Incandescent lamps for home lighting: what types are there, what are they called and how they can be used

Every modern home is equipped with lamps. Despite this, only a few understand them.

Knowledge of lighting fixtures helps to choose, install and operate them correctly, therefore it is important to know more about lighting and understand how different lamps for lighting differ.

Main characteristics

To move on to considering individual types of lamps, you need to get acquainted with their characteristics. The characteristics are looked at when planning indoor lighting. It depends on them whether it will be fully illuminated, what color temperature the light will have, and the like.

Light output and color rendering index

Luminous efficiency will determine how much lumens a 1 Watt light source emits. For example, an incandescent lamp with a luminous efficiency of 10 lm / W at a power of 10 W will shine 10 times worse than a halogen lamp with 100 lm / W.

Lamps with a high value of this coefficient emit light more natural than those with a low one. Therefore, the light from the first lamps will look brighter and clearer, like from the sun.

Colour temperature

It affects the shade of the objects on which the light falls. Measured in degrees Kelvin. Scales from 1800 to 6600 are often used. The higher the value, the colder the item appears. For example, a white object will appear bluish when illuminated by a cold light source, and yellowish when illuminated by a "warm" light.

There is no optimal temperature for light. Each temperature is suitable for a different occasion:

• warm white (2700-4200 K) has a yellowish calm tint. It has a calming effect on a person and helps to relax. Recommended for decorating bedrooms, living rooms, quiet cafes, bars and utility rooms;
• daylight (4200-5500 K) renders white color almost without distortion and adding tones. Adjusts to work, helps to focus. It is advisable to use in working rooms, offices, kitchens, hairdressers - wherever you cannot yawn;
• cold white light (5500-6000 K) energizes. In living quarters, it is used in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Suitable for use above a work surface.

Types of lighting lamps

Before buying a lamp, you need to pay attention not only to its characteristics, but also to the type to which it belongs. It depends on whether the light source will make noise, emit harmful substances, its service life and similar important features.

Incandescent lamps

Such a light source was invented by the very first. The essence of its work lies in the incandescence of a tungsten filament. This type of lamp can be used in stationary and portable devices. Lighting devices of this type are divided into three groups depending on the composition of the gas: vacuum, halogen and tungsten.

Vacuum bulbs

The principle of operation is that a tungsten filament, placed in a vacuum flask, is heated using electricity. The incandescent filament glows well and spreads light. In stationary devices it operates from a voltage of 220 V, and in portable devices - from 12, 24, 36 V.

Incandescent lamps differ from each other in the size of the cap depending on the use:

• for pocket flashlights - 10 mm;
• for flashlights of medium size - 14 mm;
• standard - refers to the types of bulbs for the home, 27 mm;
• for outdoor lighting - 40 mm.

You can find the diameter of the lamp in the marking after the letter "E".

Pros:

1. Wide range of applications.
2. Availability.
3. Easy to use.
4. Price.

Minuses:

1. Small efficiency.
2. Short service life (up to 1,000 hours).
3. Heat generation (plastic and wood structures can catch fire).

When choosing such a lamp, remember that the more power, the less the light source will last. Therefore, if you need to illuminate a large surface or you need a bright light source, then this option will work, but it will not last long.

Krypton

These lamps differ in that the inert gas krypton is added to the capsule. Serves twice as much, but costs four times more. More compact. For the rest of the characteristics, they almost do not differ from vacuum ones.

Halogen

These lamps contain halogen vapors in their bulbs. The use of this gas makes it possible to increase the operating time up to 2000-4000 hours. It is important to note that they have a higher light output. Given this and their small size, the lamps can be used in plasterboard structures (for example, in suspended ceilings).

When installing, remember that the light bulb is sensitive to dirt, such as grease. Therefore, it must not be allowed to hit the surface of the lighting fixture. Because of this, it should be installed with gloves.

If the choice fell on halogen light sources, then try to find a new type with infrared coating. It transmits visible light and reflects heat radiation. These lighting fixtures consume less energy and have a longer service life.

Gas discharge

The principle of operation is that an electrical discharge passes through the gas filling the tube. The cavity of the tube is hermetically sealed, and it may contain various substances on which the type of lamps depends:

1. Mercury (mercury).
2. Neon (neon), xenon (xenon), argon (argon) and so on.
3. Sodium (sodium).

When choosing this type of lighting fixtures, pay attention to the presence of a ballast that starts the glow process. The bottom line is that it is not always built-in and sometimes you have to buy it separately.

Mercury

Such lamps are toxic and, after the end of their service life, must be disposed of at special collection points. From 2020, the production, export and import of certain types of mercury-containing products will be prohibited.

This suggests that mercury lighting should be used with caution. Thus, the mercury arc fluorescent lamp should not be used in poorly ventilated rooms where people work or stay for a long time. They are used in industrial areas with production automation and in street lighting.

In addition, mercury lamps turn on for a long time. In extreme cold conditions, the switch-on time can be up to 15 minutes. In the event of a short power outage, this time will have to wait again.

Luminescent

If you do not know what long lamps are called, then this is them. They are also called fluorescent lamps. The characteristics are indicated in the marking. The letters represent the shade of the light:

• LB - white;
• LD - daytime;
• LE - natural;
• LHB - cold white;
• LTB - warm white.

The number following the letters indicates the degree of color rendering from 6 to 9. This number will determine how natural the objects look on when the light falls. Then there are two numbers showing the color temperature of the lighting elements. Add two zeros to this number to get the temperature in Kelvin.

Installation is carried out using a G-plinth. It resembles a socket into which two cylinder pins are inserted. It is easy to make a mistake when choosing the right lamp for the base, so check the type of fastening before buying.

The positive qualities of such lamps include a long service life and natural light, similar to sunlight. The disadvantages are that fluorescent lighting devices make a lot of noise during operation. Such devices are less toxic than mercury ones, but they still need to be disposed of at special collection points. The service life depends on the number of inclusions, so it is better to do without light once again than to wait for a long turn on.

Sodium

As the name implies, their work is based on the use of sodium vapor. This causes the light from such light sources to appear yellowish. For this reason, they are used in places where good color reproduction is not necessary. The color rendering of such lamps varies from 39 to 59.

They can be found in street lighting, when illuminating bridges, various buildings, and so on. A non-obvious use of such lamps is to illuminate plants in winter. This is possible thanks to the power from 50 to 100 watts.

Such lamps cost from 200 rubles, and they will last about 30 thousand. hours. It is for this reason that they are used for street lighting, despite their low light transmission.

Xenon

Unlike the previous version, they have a high color rendering. In addition, it is possible to flexibly adjust the brightness. This makes them indispensable light sources in projectors, flashlights, car headlights and similar lighting fixtures.

Xenon lamps are made for a specific purpose. Depending on this, the cost can be several hundred or several thousand rubles. The price depends on the light temperature, which varies from 3,000 to 12,000 K, and the service life, which can reach 3 thousand. hours.

Light-emitting diode lamps (LED)

Expensive lamps that fully justify their cost. They require little electricity and last from 30,000 to 50,000 hours. Ideal for street lighting and in rooms where people are often, for example, in entrances with motion sensors.

They do not emit harmful substances, have small dimensions, hardly heat up and are resistant to mechanical stress. This makes them the perfect choice for any occasion.

In addition to the cost, the disadvantages include the fact that the light that emanates from them is narrowly directed, and after a significant service life, the LEDs burn out, which leads to a significant decrease in brightness.

If you choose a light source without familiarizing yourself with their characteristics, you can spend a large amount and not get the desired result. And if you take your choice seriously, you can not only save money, but also fully satisfy your needs.