The most economical light bulbs. What lamps are better to buy for the house. Reflector incandescent lamps

Energy-saving lamps are now in trend and this is not without reason. With ever-increasing electricity prices, many people want to reduce electricity consumption in order to reduce costs.

And one of the ways to save money is to use energy-saving appliances in the house.

And most often, savings begin with lighting fixtures. After all, it is easier and cheaper to change light bulbs in the house than, for example, a refrigerator.

At the same time, the use of energy-saving lamps in terms of energy consumption can significantly reduce the cost of electricity in the house.

So we will try to figure out what energy-saving lamps are, and whether they can really save us electricity.

General advantages and disadvantages of "housekeepers"

Let's start with the very concept - an energy-saving lamp. To determine if a lighting device is economical, it is compared with a conventional incandescent lamp. And any lamp that consumes less electricity than the “Ilyich bulb” is already considered energy-saving.

But there are few types of such lighting devices, and in domestic conditions three types of lamps are used at all:

halogen;
luminescent (gas-discharge);
LED.

The advantages of these lighting fixtures compared to an incandescent lamp are really many:

The first and most important of them is a significantly lower power consumption with the same light output, due to a higher efficiency. An incandescent lamp has a very low efficiency - about 18%, that is, out of every 100 watts of energy consumed, such a lamp converts only 18 watts into light radiation, the rest of the energy is spent on heating the spiral. For energy-saving lamps, the efficiency can reach 80%, but it depends on design features each device. Below we will take a closer look at the efficiency of all types of lamps;

Increased service life, which also affects financial costs, but here again, much depends on the design of the lamp and operating conditions;

Safety of use (does not apply to halogen lamps). The absence of a direct connection of contacts (in an incandescent lamp they are connected by a spiral) eliminates the occurrence of a short circuit.

Reducing the load on the network, which also increases security.

And these are just the main advantages inherent in all energy-saving lamps.

The main common disadvantage for economical elements is their cost.

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages that each type of "housekeeper" lamp has.

Basic parameters of lighting elements

In order to further understand the operating parameters of the above types of lamps, we will consider each of them using the example of a conventional incandescent lamp, since in all calculations they are repelled from it.

The main parameters for any lamp is its luminous efficiency, it is also efficiency, and light temperature - the intensity of light emission. This can also include a resource.

The efficiency of a lamp is the luminous flux (measured in Lumens) that it emits when it consumes a certain amount of energy (measured in Watts).

In simple terms, this parameter means how much light the lamp will emit, having spent 1 watt of electricity.

So, a 75-watt incandescent lamp provides a luminous flux equal to 935 lm and has a luminous efficacy of 12 lm / W.

Light temperature is the intensity of the radiation of a light source, taken as a wavelength in the optical range (measured in Kelvin).

To make it clearer, this parameter indicates what brightness and color tone the emitted light will have.

A 100-watt incandescent lamp has a light temperature of 2800 K, which in the optical range corresponds to warm white light with an orange tint. This temperature has sunlight during dawn and dusk.

The average life of an incandescent lamp is 2000 hours. From these parameters in the future we will build on. The life of the lamps can be extended, special devices that not only regulate the degree of illumination of the premises, but also save electricity.

Halogen devices

Now for the energy-saving lamps themselves and let's start with halogen. In fact, this is the same incandescent lamp, but with some modifications. In her flask, the place of vacuum is a buffer gas (vapours of bromine, iodine).

The use of these vapors made it possible to increase the light temperature to 3000 K, and the lamp efficiency is 15-17 lm / W to provide the same 900 lm of luminous flux.

Due to its better luminous efficiency, the halogen element is able to provide the same amount of light as a 75-watt conventional incandescent lamp, but for this it needs only 55 watts of energy, which means that there is already a saving in electricity.

In addition, the use of a buffer gas increased the lamp life up to 4000 hours of operation.

The advantages of halogen elements, in addition to efficiency and increased resource, also include their availability, since they cost not much more than conventional lamps.

They are available with E14 and E27 bases.

However, they often have smaller dimensions than incandescent lamps, which allows them to be used even in miniature lamps.

The disadvantages of halogen elements are the same as for conventional incandescent lamps.

Fluorescent

These lighting devices are very reliable, safe, immune to voltage drops.

Produced with the most common types of plinths. There are elements in the design of which batteries are additionally included, which allows the lamp to be used from a conventional network or from a battery in case of power outages.

There are also devices with a remote control.

The only drawback of such lighting devices is a very high price, about two times higher than the cost of luminescent analogues.

Options to choose from

Now about what parameters you need to consider when choosing an energy-saving light bulb. First of all, you need to decide on the type. At the same time, you should immediately pay attention to the cost and resource.

Power.

The first criterion for selection is the power of the lamps. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the correspondence of the selected elements to those already used at home.

For example, 100-watt incandescent lamps are used everywhere in housing, while the light from them is quite enough.

Based on the luminous efficiency, it can be determined that the same amount of light can be provided by a 70-watt halogen, a 20-watt fluorescent lamp, and a 12-watt LED lamp.

If there is not enough light, then you can pick up a more powerful energy-saving element.

At the same time, you don’t even need to carry out any calculations, comparative tables are usually printed on the packages of these lamps, which allows you to quickly and easily select a light bulb with the required power parameter.

Plinth type.

The second thing you need to pay attention to is the type of base. For conventional cartridges, a lamp base with the designation E27 is suitable.

In lamps and sconces, a cartridge for the E14 base is often used.

Before going to the store, you should definitely ask what types of plinth are needed. But you can make it easier - unscrew and take a light bulb with you, which will change and compare the bases.

Dimensions, shape.

The third selection criterion is the shape and size. If there is a lot of space for installation, then you can buy almost any lighting element in shape. In limited installation spaces, you will have to select lamps according to size.

The only thing you need to pay attention to the LED lamp - they can provide both diffused lighting and directional.

Elements with diffused lighting can be used almost everywhere, but with directional lighting they are better suited for installation in fixtures.

Colorful temperature.

And the last parameter, and not least, is the color temperature. Here the selection is made according to the place of use.

So, in bedrooms and living rooms, the warm white color of different shades is considered the most optimal. Therefore, in such rooms it is better to use lighting elements with a temperature of 2700-4200 K.

For kitchens, bathrooms, garages, the best color is cold white, which is provided by light bulbs with a temperature of 5000-6500 K.

For offices, daylight is more suitable, the light temperature of which is 4000-5000 K. Also, such lamps can be used in bathrooms and kitchens.

Other selection criteria energy saving lamps see below.

