Output of an energy-saving lamp in watts. We compare energy-saving lamps with other sources. High-quality energy-saving lamps - how to choose and what to pay attention to
It matters large number various factors. This article talks about how to do right choice.
Energy saving lamp device
For many years, fluorescent light sources were used along with incandescent lamps. But they had a drawback - large sizes. The development of technology made it possible to make the flask thinner, bend it in the shape of a “U” or a spiral, and the electromagnetic choke, which consumed in addition to the active one, reactive power, make it electronic and place it in a regular base.
energy saving lamp and incandescent lampThus, the size of fluorescent devices became comparable to incandescent lamps, and they took their place in lighting equipment.
Main Features
The main parameters of energy-saving lamps that influence the choice of the desired light source are:
- base type;
- luminous flux;
- color temperature;
- light output;
- color rendering index;
- work period.
Base type
Bases used in energy-saving light bulbs come in two types:
Threaded or Edison base. Their marking consists of the letter “E” and a number indicating the diameter. The most common are E14 (minion E14), E27 (most often used) and E40 (changes in high-power devices corresponding to old incandescent lamps 0.5–1 kW).
Pin. They are designated by the letter "G". The numbers indicate the distance between the pins.
Types of socles Luminous flux and output
This parameter indicates the amount of light emitted by a light bulb in a room. Luminous flux is measured in Lumens (lm or Lm) and is indicated on the packaging.
Luminous flux measures how many lumens a light source emits per watt of power. For incandescent lamps it is minimal – 10–15 lm/W, for energy-saving lamps – 50–80 lm/W. The most economical sources are LED. They have a maximum luminous flux of 40–100 lm/W.
ESL luminous flux 
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Ask a question to an expertWith prolonged use, the light output decreases. This is due to the deterioration of the properties of the phosphor, filament or diodes in LED lamps.
Light temperature
The subjective perception of illumination is influenced not only by the luminous flux emitted by the lamp. The shade of light is no less important.
White light is used for lighting, but depending on the user’s preferences, the shade may be different. It differs in light temperature. The most common are:
- 2700 K – warm white, the kind of light produced by incandescent lamps. Used in living rooms.
- 4100 K – neutral. This type of light source is used in bathrooms, corridors and kitchens of residential buildings and industrial premises.
- 6500 K – cool white. Suitable for outdoor use.
ESL light temperature Color rendering index
Human eyes perceive color best in natural light. Artificial light sources distort color perception.
Color rendering index (Ra or CRI) is an indicator that determines the naturalness of color under artificial lighting.
Its ideal value is 100. The use of lamps with an index below 80 in residential premises is not recommended, as this distorts real colors.
The color rendering index of fluorescent and energy-saving lamps is 60–98.
Working period
Companies producing energy-saving light bulbs, including ESL, declare a service life of 8000 hours or 8 years, considering an average operating time of 2.5–3 hours a day, including the toilet, in which the light turns on sporadically, and the living room, where it is on all evening .
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
Ask a question to an expertThe service life is adversely affected by a large number of starts and poor quality of electricity. All these factors lead to the fact that the service life is less than declared.
Comparisons of lamps, their advantages and disadvantages
Like anyone else electrical appliance, energy-saving lamps have advantages and disadvantages. They are best seen in comparison with incandescent and LED bulbs.
As can be seen from the table, ESLs are more economical, have a longer service life and a variety of shades of light compared to incandescent lamps.
However, they require more careful handling (there are mercury vapors inside), consume more electricity and have a shorter service life than diode bulbs, which are the most energy-efficient light sources.
comparison table ESL power table
Consumers are often interested in the question of what power CFLs correspond to incandescent light bulbs. The table below gives the answer to the correspondence of the power of different types of lamps.
| incandescent | 30 W | 35 W | 40 W | 45 W | 50 W | 55 W | 60 W | 65 W | 75 W | 80 W | 90 W | 100 W | 115 W | 120 W | 130 W | 180 W | 275 W |
| energy saving (luminescent) | 6 W | 7 W | 8 W | 9 W | 10 W | 11 W | 12 W | 13 W | 15 W | 16 W | 18 W | 20 W | 23 W | 24 W | 26 W | 36 W | 55 W |
| LED | 4 W | 5 W | 6 W | 7 W | 8 W | 9 W | 10 W | 11 W | 12 W | 13 W | 15 W | 16 W | 18 W | 20 W | 23 W |
According to this equivalence table, an ESL with a nominal power of 11 W corresponds to an incandescent lamp of 55 W, 15 W - 75 W, 20 W - 100 W.
