Understanding The Labels Of Energy Saving Light Bulbs
Take a look at the catalogue of online retailers of light bulbs from the small Christmas
lights to the large halogen spotlights and you will encounter alphanumeric symbols on the labels. You will probably pay little to no mind about these symbols for as long the light bulbs answer your needs for colour, shape and size.
This should not be so. These alphanumeric symbols have a great impact on your energy consumption as well as on how the lights provide illumination to the area, whether these are used for ambience, task and accent purposes. Learn about these alphanumeric symbols in this article and make better decisions the next time the purchase of light bulbs come up.
Fittings:
Look at a light bulb - the part that connects it to the light fitting is called the base or cap. Keep in mind that it is important to match the fitting to the cap for the light bulb to work as expected. The fitting can be seen on the label so when you have to replace a light bulb, just tell the staff the information.
Fittings can be classified into the following categories:
- Bayonet caps are the most common fittings, with their push and twist action.
- Edison screw caps are most often used in smaller decorative fittings for appliances and chandeliers.
- Halogen capsules can be used in low-voltage applications and measured in terms of the millimetre distance between the pins.
- Fluorescent tubes have two-pin fittings at both ends.
- Incandescent strip lights come in two variations, namely, the two S14s connectors, and the S15s fittings.
- Compact fluorescent lights, which are energy saving light bulbs, come in many fittings as well. Choose from push-fit square/rectangular fittings, 2-pin fittings and, 4-pin connectors.
Light Output, Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency:
Light output is measured in lumens while light power is expressed in watts. There is a difference between the two measurements. Let's take an example. The conventional 60-watt incandescent light bulb generates approximately 600 to 700 lumens of light.
However, an 11-watt compact fluorescent bulb or a 40-watt halogen bulb will generate similar amount of lumens. Thus, if you want to lower your electricity bills while still maintaining the same degree of illumination, then your best choice is either the 11-watt compact fluorescent bulb or a 40-watt halogen bulb.
You will then see why understanding the alphanumeric symbols on the labels of light bulbs are important. Your electricity bill can be lowered with the judicious use of energy saving light bulbs in and outside of your home. No worries about style as these eco-friendly and pocket-friendly light bulbs are as stylish as their traditional counterparts.
Warm-up Time:
Warm-up time is defined as the period when the bulb reaches 60 percent of its peak light output. This is different from the starting time, which can be just over a second in modern bulbs such that a bulb can start instantly but takes time to warm up.
The categories for warm-up time are: fast (less than 30 seconds);
standard (30-60 seconds); and slow (greater than 61 seconds).
In conclusion, the use of energy saving light bulbs is a good step toward saving your pockets and Mother Earth from a slow decay. However, not all energy-efficient light bulbs are created the same so it pays to actually understand the labels for these products so that a better choice can be made.
by: Lawrence White
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