Arrangement of a lighting system is one of the most important tasks in any home. You can make backlighting using different types of fixtures. They all differ in their characteristics, properties and cost. Bulbs can be used in different types of lamps, to illuminate the floor and furniture. When planning lighting in an apartment, you need to figure out in advance the individual characteristics of each type of light bulb and choose the best option.
Lighting characteristics
The active development of modern technology has led to the creation of a wide variety of light bulbs, as well as to the complication of choosing the best appliance for the home. If earlier classic incandescent lamps were used almost everywhere, now there are more varieties used.
All types of light bulbs for the home have the same set of characteristics. These parameters are related to what kind of lighting will be created in the room and how comfortable and safe it will be for the human eye.
The main characteristics of lighting devices are:
- Lamp power. Shows how much power the device is consuming. It is important not to be confused - the brightness of the glow does not depend on the power. It is determined by other parameters.
Base types - Plinth view. Depends on the luminaire in which the lamp will be installed. Most household appliances use E14 and E27 sockets. These are two similar screw bases with different diameters. In ceiling chandeliers with small shades and specific luminaires, pin lamps can be installed, which are commonly called the letter G. In spotlights, the R7S connector is used.
- Flask shape and size. Models with a threaded base are in the shape of a pear, ball, candle. Products with a pin come in the form of a small capsule, flat reflector. They also vary in length. The name of the long light bulb depends on the design.
- Illumination. This indicator is individual for each type of premises. Depends on factors such as the distance to the light source, the color of the walls, the reflection of rays from objects in the room.
- Color rendering. This is an indicator of how close the artificial light emitted from the lamp is to the sun. The color rendering index can be called Ra or CRI, and it is measured from 1 to 100. The lamp has good color rendering if its index is more than 60Ra. Very good color rendering - from 80 Ra.
- Light flow. This is the power of radiant energy, judged by the light sensation. Directly depends on the power of the light bulb.
- Colorful temperature. According to this indicator, light bulbs can be divided into products that give warm yellow (2700-3500 K), cold (6400 K and above) and day white (3500-4500 K) colors.
The characteristics of lamps are also influenced by the quality of the materials from which they are assembled. Therefore, it is important to buy products from trusted manufacturers.
Luminaire types
The range of lighting products is wide. On store shelves you can see incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, LED and other devices. Different types of lighting lamps have their own technical characteristics and design.
Incandescent lamps
This is a device that consists of a base, contacts, a fuse, a tungsten filament and a glass bulb. There is also a mixture of inert gases inside the bulb or vacuum in some lamps.
An electric current is supplied, which flows through a conductor. The spiral heats up and emits light particles.
Incandescent lamps differ in size, type of flask, there are also krypton and bi-spiral devices.
Characteristics:
- light output up to 19 lm / W;
- power from 25 W to 150 W;
- service life - 1000 hours;
- Efficiency up to 30%.
The advantages of incandescent bulbs include low cost, ease of installation and eye-pleasing yellow light. Cons - fragility, burnout during power surges, difficulty in disposal, surface heating, short service life.
Halogen bulbs
By design, halogens are similar to incandescent bulbs. But instead of an inert gas, the flask is filled with halogens (bromine, iodine). This reduces the evaporation of the heating part and increases its temperature.
Halogen products are available not only with a base, but also linear in the form of a tube. High impact resistance and bright intense light fixtures are used in outdoor floodlights. Chandeliers and stretch ceilings are often equipped with miniature low-voltage capsule lamps. To connect them, you need to install a step-down transformer.
Specifications:
- power up to 20 W;
- color rendering index 100%;
- flask heating temperature up to 500 ° С;
- luminous efficiency 15-22 Lm / W;
- operating temperature range -60 ° to + 100 ° С;
- operating time 2000-4000 hours, using a transformer, the service life is increased to 8000 hours;
- The efficiency is 50-80%.
Benefits:
- longer service life than incandescent lamps;
- diminutiveness of some models;
- excellent color rendering;
- there are products with both warm and cold shades.
The disadvantages of halogen lamps are strong heating, poor resistance to voltage surges, you should not touch the bulb with your hands.
Fluorescent lamps
The devices consist of a flask, on the inner surface of which a phosphor is applied. The flask is filled with a mixture of mercury vapor and inert gases. Operation requires electronic or mechanical ballast.
Lamps give colors in different shades. They are marked with letters - LTB (warm white), LHB (cold), LE (natural).
Devices come in different shapes - linear and compact. The first ones are made in the form of tubes, the second ones - in the form of spirals.
Specifications:
- luminous efficiency 40-80 lm / W;
- operating time up to 40,000 hours;
- power 15-80W.
Benefits:
- low power consumption;
- low temperature of the bulb during operation;
- high luminous efficiency;
- duration of work.
The disadvantages of luminescent products include environmental friendliness, difficulty in disposal, high cost, instability at zero and below temperatures, and a long start-up time. Also, the lamps have a limited on and off cycle.
LED bulbs
The basis of LED sources is a semiconductor crystal. When current is applied, light particles are emitted.
The design of the device contains an LED matrix, a base, a driver, a radiator, a bulb, and an aluminum substrate.
Specifications:
- power up to 30 W;
- working time 30-50 thousand hours;
- luminous efficiency 100-120 lm / W;
- luminous flux 250-2500 lm;
- color rendering index from 75 Ra.
Benefits:
- environmental friendliness;
- low power consumption;
- high efficiency;
- lack of thermal, IR and UV radiation;
- do not require special disposal conditions;
- safety;
- light up instantly;
- do not flicker.
The disadvantage of LED lamps is the high cost. The price depends on many factors - manufacturer, additional options.
Filament lamps
A type of LED light source is a filament light lamp. Powered by a special element - a filament, which is a strip with LEDs of a special design.
They have the same characteristics as LED bulbs. Compared to fluorescent sources, they light up instantly and can also be dimmed.
Discharge lamps
High pressure discharge lamps were created as an alternative to fluorescent sources, but with a higher power. In such devices, immediately after switching on, a glow discharge occurs. The pressure builds up in the lamp and an arc appears, which gives a powerful light radiation.
In such models, the visible light is blue. Quartz glass burners are used for the adjustment. The result is an arc mercury fluorescent lamp (DRL). Used such devices for street lighting. The disadvantage is the high cost due to the use of a flask with a phosphor. Also, such devices have poor color rendering and become cloudy over time.
Due to the listed disadvantages, DRLs were replaced by sodium sources. They are arranged in a similar way, but instead of mercury, the flask is filled with sodium vapor. Lamps look brighter due to wide yellow spectrum coverage. They are used for lighting outdoors and in agriculture (greenhouses, poultry, livestock complexes). An important drawback is incorrect color rendition.
Ultra-high pressure mercury lamps and xenon light sources have the correct color rendering. DRSh (arc mercury ball sources) is a quartz burner in the form of a ball. They have the greatest strength. Minus - a large amount of ultraviolet radiation, explosion hazard.
Xenon lamps do not contain metals inside, they became widespread after the development of the semiconductor industry. Provides light as close to natural as possible. Used in car headlights, camera flashes, film projectors.
