Purchasing a light bulb has become a little more difficult than it used to be in the past. A comparable watt bulb will not match the other lights in the room, and it will not function in your fixture if you do not purchase it specifically for that purpose.
So, before you go out and buy your next light bulb, prepare yourself with these pieces of information.
Double-check the size and form of your bulb base.
Light bulbs are available in a range of sizes and forms, depending on how and where they will be used. The A19 light bulb with an E26 base is the most commonly used light bulb in American households. The E indicates that the bulb is equipped with an Edison Screw, and the 26 indicates that the base is 26mm in diameter (E27 bulbs are commonly found in Europe).
The letter A relates to the form of the bulb. The letter A stands for arbitrary, and it represents the form that we all associate with a light bulb (C is for candle, G is for Globe, etc.) The size is represented by the number 19. Bulbs.com provides a fantastic light bulb form chart that you may use as a reference. In addition, the site includes a useful light bulb base chart.
Determine how much light you will require.
The wattage of a bulb is no longer the most reliable technique to evaluate whether or not it will be a straight replacement for a bulb that has just burnt out. To determine the amount of light a bulb produces rather than how much energy it consumes, check for the number of lumens rather than the number of watts.
The watt equivalent is generally included as well, but to be absolutely certain, search for the lumens. Here's a quick reference guide on changing incandescent bulbs:
- If you were previously purchasing 100-watt bulbs, seek a bulb that produces 1600 lumens.
- If you were previously purchasing 75-watt bulbs, seek a bulb that produces 1100 lumens.
- If you were previously purchasing 60-watt bulbs, seek a bulb that produces 800 lumens.
- If you were previously purchasing 40-watt bulbs, seek a bulb that produces 450 lumens.
The fixtures in your house will be labeled with a wattage rating that indicates the maximum amount of power they are capable of safely delivering. If you purchase an energy-saving bulb but wish to have a brighter light, you may purchase a bulb that produces more lumens while still remaining securely within the maximum wattage authorized by the manufacturer.
For example, a 9-watt LED bulb emits the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb while using less energy. It is safe to replace your 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 15-watt LED bulb, which will produce the same amount of light as your incandescent bulb.
Choose the appropriate shade of white for your light bulb.
A color cast can be seen in white light bulbs. They can be the warm, yellow light produced by a standard incandescent light bulb, the cool, blue light produced by sunshine, or a combination of the two.
Manufacturers prefer to use adjectives like "soft," "warm," and "daylight" to describe their products. Unfortunately, these words are not universally accepted by all manufacturers. For the purpose of determining direct color replacement, the color temperature, which is measured in degrees Kelvin, should be taken into consideration. Here's how it works:
- Warm, yellow light between 2700 and 2800K.
- 3000 - 3200K: Light that is still slightly yellow and warm.
- 3500-4000K: A neutral, brilliant white light with a neutral color temperature.
- 5000 - 6500K: A somewhat bluish, brilliant white light with a faint blue tint.
Smart LED lights have the ability to alter their hue over the whole spectrum of white light, making them extremely versatile (and some can produce a wide range of colors as well). Considering that different hue versions may perform better for particular tasks—for example, you could like a bright blue-tinged white light in the morning or for greater contrast when reading but prefer a warmer light at bedtime—these may be of interest.
According to research, blue light has been found to disrupt sleep, which is another advantage of being able to dim your lights at night to a warmer tone.
To finish off, not all light bulbs correctly reproduce the real hues of an item. Color accuracy is assessed on a scale from zero to one hundred based on the color rendering index (CRI). The color rendering index (CRI) of incandescent and halogen lamps is a flawless 100. As long as compact fluorescent or LED bulb has a color rendering index (CRI) of 80 or more, it is considered acceptable, while a CRI of over 90 is considered great.
Determine whether or not you will need to dim your lights.
It is not all light bulbs, particularly tiny fluorescent and LED bulbs, that can be dimmed or utilized in three-way setups. In order for you to be confident that the bulb will operate with your dimmer or 3-way fixture, the package should expressly state that the bulb is "dimmable" or "3-way."
See if your light bulb will be utilized in an enclosed fixture or a recessed canister before purchasing it.
In comparison to open fixture light bulbs, light bulbs used in enclosed fixtures and recessed lights generate more heat than light bulbs used in open fixtures. When utilized in these sorts of fixtures, LED bulbs, which are particularly sensitive to heat, may not last as long.
Choose an LED bulb that has been tested and approved for use in an enclosed fixture if you want your LED bulb to live as long as possible. On Amazon, you can buy LED bulbs that are rated for use in enclosed fixtures.
Select the appropriate sort of light bulb.
When purchasing new bulbs of any kind, seek the Energy Star logo to ensure that they are environmentally friendly. Energy Star certified light bulbs have been tested to ensure that they satisfy energy efficiency standards, and they will be labeled to ensure that you know precisely what you're getting.
This label will include information on a bulb's brightness (in lumens), color (i.e. color temperature), lifetime, energy consumption, and what it will cost to operate it for a year on a single charge. Because of this information, it is simple to compare bulbs, which is especially useful if you are contemplating bulbs of different types.
Best types of light bulbs
A variety of energy-saving bulbs are available on store shelves, including the following:
halogen energy-saving incandescent bulbs: These lower-wattage incandescent bulbs feature a tungsten filament like regular bulbs, but they are surrounded by halogen gas rather than argon or nitrogen, which produces brighter light while also being more energy-efficient than the latter two gases. Compared to typical incandescent bulbs, they are 25 percent more energy-efficient and have a three-fold longer lifespan. Prices start at slightly about $1.50 per bulb and go up from there (750 lumens).
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs): These lamps are small and have a high lumen output. These curly, bulb-sized fluorescents are undoubtedly familiar to you, and you may even despise them. Despite the fact that early generations of CFL bulbs tended to produce harsh light, the most recent models provide a wider range of color selections, and some are even designed to appear like standard incandescent lights. These bulbs save up to 75% on energy use when compared to incandescent lights and last 10 times longer. Prices start at less than $3 per bulb (850 lumens).
When it comes to energy efficiency, LED bulbs are the most effective alternative. LED bulbs are 75-80 percent more efficient than typical incandescent lights and may last up to 25 times longer. Prices begin at somewhat less than $2 per bulb (800 lumens), however, the less costly bulbs are often rated for 10 years rather than 20.
Smart bulbs: Smart bulbs are LED bulbs that can link to WiFi or Bluetooth so that you may manage them from your smart assistant (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri) or a smartphone app. Smart bulbs are becoming increasingly popular. However, while the functionality varies depending on the bulb, you can often command them to turn on or off at different times, and you can even turn them on or off from a remote location. Some bulbs will even give you the choice to change the color of the light. Prices start at slightly around $10 per bulb and go up from there (800 lumens).
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