How to choose the right lamps for your home. Recommendations, tips and descriptions of types. How to choose an LED lamp for your home? Tips and reviews about manufacturers

Power, equivalent power and luminous flux

The power of energy-saving lamps is very small - from 4 W, and at first it is difficult to navigate: how much light will it give? We know very well how a regular incandescent lamp with a power of 40, 60, 75 or 95 W shines, and the lamps are designed for incandescent lamps of a certain power. Therefore, when choosing an energy-saving lamp, you need to pay attention to the power equivalent written on the packaging. For example, a power of 4.5–6 W is the equivalent of 40 W for an incandescent lamp, 6–10 W is the equivalent of 60 W. The boxes usually have inscriptions in Russian: for example, “5.5 W corresponds to 50 W,” but in English it is also easy to understand: “5.5 W similar to 50 W.”

Pay attention to the equivalent power

True, for some types of lamps, experts advise looking not so much at the power and equivalent, but at the luminous flux: power may not directly affect the brightness of the lamp, and there is no single standard for the relationship between power and brightness.

How do you know how much light a lamp will produce? This parameter best reflects the luminous flux measured in lumens. If you want an LED lamp to produce the same light as a 60 W incandescent lamp, then you need a lamp with a luminous flux of about 600 lm. If you want to replace a 40 W lamp, then the luminous flux should be 400 Lm, etc.

Color temperature

The lower the color temperature, the “yellower” and warmer the light; the more, the whiter (or bluer) and “colder”. It is measured in kelvins, just like ordinary temperature (kelvins are like degrees Celsius, only their zero is not at the freezing point of water, but at absolute zero), but you don’t have to think about it, just correlate the numbers.

Conventional incandescent light bulbs have a color temperature of less than 3000 K: about 2700–2800 K, so when switching from incandescent lamps to energy-saving ones, many feel that the light has become less pleasant, harsh, and irritating.

For energy-saving lamps, the warmest light will be 3000–3500 K; such lamps glow yellowish. If this parameter is from 4000 to 4500 K, then the light will be white and cold. In principle, this is a good option for “public places”; you can have such light at home if necessary, but you won’t relax with it. There is an even higher color temperature - 5000-6500, such lamps are not suitable for household lighting, only for hangars, warehouses, shops, salons, etc.

Warm or cold?

Color rendering index (CRI)

The light source affects the perception of color by the human eye. Sunlight is considered the reference; its color rendering index is 100. The closer the CRI is to this value, the more correct and natural colors we will see when illuminated by a lamp. For an energy-saving lamp, it is good if the CRI is greater than 80.

Service life

The “lifetime” of a lamp can be measured in hours (2000, 6000, 15000 hours), but this is more understandable to technical specialists, and it is convenient for consumers to count it in years, based on certain average conditions of use. Thus, LED lamps can last up to 15 years; luminescent - on average 5 years, but can be longer with proper use; halogen - much less.

Pay attention to service life

Flask shape

Do you want not just a light bulb, but a beautiful and original one - a ball, a candle? LED and halogen lamps provide the greatest scope for imagination. Gas-discharge and their household subtype - luminescent - come in the form of either tubes or spirals.

Standard screw bases

Energy-saving lamps with socket E40, E27 and E14 can be installed in sockets designed for a regular incandescent lamp. E27 is a standard household cartridge, has a 27 mm thread, E14 is a reduced cartridge, it has a 14 mm thread.

The screw bases of energy-saving lamps correspond to the bases of conventional incandescent lamps

Pin sockets

For home use, lamps with pin contacts are sometimes used; in their markings, the number following the letters indicates the distance between the pins in millimeters: GU4, GU5.3, GU10. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly the cartridge markings.

Adjusting brightness using a dimmer

This is also a way to save energy: instead of a regular key switch, a dimmer is installed (or the lamp is initially equipped with one) - and you can increase and decrease the brightness of the light bulb, forcing it to work at full power only when necessary. What is easy for incandescent lamps (they can all be controlled by a dimmer) has become a problem for energy-saving lamps: among them, only halogen lamps can be dimmed without any special restrictions. Fluorescent and LED lamps with adjustable brightness are available, but they are less common and are more expensive; be sure to look at the packaging for the inscription “with dimmer” or “without dimmer”).

Lamp with dimmer

Main or accent lighting lamps

Light can be scattered throughout the room or concentrated and narrowly directed: this type of lighting is called “spot” (“spot” - English) and is suitable for creating light accents in the interior or for reading.

Disposal

Many people are afraid to buy energy-saving lamps because they have heard that they cannot be disposed of with household waste, that is, simply thrown into the “trash” - because they contain mercury. In fact, its vapors are only found in fluorescent lamps, while LED and halogen lamps can be disposed of like regular incandescent lamps.

Fluorescent lamps

This type of gas discharge lamps is used in everyday life for residential premises. Gas-discharge is a slightly scary name, but it is these lamps, in the flasks of which there is an inert gas under pressure with an admixture of mercury vapor and other substances, that have come to be called energy-saving because of their minimal electricity consumption, long service life (5-20 times longer than incandescent lamps, 15–20 thousand hours) and a greater luminous flux than them (5–10 times). At the same time, such lamps require careful handling and proper disposal, therefore, when buying them, you must immediately be prepared for the fact that you cannot simply throw them in a bin.