An energy-saving lamp (CFL) is a modern product for lighting any room. The main advantage why the housekeeper has gained enormous popularity among the population is her low rate electricity consumption.
But before purchasing this product, the question arises: “How to choose these lamps correctly?” And this is really a problem for the population, because the design of this invention is closed, and practically nothing is known about it.
To understand this issue, let's consider the main criteria for choosing housekeepers, as well as for what premises they are intended.
Quality criteria for housekeepers and the danger of counterfeits
Having decided to switch to energy-saving types of lighting, you need to opt for a quality product that will last the period specified by the manufacturer. Moreover, the lamp must emit correct and “useful” light, because lighting primarily affects vision, and also general condition human health.
CFLs differ in shape, base size, power and other parameters
When choosing housekeepers, you should pay attention to the following indicators:
- power;
- base type;
- color temperature of radiation;
- form.
These are the main indicators by which energy-saving lamps are selected. General information the choice of housekeepers based on these indicators is described in the article about.
Unfortunately, the lighting market is filled with low-quality products. Such products are called counterfeits, and they pose a particular danger to humans for several reasons:
- “Incorrect” light emission from such a product leads to visual impairment.
- The increased content of mercury vapor causes negative impact on human health.
- Poor quality production affects the service life, which is much lower than that declared by the manufacturer.
- The amount of luminous flux. Great value the magnitude of the flux leads to the emission of infrared and ultraviolet rays that are dangerous to humans.
To select a high-quality fluorescent lamp, you should pay attention to the following criteria:
- starting device;
- phosphor quality;
- warranty period.
Starting device
The starting device is electronic board, through which the spirals of an energy-saving lamp are ignited. The board is the same power supply that converts electrical voltage into a high-frequency pulse.
Structure of an energy-saving lamp with electronic ballasts
The board is assembled from electronic parts: diodes, transistors, inductors, thyristors and resistors. They are assembled according to a certain pattern, through which the lamp functions. based on network voltage stabilization
The housekeeper is a complex lighting product that will not light up and will not function without a starting device. The service life of the lamp depends on the quality of the parts and assembly of the board.
It is impossible to determine a high-quality board by eye (the CFL design is non-separable). To do this, you need to plug it into the network and observe:
- A high-quality starter will light the lamp bulb within 1-2 seconds.
- When it is lit, the luminous flux will increase until it reaches the peak luminescence value.
It is prohibited to attempt to disassemble the lamp to determine its workmanship or carry out repairs.
Phosphor quality
The second element of the lamp design, without 
where its luminescence is impossible is called a flask. This is a glass design various shapes, which is filled from the inside with phosphor. A phosphor is a powdery substance that emits light. The white coating on the walls of the lamp bulb is a phosphor.
When the lamp is turned on, electrons interact with the gas atoms contained inside the bulb. This effect is so active that it can release energy. This energy passes through the glass of a phosphor lamp, which is converted into a luminous flux.
It is important that the CFL is filled with high-quality phosphor content.
Poor quality chemical substance shortens the life of the lamp and negatively affects the human visual organs.
When lit, a fake will have an inappropriate glow temperature. The color the lamp will shine is shown on the product packaging. Therefore, beware of fakes and do not buy a product at promotional or discounted prices - it is 100% fake.
Service life
The service life of the product indicated on the box and the actual life are very different. After all, important factors influencing the lamp service life are (in addition to quality production):
- Operating environment. In a room with high humidity or frost, the service life of the housekeeper is much reduced.
