The difference between the new generation of lighting devices and conventional tanning lamps is the complete conversion of the electricity they receive into a light source.
Content:
- Fluorescent light sources ↓
- Advantages and disadvantages of gas discharge ESL ↓
- LED bulbs ↓
- Benefits ↓
- Criterias of choice ↓
- ESL manufacturers ↓
- Price ↓
If conventional light sources convert about 15% of the energy consumed into light, and the rest goes into heat, then with energy-saving products, almost all of the electricity is spent on light radiation.
Energy-saving lamps according to the principle of action are divided into two types:
- Luminescent.
- LED light.
Let us consider in more detail each variety.
Fluorescent light sources
The aim of creating ES (energy-saving) lighting products was the invention of alternative sources for outdated models of incandescent bulbs. They are a kind of luminescent sources, but in form and arrangement they have significant differences, since they must be suitable for lighting devices designed for incandescent lamps.
ESL device consists of a starter, electromagnetic throttle (ballast), base and bulb in the form of a tube of a certain shape.
Starter and ballast are designed to start radiation. The starter is usually located in the lamp base and the ballast in the light bulb. The advanced modification has instead of these two elements an electronic ballast, which is located in the base. It provides better quality ESL, but affects the size of the cap.
The ESL flask is made either in the form of a spiral or a U-shaped tube bent at the ends. They have electrodes. A hermetically sealed tube contains mercury or argon vapors. The surface of the tube inside is covered with a luminescent layer.
When the ESL is connected to a voltage source, the electrodes, due to the passage of current, begin to warm up and start the process of thermionic emission, as a result of which electrons begin to be released. The flow of electrons in a collision with mercury atoms leads to ultraviolet radiation, which, when it reaches the surface covered by the phosphor, is converted into visible light waves.
Based on the processes that take place in the ESL at startup, it is often called a gas discharge. Luminescent coating is different. Depending on its type, gas-discharge light sources have different light temperatures. Its spread is in the range from 2700 to 6500 K. Products are made with a base having a different size.
He might be:
- Under the standard cartridge, having a thread of 27 mm (marking E27).
- For small cartridge size with a thread of 14 mm (marking E14).
- Under the industrial cartridge with 40 mm thread (E40 marking) with integrated electronic ballast.
The color temperature that affects the shade of the emitted light also serves as a characteristic of the lamp.
By the nature of light, they are divided into radiation:
- Warm white tint.
- Neutral white hue.
- Cold white tint.
- Daylight.
As already mentioned, the lamps can differ in the shape of the flasks, which happens in a spiral and U-shaped tube. Moreover, the diameter of the tube can be 7, 9, 12 and 17 mm.
The shape of the source does not affect the shape of the tube. But because of the more complex shape, spiral products are more expensive. The power of the ESL presented for sale is in the range from 3 to 85 watts.
Advantages and disadvantages of gas discharge ESL
Pros:
- The main advantage of ESL is in the name: it saves electricity. The efficiency of such a light source is almost 5 times higher than an incandescent lamp. For example, an energy-saving device with a power of 20 watts corresponds to the illumination of a traditional lamp of 100 watts. At the same time, about 80% of electricity is saved.
- Luminescent ESL is designed to work 5 to 15 times longerthan a conventional tungsten light source. This is due to the design features of light sources. The tungsten filament of a conventional lamp quickly burns out during operation. A fluorescent light bulb does not have such drawbacks and can work for 5000 to 12000 hours of continuous use.
- The advantage of fluorescent light sources is a slight heating, because almost all the energy is spent on receiving light radiation. Therefore, such bulbs can be used in fabric and plastic fixtures, for which strong heating is unsafe.
- A big plus is the significant area of light output. If the light in the incandescent bulb comes only from the tungsten filament, then in the gas discharge radiation comes from the entire surface of the tube, and the light is softer.
- Another advantage of a saving discharge lamp in a variety of light shades of the phosphor, so that it can have a different glow.
A full replacement of conventional light sources with fluorescent cannot be carried out for a number of reasons, among which:
- The high cost of ESL.
- The need for disposal to the designated place.
- Impact on service life frequent turning on and off the lamp.
- Phosphor loses brightness with time.
- Sometimes a flickering effect is observed after disconnecting from the network.
It is widely believed that mercury fluorescent products are hazardous due to mercury vapor. This statement is exaggerated, because such sources have a small amount of mercury vapor, which are hermetically sealed inside the flask and the danger is possible only if it is damaged, when it is accidentally will break.
Then it must be disposed of in a special place, and the room should be cleaned and ventilated.
LED bulbs
Another type of energy-saving lighting is LED lighting. Their principle of operation is light emission when a current is applied to an LED.