Compact fluorescent lamp

Fluorescent lamps, which replace the usual “home” incandescent lamps, are called compact (CFL), because non-compact ones are those that are used in large rooms, they have infinitely long bulbs, and in CFLs the bulb shape is a twisted spiral.

In a CFL, electric discharges pass through an inert gas and mercury vapor, causing ultraviolet radiation, and from it a special powder begins to glow - a phosphor applied to the bulb from the inside, and it is this that simultaneously prevents the penetration of UV rays to the outside and glows with the light that we see and which is safe for our eyes. CFLs are sensitive to voltage fluctuations and frequent starts: they should not be constantly turned on and off if you leave the room for a short time.

Compact fluorescent lamps

Power and dimensions

CFLs have very little wattage compared to incandescent bulbs, but interestingly, the higher the wattage of a CFL, the larger it is. Incandescent lamps also have this dependence, but it is not so pronounced: the size will not interfere with using even a large incandescent lamp in a compact lampshade, but a large and powerful CFL may not fit. CFL power ranges from 5 to 55 W, but lamps up to 23 W are more common.

It is difficult to imagine how a century and a half ago humanity managed without lighting lamps. After the advent of this miracle of technology, for a long time we were content with ordinary incandescent lamps, but they, like candles and kerosene lamps, are already fading into oblivion. They are being replaced by more economical lamps that consume less electricity and last for years. But how can we, who are accustomed to focusing only on the power of an ordinary lamp and its base, choose the right energy-saving lamp for our home and apartment, since there are a huge number of them on store shelves? We were helped to figure it out by real experts in this field, employees of the online store 220svet.ru, who have been helping Russians make their lives brighter for several years in a row and are selling various kinds of lamps and fixtures.

The store delivers products to all regions of Russia, and over many years of operation it has managed to establish cooperation with major manufacturers, so it offers its customers competitive prices. The company sells a huge number of lamps of different types and power; the entire range can be found on the page https://220svet.ru/catalog/lampochki/. In addition, the online store sells floor lamps, sconces, spotlights, chandeliers, table lamps and other lighting items, offering customers a guarantee on all products.

No. 1. When can you not do without energy-saving lamps?

The whole world has recognized that energy-saving light bulbs are the future, but cheap incandescent light bulbs are still sold en masse. So which lamps are best to use? For lamps that operate at least 2-3 hours a day, it is better to take energy-saving lamps. In this case, the purchase will pay off within a couple of years, and then full savings will begin.

When we are talking about a lamp that is turned on infrequently and for a few minutes a day (for example, in basements and attics), then it will be more economical to use an incandescent lamp, at least while they are still on sale. By the way, the government of the country has already limited the sale of incandescent lamps with a power of more than 100 W and its next step will most likely be a ban on lamps with a power of more than 50 W.

No. 2. Types of energy saving lamps

Energy-saving lamps include:

• fluorescent lamps;
• LED lamps.

Looking ahead, we note that LED lamps are superior to fluorescent lamps in all respects: they are more durable, completely harmless, do not flicker, and their luminous flux does not decrease over time. LED lamps lose only in terms of price, but they are more economical in operation.

Both versions of energy-saving lamps differ from incandescent lamps in that all electricity is converted into visible light, while “Ilyich light bulbs” lose a significant part of the energy by converting it into heat.

Sometimes energy-saving lamps include halogen lamps., which is not entirely correct. They are 2-3 times more durable than conventional incandescent lamps, but are still significantly inferior to their LED and fluorescent counterparts. A halogen lamp is actually the same as an incandescent lamp, only filled with bromine or iodine vapor (substances belonging to the halogen group). In a conventional lamp, the tungsten atoms from which the coil is made begin to evaporate at high temperatures and deposit on colder surfaces. This is the main reason for their low durability. If you add halogens to the flask, they will react with tungsten, and the resulting compounds will then decompose into their original components: part of the tungsten returns to the spiral, and durability increases.

The service life of halogen lamps is 2-4 thousand hours, but when used together with a dimmer, the durability increases to 8-12 thousand hours. Such lamps have high quality color rendering, they are small, can be produced in interesting shapes and do not require specific disposal. Not the longest service life and low efficiency still do not allow halogen lamps to be classified as energy-saving.

No. 3. Fluorescent energy saving lamps

Fluorescent lamps are 5-20 times more durable than incandescent lamps and use 75% less electricity to produce the same light output. Visible light technology this is fundamentally different. In fluorescent lamps, an electrical discharge passes through vapors of mercury and inert gases, causing ultraviolet glow. When it passes through a layer of phosphor applied to the inner surface of the lamp bulb, it produces visible light.

Those lamps that are used in everyday life are more correctly called compact fluorescent lamps(CFL), since non-compact ones are also manufactured, which have very long bulbs and are used in large rooms. CFLs, as a rule, have a bulb in the shape of a twisted spiral and traditional screw bases, so these lamps can easily replace conventional incandescent lamps.

