When choosing an LED lamp, you should pay attention to the following parameters:
- Actual or equivalent power;
- Light flow;
- Colorful temperature;
- Color rendering index;
- Ripple factor.
The wattage of an LED lamp may be actual or equivalent. The first parameter shows how much electricity the device consumes. It can be very small – literally 6-10 watts, but this should not be embarrassing. Because LEDs consume a minimum of electricity. So, a 6-watt LED lamp shines as brightly as a 40-watt incandescent lamp; and a 10-watt LED is like a 60-watt incandescent.
Actually, it is this parameter that can be indicated on the package – “equivalent to a 40 W incandescent lamp”, “equivalent to a 60 W incandescent lamp”.
Luminous flux – a parameter that determines the brightness of the light bulb. More objective than actual or equivalent power. LED bulbs with a flux of 400 lm are similar in brightness to 40-watt incandescent lamps, 600 lm – to 60-watt, and 1000 lm – to 100-watt.
Color temperature – a parameter that describes whether the lamp will shine with warm or cold light. So:
- Up to 2800 K – “warm yellow”, like old incandescent lamps;
- About 3000 K – “warm white”, like modern incandescent lamps;
- About 4000 K – “neutral white”, for kitchens and office space;
- About 5000 K – “cold white”, for utility rooms. In a house with such a lamp it will be uncomfortable, and it causes a strong strain on the eyes.
The color rendering index is an important parameter that determines how much light from a light bulb will affect the shades of surrounding objects. It is denoted by the characteristics CRI or Ra. It is recommended that the color rendering index be at least 80, and preferably 90 or higher. A low color rendering index will cause objects around you to appear gray or unnaturally yellow, which affects not only mood, but also the overall level of comfort in the room.
The ripple coefficient shows the uniformity of the glow. For most good LED lamps, it is about 5%. If the ripple factor is more than 35%, it is better not to use such a lamp – it will lead to a serious strain on the eyes. Other characteristics do not have a special effect on operational parameters.
How to Choose the Right LED Light Bulb
There are several things to keep in mind when choosing a light bulb, including the wattage, light color, light quality, and brightness. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors in turn. Wattage – The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing an LED light bulb is the wattage. A typical incandescent light bulb uses 60 watts of power, while an CFL uses around 15 watts. LED bulbs use much less power: A standard LED light bulb uses approximately 7 to 12 watts of power—and many of today’s LED bulbs use less than that. However, wattage is not the only factor you should keep in mind when comparing LED light bulbs. Light Colour – The colour of light that a light bulb produces is measured by its colour temperature in Kelvin (K). A higher temperature indicates a cooler light colour. Cooler light is typically more blue-white, while warmer light is more yellow-orange. Warm light (2700–3100 K) is best for living rooms, bedrooms, and nurseries, while cool light (3100–5000 K) is better for kitchens, offices, and other areas where you want to increase focus and productivity. The colour temperature of an LED light bulb is usually listed on the package. Light Colour Spectrum – In addition to its colour temperature, an LED light bulb also has a colour spectrum (i.e. visible light range). The colour spectrum of a light bulb is important because it shows how much yellow versus blue the light has. A higher amount of yellow means the light has more of a warm tone, while a higher amount of blue means the light has a cooler tone. The colour spectrum of an LED light bulb is typically displayed as a graph that looks something like this: Ideally, you want to choose an LED light bulb (with a colour spectrum graph that looks something like the first graph above) that has as close to a neutral colour as possible. When the colour of the light is too warm or too blue, it can interfere with your circadian rhythm and significantly reduce the quality of your sleep. LED Light Instance Numbers – Instance numbers measure the brightness of light bulbs. The higher the instance number, the brighter the light. Instance numbers are not the same as lumens. While lumens measure the total amount of light being produced by a light bulb, instance numbers measure how much light is being emitted from the light bulb in a single direction. Instance numbers are generally listed on the package along with the bulb wattage. LED Light Quality and Brightness – The quality of light that a light bulb produces is just as important as its brightness. High-quality light is balanced, warm, and not too blue—and it doesn’t cause eye strain or interfere with sleep cycles. A high-quality LED light bulb produces light that is rich in red and yellow tones and low in blue tones.
LED Light Bulb Wattage
The wattage of a light bulb doesn’t tell you anything about its actual brightness—it only tells you how much energy the bulb uses. This means that two light bulbs with the same wattage could provide very different brightness levels. To determine how bright a light bulb is, you need to look at its lumens rating. The higher the lumens rating, the brighter the light bulb. A 60-watt incandescent light bulb produces around 800 lumens, while a 12-watt LED light bulb produces 1100 lumens. When comparing LED light bulbs, it’s best to choose the one that provides the desired brightness level at the lowest wattage possible. This way, you get the same brightness as a higher-wattage bulb but with less energy use.
LED Light Colour Temperature
The colour temperature of a light bulb is measured in Kelvin. The higher the number, the cooler the light. A cool-white light bulb (colour temperature above 4000K) is better for reading and for creating an active mood in a room. A warm-white light bulb (colour temperature below 3000K) is better for relaxation and setting a mood in a room. When choosing a light bulb colour temperature, it’s important to keep in mind that different manufacturers may measure colour temperatures differently.
LED Light Colour Spectrum
The colour spectrum of a light bulb can be measured in either or degrees, abbreviated with a “C” or “H”. The higher the colour spectrum, the warmer the light. A light bulb with a high Colour Temperature (CT) and a low Colour Humans (CH) will have a high colour spectrum, meaning it emits more yellow light. A light bulb with a high Colour Humans (CH) and a low Colour Temperature (CT) will have a low colour spectrum, meaning it emits more blue light.
LED Light Instance Numbers
The instance number of a light bulb measures how bright the light is. A higher instance number means the light is brighter. When comparing two light bulbs, the best way to measure brightness is by looking at the wattage. Two light bulbs with the same wattage will produce the same brightness. A 60-watt light bulb produces the same brightness as a 12-watt light bulb—it just uses more energy.
LED Light Quality and Brightness
The quality of light that a light bulb produces is just as important as its brightness. High-quality light is balanced, warm, and not too blue—and it doesn’t cause eye strain or interfere with sleep cycles. A high-quality LED light bulb produces light that is rich in red and yellow tones and low in blue tones.
Conclusion
You should now know everything you need to when choosing the best LED light bulb for your home. When shopping, keep in mind the wattage, light colour, light quality, and brightness of the bulbs. Make sure to also check the lumens rating of each bulb to make sure you get the brightness you need. A good LED light bulb will last for years and will significantly reduce your energy costs compared to incandescent and CFL bulbs. It’s also worth noting that some LED light bulbs are dimmable and others are not. It’s always a good idea to check this before making your purchase.
