This post answers the 10 (now 27 and growing) most need-to-know questions you have about LED light bulbs. Questions about their health benefits, money-saving potential and the quality of their light. And, what to do with your dimmer switches and low voltage transformers when changing to LED lamps.
I have written this post in a questions and answers format. So, you can quickly identify the queries you most want answering. After reading, you will be able to address all the issues associated with converting to LED. I have included every Q&A I can think of below to help you make a smooth transition.
- What are lumens and how many lumens do I need?
- Changing incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs.
- Must I change a low voltage transformer for an LED driver?
- What is a trailing edge dimmer switch?
- Changing a CFL light bulb to an LED bulb.
- Here are the best LED light bulbs!
- Are there any dangerous IR or UV emissions from LED bulbs?
- Can LED light be used as a therapy for arthritis and depression?
- Replacing halogen bulbs with LED bulbs.
- More ways LED bulbs will save you money.
- LED bulbs are not expensive – here’s why!
- The full range of LED light bulbs for your home.
- It’s amazing how much electricity LED bulbs use.
- It’s surprising how many years LED bulbs last.
- Can you put LED bulbs in halogen light fittings?
- Are LED bulbs bright enough?
- Do LED bulbs get hot and damage light fittings?
- Using LED bulbs outside in cold weather.
- LED bulbs and low voltage garden lighting.
- What is LED colour temperature?
- LED light bulb colours – the shades of white!
- Are LED light bulbs safe to use at home?
- Why remove the ballast when fitting an LED fluorescent tube?
- Are you thinking of using dimmable LED bulbs?
- What does LED actually mean?
- LED light bulbs and your carbon footprint.
- Using different makes of LED on the same dimmer.
- CONCLUSION
1. Lumens – the LED light bulb and GLS light bulb!
Lumens are the only accurate way to measure the brightness of a light bulb. Contrary to what you may have thought, watts are a measurement of electrical power. They are not a measurement of the brightness of a light bulb. Many people would buy a GLS light bulb by wattage believing it was the indicator of brightness. It was not, however, you will get used to ordering your lamps by lumens just as you did by watts.
What are lumens and how many lumens do I need are both common questions. Now that you know what lumens are, how many lumens do you need. Manufacturers have done a good job of making this clear on their packaging. The lumens and wattage are clearly printed on every box. So, it’s a good idea to keep one item of packaging for each of the LED light bulbs you use. That way, you can replace them with the same brand (which is important if you are dimming) and lumens.
It can be confusing for those who do not know the ‘lumens per watt’ count for their bulbs. If you’re changing from filament light bulbs to LEDs, that’s something you must know. But fortunately, you don’t have to convert ‘lumens to watts’ or ‘watts to lumens’ to identify which lamp you need. That information is now freely available. You will find it on the MR16 LED, G9 LED and our other product pages.
2. Should I change all my incandescent light bulbs to decorative LED bulbs?
That’s the question, should I change all my bulbs to LED. No, that’s not a good idea. You should only put LED bulbs in the busiest rooms, the rooms where you spend most of your time. In most cases that will be the living room and the kitchen. Putting them in your other rooms would be a waste of money.
Fitting an LED in a toilet would not be viable. For example, it could last about 25,000 hours which is equal to 1.5 million minutes. If the toilet only gets used for 30 minutes per day it will last for 50,000 days. As you know 50,000 days means it will last for over 136 years. It will take decades just to recover it’s cost and that’s before you start saving any money.
Instead, keep the incandescent light bulbs and CFL bulbs you have removed from your light fittings. Those lamps you have removed and replaced with LEDs. Then, use them up in toilets, bedrooms, the cellar and any rooms that get very little use. That way, those GLS light bulbs you’ve been using won’t go to waste.
Having said that, there will come a time when the standard GLS light bulb is no longer available. Until that time comes, continue using them in toilets etc. as that will be your cheapest option.