- Number of switchings.
- Changes in network voltage.
- The number of hand touches to the flask.
Do not touch the lamp bulb. Grease stains from hands lead to burnout of the phosphor.
An energy-saving, high-quality CFL has an average service life (up to 25 thousand hours). This means that if it is turned on, it is capable of emitting a luminous flux for the stated time. But when there is no need for its glow, a person turns it off, and turns it on when necessary. And, this phenomenon affects the life of the light bulb.
Comparison with other types of lighting
When comparing the service life of CFLs, it is worth noting an important indicator - cost. The decisive argument when choosing a lighting element is the price of the product.
Energy saving lamps, very susceptible to moisture. A drop of water disables the glowing lamp.
In the kitchen it is necessary to place lamps with a power of 8 to 15 W, depending on the number of cartridges in the lamp and the area of the room.
Industrial lighting fixtures have a larger base diameter than those found in a home or commercial setting. This is an E40 type base, which means its diameter is 40 mm. Power of energy-saving CFLs for production premises is in the range of 40 W and above. One lamp of this power is capable of emitting a luminous flux of about 1200-1500 lumens.
Reliable manufacturers: names and prices
As is known from the article, many indicators depend on the reliability of housekeeper production:
- Product quality that is not harmful to health.
- Long service life, actually corresponding to what is indicated on the packaging.
- Appropriate price of the product.
Reliable and high-quality manufacturers include European companies that produce light bulbs in compliance with all standard parameters (ISO 9001). Lower quality, but popular in sale, includes Asian countries, in particular China. In order not to end up falling for fakes, the table (below) contains a list of the most reliable manufacturers of energy-saving lamps.
On branded boxes with light bulbs there is always full information about all product properties
| Manufacturer's name | Lamp power, W | Base type | Country of manufacture | Cost, rubles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE (General Electric) | 11 | E14 | USA | 180 |
| GE (General Electric) | 15 | E27 | USA | 200 |
| GE (General Electric) | 60 | E27 | USA | 1500 |
| Osram | 15 | E14 | Germany | 165 |
| Osram | 55 | E27 | Germany | 1200 |
| Philips | 11 | E27 | Netherlands | 145 |
| Volta | 12 | E27 | Italy | 120 |
| DeLuxe | 15 | E27 | Russia | 130 |
| Eurolamp | 20 | E27 | Germany | 125 |
| Maxus | 11 | Base type | Ukraine | 170 |
| Eurolamp | 80 | E27 | Germany | 1300 |
Video
This video will tell you how to choose the right energy-saving light bulbs.
When going to the store for a new housekeeper, read the material presented and make the right choice. And most importantly, remember that a fake will cost about half as much as a quality product. To be more confident about the reliability of the manufacturers mentioned above, you can read customer reviews on their sales sites.
Until recently, energy-saving devices were not widely used indoors, as they were manufactured in the form of tubes of different lengths. Install or change such models to a simple user it was difficult compared to a regular incandescent lamp. Today this is an improved device for a fluorescent lighting device. Let's take a closer look at what energy-saving lamps are (types and prices will help you make the right choice for your room).
Read in the article:
Categories of lighting fixtures, types of bases
There are 2 types of models:
- LED
- luminescent.
If we talk about light output, then LED designs have much more.
Types of LED lamps and applications
LED (light emitting diode) is a visually ordinary bulb with a semiconductor crystal. The range depends on the chemical semiconductor composition. IN modern technology, this is a new solution.
Classification:
- Type of base.
- Scope of application.
- Type of LED used.
Let's look at LED models by area of application.
Street lighting fixtures
Widely used in illumination of large swimming pools, public buildings, pedestrians and other public places.
Also widely used various methods decorating using smart RGB lighting devices.
LED for home and office use
This type can completely replace all categories of previously used models: conventional incandescent lamps; fluorescent and halogen.
Visually they are no different from their predecessors and have a similar base.
LED spotlights
This model was defined in separate class. Until today, quartz light fluxes have been used in spotlights.