Outcome

Note that the savings from the use of "housekeepers" will not be immediate, because the lighting element must first pay off at the expense of the saved funds, and this may take quite a long time, and this also depends on the intensity of use. And it doesn’t matter in a private house you use such lighting fixtures or in an apartment.

The halogen lamp pays off the fastest, but in the end, the savings from it will be negligible.

A luminescent element can pay for itself after a year of use, and in the future it will already begin to save money. As for LED light bulbs, they have the longest payback period, about three years.

In general, only those lighting elements that have a significant resource and can work without problems for more than two years can bring really tangible savings.

Finally, we say that it is not necessary to immediately replace all the lighting elements in the house with energy-saving ones, because this can result in substantial costs.

If they are changed gradually, then the expenses will not be so noticeable, and in the end it will be possible to completely switch to energy-saving lamps.

5 / 5 ( 1 voice )

To answer the question of which light bulbs are best for the home, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of all light sources suitable for residential use, and then conduct a comparative analysis of the most important parameters.

The winner will be a practical, safe for humans, durable device that provides the highest quality light output with economical energy consumption.

Lamps suitable for the home are primarily classified according to their light emitting technology.

The most relevant among them are:

classic incandescent bulbs;
luminescent products;
halogen appliances;
LED devices.

Each of the positions has specific technical characteristics and different levels performance under the same operating conditions.

The choice of the best device directly depends on the requirements for a particular lighting system.

Features of Edison bulbs

The traditional incandescent light bulb is a classic that has been used to organize home lighting systems for over a century.

General description of the product

It creates pleasant radiation in shades of warm colors and does not irritate the eyes even with a long glow. It has a low level of efficiency, since it gets very hot during operation and spends about 97% of the energy resource on it.

The flask consists of heat-resistant glass with a high level of transparency and passes through maximum amount generated light energy

It consumes a lot of energy to illuminate a standard living space and is considered uneconomical compared to more advanced light sources.

The service life is about 1,000 hours and directly depends on the correct operating conditions of the device. More than affordable price attracts buyers, and they often prefer this particular light source only because it is cheaper than others.

Despite the disadvantages, incandescent appliances can be used where the light turns on often, but not for long. More economical units often do not withstand constant on / off, and Edison bulbs endure this quite calmly.

However, the benefit here is false. You have to change incandescent lamps with enviable regularity, and electricity bills “eat up” literally within a month what you managed to save at the time of the initial purchase.

Design and principle of operation

The upper part of incandescent lamps is a pear-shaped sealed flask made of heat-resistant transparent glass. Partially, air was pumped out of it and replaced with an inert gas. It is because of this that the working tungsten filament does not burn out during the heating process.

Two electrodes and molybdenum holders are attached to the leg located inside. They fix the heating body, preventing it from sagging and tearing under its own weight during heating.

The narrowed part of the flask is mounted in the body of a metal base, designed to be screwed into a plug cartridge. A spiral thread is a contact with an electrode soldered to it.

Light bulbs "Ilyich" are mainly equipped with a classic screw base. The most widely used sizes are E14, E27 and E40. They are most often used for residential lighting.

The second contact is located at the bottom of the base and is equipped with ring insulation around the circumference, preventing it from coming into contact with the body of the base.

Incandescent light bulbs are very cheap to make. Manufacturers have the ability to make modules of any power under the mains voltage from a few volts to several kilowatts

Products perform well in a wide temperature range from extremely high to low levels and do not need accompanying triggers for activation. They function correctly with current flows of any polarity, do not create radio interference and are subject to trouble-free disposal due to the absence of toxic substances in the composition.

The first place among the negative factors is occupied by the lowest efficiency. For a hundred-watt light bulb, this figure is only 15%, and for a sixty-watt bulb, this figure is no more than 5%.

Only an increase in the heating temperature can increase the numbers, however, in this case, the service life of the tungsten element is reduced significantly and the expediency of the procedure is lost. A short operating period, vulnerability to vibration, shaking and mechanical damage also do not increase the attractiveness.

If the mains voltage drops below standard levels, the service life of the incandescent modules is significantly reduced

Incandescent lamps do not belong to economical light sources. They “eat up” the largest amount of power supply at the time of launch. Then consumption decreases by 5-10 times, but still significantly exceeds the performance of other lighting products.

What are luminescents

A fluorescent lamp is a gas-discharge artificial radiation source suitable for residential lighting. It demonstrates good efficiency and exceeds the capabilities of classic incandescent devices in terms of light output.

The first luminescents had the form of an elongated, sealed on both sides, cylindrical tube with mercury vapor. Now manufacturers are producing lamps of more original shapes.

They are divided into high and low pressure devices. The former are used for street lighting, and the latter are intended for residential premises. The service life declared by the manufacturer is 5 years, provided that the number of inclusions per day does not exceed 5 times.

The range of glow in luminescents is incredibly wide and includes all shades of white in the range from the coldest to natural and warm.

The device and the nuances of functioning. Structurally, depending on the version, it consists of a tube or a flask with one or two plinths located at the edges.

Filled with mercury vapours. After activation, a glow discharge appears between the electrodes in the flask and ultraviolet radiation is generated in the mercury environment. The phosphor coating located inside converts it into saturated light radiation, perceived by the human eye.

The luminescent type module, connected to the power supply system via an electronic ballast, practically does not buzz during operation and does not flicker

Reduce the values of the base current flow to the correct values \u200b\u200bor electromagnetic or electronic ballasts. Without these additional elements, the full operation of the lamps is impossible.

Advantages of modules. The list of advantages of luminescents includes the following characteristics:

effective light output;
more high level efficiency;
operational stability;
good power and light flux density;
an extensive spectrum of glow in warm and cold ranges;
service life of about 5 years, subject to the necessary conditions.

Reasonable energy consumption, 5 times less than that of incandescent lamps, makes it possible to attribute luminescent products to the number of economical sources of radiation. They make it possible to provide high-quality coverage of large-sized premises without overpaying utility bills.

During operation, the bulb element of the luminescent is heated to a temperature of no more than 50 degrees. Thanks to this point, the lamps are allowed for use in living rooms, where fire safety is especially important.

Disadvantages of devices. Among the negative qualities of products is a more complex switching circuit, which provides for the presence of starting elements. As well as a limited 150 W unit power and a noticeable decrease in the saturation of the light flux at the end of the operational period.

Ballasts, without which the fluorescent lamp is not able to function, provoke a significant loss of energy, amounting to 25-35% of the power of the light source

In addition, the devices react to a decrease in temperature and, if the temperature is too low, they go out and do not turn on. During operation, they emit specific acoustic interference and pulsate, having a negative effect on the eyes of those present in the room, and when the mains voltage drops by 10 or more percent of the nominal value, they stop igniting.