Advantages of fluorescent lamps:

Disadvantages of fluorescent lamps:

• the need for careful operation and proper disposal, since such lamps contain mercury, the amount of which can range from 2.3 mg to 1 g;
• sensitivity to voltage drops and frequent starts, which reduces service life. Experts do not recommend using fluorescent lamps in public places or equipping them with motion sensors. It is better not to turn off these lamps if you leave the room for a short time. The optimal indicator for achieving the greatest durability is 5 inclusions per day;
• The lamp needs some time to begin to shine at its maximum capacity. At room temperature this takes about 30-45 seconds;
• over time, the luminous flux of the lamp will decrease, which is associated with degradation of the phosphor, so it is better to take a lamp with a small power reserve;
• unpleasant flickering;
• complex connection diagram;
• sensitivity to high temperatures, so it is better not to use such lamps in luminaires that limit heat dissipation.

When using fluorescent lamps at low temperatures, their light output will be lower than declared. Such lamps cannot be used with dimmers. It is very rare on sale, but you can find lamps with adjustable brightness, but they cost several times more than regular ones and do not have a long service life.

No. 4. LED lamps

LED lamps are the pinnacle of light bulb evolution. They do not have the disadvantages characteristic of their analogues, they consume 6-10 times less electricity than incandescent lamps, and are several times more durable than fluorescent lamps. There are no tungsten spirals or harmful substances in such lamps - the light source is an LED, the complex principle of which allows one to dispense with the use of dangerous and toxic compounds.

The LED lamp can be part of a single unit or sold as a replacement bulb. The latter becomes the object of our attention.

Basic advantages of LED lamps:

Basic flaw Such lamps are expensive. There is an opportunity to save money - lamps from nameless Chinese manufacturers, but it is better not to buy them. Moreover, many Chinese and even some domestic manufacturers somewhat overestimate the characteristics of their lamps - it is better to take products from famous European companies. LED lamps are sensitive to high temperatures, so they cannot be used in saunas.

No. 5. Lamp power and luminous flux

Conventional incandescent lamps have been in use for so long that when choosing, we are accustomed to looking mainly at power as a key indicator. We all understand how a 40 W or 60 W lamp will shine. The power of energy-saving lamps is several times lower (4-25 W), so for many, purchasing a suitable lamp raises many questions. Manufacturers make this task easier for us and indicate on the packaging the equivalent power, i.e. tell us how an economical light bulb will shine, comparing it with the luminous flux of an incandescent lamp of a certain power (for example, on a fluorescent lamp it may be written “8 W corresponds to 40 W”).

The manufacturer's concern is pleasant, but educated people should understand that lamp power and light output are not the same thing, and the familiar watt is a unit of power. Luminous flux is measured in lumens. To make it easier to understand: a 40 W incandescent lamp gives a luminous flux of 470-500 lm, 60 W – 700-850 lm, 75 W – 900-1200 lm. Now, when studying the packaging of an economical lamp, you can already roughly imagine how it will shine.

When choosing a lamp with the required brightness level, you can also rely on power equivalent. For fluorescent lamps you can use a factor of 5: if it is indicated that the lamp has a power of 12 W, then this means that it will shine like a 60 W incandescent lamp. For LED this coefficient is about 7-8: a 10-12 W lamp will shine like a 75 W incandescent lamp.

The dependence of the luminous flux on power allows us to judge the efficiency of the lamp and its light output, which is measured in lm/W. Incandescent lamps for every 1 W of electricity consumed provide only 10-16 lm of ceiling light, i.e. have a light output of 10-16 lm/W. Halogen lamps have a light output of 15-22 lm/W, fluorescent lamps - 40-80 lm/W, LED lamps - 60-90 lm/W.

No. 6. Color temperature

A lamp with the same power can produce light of different shades, warmer or cooler. Color temperature is measured in Kelvin and must be indicated on the lamp packaging. On sale you can find lamps with temperature from 2700 K to 6500 K: The lower the value, the warmer and yellower the light will be.

When choosing, you can focus on the following standards:

It is undesirable to use lamps with different color temperatures in the same room - this will cause discomfort, and if it is constant, vision problems may arise.

No. 7. Color rendering index

The light source can greatly influence a person's perception of colors. We all know how the same shade can differ under different lighting. Sunlight is considered the reference, its color rendering index CRI is 100. For artificial light this figure is slightly lower, but the closer it is to 100, the more correct and natural colors we will see. All modern energy-saving lamps have CRI 80 or more– this is normal color rendition.

Color rendering and color temperature in the markings are encrypted three-digit code, for example, 830, where the first digit indicates the color rendering index (in our case it comes out to CRI 80), and the last two indicate the color temperature (3000 K).

No. 8. Service life

The manufacturer usually indicates durability in hours, but this parameter may not be entirely clear to the average user - it is more convenient for us to count in years. On average, under normal operating conditions, an LED lamp will last 10-15 years, a fluorescent lamp – about 5 years. Manufacturers provide a guarantee for LED lamps.

No. 9. Base type

Still considered the most popular classic Edison base with a diameter of 27 mm, which is denoted E27. Most household lamps are designed to install lamps with just such a base. This was the standard for incandescent lamps, and manufacturers of energy-saving lamps did everything for user convenience and mass-produced lamps with an E27 base. Some sconces, table lamps and small lamps may require lamps with a smaller base - E14. Large, powerful luminaires usually use lamps with a base E40. If it is difficult to determine which base a lamp needs, you can go to the store with an old incandescent lamp.

