How to choose LED light bulbs for your home

Standard incandescent lamps are gradually becoming a thing of the past, firmly holding their position only as decorative design elements in the interior. They are being replaced by LED light sources. The reasons for most people switching to LED devices are extremely trivial: they last longer, consume less energy and provide a sufficient amount of light. They are also produced in a huge range according to a variety of parameters, which we will talk about in this material.

Characteristics and features of choice

With “Ilyich light bulbs”, when choosing, everything was quite simple: you just need to know the required power parameter and choose the right shape of the base. In the case of LED options, power essentially does not matter: 6- and 10-watt lamps can provide the same amount of light as a standard 60-watt bulb.

Reference. On the packaging of many manufacturers you can see the so-called power equivalent, indicating the power of which standard lighting device with a tungsten filament corresponds to this or that LED power. Experts do not recommend trusting this indicator, since it is determined, apparently, based on the subjective ideas of the manufacturer.

The power equivalent table is as follows:

A much more important parameter when choosing an LED light source will be its luminous flux.It is measured in lumens and may be abbreviated as “lm” or “lm”. In order to calculate the required luminous flux for small devices such as a “candle” or “pear”, you should multiply the power of an “used” incandescent lamp in the same area by 10. For example, if a standard 60 W lamp was enough for lighting, then you will need LED device with a luminous flux of at least 600 lm.

It is equally important to take into account the voltage parameter at which the device will operate. Most modern LED lamps are produced to operate from a standard 220-230 volt power supply or from a 12-volt power source. Manufacturers supply sockets with small electronic boards (drivers), many of which have a stabilization function: a “candle” or “pear” with such a driver will shine equally brightly even with serious power surges in the network.

The light pulsation parameter of a particular lamp is of great importance. Ripple is fluctuations in the brightness and intensity of the light emitted by the device. The lower this setting, the better for any room (unless, of course, you are a fan of parties with strobe lights). Constantly flashing lights can not only irritate the eyes, but also lead to unpleasant sensations in the body, including headaches and general malaise. The range of permissible pulsation, depending on the type of illuminated room, ranges from 5 to 20%, while the human eye is able to notice pulsation from 35% and above.

Lifehack. The manufacturer most often does not indicate the pulsation level, but there is an easy way to check it at home.Turn on the camera on your smartphone and look at the light source through it: if dark stripes run across the image, it means it’s better to refuse the purchase.

Selection by location

In order to choose the right light source, it is necessary to take into account the purpose of the room. One of its most important parameters is associated with the place where the lamp is used: color temperature.

Many people are familiar with the concept of cold and warm light. Cooler (blue-blue, with light that increases the contrast of perception) shades of lighting are used in offices, hospitals, warehouses, etc. Warm (yellowish, reminiscent of light from a candle or fire) shades are better suited for residential premises. The color temperature parameter is most often indicated by the lamp manufacturer on its packaging.

Reference. To illuminate an office space, it is best to choose light sources with a neutral color temperature of about 4000 K.

If your goal is to install lighting equipment in the interior of your house or apartment, then you should select warmer and softer shades of light: the light from a device with a glow temperature of 2700–2800 K is best similar to the light of standard incandescent lamps.

If your home has standard dimming controls (i.e. dimmers), most regular LED bulbs will not work with them. In a lighting equipment store you can find special dimmers for LED light sources, which will allow you to adjust the brightness of the glow virtually to zero.

Another important fact is that LED lamps do not get along very well with switches that have a special light indicator on their body: even when the light is turned off, the lamp can continue to shine.Some manufacturers have long taken this feature into account and began to produce devices specialized for working with just such switches.

Popular manufacturers

There are many manufacturers of LED lamps, but only a few of them remain on the market for a long time due to the high quality and durability of their products. What companies are these? It is better to pay attention to the following:

1. Camelion.
2. Gauss.
3. Jazzway.
4. Navigator.
5. Feron.

When choosing, it is worth remembering that the market for LED lighting devices is full of fakes, so if the quality of the lamp is already in doubt at first glance, then it is better to refrain from purchasing. A low-quality device, as a rule, reveals itself already in the first days after purchase by an unstable glow or simply failure.