The Russian brand Navigator has 89 types of LED lamps in its assortment. I asked Battery Team, which owns the brand, to give me some samples of lamps to test that replace standard 60 and 75 watt incandescent lamps, as well as replacement 40 watt candle lamps. I’ll talk about “candles” separately, but today I’ll talk about four lamps from two series - NLL-A Professional (8 and 11 W) and NLL-A Standard (7 and 10 W).
Lamps with a power of 7 and 10 W currently cost 250 rubles, lamps 8 and 11 W - 410 rubles.
All four lamps are flicker-free and can be operated with indicator switches. Due to the fact that the glass has a larger diameter than the body, all the lamps shine back a little, which is good.
I'll start with the results of measurements taken using Viso LightSpion ().
All four lamps have a luminous flux greater than declared (that is, they glow brighter than the manufacturer promised). The power equivalent is calculated based on measurements of the luminous flux of various incandescent lamps. The color temperature is close to the declared one, CRI exceeds 80 (this means that the lamps can be used in residential areas and their light does not significantly distort colors).
Size comparison with a conventional incandescent lamp.
The 7-watt lamp NLL-A60-7-230-2.7K-E27 from the cheap NLL-A Standard series is entirely plastic and very light - 56 grams. According to the measurement results, everything is fine - it shines like a 60-watt incandescent lamp.
A visual comparison with a 60 W incandescent lamp shows that the light from the bulb has a greenish-yellow tint.
The 8-watt lamp NLL-A55-8-230-2.7K-E27 from the expensive NLL-A Professional series has a metal radiator and weighs 96 grams.
A visual comparison shows that the lamp shines brighter than a 60-watt incandescent lamp and has a pleasant and comfortable lighting color.
Shooting parameters: ISO 125, 1/30, 1.8, 3500K
The 10-watt lamp NLL-A60-10-230-2.7K-E27 from the cheap NLL-A Standard series is very similar to the 7-watt one - the same plastic case and weight 57 grams.
The color of the light also has a greenish-yellow tint, the lamp is equivalent in brightness to a 75-watt incandescent lamp.
Shooting parameters: ISO 125, 1/30, 1.8, 3500K
The 11-watt lamp NLL-A60-11-230-2.7K-E27 from the expensive NLL-A Professional series weighs as much as 110 grams.
It shines slightly brighter than a 75-watt incandescent bulb and has a comfortable illumination color very similar to an incandescent bulb.
Shooting parameters: ISO 125, 1/30, 1.8, 3500K
8 and 11 W bulbs are almost flawless - they have a comfortable lighting color and their technical specifications even better than those declared by the manufacturer.
The light of 7 and 10 W bulbs has a greenish-yellow tint, but their technical parameters correspond to the declared ones.
Looking ahead, I will say that the Navigator dimmable candle lamps turned out to be the best of all the LED lamps of this format that I have visited. I'll tell you about them next time.
p.s. All my LED lamp reviews and measurement data are on the site
We are witnessing a revolution in lighting. LEDs are replacing other types of lamps in all areas. They have many advantages - with the same luminous flux they consume 6-10 times less electricity, emit much less heat and are more durable.
But not all lamps are equally useful. Chinese "watts", pulsations, narrow luminous flux are just some of the disadvantages that you may encounter when purchasing LED lamps. In order to really imagine what you can buy from us in Dzerzhinsk, we took 11 lamps and tested them. By the way, if you want to purchase them, it is indicated at the end of the material, Where can this be done and how to get it discount.
The lamps were tested in a laboratory using professional equipment.
So, first, a little educational program.
Power consumption (P)- the power consumed by the lamp from the electrical network.
Luminous flux (Lm)- the power of the luminous flux that the lamp emits. The higher it is, the brighter the lamp illuminates the space surrounding it. For 100W. incandescent lamps luminous flux is 1200-1350 lm. For an incandescent lamp with a power of 150 W, the luminous flux is 2000-2200 W.
Color rendering index (CRI) affects the perception of color. If the lamp has a low CRI, the color of objects may be distorted and the difference between similar shades becomes invisible. The closer it is to 100%, the better.