Compact lamps with pin contacts. In them, the base is marked with the letter G and the number following it, which indicates the distance between the pins in mm, for example G10.

No. 10. Bulb shape and brightness adjustment

If it is necessary for the lamp to provide not only light, but also perform a decorative function, then it is better to choose led lamps, which may be in the form candles, ball etc. Halogen and incandescent lamps provide even greater choice in this regard, but you won’t be able to save money with them. Fluorescent lamps They are produced only in the form of spirals and tubes.

If things are not so bad with the shape of the bulb of energy-saving lamps, then with brightness adjustment everything is much worse. Of course, it is possible to find a sample that can be connected to a dimmer, but it will not be cheap, and an economical lamp still does not implement all the possibilities for adjusting the brightness. If you want to use a dimmer, it is better to take a halogen lamp.

In conclusion

To ensure that the energy-saving lamp meets your expectations, buy products from well-known manufacturers(Philips, OSRAM, GE, Ecola) and ask about the warranty period. A normal LED lamp will have a warranty of 2-3 years, not 6 months.

Electricity prices are now such that, willy-nilly, you begin to think about saving. The easiest way to lower your energy bills is to reduce your lighting costs. It is this that “eats” most of the kilowatts in an ordinary apartment or house. We will discuss which lamps are better for the home and according to what parameters in this article.

You can see different lamps on store shelves. Let's take a closer look at those that are installed in private houses and apartments.

Lighting in the house should be cozy, comfortable... preferably economical

Incandescent lamps

The oldest lighting devices are more than a century old. They provide light that is pleasant to the eye, but during operation they get very hot, as they have low efficiency - about 97% of the energy is spent on heat generation. Therefore, lighting using conventional incandescent lamps is expensive. It is for this reason that many decide to replace them with more economical ones, while deciding which lamps are better for their home and wallet.

There is another unpleasant property of incandescent lamps - their service life is not very long. On average it is about 1000 -3000 hours. Since the price of these lighting fixtures is low, it is a small burden on the wallet. However, frequent replacement can be nerve-wracking - you have to always have a couple of pieces in stock.

A widespread trend - traditional incandescent lamps are being replaced by more economical ones

It is also worth taking into account that, due to the design features, they are produced only with a screw base, but they operate from a 220 V network and do not require any converters or special devices. Due to the large amount of heat, they are not used for lighting furniture; they are not compatible with all suspended ceilings, and they are not at all friendly with suspended ceilings. In general, this is a classic lighting, but not ideal.

Halogen

Halogen lamps are a type of incandescent lamp. They differ in that the flask is filled with halogen vapor (most often iodine or bromine), which increases the service life by 2-3 times. The design allows them to be made not only with a screw base, but also with a pin base. Different bulb shapes and the use of reflective coating make it possible to create light sources with different scattering angles. Therefore, at one time, they were widely used as built-in ceilings or furniture.

Halogen incandescent lamps - a more “advanced” option

Since these are also incandescent lamps, they have almost the same disadvantages - significant heat generation. And that's the problem. But the energy consumption is less (about 2-3 times). So they are more economical compared to the classic design. But they have an additional disadvantage - they do not tolerate contaminants on the flask. A fingerprint can cause burnout. Therefore, installation must be done with gloves.

Luminescent: tubular and compact (housekeepers)

The operation of these lighting devices uses another principle - the property of certain phosphor substances to emit light under certain conditions. Structurally, it consists of a glass tube coated with a phosphor. Inside the tube there are electrodes and a certain amount of mercury vapor. An electric charge is created on the electrodes, the energy of which is converted into light radiation using a phosphor.

To create and maintain an electric charge, fluorescent lamps need a starting and regulating device - a voltage transformer and a starter. In the standard version, these devices are mounted on the body of lamps, which can only work with this type of lighting fixture.

Available in two types:

If we talk about comparison with incandescent lamps, they are 3 times more economical and hardly heat up. A serious disadvantage is that due to the pulsation, the light is unpleasant for the eyes and potentially hazardous to health (leads to increased fatigue and can cause a bad mood). In this type of lighting fixtures, it is almost impossible to get rid of pulsation. What can be done is to minimize it and, by adding one incandescent lamp, reduce the negative effect to a minimum.

Many are also concerned that the flask contains mercury vapor inside, which carries a potential danger. This is briefly about the main disadvantages; then we will consider in more detail the pros and cons of fluorescent lamps.

LED

This is the third type of lamp that uses semiconductor devices - LEDs. They do not require any special atmosphere, so their flask is not airtight, and this is more a tribute to tradition than a necessity. All the LEDs need to operate is a constant voltage of 12 V or 24 V. So operation is not difficult - to connect to a 220 V network you need a voltage converter (power supply, adapter). In LED lamps for standard luminaires, this converter is built into the housing, so they can easily replace conventional incandescent lamps.

Briefly about the properties. They have high efficiency - they require 7-8 times less electricity than similar incandescent lamps, and have a much longer service life (according to manufacturers' requests, they can work for 25-35 years). Disadvantages - they are expensive, it is difficult to determine the quality, low-grade ones have strong pulsation, which negatively affects the eyes and well-being, and often fail. Therefore, choosing an LED lamp is not an easy task and requires certain knowledge. But the bills actually become significantly smaller.