Due to technical characteristics and differences in photometry, it is impossible to directly replace quartz lamps with LED models. Therefore, floodlights are designed specifically for the LED light source.
LED in industry
This direction is widely used in factories, warehouses and production facilities.
Distinctive Features: ideal luminous flux; highest power and IP rating protection.
Models designed for growing plants
Note! Such models sometimes use programming capabilities.
How are caps classified?
The base is the part of the lighting fixture that is in contact with the power supply.
Types of energy-saving lamp bases are divided into two groups:
- Screw-type, marked with the symbol “E”.
- Pin "G".
Let's take a closer look in the table at how bases are classified:
| Types of base | Description |
|---|---|
 E27 Regular classic model with thread | The base is suitable for chandeliers and lamps |
 E14, this is E27, only with smaller threads | Used in modern lighting devices. “Candle” and “Minion” models are produced with a base. |
 GU5.3, similar to the base model of halogen | Such devices are used in LED lamps and do not require design changes |
 GU10 | The model can be found in the kitchen area, where a hood and lighting are used |
 G4 base with two wires | Used in small light bulbs |
 G9 (pin) | The base is the most convenient when installing or replacing the flask |
Energy-saving lamps and LEDs: comparison with predecessors
In order to obtain a complete amount of information about each model, you need to clearly familiarize yourself with performance characteristics and make a comparison.
Pay attention! In order for the comparison to take place with maximum accuracy, we determine the level of luminous flux of the room (800 Lm).
This is about a regular 75W incandescent model. Now let's give an example with 4 devices, with the same level of illumination.
Energy saving lamp comparison table: technical specifications incandescent, halogen and fluorescent devices:
| Types/names | Heating degree | Light flux, lm | Power, W | Payment per year/RUB (20 devices) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Incandescent lighting fixture | High heat | 600-700 | 75 | 11000 |
 Compact fluorescent lamp, energy-saving model | Medium heat | 600-700 | 15 | 2200 |
 LED | Doesn't heat up or break | 800 | 10 | 1450 |
 Halogen | Gets very hot and very fragile | 700 | 45 | 6600 |
Based on the data in the table, we can summarize that the leading place is occupied by.
Power consumption
The data shows that for different types of lamps, with the same illumination, the luminous efficiency varies greatly. As for the practical issue, an LED lighting device consumes almost 8 times less energy, which affects costs.
Pay attention! A fluorescent lamp, for all its savings, is still less economical.
Saving
Let's do a little calculation:
- Price of one kW = 3 rubles.
- We will assume that the lamp burns 8 hours a day.
- We receive 2920 hours per year.
Let's calculate electricity for the year:
- Incandescent lamp: 2920×75 = 219,000 = 219 kW per hour (219×3 = 657 rubles).
- Luminescent: 2920×15 = 43,800 = 43.8 kW per hour (43.8×3 = 131.4 rubles).
- LED: 2920×10 = 29,200 = 29.2 kW per hour (29.2×3 = 87.6 rubles).
- Halogen: 2920×45 = 131,400 = 131.4 kW per hour (131.4×3 = 394.2 rubles).
Based on the calculations, it can be seen that the LED model allows us to save a significant amount.
Regular and energy saving lamp: power/table
The table shows indicators without a protective bulb, which reduces brightness by 20%.
| LED, W | Incandescent, W | Flow, Lm |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 25 | 250 |
| 5 | 40 | 400 |
| 8 | 60 | 650 |
| 14 | 100 | 1300 |
| 22 | 150 | 2100 |
Are energy-saving lamps harmful to human health (especially for children)?
Ecology is one of the important indicators of the product. From the point of view of their data, halogen and incandescent lamps are environmentally friendly; their light spectrum is not harmful to human health. But taking into account the energy consumed, which is wasted just like that, they received a rating of 4 on a five-point scale.
Fluorescent lighting fixtures are rated 3 for several reasons:
- Energy-saving lamps flicker when turned off, which causes very tired eyes.
- The luminous flux is very weak and it is bad for vision.
- Mercury, if the lamp is damaged, can cause harm to health. Urgent disposal of the device will be required.
