How to choose LED lamps for home - the basic rules

Modern light sources with LEDs are becoming more and more popular, but these products have their own characteristics that should be taken into account. Only after finding out all the necessary parameters, you can understand how to choose LED lamps for a house or apartment, so that they create comfortable lighting, worked for a long time, did not cause harm to health and significantly saved electrical energy.

Main advantages and disadvantages of LED light sources

LED sources have a number of advantages compared to traditional lamps.

• They emit the same amount of light, consume electricity almost 8-10 times less than incandescent lamps, and several times less than energy-saving ones.
• These devices are resistant to changes in the current in the network. They practically do not change the intensity of the glow when voltage drops.
• LED bulbs do not heat up to high temperatures, so they do not damage cartridges and contacts, and also practically do not heat the air in the room.
• These light sources are very durable. If incandescent lamps are designed for 1000 hours of operation, then manufacturers of LED light sources promise from 25 to 50 thousand. This is approximately 10-15 years.

But these light sources have their drawbacks:

1. High cost. A quality LED lamp can not cost less than 250-300 rubles.
2. Most of them can not work with dimmers. Those of them that are regulated, do not always work correctly with different models of dimmers.
3. Some LED lamps "do not like" switches with indicators or lights. They either faintly glow or periodically flash. Although most quality models work with such switches normally.
4. The market offers many low-quality devices of this type.

Whether it is worth using LED lamps for lighting housing - everyone decides for himself. But the obvious advantages of energy saving and service life and a gradual decline in prices speak for these light sources. If the choice fell on such devices, then you need to know how to choose them correctly for an apartment or a house.

What power to choose LED lamps

One of the main characteristics of LED bulbs, which must be determined - is the required power, measured in watts. LED lamps with a similar light flux consume significantly less energy. So when replacing the incandescent lamp in 60 W, you need to purchase a LED light source of 11-12 W, that is, reduce the power by about 5 times. For household use in chandeliers and light fixtures, LED lamps with a power of 8-10 W are suitable. They will be enough for comfortable lighting of premises. In a wall or desk lamp it is better to install LED lamps of lower power.

These devices are produced for operation from a standard 220 V current source, and also rated at 12 volts. The latter are usually used in rooms with high humidity. They can be equipped with permanent places for children, since such tension completely eliminates electric shock. There will be no additional electricity savings when using 12 volt lamps, because to provide normal lighting, the total power consumption will be similar to 220 volts.

How to choose the color of LED fixtures

LED lamps differ not only in power, but also in the shade of the emitted light. This indicator is very important for creating not only bright, but also comfortable lighting. This indicator is called the color temperature and is measured in Kelvin. It varies from 1500( red-yellow) to 6500( white-blue).Light, depending on the shade, differently affects the emotional state of a person and the perception of visual images. Correctly selected light temperature of LED light sources can increase the working capacity of people, increase the attractiveness of the goods or arrange them for rest and peace.

Which lamps should I choose for a particular room?

• Devices with an indicator less than 2500 K should not be selected. They emit a heavy heavy yellow light, which causes anxiety and depression.
• LED lamps with a color temperature of 2700 to 3000K have a warm light yellow shade, similar to the morning sun. On packages it is usually indicated as "warm white".It is a soothing, relaxing light, creating a cozy home environment. It is this radiation that has incandescent and energy-saving light sources. Best of all, these devices are suitable for lighting recreation areas, bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens.
• Light sources with an indicator of 3000 - 3500 K( labeling - "soft white") create white lighting with a slightly yellowish tinge. Suitable for libraries, shops, salons. They create a friendly, warm atmosphere for communication.
• Calling calmness, confidence and security with a color temperature of 3500-4000 K( labeling - "neutral white" or "natural white") is suitable for lighting offices, foyers, corridors, bookstores, cinemas, various exhibitions.
• LED lamps with a color temperature of 4000 to 5000 K( "cool white") creates a vigorous working environment, provides excellent color perception of objects. They are installed in educational institutions, industrial premises, medical institutions. It would be appropriate to screw such a light source into the desk lamp to illuminate the workplace in the office or illuminate the computer desk.
• Lighting devices with an indicator of 5000-6000 K( "white-blue") are not permissible for lighting of premises. Long-term exposure to light waves in the blue range is not recommended by ophthalmologists. They can not be equipped with bedrooms or long-stay areas. But such devices are perfect for lighting showcases with jewelry, lighting art objects, including paintings. Cold light well emphasizes shades and colors.

When choosing lamps by color, it should be borne in mind that they can slightly change the color range of the surrounding interior, which makes it possible to get a completely new look.

So, yellow light muffles all cold shades, while enhancing the colors of warm tones, while the transmission of blue and green colors is somewhat distorted. Cold light, on the contrary, emphasizes blue and green colors, but will cause a change in warm colors: yellow will appear greenish, red - purple, and orange - brownish.

Kinds of socle

In various lighting fixtures, LED lamps( as well as other types) with different types of cap are used. Therefore, when choosing an LED lamp, it is not enough to determine the power and color, it is necessary to know which cartridge it will be installed in. In chandeliers, sconces and floor lamps, bulbs with E-27 and E-14 socks( Mignon) are mainly used, in spotlights - GU-10 or GU-5.3.Other used but less common types of socles are MR-16, G-9 and B-22.

LED lamps are expensive enough, so when going out for purchase, it is necessary to determine exactly which base for the cartridges in the lighting fixtures are designed, and it is better to remove and take samples of light bulbs with them( no matter what type they are - incandescent or energy-saving).

Other important features to look out for

The color transfer ratio is indicated on the package, but usually not on the front side. This indicator should be not lower than 80. High is the value - 95, but the cost of such a device will be more expensive. If the color rendition coefficient is high, and the price is low, then it is most likely a fake. Such a device is better not to buy.

The angle of light diffusion depends on the type of the bulb and the location of the LEDs. This should be noted when checking the lamp. You can mistakenly acquire a narrow-beam light source.

Not all LED lamps work with a dimmer. The connection via the regulator is indicated on the packaging.

Table lamp with LED light source

Luminescent or energy-saving light sources are often used in table lamps. Usually the light is cold-white, which is not very good for the eyes. In addition, energy-saving lamps are filled with a gas containing mercury compounds. In case of violation of their integrity, this is not safe for human health.

It's better to choose table lamps with the possibility of using ordinary incandescent lamps or LED light sources. The latter are preferable, since they do not heat the reflector, consume little energy, and illuminate the workplace well. The capacity of 6-10 watts will be enough for comfortable work. In order to make the eyes less tired, it is better to use soft white lamps with the possibility of using a dimmer.

LED light sources are promising and economical devices, but their cost is still quite high. Therefore, before buying a set of these lamps, you need to carefully evaluate all the necessary parameters.

In order not to be disappointed, you need to purchase LED lamps of only well-known manufacturers, such as PHILIPS, CREE, NICHIA, OSRAM, PAULMAN.Of the Russian producers are quite popular "Optogan" and "Svetlana-Optoelectronics".

We recommend reading the article on how to choose a dispouter for the

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