Correct disposal is carried out by specially authorized enterprises, but the lamps are accepted there on certain days and the user has to guess the time in order to get rid of the fluorescents that have worked out their due date.

What is interesting about halogens?

The halogen lamp is a modern, more progressive variation of the traditional incandescent lamp. Filled with buffer gas vapors. Due to this, the operating temperature of the spiral element and the service life of the lighting product are increased.

Halogens have the highest color rendering. This indicator is 99-100%, which is an absolute record among light sources.

The devices are presented in various standard configurations and can be built into lamps of the most unusual modifications, into furniture elements and into systems that create.

Distinctive features lamps. Halogens provide the room with bright, rich and dense light throughout the entire period of operation. Due to their compact dimensions, they can be mounted in very small lamps or built into fragments of the interior.

Despite their modest dimensions, they have a uniquely high light output and, with equal power, give much more light than conventional incandescent modules.

Halogen light sources show the highest level of efficiency in small flasks. Some manufacturers even produce lamps already equipped with such a lamp.

The main disadvantage is the vulnerability to mechanical damage and frequent on / off. Both of these parameters significantly reduce the life of the lamps and contribute to their rapid failure.

The conditional operating period, according to manufacturers, is 2000-4000 hours, which significantly exceeds the capabilities of incandescent modules. However, they cannot compete with LEDs; against their background, they look more attractive only in the context of a low price.

Unique specifics of LED models

Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are the most advanced light source available for use in home lighting systems. Inside it contains one or more diodes, which generate rich, full-fledged light.

LED lamps are made from absolutely safe materials. The composition does not contain any toxic substances, so the products are suitable for installation in any premises of a residential building, including children's rooms.

Working diode elements rarely burn out. Thanks to this, the ice modules are not sensitive to regular on / off and serve reliably for many years.

Benefits of LED light bulbs. List positive qualities very large. The lamps are absolutely non-toxic and completely safe for the health of both children and adults. They do not need specific, complex disposal.

With minimal consumption, they provide a bright, saturated light flux, do not create harmful ultraviolet radiation and do not provoke fading of furniture, interior elements and decor items.

Lamps on diodes have a high structural strength and are not afraid of falls or bumps. They give a pleasant light without blinking.

Even if there is a voltage drop in the network, LEDs, unlike other radiation sources, will not feel this and will not work worse. Their design and configuration allow them to function correctly in the range of 180-260 W

Halogens consume little energy, but are vulnerable to moisture and, being in such aggressive conditions, fail after a short time. Fluorescents are not suitable due to the noise emitted during operation, the presence of toxic substances in the composition and the not too pleasant color spectrum, more appropriate for the working environment.

The most successful solution in this case is. They provide a good light flux of the desired intensity level, do not heat up and do not consume excess energy.

Due to the variety of socles, they can be built into the lamp of any, even the most unexpected configuration, without violating the stylistic design of the bath room.

How to light living rooms?

It is impossible to say exactly which light bulbs are 100% better for the home. For the arrangement of a high-quality lighting system in residential premises, they must be selected carefully and carefully.

Many customers primarily focus on the efficiency of light sources, and rightly so, because electricity bills, which regularly rise in price, have to be paid monthly.

The most economical are LED bulbs, and the most voracious are incandescent bulbs. Halogens and luminescents occupy middle positions and eat up not as little resource as the former, but not as much as the latter.

The longest service life is demonstrated by LED models. They, subject to operational standards, can work from 25,000 hours or more.

An equally important parameter when choosing is efficiency. It determines how light the room will be and is usually measured in lumens. The indicator is placed on the packaging of the lamp and is visible to the consumer even before purchase. The higher the numbers, the better the selected lamp will illuminate the room.

According to this criterion, LEDs are seriously ahead of the rest of the clan of lighting devices. They, with the same consumption of electricity, supply 10 times more powerful stream of light than Edison bulbs.

The efficiency of diode products is at least 90%. Both halogens and fluorescents show lower rates, and for incandescent lamps they do not exceed 5-10%, depending on the power.

To create lighting in a room equal to the effect of a 100-watt incandescent lamp, it is enough to screw in a 10-12 W LED module

The base that the lamp is equipped with also plays a significant role. For household use, they mainly use: pin or screw.

The former have 3 most common types, differing in size:

E14 - minion - inserted into narrow cartridges;
E27 - classic - can be mounted in standard modules;
E40 - maxi - intended for large-sized devices.

All light sources with threaded bases are suitable for sconces, chandeliers and other similar products of any configuration. Experts do not recommend installing LEDs in closed fixtures.

Pins are somewhat less common and are mainly used in lighting designs. modern type both in and .

Size and appearance the source of radiation is also of great importance. No one wants a lamp sticking out of a spectacular sconce or a beautiful ceiling lamp, of inappropriate dimensions. The widest choice of interpretations and forms is demonstrated by LEDs.

In their product line you can find:

miniature models that are conveniently built into a furniture element or into a stretch ceiling;
standard products of the usual configuration, suitable not only for a modern lamp, but also for an old-style chandelier;
products of a specific shape, not only giving light, but also carrying a design load.

All other sources of radiation cannot boast of such a variety.

Not in the last place is the primary cost of products. Classical incandescent lamps are leading here. Their price is minimal and, thanks to this factor, they are still in demand among buyers. In the middle price range are fluorescents and halogens.

One lamp should always contain lamps of the same type, only then it will be able to work for a long time and correctly, illuminating the room with high quality

LEDs are much more expensive and sometimes the price scares off potential buyers. But if you think well, it becomes clear that the costs justify themselves in all respects. You can literally choose any option.

After installing the diodes, all rooms of the house receive excellent, eye-friendly lighting. Utility bills are dropping and running to the store after work to buy a light bulb to replace another burnt one does not take very long.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

What type of lighting do you prefer? Share personally your criteria in choosing light sources for arranging your own home / apartment / office. Please leave comments in the block below, ask questions on interesting or unclear points, post photos on the topic of the article.

Buying lighting lamps for an apartment or house is a routine, but not a trivial task. It is necessary to correlate the cost of the lighting device, the quality of its performance, and, above all, specifications. The power of the lamp, the brightness of the luminous flux and its color temperature must correspond to the room in which it is used. For example, in the office and bathroom you need bright white light, and in the bedroom - muffled warm. This article will help you find out what criteria you can use to choose energy-efficient, affordable and useful lamps for your home that contribute to productive work or quality rest.

Types of light bulbs suitable for houses and apartments

Incandescent lamps

These are classic household light bulbs made in the form of hollow volumetric flasks in the shape of a pear, a ball, a candle, etc. with tungsten filaments has more than half a century. During this time they were replaced different kinds devices, superior in all respects, except for the cost. The low price is the main reason why incandescent lamps are still bought and used in bulk. And this despite the fact that more than 90% of the consumed electrical energy they are converted into heat, that is, they are released into the atmosphere.