3. Do I have to change my low voltage lighting transformer for an LED driver?
Do you need to change the transformer for LED lights is a common question. Are you replacing halogen light bulbs with LED bulbs? If you are, I recommend that you fit an LED driver. The low voltage lighting transformer might be able to run the LED lamps. But, it’s worth noting it may reduce their life. If the LED bulbs do not work, the low voltage lighting transformer will have to be replaced with the appropriate power supply.
For the power supply, you can use either a constant current LED driver or a constant voltage LED driver. And you can use a dimmable driver if you want to dim them.
With low voltage lighting, it is not always possible to remove the 12V lighting transformer. Some track lighting, for instance, has the 12V lighting transformer attached to the end of the track. In situations like that, if the LED bulbs do not work, the lighting track will usually have to be replaced. Always ask for advice from the Company that makes the lighting track and low voltage lighting transformer.
4. What is a trailing edge dimmer switch for LED light bulbs?
So then, what is a trailing edge dimmer switch. If you intend to dim your LED light fittings, you may have to use a special compatible dimmer. The trailing edge dimmer switch is designed to work with very low wattages. But, if you are already using a standard (incandescent) dimmer switch. You might be lucky and it may work OK. One option is to install dimmable LED bulbs and see what happens.
Using standard dimmer switches could mean a reduced light output. But, this should be minimal. If you are happy with their performance a new dimmer may not be necessary. But if there are problems with dimming, flickering or dimmer switch buzzing. Then, it will need changing. If you are using a standard dimmer switch, contact the manufacturer if possible. You can ask their advice before converting.
5. Is it worth changing a CFL light bulb to an LED lamp?
No, it’s definitely not worth changing a CFL light bulb to an LED lamp. Even though when comparing the two, the LED is the clear winner. There would only be a tiny saving by changing because of the slightly lower wattage.
It would take years to claw back the cost of a perfectly good CFL light bulb. A CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) you would have made redundant for no good reason. It will be far cheaper to carry on using the CFL bulbs. Then replace each one with an LED lamp when they expire. As long as you are happy with the quality of light from the CFL bulbs, it is not worth changing.
6. What are the best LED light bulbs?
With every product, there are both budget and premium brands from which to choose. You will find LEDs are no exception. Low-quality lamps can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few months and sometimes more. Quality branded lamps do cost more initially. But, they last much longer so work out cheaper in the long term.
So, what are the best LED light bulbs? If you stick with Osram, Venture, GE, Radium and Philips, you won’t go far wrong. Light bulbs from them, usually do exactly what it says on the box. A good policy would be, if you don’t recognise the brand name on the packaging, don’t buy it! Remember, established brands have a reputation to protect, budget brands do not.
You can buy LEDs with BC (B22), SBC (B15), ES (E27), and SES (E14) caps to replace incandescent light bulbs. They are available as a candle, golfball, GLS, Par38, reflector and capsule bulb. And, there is a 25W, 40W, 60W and 100W equivalent LED replacement. That means you can fit lamps with lower wattage’s. And, at the same time, match the brightness of the incandescent light bulbs.
7. Are there any IR or UV emissions from LED light bulbs?
LED lighting produces very little infrared (IR) and almost no ultraviolet (UV) light. The amounts they do emit are so small that most manufacturers list them as IR and UV free. The low IR and UV factors remove any concerns there are over skin cancer and other health issues. It means they are safe for use in working environments as well as the home.
It’s worth remembering there are other benefits to using LEDs apart from the health issues. For instance, their light is far less destructive than that of filament light bulbs. Especially, when it comes to fabrics, paintings, ornaments and other exhibits.
Infrared light will heat any object it comes into contact with. That will cause it to expand and contract. Ultraviolet light can neutralize the chemical bond in colours and bleach them white. IR and UV light can be very harmful. They will damage anything sensitive they touch especially when working together. Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are well known for their IR and UV emissions.
8. Can LED light be used as a therapy for arthritis and depression?
Studies have shown that LED’s are excellent at relieving pain. Especially for those suffering from arthritis. It was found that the body absorbs the light and stimulates bones, joints and muscles. For this reason, many hospitals are changing from fluorescent tubes to LED tubes. They are installing them in their patient wards and recovery rooms.
