You have probably already gone to the store to change the bulb of one of your lamps that no longer works but have been lost in the face of the wide choice of bulbs available. Our team recommends LED technology which has arrived as a replacement for the classic halogen and incandescent lamps that we are all familiar with. This technology has many advantages over other bulbs (it does not heat up and much more). Let's find out together how it works and how to choose the right LED bulb for optimal lighting!
How do LED bulbs work?
The technology of light-emitting diode lamps (also called LED bulbs in English and LED in French) appeared in 1962 and it is now a true leader in the lighting market thanks to its properties far surpass those of halogen and incandescent bulbs.
They are used in many areas, whether to light up your house, your terrace, or to operate your computer equipment. They are also found on road signal lighting, whether urban or rural.
However, the led as we know it today is totally different from its version of the last century. In fact, at the beginning it was only possible to create it in red, green or blue and it was only in the 90s that the white version appeared, which is omnipresent in our lives today.
An eco-friendly choice:
LED is an excellent lighting system for engaging in the fight to preserve the environment. You should also know that now the vast majority of LED bulbs are recycled. Choosing to equip your home with this type of bulb means being more eco-responsible!
This technology also gives your bulb a very long life of up to 50,000 hours at times. When you compare it to conventional bulbs lasting an average of 1,000 hours, you quickly realize how interesting it is to opt for this technology. This makes it possible to greatly reduce the frequency of purchases of its lighting solution and thus to keep peace of mind.
How to choose your LED bulb?
Step 1: How to choose the pellet
The base of the LED bulb directly depends on the support used. You can find out by looking at the base of your old bulb or directly on the bulb holder of your light fixture. Be aware, however, that the vast majority of the times the formats chosen by luminaire manufacturers are E14, E27 and B22 bases.
Step 2: How to choose the color temperature?
The color temperature of an LED bulb corresponds to the skin tone of the light. In general, the more this number tends towards 0, the more the color will have a yellow appearance and conversely, the higher this number, the more pure white you will obtain.
There are 2 main color families:
Warm White 2700K
Although called white, this color temperature creates a tint that tends towards yellow. It can be compared to sunrises and sunsets. This color is therefore ideal for your bedside lamp for example or your stairs so as not to attack your eyes during night trips.
Cool white 4000K and more
This color gives you a more classic white complexion. It is ideal for your bathroom, dining room or kitchen.
Step 3: How to choose the luminous flux?
The light output of an LED bulb can be somewhat compared to the "wattage" of it. The higher the light output, the more intense and powerful your lighting will be. The unit used is the lumen (also denoted lm).
So how do you know which light output to choose?
As seen previously, the luminous flux (lm) determines the intensity. This therefore depends on the activities carried out in each room.
In general, we advise you to choose a luminous flux of around 600lm, which will be effective in the majority of situations. If, on the other hand, you want a low intensity flash, you can opt for lighting at 200-300lm. Finally, for powerful lighting (your garage or your bathroom for example) you can opt for a luminous flux of 800-1000lm which will give you the light you need to carry out all your daily tasks. Be aware that this luminous flux will decrease during the life of the bulb and at the end of its life it will only be around 30% compared to the new bulb. Nevertheless, its lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, we are talking here about a very long-term evolution (several years).
Step 4: How do I choose the power of my LED bulb?
We have chosen to mention it last because in the case of LED lighting, it is up to 90% less than other types of bulbs and therefore the choice of power is a secondary factor . We therefore recommend that you focus on the luminous flux as well as the color temperature to define the bulb that best suits your needs.
That being said, you will still often (if not always) find on the packaging of your light bulbs the "equivalent wattage" of it which corresponds to its equivalent on an incandescent bulb.
For example, an LED bulb written "7-60W" will have a power of 7W and consume the same energy as a 60W incandescent bulb. So it's a great way to reduce your energy bills!
Choosing outdoor lighting:
Lighting up your terrace with LEDs can also be a good idea. You can then choose colored bulbs to decorate your terrace and obtain a warm look that will seduce your guests. At this time, we suggest that you check the protection index indicated on the packaging. A protection index (also written "IP") of 44 minimum (noted IP44) is recommended for a sheltered terrace. On the other hand, for more security as well as for unsheltered terraces, we recommend that you opt for an IP65 to IP67 protection index which makes your lighting system much more resistant to the various bad weather conditions that you may encounter during your life. .
The end of the story:
You now know how LEDs work, we invite you to discover our lights specially designed for decorating the interior and exterior of your home at a low price.
We also invite you to share this article with those around you who are hesitant to change their light bulbs to LED in order to explain to them how it works and thus get involved a little more in the fight for a greener planet. eco-responsible.