Which lamps are best for home

All these lighting devices are used to illuminate residential premises. It is definitely impossible to answer which lamps are best for the home - they all have advantages and disadvantages. If your main concern is eye comfort, the answer to the question “which lamps are best for the home” is incandescent. But at the same time you will not be able to save on lighting. The situation is a little better with halogen ones. But the lighting from 12 V halogens is more pleasing to the eye, which requires transformers. Those that operate on 220 V have too bright light.

When it comes to saving on electricity bills, LED bulbs are the best. This is undeniable. But you need to buy them wisely - so that they are of good quality and work for a long time, but these are expensive. But, even under such conditions, they are beneficial, since they really help to significantly reduce energy consumption. A

Why LED and not housekeepers? Let's compare their properties.

Comparing fluorescent and LED light bulbs

When people have a desire to reduce their electricity costs, they begin to think about replacing incandescent lamps with more energy-efficient ones. These are considered energy-saving (compact fluorescent) and LED. To understand which lamps are best for your home, you need to take a closer look at their advantages and disadvantages.

Having decided to replace incandescent lamps with more economical ones, you need to decide the question: which lamps are better for the home - LED or compact fluorescent

Housekeepers

This is what compact fluorescent lamps are called. They were the first to appear on the market (compared to LED ones), which is why this name was assigned to them. Let's start with advantages:

At the time this was a very good offer. The ability to obtain “warm” and “cold” light and save on electricity - all this has led to the popularity of energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs.

But flaws they have serious:

There are many shortcomings, and almost all of them are serious. They are the ones who stop many, even despite the savings.

LED

These light bulbs are made on the basis of semiconductor elements - LEDs. A certain number of them are installed in a single housing and connected to a power source. Power supply is from a constant voltage of 12 V. In order to use lamps in standard lamps, a rectifier and a circuit that lowers the voltage to 12 V are built into the housing (both of these devices are often called a driver).

LEDs generate heat when operating. To remove it, a radiator is built into the body. And the bases of these lamps are different. They can be installed instead of incandescent lamps of different sizes, halogen, tubular fluorescent.

If we compare all four types in terms of power consumption with equal luminous flux

Advantages LED lamps:

• They consume 7-8 times less electricity than incandescent ones, and 2-3 times less than fluorescent ones (housekeepers too).
• They have a long service life.
• Not afraid of vibration and shock.
• Lights up immediately after switching on.
• They have a wide range of operating temperatures -40°C to +40°C.
• Can be of any shade (any color).
• There are dimmable ones (changing the brightness of the light).

The advantages are impressive. The efficiency and service life are particularly impressive. But the figures stated by the manufacturers (about 25-35 years) must be treated with skepticism. They are for ideal conditions, which are practically unattainable in our realities. The warranty period declared by the manufacturers actually indicates the service life. This is the time they will most likely work. But even despite this, the period is considerable - 2-5 years.

Without shortcomings it didn't work either:

• High price. 4-5 times more expensive than energy-saving ones and 20-40 times more expensive than incandescent ones.
• Low quality LED lamps have significant pulsation.
• Without a diffuser, the light will blind the eyes, which is why most LED lamps are made with milky glass. Those in a transparent flask can only be used in conjunction with matte shades.
• LEDs are afraid of overheating. When the critical temperature (about 90°C) is exceeded for a long time, they lose their brightness. Therefore, it is unreasonable to use LED lamps in closed-type luminaires.

When compared with the properties of fluorescent lamps, LEDs clearly have the advantage. But everything is not so rosy in reality.

Which lamps are better for the home: LED or fluorescent?

In fact, LED lamps are better in all respects. But eating it hurts “BUT”. These must be high-quality LED lamps. The thing is that the manufacturing technology is simple and does not require highly complex or very expensive equipment. It is difficult to make LEDs, but assembling an LED light bulb from them is not difficult. That’s why there are a lot of fakes and low-quality goods on the market. They use cheap, low-quality crystals; the driver is made to be the simplest, which does not suppress flicker and quickly fails.

The difficulty is that it is impossible to determine “by eye” the quality of LEDs or the same driver. Some experts are able to distinguish good LEDs by appearance. But in lamps they are hidden under a frosted bulb. Having set a goal, their quality can be checked by indirect signs - by measuring illumination, pulsation, and assessing color rendition. But the quality of the parts used in the power supply cannot be assessed. You will only find out when something burns out.

All this leads to the fact that many consider LED lamps unreliable - they burn out quickly and are expensive. So it turns out that there is no saving. And there are also problems with flickering... It seems so, but this is only true if you buy cheap LED lamps. Branded lamps really serve for years without problems and produce an even light that is pleasing to the eyes. So the main task is to find good quality LED lamps. And then you will know exactly which lamps are best for your home.

Instead of the bottom line: replacing incandescent lamps with LED ones will save on lighting bills only if they are used for a long time, and this is possible only if they are of high quality. High-quality light bulbs are not cheap. So, perhaps, this is the case when saving during the purchase is not worth it.

