You want to replace your home's CFLs and incandescent lights with LEDs, but you're having trouble deciding which LEDs to buy. We've got you covered, so don't worry. Before you shop, consider the following information.
Think Lumens, Not Watts, When Considering Brightness
Wattage is no longer a reliable measure of a light bulb's brightness. Therefore, cease attaching the same attention to the wattage reading on a light bulb package as you once did. Look at the lumen reading on the package when purchasing LED bulbs.
Check the Lighting Facts label's "Brightness" section for the number of lumens listed. You can determine the bulb's brightness from this reading. Conversely, wattage equivalents only provide you with an approximation. Look for an LED bulb that generates approximately 450 lumens if you need to replace a 40-watt incandescent light. The recommended LED bulb to replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb is one that puts out around 1,600 lumens.
Light Appearance: Depending on Your Needs, Choose Cool or Warm
'Light Appearance' is a key heading on the Lighting Facts label. It relates to the color temperature of an LED bulb, which is expressed in Kelvin (K). You might choose to use LED bulbs with a color temperature in the range of 2,700-3,000K for lighting fixtures in the living room or table lamps. These bulbs produce warm light that closely resembles that of incandescent lamps. Choose bulbs with a color temperature of about 5,000K if you need task illumination.
Fixtures that are enclosed need specific bulbs.
Enclosed areas have the drawback of trapping heat. Heat can cause an LED bulb to fail before it should and is bad for the components within.
Solution? Now, some LED bulbs are made for completely enclosed fixtures, while others aren't. Prior to purchasing, read the packaging. Make sure the LED bulb is authorized for use in an enclosed fixture if you want to use one. The thermal design of LED bulbs authorized for use in confined environments is far more efficient than that of other LED lights. Additionally, they make use of parts that can endure higher temperatures.
Make Sure Your Old Dimmer and New LED Bulb Work Together
The majority of LED lamps can be dimmed. And they often function nicely with the majority of vintage dimmer switches made for incandescent lamps.
However, certain older dimmers may not function properly or LED lights may not function at all. Make sure the LED bulb you choose is compatible with the outdated dimmer in your home as a result. If you're unsure, you can look for a list of compatible dimmers from the maker of the light bulb. You might also think about upgrading to new dimmers made specifically for LEDs.
Some further advice
Use an incandescent bulb outside of your oven. Instead, use an incandescent bulb. The internal parts of your LED bulb are likely to sustain immediate damage from the high temperature inside an oven.
Choose LED lighting with a CRI90+ rating. The most even lighting is produced by these bulbs. We exclusively provide CRI90+ LEDs for sale at LiquidLEDs.
