Electrical devices known as bulbs (lamps) emit light when powered by electricity. Important requirements include the intended use, light type, base type, and wattage.There are many different types of bulbs, such as incandescent, halogen, high-intensity discharge, linear, and compact fluorescent. Depending on the use and amount of light required, many shapes, sizes, wattage ratings, and colors are available.
Until the late nineteenth century, the principal source of artificial lighting was the burning of vegetable oil, animal oil, fat, and waxes. The amount of fuel burned, and the subsequent amount of light produced is controlled using a wick. Everything changed with the invention of the incandescent bulb, an electric light source. Modern electricity-based light sources are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types for a wide range of applications due to the widespread availability of energy and a large amount of technological effort put into improving lighting systems.
Interested in giving the lights in your house a little more flair? It can be difficult to explore countless possibilities while also attempting to coordinate style and function. However, we've prepared an instructive light bulb guide to assist you in making the appropriate choice. Let's begin by learning how to identify various light bulbs. Each type has distinct properties that are represented by a letter or series of letters and a number, known as light bulb codes. You may check if the bulb is the appropriate type for your fixture using these codes, which are found on the packaging.
Types of Light Sources
All artificial light sources operate on two basic principles. These are:
Incandescence
Incandescence is a phenomenon wherein heating (or raising the temperature) of a solid body result in the production of visible light (as a component of electromagnetic radiation). The Incandescent Light Bulb is the finest illustration of this sort of light source since it uses a filament, often made of tungsten, to produce light as it heats up.
Luminescence
A phenomenon known as luminescence occurs when a substance emits light without being heated. The light produced by luminescence can be induced by a variety of factors, including electrical energy, chemical reactions, electron excitation, and so on. When comparing the two types of light, luminescence is referred to as "cold light" and incandescence is frequently referred to as "hot light." Fluorescence is a form of Luminescence phenomenon that is often used. Fluorescent lamps made of mercury operate on this basis.
Different Types of Light Bulbs
The history of the light bulb's design didn't finish until 1911, even though it may be one of the most significant inventions in human history. There was still so much room for development and modification. There are still new, inventive varieties of light bulbs being developed today. This article discusses the most popular bulb kinds and the uses for each.
Incandescent Bulbs
Although traditional incandescent light bulbs are still often used, their inefficiency makes them an unpopular choice. About 90% of the energy consumed by these bulbs is lost as heat. That is, only 10% of the electric power is converted into visible light. This wastage of energy results in needless emissions of greenhouse gases, which harm the environment.
As compared to conventional incandescent bulbs, newer, more widely used light bulbs utilize 25% to 80% less energy. The amount of energy required to light nearly 3 million houses in the United States would be saved in as short as one year if every household in the country switched just one of its incandescent light bulbs out for an ENERGY STAR labeled Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulb. This quantity of energy is also equivalent to avoiding greenhouse gas emissions from 800,000 autos.
An additional drawback of incandescent bulbs is that, on average, they only survive one year before needing to be replaced, which is significantly less than the lifespan of other bulb types. However, they can be dimmed and are available in a wide range of sizes, voltages, and wattages.
Common Use of Incandescent Light Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs are not energy-efficient, yet their low initial cost makes people buy them. In the long run, nevertheless, they are far more expensive for the environment and your wallet. It's time to replace any remaining incandescent light bulbs in your house.
Today, we most typically utilize these bulbs for the following:
- Decorative light fixtures and table lamps in living rooms.
- Candelabras and chandeliers in dining rooms.
- Traditional table lamps and nightlights in bedrooms.
Halogen Bulbs
The incandescent bulb was first launched in 1959, and the halogen bulb is a variation of that bulb. It marked the beginning of the development of an energy-efficient bulb. The halogen gas used in the bulbs, as opposed to inert gas, extends their lifespan by two to three times that of an incandescent light bulb.
Common Use of Halogen Light Bulbs
Halogen lamps use less energy than their predecessors and can generate brighter white light. Despite their small size, they can still heat up. Halogen bulbs are ideal for use as:
- Outdoor and indoor floodlights
- Car headlights
- Pendant lights
- Track lighting
- Projectors
In halogen ovens, halogen lamps are also ideal for use as the heating element. In addition, they are used almost entirely for studio lighting fixtures. Such as ellipsoidal reflector spotlights and many others in theatre and television production.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
In the 1930s, fluorescent light became popular for use in commercial and industrial settings. However, it wasn't until 1976 when an engineer by the name of Edward E. Hammer successfully twisted a fluorescent tube into a spiral shape. The first compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) was developed and released to the market in the middle of the 1980s.