Pay attention! LED lighting devices received a rating of five, as they have no disadvantages from the point of view of the environment and harm to the body.
Energy saving lamps: types and price. Are we saving or not?
In order to understand which model to choose for a particular room and save, you need to look at the average cost, service life and calculate the total savings.
Now let's calculate the real savings LED lamp in relation to its predecessors. The maximum service life after which the luminous flux begins to decrease significantly is 3 years, based on 8 hours per day.
Pay attention! This adds up to 8,500 hours of lamp life. During this period we replace 12 incandescent lamps and 2 fluorescent lamps.
Let's calculate the amount for 3 years:
- LED – 300 rubles (1×300).
- Luminescent – 300 rubles (2×150).
- Lamp “Ilyich” – 360 rubles (12×30).
Then we add the amount of consumed electricity to the cost and multiply by 3 years:
- LED 562.8 rub.
- Luminescent RUB 694.2
- Incandescent 2331 rub.
Attention! If we compare a regular lamp with an LED light source, then the second one will allow us to save up to 2000 rubles. in 3 years. And that's just one light bulb!
Article
Many of you have long switched from incandescent sources to energy-saving light bulbs, and are now thinking about LED ones. The rationality of the transition must be calculated for each case separately and depends on the mode in which it is used. It is especially not recommended to install energy-saving lamps where they operate in short-term mode. They ignite slowly, when it flares up at full power, then you already leave the room and turn off the light.
- 1. Energy saving lamps types and prices
- 2. How to choose
- 3. Power matching
- 4. Luminous flux and power
- 5. Example of Philips characteristics
- 6. Service life
- 7. Why does it blink or flash?
- 8. Which light bulbs are better: LED or energy-saving?
- 9. Circuit and power supply
Energy saving lamps types and prices
Energy-saving lamps are compact fluorescent light bulbs, abbreviated as CFLs. The abbreviation will be used throughout the text. This is a normal design luminescent source light in a more compact format. The power supply is installed at the base of the case near the plinth; for cooling, small holes are made through which air circulates.
- shape in the form of a spiral, circle, square, horseshoe;
- base E14, E27, E40;
- with a flask in the shape of a pear, candle, ball;
- Possibility of brightness control, dimming.
If you decide to switch from CFLs to LEDs, you will encounter a common problem. For LEDs with an E14 base, the luminous flux is no more than 600lm, due to the fact that the sizes are limited. The power in this case is 6-7W, this is almost analogous to a 60W incandescent. LEDs may not be enough to illuminate a room where CFLs previously stood. The illumination will be lower than expected, but it should be with a margin, taking into account the degradation of LEDs. Even the Chinese don’t have powerful ones, although they write in parameters from 1000 to 1500 lm, which is 2-3 times too high.
Only recently E14 LEDs with 800-900 lumens, power consumption 10W, produced by X-Flash have appeared. But now they are in short supply, E14 at 10W are sold out immediately, they are not even often available on the manufacturer’s website.
The main disadvantage of CFLs will be:
- slow ignition for up to 10 minutes;
- reduced light output at low temperatures.
How to choose
To choose the best energy-saving lamps you need to know 9 basic parameters, half are similar to diode ones.
Key Features:
- rated power - energy consumption;
- power factor - the ratio of active and reactive;
- luminous flux – source brightness;
- color temperature – 2700K warm white or neutral white 4000K;
- color rendering index CRI – color rendering of objects;
- warm-up time - the period of time after which it shines by 60-80%;
- ignition time – time required for ignition;
- service life - the number of hours after which the brightness will drop by 30% of the initial value;
- number of switching cycles.
The easiest way to choose the best is by brand, it should be well-known. If you are hearing the brand name for the first time, it is better to refuse. The larger the brand, the more they worry about quality. When you compare energy-saving ones in price with cheap diode ones, then in terms of service life they will not work much longer than CFLs. A good LED costs from 200 rubles.
