LED bulbs

LED light bulbs are relatively new to the market and it has been claimed that they could be the future of home lighting.  LED stands for light-emitting diode but what are they and are they better than normal energy-saving bulbs?

The main difference between different types of light bulbs is the way they produce light.  Old fashioned incandescent light bulbs work by passing electricity through a filament and normal energy-saving bulbs produce light by passing energy through mercury vapour to create UV light which is then absorbed by a phosphor coating inside the lamp which causes it to glow.  LED bulbs use a semi-conductor that emits light energy when an electrical current is passed through it.

Interested in buying LED bulbs – you can buy them from us at Barton Electrical via our online shop.

What is good about LED bulbs?

The advantages with LED bulbs are that they use very little energy, are generally expected to last for a long time and don’t have the same delay in getting bright that regular energy-saving bulbs have, instead they get bright instantly when switched on.  LED bulbs have been shown to use 90% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb.

Are there any downsides?

As mentioned above, LED bulbs are relatively new to the market which means they are the most expensive type of bulbs to buy.  However, given the longer lifespan, they could be considered a more cost effective investment.  Some LED bulbs can give out a bluish type light which some people do not like however the better LEDs on the market produce a much warmer type of light.  LED bulbs are generally only available in fairly low wattages and lumen levels which means they can be dimmer than other bulbs however the technology is improving quickly and brighter LEDs are becoming available.  There is already quite a wide choice of LED bulbs available giving options with regards to brightness, spread and colour.

Things to watch out for

The first thing to be aware of is that the LED lightbulb industry is currently self-regulated.  This means that even if a bulb carries a CE mark, it may not have been tested to the same quality standards as other brands.

If you have a dimmer switch, check the bulb packaging as LEDs are often not dimmable.  If you can’t find suitable LED bulbs for your dimmer switch, you may need to change the switch to an LED compatible dimmer.

The main aim of an LED bulb is to draw less energy which means that they will naturally have lower wattages.  Instead, the brightness is measured in lumens.

When selecting the right colour for your home, this is measured in kelvins (K).  Basically the lower the number, the more yellow/warmer the light will be.  A traditional incandescent bulb is roughly between 2,700K and 3,500K so if you are looking to replicate that then look for that range for your LED bulb.

If would like to discuss any of your lighting needs, please contact us at Barton Electrical and we will be happy to help.