Lights are something that you utilize daily. Lighting accounts for 20 to 50 percent of a company’s electricity use.
That’s a significant amount of money. However, because every location is different, you may wonder about the different types of bulbs available as you examine your facility’s demands.
The type of bulb you choose, along with the correct lamp, chandelier, or pendant, can completely change the atmosphere and aesthetic of a room.
Learn about different types of bulbs, color options, and base types so you can choose the best one for your home.
You’re probably wondering how they function. What distinguishes them? How can I know which one is best for me?
Learning about the components of a bulb can assist you in determining which lighting method is best for your property.
Here’s a quick rundown of different types of bulbs and how they work.
There are 5 different types of bulbs;
Different Types of Bulbs
1. Incandescent bulbs
You can’t get much simpler than a conventional light bulb when it comes to bulbs. The incandescent bulb is the forefather of all light bulbs in the history of electric lights.
The design is simple, with only a few components.
All light bulbs require a complete electrical connection. When powered up, the incandescent lamp has 2 contact points that activate the bulb.
The first is the foot contact, which is represented by the little ball-shaped bulge at the unit’s bottom.
The thread contact, on the other hand, is the part of the lamp that screws into the fixture.
Electricity travels up a metal wire to a filament once the bulb has got in touch. The filament is commonly constructed of tungsten.
It has a high melting point and can withstand high electrical current heat. When the lamp is turned on, the filament emits light.
A glass mount inside a glass bulb supports the filament. An inert gas, usually argon, is used to fill the light bulb.
The gas surrounds the filament, which might otherwise catch fire.
2. Halogen incandescent bulbs
Although incandescent lamps were a groundbreaking development, they have one drawback: they waste a lot of energy.
They meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard, and you can use them with modern apps and tools.
Halogen incandescent light bulbs are a far greener solution. These lights produce a white light that resembles mid-afternoon sunlight.
Moving on, they work well as recessed lighting, pendant lighting, and under-cabinet lighting. The endurance of this light bulb is the least of all the different types of bulbs.
It’s worth noting, though, that they heat up quickly and should be kept away from flammable things.
On the other hand, when changing the bulb, it’s a good idea to wear gloves because the oil from your hands can cause the bulb to burst if it becomes too hot.
3. Fluorescent bulbs
It was evident by the time industrial buildings were wired for lighting that more energy-efficient bulb varieties were required.
This is where the fluorescent light bulb comes in. Traditionally, these lamps had a long glass tube.
An inert gas, usually argon, plus a small amount of mercury are contained within this tube. A phosphor powder is also applied to it.
An electrical circuit can be found on both ends of the tube. Small electrodes, similar to the filaments found in an incandescent lamp, are housed inside the tube. Two contact pins on the fluorescent bulbs’ outer ends plug into a ballast.
This is the source of the lamp’s energy.
4. Compact fluorescent bulbs
Because many sorts of bulbs are inefficient, the compact fluorescent bulb was developed.
These bulbs are more environmentally friendly than regular bulbs since they use less electricity.
As a result, switching to compact fluorescent bulbs can significantly lower your facility’s energy bills in a short period.
Depending on the type, these bulbs can produce a wide range of colors. It takes a while for them to warm up and become brighter.
These can be a source of lightning for huge areas like basements, vast rooms, and kitchens.
They are less expensive than LED lights and have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs. Because these light bulbs contain mercury, they must be handled with caution.
They are reusable once they have burned out.
5. LED light bulbs
While fluorescent bulbs are more efficient, the mercury they contain is an environmental issue and potentially lethal if they break.
Even the bulbs themselves were not made of recyclable materials, both incandescent and fluorescent.
A form of lighting innovation that was both energy efficient and environmentally friendly was desperately needed by the world. LED light bulbs were introduced as a result of this.
“Light Emitting Diodes” is the abbreviation for “LED.” A diode is a semiconductor device that is tiny in size.
These diodes create light via electrons. These tiny diodes are there inside a plastic bulb that emits light in a certain direction.
They don’t have filaments like incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. Also, they don’t lose heat as these older lights do.
The neck of an LED bulb has a small electrical circuit board called the driver. On the other hand, the neck of an incandescent lamp is a basic wire and glass filament stand.
Because a change in voltage can vary the current delivered to the diodes, this is what keeps the electrical current to the bulbs constant.
LED bulbs are far more efficient and are entirely made of recyclable materials. Their complexity means they are initially more costly.
LEDs, on the other hand, can quickly pay for themselves in energy savings, making the changeover a little smoother.
What are watts?
Let’s speak about watts now that we’ve learned about different types of bulbs. It will make the process of selecting a bulb much easier for you.
The wattage of a light bulb refers to how much energy it consumes. The higher the wattage of light, the more power it will use to produce light.
The bulb will require a larger wattage to provide a brighter light. A 200-watt bulb, for example, consumes more energy than a 100-watt bulb yet produces more light.
LED light bulbs, on the other hand, are suitable with any fixture, regardless of the wattage needed.
How Many Lumens Are Important?
The amount of light emitted, or the brightness of a light bulb, is measured in lumens. The higher the lumen, identical to watts, the better the light.
To figure out how many lumens you’ll need, first, calculate the square footage of the room or area you’re lighting.
For most rooms, 20 lumens per square foot is normal, but depending on the style of lighting you desire, you can go higher or lower.
Also, keep in mind that the total quantity of lumens in the space can be distributed among several separate light fixtures.
The lumens that are important to light your room do not have to be in a single light fixture.
Bottom Line
Different types of bulbs are also available in a variety of colors and shapes. It is also critical that the base size of the light bulb matches the size of the light fixture.
You can do lighting in a variety of ways, and the ideal one can complement the style of your home.
Make sure you do your homework ahead of time to ensure you get the ideal bulb for your needs.
