They’re the light sources with the highest energy efficiency, free from hazardous substances such as mercury and have an impressive life span of about 50,000 hours (filament bulbs about 1000 hours, energy saving bulbs about 6,000-15,000 hours). They have the best life cycle assessment and are also quick and easy to use. These are just some of the reasons why you should switch from energy saving or filament bulbs to LEDs (light-emitting diodes).
LED: Facts
LED bulbs consist of one or more light-emitting diodes and an electronic circuit, which supplies the LED with power. At the beginning of the seventies, the first LEDs were used for signalling. Since then, the technology has evolved steadily and is now conquering the private sector.
While the switch to LEDs for home lighting was associated with relatively high purchase prices 10 years ago, the technology is now available at low prices thanks to mass production. In the US, for example, the cost of LED bulbs fell by 94 percent between 2008 and 2015.
Meanwhile another standard has evolved: LED bulbs fit into standard fittings, such as E27 or E14, thanks to commercially available sockets. The light output has significantly improved as a result of their development, so that LED technology is today on the same level as more traditional light sources.
Other advantages include; no delays when switching them on (which is the same case with energy saving bulbs) and they are more robust than other bulbs when they are knocked.
Excellent LED technology
With an energy saving of up to 90% compared to filament bulbs, LED technology is the most efficient light source on the market. Thanks to the “EU Energy Efficiency” label launched on September 1st 2013, consumers can immediately see if a light source consumes a lot or a little power. Only technologies which are particularly economical like LEDs are awarded the new energy efficiency grade A + and A ++ and therefore meet the latest standards.
The right socket
In order to make the user’s upgrade to LED bulbs as pleasant as possible, LED products are now offered with all of the most common socket types. In private homes, these are mainly screw threads E27 and E14. Their shape and name date back to Thomas Alva Edison.
The E27 socket was the standard for conventional light bulbs, with a higher number of watts and is therefore widely used. It is mainly used in kitchens and living rooms as part of accent lighting, for example in the case of reading bulbs. E14 stands for the narrow screw base, which was used mainly with candle light bulbs with lower watts. LEDs with an E14 socket and filament technology are mainly used for bulbs or lights where the light source is visible and the appearance of a traditional light bulb is favoured, for example with a chandelier.
In addition to the well-known e-sockets, LED light sources are alternatively offered with plug sockets. The current is supplied via two pins protruding from the light source, therefore these sockets are also known as “pin bases”. The G10 socket is a classic socket with twist-lock and a pin distance of 10 mm. It is typically used in bathrooms. Other known types of sockets are the models G4 and GY5.3, which are operated with 12 V (low voltage). Halogen reflector bulbs in particular have this socket, with LED strips and ledges giving it a special form. These flexible bulbs are easy to install and can also be easily made shorter or extended. They are ideally suited to illuminating rooms, cabinets or even exhibition stands as background lighting to give a special and distinct atmosphere.
More than just light – choose the right colours
Light colour comes from the colour of a self-illuminating light source. It is a typical feature in the way light sources are characterised and is defined in this context mainly by the colour temperature. The unit of colour temperature is given in kelvin and describes the appearance of the light reflected in different colour shades. The warmer the light, the lower the value in kelvin. For example, a candle has 1500 kelvin. There are 3 different shades within the DIN 5035 range.
“Warm white” stands for warmer light colours in a spectrum from 2000 to 3300 kelvin. Warm white light bulbs are suitable for creating a comfortable lighting atmosphere in the living room.
“Neutral white” indicates neutral light in a range of between 3300 and 5000 Kelvin, which is normally used in office spaces or similar work areas. “Daylight white” (also called “cold white”) refers to all bulbs of more than 5000 kelvin. Typical used in factories buildings or shops/stores. For more information, please refer to this article
Important things to know about lighting performance
Light output is defined by its light flux. This is measured in the unit, lumen (abbreviation ‘lm’, which is Latin for ‘light’), and describes the amount of light emitted by an LED bulb in all directions. The more lumen an LED bulb has, the higher the light flux and the stronger the power of the beams. Let’s take the example of the candle, which has about 10 lumens. The light power should not be confused with the light output. The latter indicates the light flux produced in relation to the electrical power that has been used up.
While the energy consumption of a lightbulb (in watts) has been indicated in the past as a unit for brightness, the so-called equivalent of lightbulbs today are higher transparency LED lights. These respective comparisons are set out in a regulation by the EU. In the product description of each LED bulb, you will find the comparison value of a traditional lightbulb in watts.
An exact conversion between the two units is extremely challenging, since these are not directly comparable with one another. We have provided an approximation table here which displays a rough comparison of the wattage alongside its respective lumen value. As a rough rule of thumb, LED bulbs with 500 lumens correspond to a lightbulb with 40 to 60 watts, while an LED bulb with 1000 lumens corresponds to a lightbulb with 75 to 100 watts.