Ripple factor- a very important parameter that describes the pulsation of a light source. A lamp with a high pulsation rate can cause discomfort and headaches. In SNiP 23-05-95 “Natural and artificial lighting» it is indicated that the pulsation coefficient of illumination of the working surface of the workplace should not exceed 10% - 20%. SanPiN 2.2.2/2.4.1340-03 “Hygienic requirements for personal electronic computers and organization of work” states that the lighting pulsation coefficient when working on a PC should not exceed 5%.
Let's get started!
The first lamp that came to us for testing is also the most powerful. This .
The manufacturer claims that a 20-watt lamp produces 1800 lumens of luminous flux, which, according to the manufacturer, corresponds to a 180-watt incandescent lamp. This is a significant exaggeration. An incandescent lamp with a power of 130-140 W will produce 1800 lumens.
As you can see, the passion for “Chinese watts”, which appeared in the 90s, does not let go of the Chinese to this day. But the lamp has a good color rendering index and low pulsations. Adjusted for the overestimated power ratings, the lamp is recommended for purchase. It can serve as an excellent replacement for a 100-watt incandescent lamp.
ASD-A60 15W, 3000K, E27. The second most powerful lamp in our test.
A real equivalent to an 80-watt lamp, it does not have the best color rendering coefficient and can serve as a replacement for an incandescent lamp in corridors and other non-residential premises.
Next patient - ASD LED-A60 11W, 4000K, E27 base.
The manufacturer promises 11 W of power and 990 Lm of luminous flux. What do we really have?
Well, the watts are too high as always, color rendering is already closer to satisfactory, and the ripple factor is excellent. The light bulb will be an excellent replacement for a 70-watt incandescent lamp for a bathroom or toilet, where color rendering is not so important.
Our next hero ASD LED-A60 7W, 4000K, E27 base.
7W of power and 630 lm of luminous flux are promised. Is it so? Let's get a look:
Traditional "Chinese" watts and as a result - insufficient luminosity, poor color rendering coefficient and traditionally low ripple. Such a lamp is only suitable for a closet or cellar. In another place, its light will clearly not be enough.
Next up are the lamps base E14, and our patient: meet LED-BALL 7.5W, 3000K.
As we see, everything is the same. The actual power is lower than declared, the color rendering index is mediocre and ripple performance is excellent. This lamp is well suited for additional lighting in rooms, but we do not recommend screwing it into a table lamp.
Next lamp - ASD LED-R50, 5W, 4000K, E14.
It's the same story in terms of power, but the equivalent power corresponds to the declared one. But! Ripple factor amounted to 30%, and this is simply unacceptable. Taking into account the fact that in other lamps from this manufacturer the pulsations were normal, let’s assume that we simply received a defective sample.
Now let's move on to the second manufacturer - Jazzway. This company also comes from China and now we will find out if this company has a penchant for "Chinese watts".
The first test subject - Jazzway PLED-ECO-A60, 11W, 4000K, E27 base.
So, let's look:
The manufacturer has overestimated the power here, but the luminous flux does not differ so much, and the tested equivalent power corresponds to the declared one. The lamp also has a low pulsation coefficient. The only thing is that the color rendering index is a little less than truly good.
Next up - Jazzway PLED-ECO-A60 7W, 4000K, E27 base.
And ours first winner! Almost identical power and luminous flux, excellent color rendering index and low ripple. Strictly recommend this lamp in bedrooms and study rooms.
Now comes the turn of the most interesting lamp in our review - Jazzway PLED A60 OMNI 6W, 2700K, E27 base.
This is a lamp with filament emitters, and should completely replace traditional incandescent lamps. She looks the part. Well, let's see?
And this really the best lamp in our testing! Ideal lighting angles, power and luminous flux are even a little higher than stated, no pulsations and excellent color rendering index. Here she is, here she is the lamp of my dreams! We recommend apply it everywhere as a replacement for incandescent lamps for everyone who didn’t like the “classic” ones LED bulbs.
And finally, let's see how things are going with Jazzway lamps in the E14 base.