In recent years, inexpensive and energy-efficient alternatives have appeared, so the production rate of incandescent lamps has been greatly reduced. Feeling the economy on their own wallet, people were convinced of the low efficiency of this option.

A significant disadvantage of incandescent lamps is their short service life - from 1000 to 3000 hours of illumination. In addition, they are produced exclusively for screw cartridges. A small plus is that the lamp works without problems directly from the 220 V network. Due to the fact that the device strongly heats the air around it, incandescent lamps cannot be used in stretch and some suspended ceilings, as well as for organizing lighting in furniture.

Halogen lamps

Halogen bulbs also work due to the glow of a hot filament installed inside the bulb. However, these devices are more durable, since they are filled with halogen vapors to extend their service life by 2-3 times. Most often, bromine or iodine vapors are used. Halogen light sources are available compatible with both screw and pin sockets.

For use in various purposes, these models are performed with different form flasks are complemented by a coating of reflective materials. This changes the temperature, brightness and angle of dispersion of the light flux. Due to such variability and small dimensions, halogen bulbs were first used mainly in electronic equipment, lighting furniture and ceiling structures.

The light output of halogen lamps is 25-30 lm/W. They are available in E14, E27, G4, G6, G9, etc. Due to the bright directional flow, it is convenient to organize accent lighting with their help.

The principle of operation, based on the incandescence of internal components, gives this type the same disadvantage as traditional "pears" - they intensively convert electric current into thermal energy, which is dissipated in the air. However, the energy consumption is reduced by a factor of three.

An important feature is the requirement for the cleanliness of the surface of the flask - it should not get fat and moisture, otherwise the device burns out. Therefore, the replacement is always carried out with gloves.

Fluorescent lamps

The principle of operation of these devices is based on the ability of certain substances to emit a glow under the influence of an electric charge. Such substances are called luminophores. A fluorescent lamp is a sealed tubular glass bulb, the walls of which are coated with a phosphor from the inside. Inside the flask is filled with mercury vapor and contains several electrodes. When applying electric current an electric charge arises, due to which the glow begins.

Tubular

A couple of decades ago, it was believed that tubular fluorescent lamps are the most economical light bulbs for the home. At that time, they really were the best available options. The adjustment of the required charge in such a device is carried out by a starting-regulating unit, which combines a starter and a voltage transformer. By default, it is included in the design of the lighting device into which the lamp is inserted. Fluorescent lamps are not compatible with other types of lamps.

Compact "economy"

Compact fluorescent lamps, in which the bulb is made of several thin tubes, are very popular these days. Their work is based on the same principle, but the devices are more versatile. First of all, they are available with common E14 and E27 bases, making them suitable for replacing low-efficiency incandescent lamps. In addition, the control circuit is built into the design of the lamp itself.

Such devices are sold in every store as energy-saving. They are indeed many times more efficient than incandescent lamps, because they consume less electricity and do not process it into heat. In addition, they are more durable, which is why they were popularly called "housekeepers".

At fluorescent lamps There are two irreparable shortcomings. First, the device emits a pulsating light. This is caused by fluorescent lighting technology. Such light increases the load on the eyes, leads to fatigue, and can adversely affect the psycho-emotional state. Secondly, potentially dangerous mercury vapors are inside the flask. In case of depressurization or it is necessary to carry out a number of works to ensure chemical safety in the room. And they cannot be thrown away with ordinary household waste - they must be handed over at a collection point or in a special container for hazardous waste.

LED lights

The operation of lighting devices of this type is based on the action of semiconductor LEDs. For the glow of these elements, it is not necessary to create an airtight environment and fill it with certain substances, therefore, LEDs for chandeliers, sconces and home lamps are traditionally made bulb-shaped. All LEDs need to be powered to light up. direct current with a voltage of 12 or 24 V.

To ensure normal operation in household electrical appliances, a driver must be present in the LED power circuit that converts the current to the desired operating parameters. In lamps for screw cartridges, it is already included in the design and is located between the base and the LED itself.

In terms of energy consumption, service life and lighting efficiency, these are considered to be the best light bulbs for household and not only use. Firstly, they consume up to 10 times less electricity, often giving out even brighter luminous flux. In addition, they are several times superior to analogues in terms of service life. Some manufacturers of LED lamps claim that their service life with proper operation reaches 25-35 years.

The characteristic disadvantages of LED lamps are the high price, as well as the presence on the market of a large number of low-quality products. Cheap devices from “nameless” brands often pulsate, which quickly tires the eyes and makes you feel worse. Due to the use of low-grade electronics in the ballast, they also do not have an impressive lifespan. Therefore, the purchase requires a thorough approach to the choice and does not tolerate savings.

What lamps are most convenient and useful for a house or apartment?

Of course, it is impossible to unambiguously answer the question of which light bulbs are best for use in household electrical appliances. Firstly, it is difficult to focus only on cost, brightness, power consumption, color temperature, or some other indicator. Secondly, different options are preferred for different rooms and appliances:

the most comfortable light for the eyes is emitted by incandescent lamps, but they “burn” a lot of electricity;
fluorescent lamps are economical, but tire the eyes;
halogen economical and bright, but they are not recommended for use in bedrooms and children's rooms;
LED lamps are good in many ways, but they are expensive.

For a deeper understanding and easy comparison, please refer to the following table.

Comparison of LED and energy saving lamps

The brightest, most durable and energy-efficient options today are LED and fluorescent "housekeepers". Both options have a good ratio of lumens produced to watts consumed, but the lower cost speaks in favor of the second option. In turn, the average life of LEDs is 5 times longer. Therefore, the difference in price more than pays off in the long run.

To make a choice, LED or energy-saving, information about the shortcomings also helps:

"Housekeepers" work well under constant load. Frequent switching on and off wears them out quickly. It is a poor choice for installation in the kitchen, hallway, bathroom or toilet;
the narrow operating temperature range does not allow the installation of fluorescent lamps outdoors. They also work worse in high humidity, so a bath or bathroom is also not a choice;
fluorescent lamps are poorly dimmable - a smooth change in the brightness of the glow through a special driver;
if the energy-saving lamp has lost its phosphor, it begins to shine in the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum. For safety reasons, a replacement must be carried out even if the device continues to operate;
LED lamps, in fact, do not burn for 25-30 years, because they are never operated in ideal conditions. On average, their service life is 2-4 years;
there are many inexpensive low-grade models on the market that shine too brightly and with a strong pulsation;
an LED lamp costs up to 5 times more than an energy-saving one;
for long operation, the LED lamp must be in a luminaire with good heat dissipation, the fact is that the high temperature overheats the LED, and it burns out.