Many of you have long switched from incandescent sources to energy-saving light bulbs, and are now thinking about LED ones. The rationality of the transition must be calculated for each case separately and depends on the mode in which it is used. It is especially not recommended to install energy-saving lamps where they operate in short-term mode. They ignite slowly, when it flares up at full power, then you already leave the room and turn off the light.

• 1. Energy saving lamps types and prices
• 2. How to choose
• 3. Power matching
• 4. Luminous flux and power
• 5. Example of Philips characteristics
• 6. Service life
• 7. Why does it blink or flash?
• 8. Which light bulbs are better: LED or energy-saving?
• 9. Circuit and power supply

Energy saving lamps types and prices

Energy-saving lamps are compact fluorescent light bulbs, abbreviated as CFLs. The abbreviation will be used throughout the text. By design, this is a conventional fluorescent light source in a more compact format. The power supply is installed at the base of the case near the plinth; for cooling, small holes are made through which air circulates.

1. shape in the form of a spiral, circle, square, horseshoe;
2. base E14, E27, E40;
3. with a flask in the shape of a pear, candle, ball;
4. Possibility of brightness control, dimming.

If you decide to switch from CFLs to LEDs, you will encounter a common problem. For LEDs with an E14 base, the luminous flux is no more than 600lm, due to the fact that the sizes are limited. The power in this case is 6-7W, this is almost analogous to a 60W incandescent. LEDs may not be enough to illuminate a room where CFLs previously stood. The illumination will be lower than expected, but it should be with a margin, taking into account the degradation of LEDs. Even the Chinese don’t have powerful ones, although they write in parameters from 1000 to 1500 lm, which is 2-3 times too high.

Only recently E14 LEDs with 800-900 lumens, power consumption 10W, produced by X-Flash have appeared. But now they are in short supply, E14 at 10W are sold out immediately, they are not even often available on the manufacturer’s website.

The main disadvantage of CFLs will be:

1. slow ignition for up to 10 minutes;
2. reduced light output at low temperatures.

How to choose

To choose the best energy-saving lamps you need to know 9 basic parameters, half are similar to diode ones.

Key Features:

1. rated power - energy consumption;
2. power factor - the ratio of active and reactive;
3. luminous flux – source brightness;
4. color temperature – 2700K warm white or neutral white 4000K;
5. color rendering index CRI – color rendering of objects;
6. warm-up time - the period of time after which it shines by 60-80%;
7. ignition time – time required for ignition;
8. service life - the number of hours after which the brightness will drop by 30% of the initial value;
9. number of switching cycles.

The easiest way to choose the best is by brand, it should be well-known. If you are hearing the brand name for the first time, it is better to refuse. The larger the brand, the more they worry about quality. When you compare energy-saving ones in price with cheap diode ones, then in terms of service life they will not work much longer than CFLs. A good LED costs from 200 rubles.

Consider the installation location; if it is on the street or in the entrance, there will be many people who want to steal it or break it. That’s why I put filament LEDs with a broken bulb in the entrance; they can’t be unscrewed without a tool. If you try to twist it by hand, you will break the LEDs, and it’s not very noticeable in the lampshade.

Power matching

Energy saving lamps power table

A feature of energy-saving lamps E14, E27, E40 is the lack of dimming and brightness adjustment. A constant high voltage is required to maintain the glow. But after looking through the Osram website, it turned out they have models with brightness control.

The table shows the correspondence between LED and incandescent.

Incandescent power and compliance table.

To simplify the calculation of the incandescent analogue, use a coefficient of 5. For example, you have a 9W CFL, multiply 9w by 5, it turns out it is an analogue of a 45W light bulb.

Luminous flux and power

As elsewhere, when choosing, look not only at the price, but use the rule: “cheap cannot be good, no matter what the manufacturer promises.” Too often I come across deception from stores and manufacturers. The economic situation in Russia in 2016 is difficult, so in order to maintain business, many begin to deceive the buyer, just so that sales do not fall.

An example would be the ASD brand, which overestimates the power and luminous flux of its lamps and fixtures. Their products are cheap, and combined with high performance and service life, they are popular. It turns out that the one who lied the most sold the most. If the price is equal, you will choose where they promise more.

Luminous flux and power table.

Example of Philips specifications

Service life

Nowadays, a large number of energy-saving lamps are imported from China. They look for a factory in China to produce light bulbs, put their own brand on them and sell them in Russia. To sell, a brand does not have to understand them and have its own laboratory. The Chinese take advantage of this by slipping in worse LEDs with worse parameters. Then it turns out that the manufacturer promises certain parameters, but in reality the technical characteristics are different.

1. Chinese up to 3,000 - 5,000 hours, although they promise up to 10,000 hours;
2. branded 6,000 – 10,000 h.

Probability of failure fromOsram.

Domestic brands send lighting equipment to me for testing, some of them are very deceived by the Chinese and do not admit to deception. They slip in false test results as evidence with which they can convince an amateur. After looking at the test results, it was clear how they were deceiving.

Cheap lamps from little-known domestic brands work much less than branded energy-saving lamps from Osram, Philips and other well-known ones. Cheap ones have lower quality components in the power supply. In addition, it gets very hot, shortening its service life. You've probably seen blackened ones in the part where the power supply is located.