Consider the installation location; if it’s on the street or in the entrance, there will be many people who want to steal it or break it. That’s why I put filament LEDs with a broken bulb in the entrance; they can’t be unscrewed without a tool. If you try to twist it by hand, you will break the LEDs, and it’s not very noticeable in the lampshade.
Power matching
Energy saving lamps power table
A feature of energy-saving lamps E14, E27, E40 is the lack of dimming and brightness adjustment. A constant high voltage is required to maintain the glow. But after looking through the Osram website, it turned out they have models with brightness control.
The table shows the correspondence between LED and incandescent.
Incandescent power and compliance table.
| CFL | Incandescent | LED | Light flux, Lm |
| 5W | 25W | 3W | 250 |
| 9W | 40W | 5W | 400 |
| 13W | 60W | 7W | 650 |
| 15W | 80W | 9W | 900 |
| 20W | 100W | 14W | 1300 |
| 35W | 150W | 20W | 2100 |
To easily calculate the incandescent analogue, use a coefficient of 5. For example, you have a 9W CFL, multiply 9w by 5, it turns out it is an analogue of a 45W light bulb.
Luminous flux and power
As elsewhere, when choosing, look not only at the price, but use the rule: “cheap cannot be good, no matter what the manufacturer promises.” Too often I come across deception from stores and manufacturers. The economic situation in Russia in 2016 is difficult, so in order to maintain business, many begin to deceive the buyer, just so that sales do not fall.
An example would be the ASD brand, which overestimates the power and luminous flux of its lamps and fixtures. Their products are cheap, and combined with high performance and service life, they are popular. It turns out that the one who lied the most sold the most. If the price is equal, you will choose where they promise more.
Luminous flux and power table.
Example of Philips specifications
Service life
Nowadays, a large number of energy-saving lamps are imported from China. They look for a factory in China to produce light bulbs, put their own brand on them and sell them in Russia. To sell, a brand does not have to understand them and have its own laboratory. The Chinese take advantage of this by slipping in worse LEDs with worse parameters. Then it turns out that the manufacturer promises certain parameters, but in reality the technical characteristics are different.
- Chinese up to 3,000 - 5,000 hours, although they promise up to 10,000 hours;
- branded 6,000 – 10,000 h.
Probability of failure fromOsram.
Domestic brands send lighting equipment to me for testing, some of them are very deceived by the Chinese and do not admit to deception. They slip in false test results as evidence with which they can convince an amateur. After looking at the test results, it was clear how they were deceiving.
Cheap lamps from little-known domestic brands work much less than branded energy-saving lamps from Osram, Philips and other well-known ones. Cheap ones have lower quality components in the power supply. In addition, it gets very hot, shortening its service life. You've probably seen the blackened ones in the part where the power supply is located.
The service life is also affected by the build quality, Chinese manufacturers save on everything, even where it is impossible to do so. Therefore, instead of the promised 15,000 hours, the cheap one works for 5,000 hours, that is, the characteristics are overestimated. Branded Philips and Osram are guaranteed to work specified period time, the requirements for light bulbs abroad are more stringent.
Philips has models with an operating time of up to 10 thousand hours, but their stage is correspondingly much higher. It can be indirectly determined by the warranty period. If the warranty is 1 year, then do not expect long-term performance. A 3-5 year guarantee is given only for high-quality
Why is it blinking or flashing?
Many of you ask why it blinks energy saving light bulb with the switch off or with the lights off? Most likely you have an illuminated switch installed. A small current passes through the backlight, which charges the energy-saving power supply. Once the power supply has accumulated enough energy, it flashes. Then the process is repeated.
To prevent it from flickering or blinking, you will need to remove the backlight in the switch; this is the easiest and most optimal way. There are also options for installing a small load in parallel so that the current flows to it. Most LEDs have the same problem and are also solved.
Which light bulbs are better: LED or energy-saving?
In terms of efficiency, LED and energy-saving lamps differ on average by 2 times. To get an analogue of a 100W incandescent at 1300 lumens, you will need:
- diode 15W;
- energy saving at 25W - 30W.