When choosing light bulbs for an apartment and a house in accordance with the consumption of electricity, consider what power models you will need to use. To calculate the illumination (in lux), you should divide the value of the luminous flux (indicated in lumens) of the bulbs by the area of \u200b\u200bthe room in which they are used. According to the building codes and regulations in force in the Russian Federation, in kitchens and living rooms the illumination rate is 150 Lx, for children's rooms - 200 Lx, libraries and study rooms - 300 Lx, bathrooms, corridors, halls, showers and bathrooms - 50 Lx (for bathroom can be increased to 100 Lx).

Do not forget that lamps from reputable manufacturers are guaranteed to comply with the standards of operation and the declared technical characteristics. When buying incandescent lamps, this is not so noticeable, but when purchasing LED or fluorescent lamp it is better to pay extra for a brand to be sure of quality, safety and durability.

Today, each of us wants to save on utility costs, one of which is electricity. Next, we will talk about which light bulbs are best for home LED or energy-saving, we will also consider the rating of the best and their differences from each other.

Lamps in the first place should be economical, but not harmful to health. Luminescent and LED ice lamps have proven themselves more on the market.

In this article, you will find information for yourself on how to choose lighting elements for your home and their main characteristics.

So, which lamp is better LED or energy saving? This question can be answered by considering their brief comparison.

In terms of service life, LED lamps are significantly ahead of energy-saving ones. For 80 - 100 thousand hours of burning led lamps (about 8 years), energy-saving ones burn 4 - 12 thousand hours (from 3 to 4 years).

The LED lamp is not afraid of frequent on-off, it "flares up" immediately after switching on. "Start - warm-up" energy saving is 1 minute, although this is a minor minus. Both lamps practically do not heat up and are completely fireproof.

For human health, LED lamps are preferable, they do not contain harmful components, while energy-saving ones contain mercury, for some consumers this is a deterrent when buying.

With reduced electricity or its frequent drops in the network, an energy-saving lamp may simply refuse to work, which cannot be said about the LED, although its service life is reduced to 25%. In terms of power consumption, LED lamps are more energy efficient. Also, economy lamps require special disposal.

Well, and of course the price. In this matter, the LED yields its leading position to the energy-saving lamp, although its cost pays off with interest. After studying this comparison, you will certainly be able to determine for yourself which light bulbs are better LED or energy-saving, and make right choice lighting for your beautiful chandelier.

If you look for differences in these two lamps, then this will turn into a kind of absurdity. The thing is that, according to their principles of operation, those and other lamps are completely different. They are united only by the fact that both LED and energy-saving ones give light.

Although we would like to bypass the keystone about the features of the lamps, we still have to summarize something, if only in order to draw a final conclusion about which of their types to prefer when buying. It is about such interesting features relating to each type of lamp, we will talk further.

Since the main part of the electrical energy in our houses and apartments, except for those equipped with stationary electric stoves, is consumed for lighting, replacing incandescent lamps with energy-saving ones will significantly save money.

The LED lamp, unlike the incandescent lamp, has a number of undeniable advantages. The light output of such a lamp is 5 times greater than that of a conventional incandescent lamp, which allows up to 80% reduction in electricity consumption, for example, replace a 100-watt incandescent lamp with an LED counterpart of 12-20 watts.

Led lamp lasts up to 50 thousand hours, and incandescent lamps, according to technical indicators, will last up to 1.5 thousand hours, although in practice even less. If compared in terms of kWh savings, then based on the number of lamps, burning hours and power, savings from 50 to 100 kWh can be achieved per month.

Usually, consumers are "scared" by the price of an LED light bulb, the average cost of which varies from suppliers from 100 rubles. for one lamp with a power of 12 watts.

The average price of a conventional incandescent lamp of 100 watts is 20 rubles. But, if we take into account the service life, then for a period of operation of a led lamp of 50 thousand hours, you will have to purchase up to 50 pieces of incandescent lamps, with a total cost of 1000 rubles. And this difference will really help you save money.

It is worth buying LED led lamps based on the payback period. So, according to experts, with an electricity consumption of up to 100 kWh per month, a 12-watt lamp will pay off in a little more than a year, with a monthly consumption of 100 to 600 kWh - about 2.5 years.

Energy saving light bulbs

Energy-saving fluorescent lamps are in great demand among consumers on the market.

Unlike an incandescent lamp, where light is converted by passing electrical energy through a tungsten filament, light in an energy-saving lamp is converted from the ultraviolet glow of a gas discharge, which is formed by passing an electrical discharge through the gas filling the bulb.

The advantages of fluorescent lamps include light output, economical power consumption, they heat up less and have a long service life. Often, consumers complain that lamps burn out much faster than the service life declared by the manufacturer.

Why do energy-saving lamps burn out quickly?

The service life of fluorescent lamps is affected by the rules of operation, they cannot be turned on and off often, and power surges in the network also negatively affect. That is, it is not always necessary to sin on the quality from the manufacturer, sometimes energy-saving ones burn out from improper operating conditions.

Also, energy-saving lamps should not be touched with your hands, because you will simply leave grease on their surface, which in turn will lead to burnout. If you accidentally touch the surface of such a lamp, wipe its surface with a lint-free cloth soaked in alcohol.

Energy-saving lamps and mercury content are harmful. If you accidentally break the lamp, carefully assemble everything, do a wet cleaning with a solution of potassium permanganate and ventilate the room well. Burnt-out lamps cannot simply be thrown into the trash, they are subject to mandatory disposal by specialized enterprises.

What is the difference between LED lamps and energy-saving lamps

There was a time when everyone began to switch to energy-saving lamps in order to save money. Now new trend- LED bulbs.

Today, LED light bulbs are really coming into "fashion", like all other devices that help save money and do not harm the environment. Their main difference from conventional energy-saving ones is the principle of operation.

The energy-saving lamp contains argon and mercury vapors. When voltage is applied, mercury emits ultraviolet radiation, which, passing through a special coating, gives a luminous flux. A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp glows as a result of applying current to the LEDs.

Another difference is power consumption. With the same luminosity, LEDs consume 2-3 times less energy than energy-saving ones, that is, a 3 W LED bulb corresponds to a 5-watt energy-saving (or 20-watt incandescent).

In addition, LED lamps are more durable and less sensitive to voltage drops, although they are more sensitive to high temperatures and therefore require constant cooling.

Since environmental friendliness plays a big role today when choosing electrical appliances, another significant drawback of energy-saving lamps is the use of mercury in their design.

