How to choose the right LED lamps for lighting an apartment

Modern light sources using LEDs (LED) are becoming increasingly popular, but these products have their own characteristics that should be considered. Only after finding out all the necessary parameters, you can understand how to choose LED lamps for a house or apartment so that they create comfortable lighting, work for a long time, do no harm to health and significantly save electrical energy.

The main advantages and disadvantages of LED light sources

LED sources have a number of advantages compared to traditional lamps.

• They, emitting the same amount of light, consume almost 8-10 times less energy than incandescent lamps, and several times less than energy-saving ones.
• These devices are resistant to current changes in the network. They practically do not change the intensity of the glow during voltage drops.
• LED lamps do not heat up to high temperatures, so they do not damage cartridges and contacts, and also practically do not heat the air in the room.
• These light sources are very durable. If incandescent lamps are designed for 1000 hours of operation, then manufacturers of LED light sources promise from 25 to 50 thousand. This is approximately 10-15 years.

But these light sources have their drawbacks:

1. High price. A high-quality LED lamp cannot cost less than 250-300 rubles.
2. Most of them cannot work with dimmers - dimmers. Those from which regulation is provided do not always work correctly with various models of dimmers.
3. Some LED lamps do not like switches with indicators or backlights. They either dimly glow or periodically flash. Although most high-quality models work with such switches normally.
4. The market offers many low-quality devices of this type.

Is it worth it to use LED lamps to illuminate housing - everyone decides for himself. But the clear advantages in terms of energy saving and durability and a gradual reduction in prices speak in favor of these light sources. If the choice fell on such devices, then you need to know how to choose them correctly for an apartment or a house.

How much power to choose LED lamps

One of the main characteristics of LED bulbs that needs to be determined is the required power, measured in watts. LED lamps with a similar luminous flux consume significantly less energy. So when replacing a 60 W incandescent lamp, you need to purchase an 11-12 W LED light source, that is, reduce the power by about 5 times. For home use in chandeliers and lamps fit LED lamps, whose power is 8-10 watts. They will be quite enough for comfortable lighting of rooms. In a sconce or table lamp, it is better to install LED lamps of lower power.

These devices are produced for operation from a standard current source of 220 volts, as well as rated at 12 volts. The latter are usually used in rooms with high humidity. They can equip places of constant stay of children, since such a voltage completely eliminates the risk of electric shock.There will be no additional saving of electric energy when using 12 Volt lamps, since to ensure normal lighting, the total power consumption will be similar to 220 Volt.

How to choose the color of LED lights

LED lamps differ not only in power, but also in the shade of the emitted light. This indicator is very important for creating not only bright, but also comfortable lighting. This indicator is called color temperature and is measured in Kelvin. It ranges from 1,500 (red-yellow) to 6,500 (white-blue). Light, depending on the shade, affects the emotional state of a person and his perception of visual images in different ways. Correctly selected light temperature of LED light sources can increase the working capacity of people, increase the attractiveness of the product or arrange for rest and peace.

What lamps to choose for a particular room?

• Devices with an indicator less than 2500 K should not be selected. They emit a rich, heavy yellow light that causes anxiety and depression.
• LED lamps with a color temperature of 2700 to 3000K have a warm light yellow hue, similar to the morning sun. On packages it is usually indicated as “warm white”. It is a calming, relaxing light, creating a cozy home environment. It is this kind of radiation that incandescent lamps and energy-saving light sources have. Such devices are best suited for lighting recreation areas, bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens.
• Light sources with an indicator of 3000 - 3500 K (marked “soft white”) create white lighting with a slightly yellowish tinge. Suitable for libraries, shops, salons. They create a friendly, warm atmosphere for communication.
• Causing calm, a sense of confidence and security with a color temperature of 3500-4000 K (marking - “neutral white” or “natural white”) is suitable for lighting offices, foyers, corridors, bookstores, cinemas, various exhibitions.
• LED luminaires with a color temperature of 4000 to 5000 K (“cold white”) create a cheerful working environment and provide excellent color perception of objects. They are installed in educational institutions, industrial premises, medical institutions. It will be appropriate to screw such a light source into a desk lamp to illuminate a workplace in the office or to illuminate a computer desk.
• Lighting devices with an indicator of 5000-6000 K ("white-blue") are not allowed for indoor lighting. Prolonged exposure to light waves of the blue range is not recommended by ophthalmologists. They cannot equip bedrooms or extended stay areas. But such devices are perfect for lighting shop windows with jewelry, highlighting objects of art, including paintings. Cold light accentuates shades and colors well.

When choosing lamps by color, it should be borne in mind that they can somewhat change the color scheme of the surrounding interior, which is why it can take on a completely unusual appearance.

So, yellow light muffles all cold shades, while enhancing the colors of warm tones, while the transmission of blue and green colors is somewhat distorted. Cold light, on the contrary, will emphasize blue and green colors, but will cause a change in warm colors: yellow will appear greenish, red will appear purple and orange will appear brownish.

Base types

Different lighting fixtures use LED lamps (like other types) with different types of base. Therefore, choosing an LED lamp, it is not enough to determine the power and color, you need to know in which cartridge it will be installed. In chandeliers, sconces and floor lamps, bulbs with E-27 and E-14 socles (Mignon) are mainly used, in spotlights - GU-10 or GU-5.3. Other used but less common base types are MR-16, G-9, and B-22.

LED lamps are quite expensive, so when you go shopping, you need to determine exactly which base the lampholders are designed for, and it’s better to remove and bring along samples of bulbs (it doesn’t matter what type they are - incandescent or energy-saving).

Other important characteristics to consider

The color transfer coefficient is indicated on the package, but usually not on the front side. This indicator should not be lower than 80. A high value is 95, but such a device will cost more. If the color rendering coefficient is high and the price is low, then this is most likely a fake. It is better not to buy such a device.

The angle of light scattering depends on the type of bulb and the location of the LEDs. This should be noted when checking the lamp. You can mistakenly purchase a narrow source of light.

Not all LED lamps work with a dimmer - a dimmer. The ability to connect through the regulator is indicated on the package.

Table lamp with LED light source

Recently, table lamps often use fluorescent or energy-saving light sources. Usually their light is cold white, which is not very good for the eyes. In addition, energy-saving lamps are filled with gas containing mercury compounds. In case of violation of their integrity, this is not safe for human health.

It’s better to choose table lamps with the possibility of using ordinary incandescent lamps or LED light sources. The latter are preferable, since they do not heat the reflector, consume little energy, and at the same time illuminate the workplace well. A power of 6-10 watts will be enough for comfortable work. In order to make the eyes less tired, it is better to use soft white lamps with the possibility of using a dimmer.

LED light sources are promising and economical devices, but their cost is still quite high. Therefore, before purchasing a set of such lamps, it is necessary to carefully evaluate all the necessary parameters.

In order not to be disappointed, you need to purchase LED lamps only from well-known manufacturers, such as PHILIPS, CREE, NICHIA, OSRAM, PAULMAN. Of the Russian manufacturers, Optogan and Svetlana Optoelectronics are quite popular.

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