The luminous flux depends on the quality of the components used and on the amount of phosphor applied to the walls of the spiral inside. Manufacturers like to indicate the service life of LEDs as the lifespan of a light bulb; in fact, this is completely different meanings. therefore compare different types light sources are difficult.
Circuit and power supply
The energy saving scheme is the same as that of a conventional fluorescent tube for Armstrong 36W lamps. It is powered by a starter that starts the light with high voltage. The power supply is a regular starter, such as an electronic ballast (electronic ballast).
Minor modification required for manufacturing. A transformer with a stabilizer is connected at the output. The most difficult thing is to find or select a suitable transformer. If it does not fit, then burn the entire structure. It will still take time to set up. If you don’t have good amateur radio experience, then you don’t have much of a chance to assemble it correctly.
Often such power supplies have low reliability because they are subject to high heat, so much so that even plastic turns black. Many people still have outdated equipment, such as VCRs, so it’s easier to take ready block from household appliances, from faulty or outdated.
Even with my experience, I am occasionally exposed to high voltage from 220V that even screwdrivers melt. The sensations are not the most pleasant, so it is better not to climb into high-voltage blocks on your own. Even a non-discharged capacitor can give you a big treat.
The increasing cost of electricity leads to the need to find ways to reduce its consumption. A significant part of it is spent on lighting, where as a light source long time incandescent lamps predominated. Now there are more economical light sources. The main indicator here is the power of energy-saving lamps. A table of their comparison with conventional lamps is given in advertisements or in comparative characteristics.
An incandescent lamp consists of a sealed bulb filled with an inert gas with a tungsten filament inside. When passing through it electric current a glow is formed. Up to 90% of the electricity here goes into heat. However, it does not last long and has low light power.
The light output and color rendering of an incandescent lamp was increased by adding halogen vapor to the inert gases. At the same time, its principle of operation remained the same, but decreased by 40%.
Fluorescent lamps
A fluorescent lamp (FL), the efficiency of which is 70%, has long been used as an alternative light source. It consists of a sealed glass tube filled with an inert gas and mercury vapor. Inside, a layer of phosphor is applied to the surface of the glass, which begins to glow when the lamp is lit from the ballast. In everyday life, the use of LLs is not very convenient, as a result of which they were made more compact by placing the starting device inside the base. Due to this, the lamp can work together with standard sockets. As a result, it can be installed instead of a conventional incandescent lamp without altering the lamp, which is an advantage. Here it is important to correctly determine what voltage it is designed for.
The compact fluorescent lamp is called an energy-saving lamp (ESL) and has become widely used.
Characteristics of energy-saving lamps
The efficiency of all types of lamps is assessed according to the following indicators.
- Power - the amount of electricity consumed during one hour, W.
- Luminous efficiency - the amount of light per 1 watt expended, Lm/W. The luminous flux power of energy-saving lamps is 5 times greater than that of standard light sources.
- Color rendering index - the level of correspondence between the apparent and natural colors of the illuminated body%.
and power
Fluorescent lamps were initially created without standards, since they were used primarily as illuminated advertisements, where each product was different from the others. Their use as lighting devices has led to the need for grouping by characteristics so that they can be matched to the appropriate electrical wiring or luminaire. The main properties of lamps can be determined by markings.
The first letter of the domestic marking reflects the color: B - white, U - universal, D - daylight, C - improved color rendition, etc.
International markings indicate a color code, where the first digit reflects the color rendering index (for a home it should be 8), and the remaining two digits indicate the color temperature in hundreds of degrees (827, 830, 836 are used for a home).
The sockets are designated E40 (for high-power (standard), E14. (smaller diameter - 14 mm). Energy-saving lamps E14 are designated with a socket diameter of 14 mm.
For ESL, pin sockets are often used: 2D, G23, 2G7, GU, etc.
Power is indicated in watts before the letter W. A common type of lamp is the 11w energy-saving lamp with screw and pin bases.
ESL with smooth start are designated RS.
The lamp voltage is indicated as 126 V, 220 V.