This means that, firstly, they require more careful handling (if broken, such a lamp can harm households due to mercury fumes), and secondly, they must be disposed of in a special way - they cannot be thrown away with ordinary garbage. LED in this sense is absolutely safe, but they are also more expensive than energy-saving ones.

Incandescent lamps are rapidly losing their former popularity, and they are being replaced by new, more technologically advanced lighting devices. This happens for the simple reason of unacceptably high power consumption.

Therefore, today fluorescent, which is popularly called energy-saving, and LED (or LED, from the English light-emitting diode) lamps are in great demand. But, despite a lot of information about each type, many are interested in an expert answer to the question of their differences. So what is the difference between an LED light bulb and an energy-saving one?

Let's figure it out. The popular name of fluorescent lamps (LL) is not entirely correct, LED lamps are also energy-saving. Moreover, different types of energy-saving lamps may differ in appearance and be based on a completely different physical principle of operation. But, for easier perception of the article, we will use the name that has become established among the people.

Safety

The main aspect in the choice of any product is the issue of safety, which directly depends on physical principles work and product design. Inside the energy-saving lamp there are mercury vapors, so damage to the glass bulb can lead to human poisoning.

But, in addition to highly toxic mercury, many experts consider their ultraviolet radiation to be dangerous, which negatively affects the retina. In addition, the expired LL refers to hazardous waste, requiring special disposal.

The main difference between an LED lamp and an energy-saving lamp, in terms of safety, is the absence of any harmful substances. Moreover, LED light bulbs can be produced without the use of a glass bulb, which significantly increases the mechanical strength of the structure.

Life time

By the duration of the service life is meant the preservation of all the characteristics declared by the manufacturer. If we compare only high-quality products, then the LED lamp lasts about 30 thousand hours on average, and LL - only about 8 thousand.

If we compare with conventional incandescent bulbs, then the gain for LED is about 45 times, for LL and compact fluorescent (CFL) about 8 times. Another difference between energy-saving lamps and LED lighting sources is a noticeable decrease in the duration of the working life with frequent switching on and off.

economic benefit

LED lamps differ in terms of energy consumption. To create the same luminous flux as from a tungsten filament, CFLs will need about 5, and LEDs about 8 times less electricity.

Light-emitting diode light bulbs (Led) are rapidly evolving. Those that were 2 years ago and now - a big difference. In the old design, the ice used LEDs in a plastic case.

An improved version of the first lamps were products with LED filament. It has a lot of diodes protected by a glass strip. And covered with a phosphor - a light-accumulative pigment. Such lamps are called filament.

familiar design, like an incandescent lamp;
service life from two to five years;
more efficient energy saving.

The most advanced lamp design is Crystal Ceramic MCOB technology. In it, the emitters are located on round plates of transparent ceramics. On both sides they are lined with a phosphor. Thanks to this feature, the latest generation of lamps shine back and forth, illuminating the area in 360 degrees.

What are the best LED bulbs

Everyone has heard about the energy efficiency, durability and economy of LED lighting today. In 2014, the revolutionary significance of LED lamps was confirmed Nobel Prize, and since then LEDs have confidently entered our lives.

But not all LED bulbs are created equal. In February 2016, the Research and Development Center for Testing Electric Lights and Technological Equipment conducted a comparative test of LED lamps of the most famous and widespread brands.

The purpose of this testing was to obtain reliable information on the compliance of the actual parameters of the lamps under study with the declared characteristics, as well as to familiarize consumers with the results of testing.

MAXUS LED;
EUROLAMP;
GLOBAL LED;
ELECTRUM;
SIRIUS;
FERON;
LUXEL;
ESTARES;
VIDEX.

For the purity of the experiment, they all had the same power declared by the manufacturer (12 W) and the same (4100-4200K).

compliance with the actual power declared;
compliance of the actual luminous flux with the declared one;
CRI is the color rendering index.

In addition, such a parameter as the efficiency, or luminous efficiency of the lamps, was determined and subject to comparison. This indicator is calculated as the ratio of the luminous flux to the lamp power (actual indicators were taken for calculations).

LED test results:

brand	Power, W		Luminous flux, Lm		Efficiency, Lm/W	CRI
	Claimed	Actual	Claimed	Actual		Claimed	Actual
MAXUS LED	12	12.4	1200	1417	114.3	80	81.3
EUROLAMP	12	11.3	1160	1156	102.3	80	83.2
GLOBAL LED	12	12	1050	1226	102.2	80	82.4
ELECTRUM	12	12	1080	1183	98.6	80	82.8
SIRIUS	12	12.7	1150	1358	106.9	90	75.5
FERON	12	12.9	1100	1148	89	70	73.2
LUXEL	12	11.6	1120	1230	106	80	83.1
ESTARES	12	13	1100	1175	90.4	80	83.5
VIDEX	12	11.4	1100	1175	103.1	80	82.2

As you can see, the power of all tested lamps corresponds to the declared value (the deviation allowed by the standard is +/-10% from the declared value).

The actual value of the luminous flux of eight of the nine lamps exceeds, and significantly, the declared figures, that is, in fact, they shine much brighter. The exception is the EUROLAMP TM LED lamp, its luminous flux is slightly lower than the declared one.

The actual value of the color rendering index of the tested lamps also turned out to be very close to the declared indicators, even slightly exceeding them again for eight of the nine lamps.

The exception was the TM SIRIUS lamp - with a declared CRI of 90 units (the largest declared value of all samples), its actual level turned out to be only 75.5 units. TM FERON has the lowest CRI value, but here the manufacturer at least does not try to deceive.

The main outsider of the test was the TM FERON LED lamp - it has the lowest luminous flux and color rendering index and the lowest efficiency. Its luminous flux is 23%, and its efficiency is 28% lower than that of the leader of the test - ТМ MAXUS LED.

I would like to separately note the TM GLOBAL LED lamp - it showed the most balanced performance, which characterizes it as a high-quality reliable lamp of the middle class. In terms of efficiency, it ranked 4th among others with a color rendering index of 80, according to luminous flux– also 4th place.

The overall rating of tested lamps in terms of efficiency:

	Performance Rating
1	MAXUS LED	114.3 lm/W
2	SIRIUS (CRI = 70)	106.9 lm/W
3	LUXEL	106.0 lm/W
4	VIDEX	103.1 lm/W
5	EUROLAMP	102.3 lm/W
6	GLOBAL LED	102.2 lm/W
7	ELECTRUM	98.6 lm/W
8	ESTARES	90.4 lm/W
9	FERON (CRI=70)	89.0 lm/W

The overall rating of the tested lamps in terms of luminous flux:

	Rating by luminous flux
1	MAXUS LED	1417 lm
2	SIRIUS (CRI = 70)	1358 lm
3	LUXEL	1230 lm
4	GLOBAL LED	1226 lm
5	ELECTRUM	1183 lm
6	ESTARES	1175 lm
7	VIDEX	1175 lm
8	EUROLAMP	1156 lm
9	FERON (CRI=70)	1148 lm

With the help of the above information, it will be easier for you to navigate in the selection of optimal lighting for your room.