LED light therapy for depression is another benefit for those fighting this condition.
They are also used to boost the everyday well-being of those who work indoors. Their light is beneficial at any time but especially during the darker winter months. In the winter there’s limited exposure to natural light. That can negatively impact many people.
9. Can I replace halogen bulbs with LED bulbs?
The new LEDs are made to the same dimensions as the old filament light bulbs they were designed to replace. Whether it’s gold downlights, a track lighting kit or kitchen wall lights. In most cases, the new lamps will fit without any difficulty.
Installing them into your existing halogen light fittings should not be a problem. If you are using a standard dimmer switch you may have to change it (see Q4) for a trailing edge dimmer switch. And, you may have to replace your low voltage lighting transformer (see Q3) with an LED driver.
10. How will using LED light bulbs save me money?
At home, bathrooms and kitchens often contain five, ten or even twenty low voltage bulbs. Low voltage bulbs can have wattage’s as high as 20W, 35W or even 50W. In a busy room, that many spot light bulbs will burn a lot of electricity.
The LED versions of those bulbs are only 4W, 6W and 7W so you can make huge savings. If you change all your spot light bulbs your savings can be even higher.
At work, office lighting and stairwell lighting can consume an enormous amount of energy. So, your electric bills can be horrendous. By installing lamps with a lower wattage, there is a huge potential for savings depending on the size of the business.
In the summertime, filament light bulbs and fluorescent tubes create a lot of heat. At that time of year, commercial air conditioning systems have to work hard to keep rooms cool. That can be very expensive. But lower wattages generate a lot less heat. So, changing to them would mean air conditioning systems playing a reduced role.
And, because LED bulbs last so long, re-lamping every few years would no longer be necessary. This saves more money and gives maintenance personnel the time to get on with other jobs.
11. Why are LED bulbs so expensive?
When everything’s taken into consideration, LED bulbs work out cheaper than filament light bulbs. It’s their initial cost that makes them appear more expensive. You have to remember, manufacturers have the cost of research and development to recoup. Once that’s achieved prices tend to drop. And that, makes this new technology even more cost-effective.
LED bulbs last about twenty-five times longer than incandescent light bulbs. And they use far less electricity. Over time, through your reduced energy costs, they will have paid for themselves. Then you will start saving money. But, it’s not only about saving money by burning fewer watts. They will also save you the time and inconvenience of messing about changing bulbs.
Because of their lifespan, lamp replacement is almost eliminated. Complete re-lamping within business premises will more or less become a thing of the past. When these things are taken into consideration they are very keenly priced.
12. Is there a full range of LED light bulbs for home use?
For many new products there are difficulties to overcome. With LEDs it was brightness and wider beam angles. But, these difficulties were soon sorted out and a better range made available. Without compromise, you can now replace almost any incandescent light bulbs with a more efficient lamp.
This new ranges includes GLS, globes, reflectors and most of the Par range of lamps. And, even the popular G9 LED bulb and LED candle bulbs as well. The wattages have increased and they are now as bright as the halogen light bulbs.
What’s more, they’re made with the same caps as the BC, SBC, ES and SES incandescent bulbs. So now there are new energy saving light bulbs of every type. They can replace all the incandescent light bulbs, low voltage bulbs and even the 4ft fluorescent tube.
13. Do LED bulbs use less electricity?
It’s a fact, LED bulbs use less electricity than GLS light bulbs. So, they have the potential to save you a great deal of money. They can reduce your lighting costs by as much as 90%. That’s regardless of whether it’s domestic, commercial or industrial lighting.
With lighting representing 20% of your electricity costs, it’s easy to see you can make savings. And, by using dimmable bulbs you can save even more money.
14. How long do LED light bulbs last?
When LEDs were first introduced, one of the main benefits advertised was the long life of the lamp. A lot, in fact most manufacturers were claiming a lifespan of 50,000 hours. Very quickly people began to realize that was a bit of an exaggeration.
