficient bulb?

Calculate it directly with the energy savings per unit, it's just crazy because of the price variations in the electricity and countries. But we can estimate the units that we are going to save.

Savings are no longer just due to the amount of energy, but also there are replacements and maintenance. From a perspective of percentage savings in energy, according to the European Commission says:

They combine the efficiency of light bulbs with a heater low consumption for heating, you can save a lot electricity.

What are the advantages of lighting led?

The benefits and advantages of LED lighting at home are really exceptional with reference to the facilities traditional:

• Maximum efficiency . As we said Previously, LED luminaires consumed up to 90% Less energy than incandescent bulbs. the saving it is unquestionable.
• Lifetime . LED lights can achieve a service life of up to 25,000 hours compared to with the typical 1,500 hours of traditional light bulbs (Forget about 50,000 – 60,000 hours, it is not viable. The complex mechanism breaks down sooner).
• Instant response . The ignition and shutdown is very fast.
• Security . Safety is a benefit important of the LED caps. They hardly generate heat therefore, they are cool to the touch. Eye! Only in the beam of light. Without However, the LED luminaire itself produces heat.
• Resistance . They are much more resistant to blows, and even those that have a bulb of glass can continue to function if it breaks.
• Environment . are almost entirely recyclable and ecological since they do not contain mercury, nor materials as toxic as fluorescent lamps.

• Functionality . are currently used for a wide variety of different applications with sizes much smaller than the traditional light bulb and capacity to change colors. They are focused lights, excellent for perform some specific lighting tasks, such as desk lamps, reading light, night lights, safety signs, spotlights…

Remember our article on how we can save energy in housing with 30 tips. Very helpful!

What is the most important thing about a lamp? LEDs?

There are three characteristics that define the quality of the product and led light:

• Chip quality . It takes a high technology that regulates the operation of the reflectors LED, and here comes the chip. Aspects such as the durability of the luminaire, the warmth of the light, the energy consumption or the color partly depend on the quality of the chip.
• Heat management . The enemy of the chip It is the heat, knowing that the chip already provides its own heat, manufacturers must take care in the construction of luminaires with very complex technologies, controlled and quality materials.
• Lightness distribution . The light distribution and intensity is the basis of all lamp (Remember that "the led chip" provides lighting intense and direct).

Why do leds cost more than solutions conventional lighting?

They are made up of complex electronic components that have to be assembled to offer efficient light sources.

Apart from the LED chip, which has gallium and sapphire in the semiconductor, the assembly process with materials such as rare earth phosphors, ceramics, relevant solder and gold wire, increases the overall cost.

Where can I put the lamps, tubes fluorescent and led bulbs at home?

Obviously, the following image does not reflect a mandatory, but yes, the objective for what they have been designed the lamps:

How to buy a light bulb according to household needs and we talked about in this article, but now, let's review some basic tips to avoid "messing it up" and end up buying what inappropriate. So let's go over and answer more questions…

What considerations should I have when I want to integrate LEDs in the house?

Though we could create a long list here, so generic we would have to consider for inside the house (And this is for all types of lighting; led bulb, tube fluorescent, leds, fluocompacta, energy saving light bulbs, etc:

• The distance between the different lighting points or led strips.
• Ways to avoid glare and see points of light.
• They should be ventilated.
• Easy access to wiring.
• Easy access to bulb, socket and LED lamp for replacement or maintenance.
• If the driver is not integrated in the LED, easy access (practically they are already sold all together)
• Easy access to the switch (off and on) or whatever type of control it is.

As a curiosity and interesting for outdoors or gardens, the most insects are attracted to lightning ultraviolet, which help them navigate, search for food and couple. The LED lamps have no content ultraviolet, that is why they do not attract so many insects.

What is the color temperature in the LED lighting?

The appearance of the "light tone" or color is indicated by the temperature of the color, expressed in degrees Kelvin (K). Not all manufacturers they indicate the "K", and in many cases we can see directly; light warm, neutral or cold.

When we talk about illuminance (lux = light intensity = lumen per m2), that is, how we see that intensity of light warm, neutral or cold. The choice of color temperature for an illuminated architectural space, interior or exterior, It is more a psychological and aesthetic issue that, according to studies, It can affect us in the following way:

The concept of lux (relative illuminance) must be differentiate it from the lumen, since some manufacturers put into the boxes one concept or another... What is the difference between lux and lumen?

• Lux: Indicates a measure of lightness perceived in a specific area (m2).
• Lumen: Unit used to express the amount of light that is capable of generating a light bulb.

What color temperature is recommended for each room in the home?

As we have seen, the color of light affects us. So, choosing the color temperature we will achieve an environment cozy or stimulating. If we see the rooms of the house, we would have the following schema:

The rest and relaxation areas are improved with a lighting illuminator warm light, which gives us tranquility and serenity. For the activity and work areas, it is advisable to use a light white or neutral.

You have to be careful with the decoration, especially when paint the walls of the house Neutral lighting (natural light artificial) which is the range between 4000K and 5000K (Degrees Kelvin) makes us see the "real" colors in the walls vertical.

If we use any special vertical coating; effects or drawings on wall painting, always do the DIY that It touches, by day, with the rays of the sun. If we are in a artificial environment, the result, later, may not be the what we wanted.

What light levels are recommended for home?

It is proven that each stay of our living place; dining room, bedrooms, corridors and hall, bathroom or kitchen, should have a contrast and intensity of light (lux per m2) determined:

As we see in the previous image, the levels are important. For example, in the cooking zone, it is necessary to have special attention when designing a kitchen because we need a light that reflects how food is. Also, for local commercial and industrial it is advisable to follow the following table:

But... How do I know the Lux I have in a room in the living place? How can you measure the amount of light in the work space? Do you think your kitchen is too dark?, etc... Well, in the next question, we answer you!

How do I know if the lighting I have is the right one? correct?

To measure the amount of light emitted by a light source (for example, our led lamps) uses what is called luxmeter. Since there is a mobile App for everything, well, there are some that they simulate the lux meter and work very well.

From Android (Google Play HERE) and for iOS (App store HERE). Both Lighting Apps are very easy to use and similar. Both tell us directly the Lux that is in the stay and thus, we can compare with the previous image of light levels per room:

Now that we know many things about the LED world and what are its most significant characteristics, we can go from buy…

What should we take into account when buying a LED lamp?

1. Remember the cap size . notice very well what is the socket that admits the lamp holder Where will the bulb be located? The most common are; he coarse thread (E27) and fine thread (E14).
2. The tone of light (The color temperature we've seen before)
3. The power and lumens what will the bulb.
4. The angle of light . attending to the shape that has the light bulb, we will have an opening angle. To the replace directional bulbs such as halogen, angle is important to ensure proper distribution of light.

What to look for in the boxes of a light bulb LEDs?

The information that appears on the packaging of a lamp led is very important. Yes it is true, that not all manufacturers provide the same information, but reading the labeling will help us find and choose the light bulb adequate.

The characteristics that are reflected – front face and rear – usually they are…

Now, surely you already know how to choose coherently…

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