Big advantage of LED lamps in comparison with compact fluorescent lamps (energy saving) and glow lamps is extremely small energy consumption and big durability. How to choose ""svetodiodka"" instead of the glow lamp?
Construction features of glow lamps and LED lamps
The traditional glow lamp is the spiral from high-melting metal mounted in glass flask. Under the influence of the electric current passing through it the spiral is heated to high temperature and begins to shine. At the same time only about 10% of the spent energy turn into visible light, and other it is useless dissipates in the form of heat.
Luminous source in LED lamp as it is clear from the name, are LEDs. For work they need direct current of 6 or 12 Volts. That the lamp could work in the household alternating current main of 220 Volts the power supply unit (PSU) is built in everyone. The stabilized BP can work at the lowered tension and support the constant brightness of luminescence of LEDs, that is at voltage variation in network the lamp burns equally brightly.
In LED lamps the LEDs of different types differing in color of emitted light can be used.
Advantages of LED lamps
Rather high price of LED lamps is compensated by the whole complex of advantages:
- high efficiency and as a result economical electricity consumption — are about 8 times less than glow lamps of similar brightness;
- life cycle at 25-30 times longer;
- opportunity to select color of radiation according to the taste;
- unlike compact fluorescent lamps light-emitting diode do not flicker, and after inclusion burn with full brightness at once.
Selection of lamp for its characteristics
Correctly to pick up LED lamp, upon purchase it is necessary to pay attention to its characteristics which are specified on packing:
- supply voltage;
- luminous flux (or power consumption);
- color radiance temperature;
- possibility of work with svetoregulyator (light dimmers);
Supply voltage
This characteristic is specified on packing of lamp and on its body. If in the power supply network of your apartment unstable tension, you have to choose lamp which power supply unit allows it to work steadily at such changes.
Power consumption
We have got used to evaluate brightness of glow lamps in proportion to the power consumed by them.
As it was noted above, LED lamps consume approximately by 6–5 times the smaller power, than the same glow lamps on brightness. For example, 12 Watts "svetodiodka" approximately corresponds to 100-watt normal bulb, 5 Watts — 40-watt, etc.
More precisely brightness of lamp characterizes luminous flux which is measured in lumens. Here approximate ratio 1 to 10: the luminous flux 1000 lumen corresponds to brightness of the 100-watt glow lamp.
Color of radiation
Color of radiation of LED lamps is specified in degrees Kelvin and for convenience of the buyer is in addition described by words:
2700 To — warm light — the yellowish light similar to glow lamp radiation.
3000 To — warm white light — is recommended for premises.
4200 To — cold white light — is close to day, stimulates working capacity, is good in study or office.
Other characteristics
If you buy lamp for installation in the lamp from regulated brightness, on lamp there has to be mark "Dimmiruyemaya".
On average the sizes of LED lamps it is slightly more, than similar glow lamps. It should be considered when choosing lamp for the compact closed lamp: lamp dimensions are also specified on packing.