The initial CFLs that were available were extremely expensive, of poor quality, and too large for many light fittings. They have since been enhanced. This makes CFLs one of the more reasonably priced and energy-efficient light bulbs on the market. Compact fluorescent bulbs last up to 15 times longer (6,000–15,000 hours), use 25%–35% less energy than traditional incandescent lamps, and generate equivalent amounts of light.
Common Use of CFL Light Bulbs
The spiral shape of these light bulbs isn't particularly appealing to many people. They also take some time to warm up. As a result, most people won't install CFL bulbs in decorative lighting fixtures like chandeliers. Although CFLs usually don't operate with dimmer switches, they are appropriate for usage in areas where you frequently read or work on projects, making them a typical light bulb in the following places:
- Concealed household fixtures where the lights stay on for extended periods
- Spaces needing a large area of light, such as kitchens and bathrooms
- Offices and hallways that have recessed can lighting
- Reading and table lamps
- Outdoor floodlights
Another form of fluorescent light bulb is the linear fluorescent bulb. They are tubular and available in a range of wattages, diameters, and color temperatures. For task illumination, like that seen in garages and under cabinet installations, fluorescent tube bulbs are frequently used.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
In 2008, LED light bulbs first appeared on the market. Philips Lighting North America refined the design in 2011 with an award-winning 60-watt LED light bulb. The bulbs cost $40 each at the time and were capable of lasting more than 27 years.
Since its debut in 2008, LED light bulbs have seen a price reduction of almost 85%. They're now an economical option that uses 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. By lasting up to 25 times longer than conventional incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs boost the wow factor.
Common Use of LEDs
When it comes to light bulb applications, LED bulbs can essentially meet all of your illumination requirements. These bulbs are most useful, nevertheless, in a few locations. Prioritize the rooms with dimmable lighting or where you want to regulate the lighting, especially the dining room and the bedroom. Here are some additional areas that LEDs shine brightest:
- Garages and outdoor lighting, especially in cold weather
- Recessed lighting and downlight applications
- Under cabinet fixtures
- Night lights
- Flashlights
Bulb Base Types
With hundreds of various types of bulb bases on the market today, as well as an ever-growing list of LED Light Bulbs, it might be difficult to choose the proper bulb. It can easily turn into a confusing process when you consider the various types and light bulb base sizes that are available, even for the same bulb shapes. Altogether you can divide all the bulbs into 6 base types:
- Screw bases
- Twist and lock bases
- Specialty bases
- Bi-Pin bases
- Fluorescent pin bases
- Compact fluorescent lamp plug-in bases
There are a few things you should think about when examining the different bulb types. It's crucial to understand the various LED bulb base types when buying the appropriate light for your fixture to make sure you receive the right one. Below is a list of the most significant varieties of LED bulb bases.
Edison Light Bulb Base Type
This aptly named light bulb base type resembles the conventional light bulb that most people identify with Thomas Edison. These are the most common types of LED lights ideal for use in both home and commercial settings. Each type of bulb in this category has a unique figure that is visible when purchasing it. The E stands for Edison, while the accompanying number represents the base's width in millimeters. Understanding these figures can assist you in selecting the proper bulb. The following are the most common denotations you will see:
- E12 = Candelabra base
- E14 = Small Edison Screw base
- E17 = Intermediate base
- E26 = Medium base
- E39 = Mogul base
Bi-pin Light Bulb Base Type
The term "bi-pin" means exactly what it says. It is a lamp with two pins at the base as opposed to the more conventional screw-in type. A bi-pin light bulb base type will have a number that, like the Edison denotations, enables you to determine whether it is appropriate for your fixture. They are identified by the letters G followed by a number that specifies the distance between the pins. For example, GU5.3 and GU10. Even though all pin lights are grouped under the bi-pin category for LEDs, a lamp might have more than two ins. Options with letters such as S for the single pin, D for the double pin, T for the triple pin, and Q for the quadruple pin are a few typical types you could encounter.
Bayonet Light Bulb Base Type
Although the two most popular bases for LED bulbs are Edison and bi-pin, the bayonet is still a viable alternative for some bulb types. Two notes on the side are used to hold a bayonet bulb in the lamp or socket. These are classified as single contact (SC) or double contact (DC), based on the number of contact points at the bulb's end that connect to electricity. Visit the lighting collection page of our website for more information. Check out this article for more information.