The service life is also affected by the build quality; Chinese manufacturers save on everything, even where it is impossible to do so. Therefore, instead of the promised 15,000 hours, the cheap one works for 5,000 hours, that is, the characteristics are overestimated. Branded Philips and Osram are guaranteed to work for a specified period of time; abroad the requirements for light bulbs are more stringent.

Philips has models with an operating time of up to 10 thousand hours, but their stage is correspondingly much higher. It can be indirectly determined by the warranty period. If the warranty is 1 year, then do not expect long-term performance. A 3-5 year guarantee is given only for high-quality

Why is it blinking or flashing?

Many of you ask why the energy-saving light bulb blinks when the switch is off or when the lights are off? Most likely you have an illuminated switch installed. A small current passes through the backlight, which charges the energy-saving power supply. Once the power supply has accumulated enough energy, it flashes. Then the process is repeated.

To prevent it from flickering or blinking, you will need to remove the backlight in the switch; this is the easiest and most optimal way. There are also options for installing a small load in parallel so that the current flows to it. Most LEDs have the same problem and are also solved.

Which light bulbs are better: LED or energy-saving?

In terms of efficiency, LED and energy-saving lamps differ on average by 2 times. To get an analogue of a 100W incandescent at 1300 lumens, you will need:

1. diode 15W;
2. energy saving 25W - 30W.

The luminous flux depends on the quality of the components used and on the amount of phosphor applied to the walls of the spiral inside. Manufacturers like to indicate the service life of LEDs as the life of the light bulb; in fact, these are completely different values. Therefore, it is difficult to compare different types of light sources.

Circuit and power supply

The energy-saving scheme is the same as that of a conventional fluorescent tube for Armstrong 36W lamps. It is powered by a starter that starts the light with high voltage. The power supply is a regular starter, such as an electronic ballast (electronic ballast).

Minor modification required for manufacturing. A transformer with a stabilizer is connected at the output. The most difficult thing is to find or select a suitable transformer. If it does not fit, then burn the entire structure. It will still take time to set up. If you don’t have good amateur radio experience, then you don’t have much of a chance to assemble it correctly.

Often such power supplies have low reliability because they are subject to high heat, so much so that even plastic turns black. Many people still have outdated equipment, such as VCRs, so it’s easier to take a ready-made unit from household appliances that are faulty or outdated.

Even with my experience, I am periodically exposed to high voltage from 220V that even screwdrivers melt. The sensations are not the most pleasant, so it is better not to climb into high-voltage blocks on your own. Even a non-discharged capacitor can give you a big treat.

In Europe, even at the household level, traditional incandescent lamps have not been found for a long time. They are being replaced by fluorescent or LED analogues, which are superior to outdated light sources in many respects. In Russia, the process of updating lamps began only a few years ago, but it is still impossible to talk about the desire of users to abandon their usual devices. In part, this attitude can be justified by the high cost of more technologically advanced products and the spread of rumors about their health hazards. But, as practice shows, in terms of the totality of performance qualities, modern lighting technology is the optimal solution. All that remains is to decide which light bulb is better - LED or energy-saving? Both options appeared on the market relatively recently, but to this day most consumers do not have a clear understanding of the properties of this product.

Characteristics of LED models

One of the main characteristics of a lamp is power. The brightness of the light beam directly depends on it, but also the characteristics of LED devices include a reduction in the influence of power on energy consumption. In such models this indicator has a wider range, but in standard versions it ranges from 4.5 to 15 W. The advantages of lamps for LED bulbs include the ability to regulate the parameters of the light beam with the expectation of minimizing electricity consumption. Light brightness is measured in lumens, and the ratio of this indicator to power in LED models can be called one of the most favorable. So, a 15 W light bulb corresponds to a brightness of 136 Lm, and a 25 W model has a brightness of 249 Lm.

Another significant characteristic is measured in kelvins (K). LED models are quite diverse in this parameter as well. For example, there are 3300K options that provide so-called warm light. The standard value is 4000 K. This is natural, or daylight, - the best option if you want to provide lighting for your home with natural properties for the eye to perceive. Less common is “cold” light, which corresponds to a value of 5000 K. It is usually used in special cases, for example, in production.

Reviews of LED lamps

LED lamps are positioned as devices that provide high-quality and pleasant lighting with economical energy consumption. And users confirm these qualities. There is also a variety of housing designs for such products, which makes it possible to implement any lighting system configurations with minimal installation effort. After switching from traditional models to LED ceiling lamps, many note a reduction in energy costs to 200-300 rubles. per month.

Now it’s worth moving on to the negative reviews from users of such lamps. Although the emission spectrum generally evokes favorable opinions, the light supply is inferior even to incandescent lamps in terms of scattering parameters. This is partly why interior designers tend to use multiple spot LEDs to cover an entire space. Therefore, you should prepare in advance to ensure the narrowly directed flow that LED light bulbs provide. How to choose the appropriate option for implementing an optimal LED lighting system - this question is largely determined by the needs of the user. The best use of such models involves the organization of separate illuminated zones.

The best LED lamps

Experts evaluate the quality of lamps by comparing the data declared by the manufacturer with the indicators identified in practice. Tests show that most lamps on the market simply do not meet the specifications stated on the packaging. For example, if a power of 20-30 W is declared, then there is a risk of receiving actual data of 15 and 25 W, respectively. Moreover, the more powerful the declared indicator, the higher the gap with actual data may be. In this regard, the most reliable manufacturers include the brands Verbatim, Philips and Osram. We can say that these are the best LED light bulbs, since their users receive performance indicators that are closest to the characteristics indicated in the labeling.