Rating of LED lamps for the home

The market for LED lighting technology in Russia is still being formed. The demand for energy-saving lighting devices in our country was formed much later than in other countries.

Therefore, the share of domestic LED products on the market is small, mainly imported LED lamps go on sale. Almost all manufacturers listed below have official websites in Russian.

European countries

LED products made in Europe are of high quality, harmless to health, suitable for all modern requirements to lighting fixtures. Of course, this also affects the price.

Philips. A global brand based in the Netherlands with three core businesses: healthcare, lighting and consumer products.

LED lamps from this manufacturer can cost 500-1800 rubles, they can be purchased at almost any reputable outlet where there is a department of electric lighting devices.

Osram. A German company known worldwide for more than 100 years as a supporter of "intelligent light". Lamps can be bought at a price of 400-1600 rubles in specialized lighting stores. Foton Lighting. A manufacturing and trading lighting company headquartered in London. Foton Lighting LED lamps cost 400-700 rubles. They are easy to find in online electrical stores.

Japan

Japanese engineers have a reputation for being pioneers in many areas of technology, and Japanese attention to detail can compete with German. That is why the products of the Land of the Rising Sun are so popular all over the world, and LED lamps are no exception.

Nichia. High-brightness LEDs produced by this company have long been used in dozens of areas of modern industry, and have recently found their consumers in everyday life.

A feature of Nichia LED lamps is the use of special optical lenses, thanks to which the light is distributed evenly. Prices for lamps from this manufacturer start at 300 rubles.

Russia

Domestic LED products are currently not inferior in quality to European ones, but with the same characteristics they can cost less due to the fact that production facilities are located in Russia.

Gauss. A wide range of LED products that undergo strict quality control in independent laboratories in Europe, China and Russia. LED lamps cost 400–2000 rubles, you can buy them at the Gauss brand store and other retail outlets. "Optogan". The Optogan group of companies is one of the few in the world and the only one in Russia that has the technology and the full cycle of production of LEDs and LED technology.

Optogan LED lamps for household lighting have been presented in Russian retail chains since 2011. The lineup is constantly updated. The average cost of "Optogan" is 500-700 rubles.

A.S.D. Today the company sells over 1,000,000 LED lamps per month. The quality of products has been awarded at international exhibitions, while prices start from 100 rubles.

You can buy LED lamps from this company in online stores, supermarkets, construction markets, and lighting equipment stores.

China

First of all, it should be noted that the practice of buying nameless LED lamps in Chinese online stores is currently not justified. Previously, the mass consumer did just that, and if a cheap lamp failed, he simply bought a new one.

Now it is unprofitable, besides, no one is responsible for the quality of such lamps. For example, 0.15 W and 0.09 W LEDs can be produced in the same cases as 0.5 W, delivered in the same quantity, only the lamp will give, for example, 400 lm instead of 1700 lm.

However, in Russia you can buy certified products of well-known Chinese brands, the quality of which is beyond doubt.

camelion. High quality lamps, lighting engineering, power supplies and lanterns, produced for more than twenty years. On the Russian-language website of the company is presented full information about products, including certificates of conformity.

The warranty for LED lamps is 3 years from the date of purchase, the resource is 30,000–40,000 hours. You can buy them in large Russian retail chains, online stores and specialized lighting stores. The cost is 100-450 rubles.

selecta. In assortment - light sources, fixtures and accessories to them. Products are widely represented in online stores of lighting equipment. Estares. Trademark of the famous Chinese company MaySun. You can buy LED lamps, ASTRELLA LED controllable luminaires, interior and functional luminaires for home, office and retail space in stores selling lighting equipment and LED products.

Lamps can be bought at a price of 200–500 rubles, recessed thin LED lamps cost 1200–2500 rubles.

Russia-China

Products of Russian-Chinese production are distinguished by a combination of innovative technologies with reliability and ease of use.

Ecola. GX53 LED lamps manufactured by Ecola are energy-saving, flat, used for stretch and suspended ceilings in offices and at home. They cost 150-500 rubles, they can be purchased both on the company's website and in multi-brand online and offline outlets. newera. The company's brand is SVeto-Led, under which LED lamps have been produced at Chinese production facilities for 9 years. You can buy them through the SVeto-Led website at a price of 170–500 rubles.

Light bulbs come in different color temperatures and brightness.

warm (2700-3500 K (kelvin)) - emit a soft yellow light, like incandescent lamps;
neutral (4000-5000 K) - pour daylight white light;
cold (5500 K and above) - they are distinguished by a white glow with a bluish tint, similar to a hospital light.

Doctors say: cold and neutral color temperatures are suitable for work. They stimulate the brain by suppressing the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and encourage you to stay awake. Choose warm light for your home. It encourages you to relax and unwind.

For some manufacturers, the actual brightness indicators of the lamps are worse than those stated on the packaging. Before you buy, read reviews about the model you like or measure the brightness yourself in the store.

The table will help determine the brightness of the ice bulb in relation to the power of the incandescent analogue:

Power of incandescent lamps (W)	Luminous flux of LED lamps (Lm)
25 W	220 lm
40 W	415 lm
60 W	710 lm
75 W	935 lm
100 W	1340 lm
150 W	2160 lm
200 W	3040 lm

Power. If you decide to replace conventional lamps with LED ones and do not know how to choose the power, a simple formula will help you: divide the power of the replaced incandescent foot by 8.
Voltage. LED lamps operate on a conventional voltage of 220 V, but can also be rated for 110 V.
Number of LEDs. While LEDs do not burn out like conventional incandescent bulbs, they do age. The more LEDs provide the necessary brightness of the lamp, the longer it will last.
Product design and shape. LED lamps can be made both in the traditional version with one or another flask (ball, pear, globe, candle), and in the form of "corn" with LEDs located similarly to grains on the cob.
Body materials. In the manufacture of the housing of the LED lamp, frosted and transparent glass, aluminum, plastic, ceramics can be used. When choosing between glass and plastic, give preference to glass - they have higher light transmission rates.
The degree of protection of the product. This indicator is indicated by the letters IP and numbers. IP40 is enough for a normal room, IP50 for a dusty one.
Plinth. LED lamps have screw and pin bases. Screws are indicated by the letter E and numbers indicating the diameter in millimeters. Pins are designated by the letter G and numbers indicating the distance in millimeters between the pins.
Price. High-quality lamps cannot be cheap. Of course, even 500 rubles can be psychologically difficult to give away, not to mention larger amounts. However, if you remember about the energy efficiency and service life of LED lamps, this problem will disappear by itself.
Manufacturer. In the emission of LEDs, the intensity of the blue spectrum is high, and this factor can negatively affect vision and psychological comfort. The best manufacturers make sure that LED lamps are safe for health, while small nameless ones are not interested in this issue at all.

