subject: Know The Modern Light Bulbs, Choose Wisely [print this page] Lighting fixtures like bulbs and tubes literally give light to our homes, schools and offices. Our world is brighter, safer and probably happier because of these lighting fixtures placed on ceilings, walls and even floors.
With the many types of lighting fixtures, however, it can be confusing to decide which one is the best for what purpose, room and requirement. Here then is a basic guide into these types that, hopefully, can enlighten readers on the wisest choice for lighting fixtures.
Incandescent Bulbs:
When we think of lighting fixtures especially bulbs, the first type that comes to mind is the incandescent type with its signature globe-like shape. Incandescent bulbs work by heating up a tungsten filament until it glows obviously with electricity as the main source of power. Most of the energy comes off as heat, thus, making incandescent bulbs one of the lighting fixtures with low lumen's per watt performance.
The light produced by incandescent bulbs, however, has a warm and steady quality to it that most home-owners find sufficient for lighting up their homes, dimmers can be used to control the light output. With a lifetime of 700 to 1000 hours, incandescent bulbs offer good value for your money.
Halogen Bulbs:
Innovators and inventors are always coming up with new innovations to existing technology and discovering new things, all in the attempt of making our lives better. The light bulbs have not escaped innovations so we now have another version of the traditional incandescent bulbs - halogen lights.
Again, the filaments of halogen bulbs are made from tungsten but the gases used inside the bulbs as well as the materials for the bulbs are different. Halogen bulbs use halogen gas and krypton gas, both of which are subjected to higher pressure and both of which are expensive.
Thus, you will find halogen bulbs to be more expensive than incandescent bulbs but the advantages of longer life and higher energy efficiency are well worth the extra price. Nonetheless, you may want the benefit of incandescent bulbs as well since halogen bulbs are highly flammable. The verdict: it all depends on your preference since both incandescent and halogen light bulbs work well.
Fluorescent Lights:
Fluorescent lights use argon gas and mercury inside the glass tubes and bulbs. In olden days, the first fluorescent lights had neutral or cool colour appearances, the industry standard that still remains today. The good news is that many fluorescent lights now have a wide range of choices in colour temperature from 2700K to 5000K, even higher.
You will love how fluorescent lights provide illumination over a large room with even just a few well-placed tubes. Be sure that these areas are the ones where very little detailed work will be done, areas like storage lockers, basements and attics. Take note, too, that fluorescent lights cannot be used with dimmers.
With innovations coming along at a fast rate in the lighting industry, we have so many other lighting fixtures to choose from. Think of specialist, coloured, projector and candle light bulbs and you can truly illuminate your home and office from day until night.