To assess value for money, consumers wanted to know how long they last! Today, most agree 50,000 hours was far to long and 25,000 hours would be more realistic. Using one for 5 hours a day means they should last for about 13 years.
15. Can you put LED bulbs in halogen fittings?
LED bulbs can be used in halogen light fittings. They will work as a direct replacement in all your existing light fittings and lighting pendants. They will retrofit into light fittings designed for most other lamps.
Because converting is straightforward, they appeal to home and business owners. But, any small enclosed light fitting will trap heat. And, overheating can shorten the life of any lamp. Before you buy your LEDs check the packaging, make sure they’re suitable for your light fittings.
16. How bright are LED bulbs?
LED bulbs do have a lower wattage, but they are every bit as bright as filament light bulbs. The reason being, they are much better at turning power (watts) into light.
They are able to convert 80% of their power into light. Incandescent light bulbs can only convert about 20% into light.
And, they do not have to warm up like CFL bulbs. They reach full brightness as soon as they’re switched on.
17. Do LED bulbs get hot?
Yes and No is the quick answer to that question. The diode emits light but radiates almost no heat. But, the electronics within the bulb do get warm. It is this heat that warms up other parts of the lamp.
Generally, LEDs run a lot cooler than incandescent light bulbs and CFL bulbs. Both of which emit 80% to 90% of their energy as heat. This is ideal during the summer months, because the rooms fitted with LED bulbs will remain cool. So, air conditioning units will not have to work so hard. It will be much easier for the air conditioning to keep the temperature down. This is another way low energy bulbs are able to help you save money.
Less heat means they will cause less damage to your light fittings. That should mean no more brittle cable insulation and lampholders.
18. Are LED bulbs suitable for use outside in cold weather?
LED bulbs are ideal for use outdoors as they’re unaffected by the cold. They are completely shock resistant and suitable for use in any kind of weather. That includes high wind, rain, frost, sleet and snow.
They have no fragile filaments or components so they’re not easily broken in stormy weather. These are just some of the reasons why they are perfect for outside lighting.
19. Can I put LEDs in my low voltage garden lights?
Modern LED bulbs are designed to work in low voltage garden lights. Because they’re unaffected by the cold, wind or rain.
LEDs in garden rock lights for instance do work better with LED drivers. But, both the MR11 LED and MR16 LED should work in conjunction with most low voltage transformers.
Try a couple of MR16 12V LED bulbs first. Install them into some pathway lights that are run by low voltage transformers. If they work, you can change all your garden halogen light bulbs to low energy bulbs.
To be on the safe side, ask the makers of your low voltage garden lights for their advice before you re-lamp.
20. What is LED colour temperature?
LED colour temperature is the colour of light emitted from a light bulb. The temperature is measured in kelvins. It is a number followed by the symbol K. For instance, 2700K is warm white frequently used to light the home.
Depending on the number, the appearance of light is usually between a slight warm yellow and a snow white. Different colours enable you to highlight the decor and furniture of any given room.
21. What LED light bulb colours are available?
Most LEDs are available in at least three colours. They are warm white, cool white and daylight. The popular MR11 LED, MR16 LED and GU10 LED light bulbs are all available in these three colours.
The warm white (2700K to 3000K) is usually reserved for domestic lighting. That’s because it best matches the colour of standard GLS light bulbs. Cool white (4000K) is a very bright white (snow white) often used in hospitals, shop windows and office lighting.
The colour daylight (5000K to 6500K) is a good choice for rooms without windows. Daylight bulbs imitate natural light very well. But, daylight bulbs, like the 6500K (tropical daylight) can be much too blue for some people.
22. Are LED light bulbs safe?
The LED bulb is a very safe lamp. They are safer than the metal halide lamp, fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs. Because they are free of the toxic heavy metals those lamps contain.
They contain no lead, mercury or other dangerous ingredients.
There is very little glass used to make them so they are difficult to break. Compared with other lamps, they are very safe.