The search for high-quality LED lamps should begin with the choice of the manufacturer, since for unknown companies the characteristics declared on the packaging may not always correspond to reality.

High-quality LED lamps for the home

recent years

Philips;
Osram;
Wolta;
Nichia.

Due to the influx of cheap Chinese products and the difficult financial situation in the country, most Russian manufacturers have significantly reduced the quality of their products.

X-Flash;
Lisma;
Navigator;
Gauss.

Also in this list, it is worth noting the Chinese company Camelion, which has proven itself from the best side, as a separate item. Products of the listed brands really have excellent characteristics and will serve in the house for a long time.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are called energy-saving, abbreviated as CFLs. The abbreviation will be used throughout the text.

By design, it is a conventional fluorescent light source in a more compact format. The power supply unit is installed at the base of the case near the base; 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 form of a pear, a candle, a ball;
the ability to adjust the brightness, dimming.

If you decide to switch from CFL to LED, you will run into a common problem. For LEDs with an E14 base, the luminous flux is no more than 600lm, due to the fact that the dimensions are limited. In this case, the power is 6-7W, which is almost an analogue of a 60W incandescent.

To illuminate the room where the CFLs used to be, LEDs may not be enough. The illumination will be lower than expected, and it should be with a margin, given the degradation of the LEDs. Even the Chinese do not have powerful ones, although they write in parameters from 1000 to 1500lm, which is 2-3 times too high.

Only recently have LED E14 800-900 lumens appeared, power consumption 10W produced by X-Flash. But now they are in short supply, E14 at 10W are sold out immediately, they are not even often on the manufacturer's website.

slow ignition up to 10 minutes;
decrease in light output at low temperatures.

Energy saving light bulbs how to choose

To choose the best energy-saving lamps, you need to know 9 basic parameters, half are similar to diode ones.

rated power - power consumption;
power factor - the ratio of active and reactive;
luminous flux - the brightness of the source;
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 - the time required for ignition;
service life - the number of hours after which the brightness will drop by 30% of the initial;
number of switching cycles.

The easiest way to choose the best ones is by brand, it must be well-known. If you hear the brand name for the first time, then it is better to refuse. The bigger the brand, the more they worry about quality.

When you compare energy-saving 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 on the street or in the entrance, there will be many who want to drag it or break it. Therefore, in the entrance I put filament LEDs with a broken bulb, they cannot be unscrewed without a tool. If you try to unscrew it with your hands, you will break the LEDs, and it’s not very noticeable in the ceiling.

Now a large number of energy-saving lamps are imported from China. They look for a manufacturing plant in China, put their brand on them and sell them in Russia. To sell, a brand does not need to understand them and have its own laboratory.

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 from Osram:

Domestic brands send lighting equipment to me for tests, some Chinese are very deceiving and do not admit to deception. They slip fake test results as proof they can convince the layman.

After looking at the test results, it was clear how they were deceiving. Cheap lamps of 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 the service life. You probably saw blackened ones, in the part where the power supply is located.

The build quality also affects the service life, 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 5,000 hours, that is, the characteristics are overestimated.

Branded Philips and Osrams are guaranteed to work for the specified period of time, abroad the requirements for light bulbs are more stringent. Philips has models with up to 10 thousand hours of operation, but their stage is correspondingly much higher.

Indirectly, it can be determined by the warranty period. If the warranty is 1 year, then do not rely on long term work. A guarantee of 3-5 years is given only for high-quality ones.

We live in an amazing time when the word "economy" penetrates into all spheres of life. Just some 10 years ago, few people thought that soon the usual incandescent lamps, those very ones, would have to be abandoned in favor.

Unfortunately, the proposed alternative solutions are not a panacea, because due to the simplicity of the design of an incandescent lamp, its cost is extremely low, and the dissipated heat power is sometimes in demand, for example, in domestic incubators.

Currently, the production of incandescent lamps is gradually being phased out. Because of this, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a high-quality inexpensive product: you will not surprise anyone with the situation when a lamp left from a grandfather works properly for 5-10 years, and a recently purchased one fails in a few months.

In fact choose a quality incandescent lamp You can, but for this, when buying, you should pay attention to several key features.

The bottom contact of the base - the base of the lamp

For example, let's take three lamps of the same power from different manufacturers (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Three incandescent lamps from different manufacturers

The picture clearly shows that the design of the bottom contact of the base is different for everyone (Fig. 2, 3).

Rice. 2, 3. Bottom contact of the base of three incandescent lamps

Theoretically, this difference should not affect the performance of the lighting device, but in practice everything is a little different:

Type "A". The contact area of such a contact with a copper "tongue" (central spring-loaded contact) in the cartridge is smaller than in other implementations. With frequent replacement of lamps, the tongue tends to move slightly to the side, so sometimes the contacts cannot touch because of this, and even a working lamp does not shine. The most unfortunate decision;

Type "B". The contact area is reduced, but it is still larger than in the first case. compromise solution;

Type "C". Large copper pad. Works without problems even in worn-out cartridges. The only thing is that such a contact should not have a backlash.

Soldering: proven reliability

The method of connecting the outer part of the conductor with the base is also different (Fig. 4, 5)

Rice. 4, 5. Top contact of the base of incandescent lamps

On this moment there are two of them: with the help (type "B") and (type "A", "C"). Although welding looks more technological, nevertheless, often such a connection tends to collapse. Perhaps this is a manufacturing defect, but there were precedents. Therefore, a high-quality soldered conductor (type “A”) remains the most reliable.

The filament varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. The most widespread are tungsten filaments, but sometimes they are found from an alloy of tungsten with osmium. The picture shows the difference in length. Generally, alloy filaments are more durable. Perhaps this is due to the more frequent arrangement of supporting hooks, due to which the slack of the thread is reduced.

Secure fixation above all else

The glass flask is connected to the metal base using a special mastic. Its layer is easily visible through the transparent glass of the flask. In one of the lamps, it turned out that the manufacturer decided to save on this component (Fig. 6).

Such a lamp is doomed to a quick failure. After a while, the bulb, due to constant heating, will come off the base, hang on the conductors and fall. In any case, a manufacturer who monitors the quality of his products will not allow himself such "savings". It is better to refrain from purchasing.