It is a semiconductor diode operating using pn conductivity of electrons. One “n-type” semiconductor with a negative charge has an extra number of electrons, and the other “p-type” semiconductor has a lack of them (excess holes), which means a charge with a plus sign.
Provided that such pn semiconductors are connected and a current is passed through them, the transition of excess electrons to the holes of another semiconductor “prepared” for them begins. In this case, energy is released. In devices, the energy parameters are selected so that its main part is converted into a visible light flux.
Of course, the conversion of part of the energy goes to heat, which is formed as a result of the appearance of photons with a long wave during the transition of electrons. But these photons are immediately absorbed and generate heat. To prevent the semiconductor from overheating, the temperature during operation of LEDs is limited by heat sinks.
Benefits
Heat loss led bulbs It is incomparable with the loss of heat by conventional incandescent lamps, because there the main light radiation comes from a heated tungsten filament and up to 85% of the energy goes into heat.
LEDs work without heating the emitting source. Indirect heating consumes only 20% of the energy, and the remaining 80% is converted into luminous flux. Therefore, LED lighting for energy consumption is much more economical than conventional lighting. That is why, it is referred to as an energy-saving type.
The hue of the glow of LED lamps depends on the type of material p-n of semiconductors, and the intensity on the magnitude of the current.
LED sources have many advantages over conventional incandescent bulbs as well as fluorescent ones:
- They are durable.
- Economical.
- Reliable.
- Have a variety of shades glow.
But these light sources have some advantages over fluorescent bulbs:
- Do not have mercurywhich, when evaporated, has a harmful effect on humans.
- Notrequire special disposal.
- Can be used for a long time (within 50-100 thousand hours).
- Do not respond to voltage drops and resistant to mechanical damage.
But LEDs have a significant drawback - this is a high price, which is sometimes not justified.
Criterias of choice
When choosing energy-saving lamps, one of the main criteria, in addition to cost, is the size of the base. Usually, lighting sources are equipped with a cartridge, for which the E27 base is suitable. Then you need to determine the shade of light.
For small rooms intended for relaxation, a warm white shade is better suited. To save on price, it is worth choosing a U-shaped lamp. Power indoor lighting for housing should not be higher
Any ESL has a digital code that says a lot.
For example, code 727 means the following:
The number 7 characterizes the color rendition and denotes its index reduced by 10 times. The range of color rendition is in the range from 60 to 100 (98). For code 727, the color rendering is 7x10 = 70. The higher its indicator, the more real is the correspondence to the true color gamut.
The next two digits indicate the temperature of the ESL according to the Kelvin scale. In our example, it is equal to 2700 K., which corresponds to the glow of an incandescent lamp.
The higher the temperature of light, which for luminescent sources is in the range from 2700K to 6500K, the colder the light. The inscription on the package should contain information about the power, size of the cap and the nature of the light.
For example, on the packaging of a DeLux product, the inscription “ESS-02A 20W E27 6400K” means that the lamp power is 20 W, the large E27 base and the cold glow is 6400K.
In general, before buying, you should familiarize yourself with the power rating table of conventional tungsten light sources. For example, an ESL with a power of 5 W corresponds to the illumination of a conventional lamp with a power of 25 W.
8 watts corresponds to 40 watts,
12 W - 60 W,
20 watts - 100 watts.
ESL manufacturers
The leaders in the production of new-generation lighting elements are General Electric (GE). It delivers energy-efficient lighting products to the market that meet the best qualities and durability.
The latest developments of the company are equipped with light control sensors with automatic switching on when lighting is reduced in the evening. Branches of the company are located not only in the USA, but throughout Europe.
Mid-range lamps are presented by Philips. Its prices are related to the average price range, but the quality of products is not inferior to GE and is distributed throughout the world.
Under the license of this company, China produces its products. She is also of high quality. Close in quality Philips mastered the production of energy-saving lamps in Russia (the company "Compass").
When choosing fluorescent lighting products, you should not save on cost, because high quality products a reputable company will ensure long uninterrupted operation of the lamps and more than pay back the costs of the acquisition.
Price
The prices of energy-saving products vary widely and depend on the following factors:
- From the manufacturer.
- From the parameters of the beam tube.
- From the warranty period.
- From the shape of the flask.
For example, the price of energy-saving lighting products of the German company Wolta, which has representative offices in Russia, is not very high, although the quality is excellent.
Domestic products under the Cosmos and Start brands have an average price. Chinese manufacturers can also supply lamps of different quality and in different price categories.
For example, the price of an energy-saving lamp Wolta 8WSP25E27 is only 115 rubles, and the product of the German manufacturer Camelion LH45-FS / 827 / E27 is sold at a price of 687 rubles.
The product of the Cosmos brand SPC 30W E27 420K has an estimated price of 280 rubles.