Characteristics of energy-saving lamps

Fluorescent models provide lighting using different operating principles. They transfer a quarter of the energy in the form of heat, and the rest is converted into light. The power range of such devices varies from 7 to 250 W. However, these values ​​should not be considered in terms of compliance with incandescent lamps. The ratio of the power of energy-saving models to traditional sources is 1 to 5. Further, based on the characteristics of luminous efficiency, we can get closer to the answer to the question of which light bulb is better - LED or energy-saving. As already noted, in Led models the ratio of power to luminous flux characteristics is optimal and implies the possibility of regulation. In turn, energy-saving lamps demonstrate a luminous efficiency to power ratio in the range of 10-15 lm/W. This is a low indicator, so it is better to give preference in assessing this criterion

Reviews of energy-saving models

Such devices are popular mainly due to their economical energy consumption and the ability to provide light to large areas. As the manufacturers themselves note, even entry-level products can last at least 7 thousand hours, which also attracts a considerable part of buyers. However, reviews of lamps of this type after long-term use note the non-standard nature of their glow. Energy-saving models provide good dispersion and brightness, but this light can be tiring on the eyes. In addition, the specific base causes installation problems for many - in any case, after installation the structure looks rather sloppy. But the main fear of users of such lamps relates to the mercury content. Because of this nuance, many people abandon luminescent products altogether. Otherwise, extreme care should be taken when handling gas-containing devices.

The best energy saving lamps

We have already mentioned which are a type of energy-saving models. Both types belong to gas-discharge light sources, but they differ in characteristics. Thus, in the case of luminescent versions, there is a higher luminous efficiency, so it is advisable to use them for domestic needs. Traditional energy-saving incandescent lamps are more often used in public places, institutions and industries. In both cases, to identify the optimal option, you should be guided by two characteristics - power and durability. As a rule, such models do not require high lighting requirements. To cover a medium-sized room, 15-20 W will be enough. The service life indicator has implications in terms of luminous flux characteristics. The longer the working period, the lower the luminous flux.

Comparison of lamps

To begin with, it is worth noting the general advantages that these types of lamps have. They are united by economic benefits from use, durability (although LED models have a slight advantage) and provision of sufficient illumination. Now we can move on to the question of which light bulb is better - LED or energy-saving? The first option is advisable to use if a design accent is planned in the lighting system. Such models are distinguished by their aesthetic appearance and fit seamlessly into modern interiors. Luminescent models are not the most aesthetically attractive option, but with proper installation they will also provide a decent result. The advantages of LED lamps include their safety for health, while gas-discharge counterparts are potentially dangerous due to their mercury content. Thus, based on the combination of qualities, it makes sense to turn first to LED technology, although such products are more expensive.

Other lamp options

There is still a demand for both classic incandescent lamps and more modern halogen models. These types of lamps are inferior to LED lamps in terms of economy and durability, but they also have their advantages. For example, halogen versions have perhaps the best light transmission. They are presented on the market in different modifications, which differ in design, size and shape.

Incandescent lamps are also not a thing of the past. This is largely due to their affordability. The cost of one product is within 100 rubles, which is very attractive compared to expensive LEDs. In addition, thanks to incandescent lamps, you can get high-quality lighting at home without tiring your eyes. The main thing is to purchase models from reputable manufacturers.

Nuances of optimal lamp selection

In order not to be disappointed in the choice, you should initially rely on specific requests. In some cases, for example, the purchase of modern technological versions is not justified, so you should determine the requirements in advance. So, for long-term use in a house or apartment, it is advisable to use LED light bulbs. How to choose the right option? First, consider the lighting area, which will determine the appropriate power. Secondly, you need to think about the location and installation diagram - this will help you choose the right size and shape of the lamp. Energy-saving models are appropriate for use in large non-residential premises. When purchasing, you should also pay attention to size and power.

Requirements for the lamp

When comparing types of lamps, you should not ignore the characteristics of the lamp. In many ways, this shell determines the quality of light and the appearance of lighting products. Today there are compact ceiling lamps, massive lampshades, and delicate sconces - this choice is determined by the individual needs of users. However, different types of lamps differ in the shape of the base, which can also limit the choice of lamp. Minion sockets marked E14 and E27 are intended for use at home. By the way, the second number indicates the diameter of the connector in millimeters. GU sockets, which are designed exclusively to work with 12 V lamps, are also in demand.

Conclusion

One of the most reliable approaches to choosing a device involves assessing its shortcomings. This principle can also help in answering the question of which light bulb is better - LED or energy-saving? Among the main disadvantages of LED models are the narrow direction of light, high cost and a specific glow that can irritate the eyes. As for the disadvantages of energy-saving lamps, they are expressed in potential harm to health and, again, in considerable cost. Thus, for residential premises, an LED lamp will definitely be the best choice as a safe, beautiful and economical light source. The same advantages in the form of minimizing costs should be provided in non-residential premises using an energy-saving lamp. The mercury content in this case will not be so dangerous.