Dimmable LED bulbs
Dimmable LEDs offer you the opportunity to create flexible, comfortable and individual desired amount of light. Due to innovation and continuous developments in the field of LED technology, dimming is now much more technically feasible.
The technical elements for the dimmer control are integrated into the base of LED bulbs. Therefore, it is not the light that dims itself, but sheeted ballast built into the socket that does this. LED strips or ledges are also available in dimmable form. You should pay attention to the compatibility of the different dimmer types. LED bulbs operate with a direct current. Traditional lightbulbs and high-voltage halogen bulbs (230 V), on the other hand, are dimmed with a phase angle control and AC voltage. There are now LEDS bulbs from manufacturers such as Philips, which are compatible with phase control dimmers.
As an alternative, manufacturers such as V-TAC offer a level number built in the base. The LED bulb is dimmed by simply switching on and off various times. Switching on once generates 100% brightness, for example, whereas the brightness is adjusted to 50% when the power is turned on twice.
7 Steps to identifying the right LED bulb for you
We will show you how to determine the ideal LED bulb for your individual needs using our 7-step checklist.
Bulb socket and shape
Do you want to replace an E27 bulb or need an E14 socket? Look at the label on the socket of the bulb which needs to be replaced, in order to determine the correct LED socket type. You should also take its shape into account, alongside advice on how to use LED bulbs in closed light fixtures. There is a risk of heat loss build-up if there is insufficient open space.
If the LED bulb is in visible range, you should choose a shape that is consistent with the design. For chandeliers, a candle shape is suitable. Since 2015, filament LED bulbs have been available. A typical filament LED contains 6 to 8 filaments (and are therefore also referred to as filament LED bulbs), which each contain a line of 30 light-emitting diodes. They are inspired by the design of the classic lightbulb.
Durability and switching cycles
LED products have unrivalled durability. On average, the official lifespan is 25,000 hours, but lasting up to 50,000 hours is not rare. In addition to its natural lifespan, its number of switching cycles is another factor which determines its durability. One switching cycle is reached when you turn the bulb on and off once. If you are looking for a daytime light source which will be used frequently in places such as the bathroom or the corridor, you should consider an LED with a high switching cycle LED, such as one with a value of between 50,000 and 100,000 switching cycles.
Light flux
According to EU Regulation on the banning of incandescent bulbs, the product description of each LED bulb must indicate in lumen how much light flux an LED has to emit in order to replace a similar incandescent light bulb. The regulation stipulates that an LED bulb must emit significantly more light flux than a comparable incandescent light bulb. The legislature wanted to create a compensation for the LED bulb’s loss of light power when used over several years.
Colour temperature
LED bulbs offer a wider range of colour temperatures than traditional incandescent light bulbs or halogen bulbs. The most important question regarding this criteria is, where are they being used? If you want to create a warm, pleasantly-coloured atmosphere in the living room, the kitchen or the bedroom, the colour temperature of the LED bulb should be between 2500 and 3000 kelvin. For the office, study room or hobby room you should choose a light bulb of 4000 to 6500 kelvin. For the cellar, the garage or outside of your home we recommend LED products of 6000 to 7000 kelvin.
Beam angle
The smaller the beam angle, the more intensely a certain area or object is illuminated. A large beam angle is, on the other hand, more suitable for illuminating large areas. If you plan to use several bulbs in one room, you should choose small beam angles to create individual light settings for specific areas. If you are traditionally opting for a central light source on the ceiling of the room, a high-beam light source is the perfect choice.
Colour Rendering Index and colour spectrum
Colour rendering is a criterion for determining light quality. The higher the colour rendering code (abbreviated to ‘Ra’), the more authentic the colours are displayed when objects are illuminated. This value is measured on the basis of 8 reference light colours, with a value of 100 Ra representing the highest possible colour fidelity. In conjunction with the Ra value, the colour spectrum of an LED product provides information about the quality of a light source. The more colours the spectrum has, the higher the overall colour rendering. If you choose a light bulb with warm light, you should ensure that the colour spectrum has a high proportion of red. In contrast, a cool light should have high blue content.
The right dimmer
Always ensure that the light you choose is labelled as dimmable in the product description. Regarding the dimmer, you will be on the safe side if you choose a bulb with an incremental dimmer, since the product’s technology is completely built into the socket. If you want to control the brightness of an LED bulb via a typical phase control dimmer, you should first check the product description for compatibility with this dimmer.
Bilder: Fotolia
Brief Interview – 3 questions for experts
- What is the most important reason for you to switch to LED and why should you do it now?
- Which rooms should you start refitting and are there rooms where it’s less worth making the change?
- Which bargains on LED bulbs can you currently recommend?
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