How to choose LED light bulb Edison’s incandescent bulbs have always been the dominant bulb within the world of lighting. However, as new technologies arise the original bulb design is slowly being replaced. The most common being that of the LED light bulb (light emitting diode) and we’re here to tell you why. As a customer, the benefits of LED have been made pretty clear, they boast more energy efficiency and have a longer life expectancy than an incandescent bulb. Designs have slowly changed to appear less clinical and more decorative and the price of an LED light bulb has started to drop. LEDs have also started to replace more standard bulb designs giving customers the chance. With the basics firmly in place you now need to look at how to choose the right LED light bulb for your home. Here are a few things to consider when choosing LED light bulbs... ·         light quality; ·         function; ·         cost.

Light Quality

Watts have always been the measurements that customers look at when purchasing a light bulb. However, measuring lumens is the way forward. Lumens measure the amount of light that can be seen by the human eye, the greater the amount of lumens the brighter the bulb. There are LED light bulbs available in the market that give off about 1,600 lumens which is the same as a 100-watt incandescent bulb. Colour should also be taken into consideration when purchasing LED bulbs. LEDs are available in a cool white light or a warmer yellow light which mimics the glow of a more traditional incandescent bulb. LEDs can also come in other colours such as red, green and blue. Colour Changing LED such as strip lights are a great way to set the mood in a home, whether a chilled out lounge area or a basement party room.

Yellow LED light bulb Litecraft

The quality of colour is another factor that should not be ignored. Looking at the CRI (colour rendering index) of a bulb is key to create a more natural glow. CRI measures the bulbs ability to produce a natural glow. An LED bulb with a high CRI count is ideal for light at a front entrance or porch way as it will keep the natural light flowing into the home.

Function

These days LED’s can be installed in almost every style of light fitting. However, you should take into consideration how the LED bulb will look in certain styles of lighting such as chandeliers and fittings where the bulb is more exposed. To clear any heat from an LED light bulb they are designed with metal fins on the bottom part of the bulb which acts as a heat sink. Unfortunately, this metal design doesn’t always fit with the particular style of a light. For instance, a traditional chandelier would look odd with a standard LED bulb. However, these days LED technology has advanced with the creation of bulbs that look like a traditional incandescent bulb but with all the technology of an LED for instance our Edison Screw Candle bulb below. Litecraft offer a wide range of LED fittings including LED Chandeliers and LED table lamps that already come with LED bulbs or for a more vintage feel choose our LED vintage filament bulbs. LED light bulb Cluster Pendant LED light bulb Candle SES LED light bulb Vintage Style When LEDs first came on the market the design only allowed for the light to appear from the top of the bulb, ideal for overhead and spotlight fittings but not great for other light fittings such as table lamps and wall lights. These days designs have advanced with the creation of omni-directional light where the bulb allows light to go in all directions, ideal for a fitting that requires 360 degrees of light such as table lamps. Another great function of an LED bulb is their life expectancy. A life expectancy of up to 25,000 is promised dependent on how much usage the bulb gets. This function is great if you have a hard to reach area that needs some long-lasting illumination without the need for replacement. Also, when you require a quick light right away LEDs are ideal as oppose to CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent lights) which take a few minutes to warm up.

The Cost of an LED light bulb

Due to their energy-saving properties, LEDs will save you money in the long run over incandescent, halogen and CFL’s as they last longer saving you the money and hassle of replacing them as well as saving money on your electricity bill.