All main parameters are usually indicated on the ESL labeling. Some manufacturers may have a different layout, but this is easy to figure out.
LED lamps
Another new energy-saving lighting source is the LED lamp, which has created a real breakthrough in energy efficiency. It allows you to further reduce energy consumption, as well as improve light output, increase service life and improve fire safety. All these qualities are provided by the built-in matrix, which is LEDs connected in series. The light intensity depends on their number.
Comparison of energy-saving lamps and incandescent lamps
Traditionally, lamps are selected by power, but now it would be more correct to evaluate them by luminous flux, since the illumination of the room depends on it.
The consumer is accustomed to assessing illumination by the power of incandescent lamps. Therefore, it is convenient for him to evaluate the power of energy-saving lamps (table) based on the equal illumination created different types light sources.
The table clearly shows the dependence of power consumption on the type of light source. It is obvious here that ESLs have significantly less power at the same brightness as an incandescent lamp. However, from different manufacturers, the brightness may differ significantly from the declared one. In addition, the amount of light depends on the volume of the bulb: the smaller it is, the lower the luminous flux. When choosing an ESL in a store, it should be assessed according to the declared characteristics, the size of the flask and an adjustment should be made towards increasing the stock. In addition, you need to take into account that an incandescent lamp creates uniform illumination in all directions, while an LED lamp has a directional flow. If a diffuser is installed on it, it takes away some of the power.
The spectrum of the lamp is of no small importance. As brightness increases, the power consumption to create the same luminous flux decreases.
ESL selection
Energy-saving lamps are selected according to their characteristics. The easiest way is to estimate the required power of energy-saving lamps. A comparison table with other types of lamps is available in any store. The ESL power should be 5 times less than that of an incandescent lamp. For example, instead of a 100-watt standard lamp, a 20-watt energy-saving lamp can be used.
The light spectrum of all light bulbs must be the same tone. In living rooms, soft tones (warm glow) are preferred.
The size and shape of the lamp depends, first of all, on the type of socket and the permissible dimensions of the lamp. The cheapest bulbs are U-shaped, while spiral bulbs cost more. Standard sizes usually suitable for large shades of chandeliers or floor lamps. For small sconce hoods, compact energy-saving E14 lamps are chosen.
Sometimes new ESLs blink, which may be due to the presence of a backlight in the switch. Then you should remove the indicator from it or purchase an LED or halogen lamp. You should immediately discard a low-quality product and purchase a product of guaranteed quality, despite the higher price.
Dimmers
The brightness of standard lamps is adjusted by changing the power. When it decreases to the PD value (dimming threshold), the light bulb turns off. For all types of lamps, except fluorescent ones, the PD is close to zero and there are no problems with dimming.
ESL dimming
For ESL, combustion is maintained at a power of at least 10% of the nominal value, but to start the dimmer must be set to a level of at least 30%, and after turning on the lamp it can be reduced.
It is advisable to use brightness regulators on triacs, without rectifying the current, which makes it possible to save on the absence of power losses from diode bridges. Despite this, the dimmer is an additional burden. In addition, cold starts cause fluorescent lamps to fail faster. The dimming depth of conventional lamps is very low, and to expand it and ensure the necessary safety margin, you should buy special expensive lamps with special electronic filling.
Dimming LED lamps
The LED lamp changes brightness depending on the amount of current passing. There is an optimal mode for it, in which the light output is maximum. Here you need to take into account that when the power changes, the shade of the glow changes accordingly. To keep it the same, dimmable LED lamps and brightness controls are used to maintain a constant current amplitude while changing the pulse current step. Naturally, this is reflected in an increase in price.
Manufacturers are trying to produce products that best satisfy the needs of consumers. Philips has released lamp models that work normally with conventional dimmers.
Conclusion
Energy-saving lamps with guaranteed quality comply with the declared parameters and provide energy savings when used correctly. You can easily select the power of energy-saving lamps; a table of their correspondence to standard incandescent lamps is attached everywhere for comparison. To provide the ability to control room lighting, dimmable lamps and compatible dimmers should be used.