23. Is there an LED fluorescent tube replacement for a standard fluorescent tube?
Some T8 LED tubes can replace standard fluorescent tubes. They will work without any modification to the fluorescent light fittings but are less efficient. They will work with all the original control gear and wiring in place.
But, by leaving the existing ballast in place, the ballast is certain to burn out long before the LED tube. So, the ballast would need removing to allow the tube to start working again. If you have large quantities of fluorescent light fittings that are failing on a regular basis. It can be very annoying.
If you’re converting existing fluorescent fittings to T8 LED tubes. It is usually advisable to remove the ballasts and adjust the wiring. Information on how to wire them will be available from the light manufacturer. It could save you a lot of wasted time and inconvenience at a later date.
The T5 fluorescent tube with electronic ballast is already a very efficient light. So, it is advisable to investigate any extra savings from a T5 LED tube before converting.
24. Are LED bulbs dimmable?
Most LEDs are available in dimmable and non-dimmable versions. The non-dimmable are much cheaper than the dimmable so use those if you can.
If you do decide to use dimmable bulbs you will have to fit a dimmer. Any standard dimmer switchs you have may have to be changed to an LED dimmer.
If you do have to change, fit a trailing edge dimmer switch to work with dimmable LEDs.
25. What does LED stand for?
LED stands for light emitting diode. These new bulbs are nothing like the standard light bulbs in everyday use.
What is a light emitting diode? The light emitting diodes started life as indicators. They were first used in calculators and many other similar gadgets.
Over time the technology has developed to a point where they now dominate mainstream lighting.
26. Are LEDs, eco-friendly light bulbs?
LED light bulbs are very eco-friendly and here’s why. Most of them have a lifespan of 25,000 hours. Whereas standard household bulbs will only last about 1,000 hours. Because they last 25 times longer, demand for standard bulbs will drop so production recedes.
Manufacturing one LED will use fewer materials than making 25 incandescent bulbs. So, the materials used to make light bulbs will reduce by as much as 80% or more. When you consider there are tens of millions of bulbs made every year. That’s a huge cutback on the use of raw materials.
Because LEDs use less power, demand for electricity for lighting will fall. That means the need to burn fossil fuels for electricity will fall as well. Because power stations will be burning less oil, coal and natural gas. Fewer carbon emissions will get released into the atmosphere. And, fewer greenhouse gases will help reduce global warming.
The main problem with standard light bulbs was the amount of heat they were generating. Because incandescent lamps are only able to convert about 20% of their power into light. The other 80% gets released as heat. This is one more way that incandescent lamps were heating up the planet. Because LEDs are very good at converting energy to light. Hardly any heat gets released into the atmosphere.
Lead and mercury are common in the manufacture of CFL, halogen and incandescent lamps. They are both heavy metals and known to be among the most toxic in the world. LEDs contain none of these dangerous materials and are almost 100% recyclable.
LEDs are playing a big part in reducing the carbon footprint of the worldwide community.
27. Can I use dimmable LEDs from different manufacturers on the same dimmer switch?
To avoid possible complications always use LEDs from the same manufacturer. Every manufacturer will have their own patented electronic circuitry. That means one bulb may not be compatible with another and could lead to all kinds of failings.
Near the end of their life, it’s always a good idea to change all the bulbs in one go. Because of the long life of the LED, it’s unlikely that new bulbs will be compatible with the old ones. The new models, even from the same manufacturer, will have improved electronics. Mixing old with new could lead to flickering lights, buzzing dimmers or no light at all.
28. CONCLUSION
This is the Cannon Electrical Supplies LED light bulbs review. It will improve your knowledge of these new lamps. It should give you a better understanding of what they can do for you at home and at work. And, it shows that with a little bit of know-how, it’s very easy to convert.
As a leading online electrical wholesalers, we stock an in-depth range of LED light bulbs. We will deliver the best brands direct to your door on mainland UK. For more information about light bulbs don’t hesitate to get in touch.
NOTE: This post is subservient to the laws and regulations of your country. It is for guidance only. And, it’s contents subject to approval by the manufacturers of the products you use and a qualified electrician.
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