Jazzway PLED-SP45, 7W, 5000K, E14
We have a slight overestimation of power, but the luminous flux practically corresponds to the declared one. The low color rendering index means that these bulbs are perfect for illuminating any room.
Jazzway PLED-SP R50, 5.5W, 5000K, E14
Everything is the same as with the previous lamp. The lamp is also great for illuminating rooms.
Even taking into account the love of manufacturers to inflate the parameters of lamps, our test shows that among them there are excellent examples that are worthy of taking a place in your chandeliers. And light bulbs Jazzway PLED A60 OMNI 6W, 2700K, E27 base,Jazzway PLED-ECO-A60 7W, 4000K, E27 base andASD LED-A60 20W 4000K, E27 base You will definitely not be disappointed, because they combine all the advantages of LED lamps and are practically devoid of their typical disadvantages.
Portal 1146.by thanks electrical store, located at st. Sovetskaya, 7 and is holding a joint action with him. Tell the seller the promo code "1146.by" and get a 5% discount on led light bulbs!
For this review, we selected several LED lamps with an E27 socket, belonging to the category “replacement of the most ordinary pear-shaped incandescent lamp of about 100 W.” Given the current state of progress in the development of LEDs and drivers for them, this corresponds to a power of 12-15 W for an LED source.
Specifications and price
| Characteristic | Lamp | |||||
| Brand | Lexman | Osram | Philips | Supra | Supra | Volta |
| Model or barcode | 12-A60 E27/30 R | Led Star Classic A 100 | 8718696481868 | SL-LED-PR-A60- 13W/3000/E27 | SL-LED-PR-A65- 15W/3000/E27 | 25Y60BL12E27 |
| The abbreviation adopted in the article | Lexman | Osram | Philips | Supra-13W | Supra-15W | Volta |
| Rated voltage, V | 220-240 | 220-240 | 220-240 | 170-240 | 170-240 | 220-240 |
| Power, W | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
| Luminous flux, lm | 1055 | 1055 | 1400 | 1155 | 1350 | 1200(1150) |
| Luminous efficacy, lm/W* | 88 | 88 | 108 | 89 | 90 | 100 |
| Color temperature, K | 3000 | 2700 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Color rendering index, Ra | 80 | 80 | 80 | ≥80 | ≥80 | ≥80 |
| Service life, h | 25 000 | 25 000 | 15 000 | 30 000 | 30 000 | 30 000 |
| Number of on/off cycles | >30 000 | 100 000 | 50 000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Diameter, mm | 65 | 60 | 61 | 60 | 65 | 60 |
| Height, mm | 117 | 115 | 107 | 112 | 130 | 108 |
| Price**, | 556 | 695 | 491 | 279 | 369 | 268 |
| * Luminous efficacy is calculated by dividing the rated luminous flux values by power ** Approximate retail price at the time of testing |
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Short description
The Lexman brand, judging by the information on the box, is closely related to the Leroy Merlin company. Actually, it was there (or rather, in the supermarket of the same name) that this lamp was purchased. The lamp is packed in a box made of thick cardboard, inside of which there are fixing inserts for the base and bulb made of the same cardboard. The outer surface of the box is laminated, has a colorful design, its edges contain useful and not so useful information for the end consumer, and there is also a photograph of the product itself. From what is shown on the box and not included in the table above, it is worth noting the heating temperature is 55 °C, the operating temperature range is from −30 to +85 °C, the time to reach 95% brightness is 2 s, the glow angle is 300° and 5 year warranty. The inscriptions on the lamp itself are painted in silver, and therefore reflective, and are slightly blurred, but everything you need is there, including a symbol prohibiting use with dimmers.
The bulb is milky white, dense and, as you can see, rounded beyond a hemisphere, which promises a wide angle of illumination.
Osram is a German brand with a very good reputation. However, the lamp, like all others participating in this testing, was manufactured in China. The lamp is packaged in a thin cardboard box with a semi-glossy exterior. There are no fixing inserts. Useful information There is a lot on the edges of the box, there is a photo of the lamp itself. From what is shown on the box and not included in the table above, it is worth noting the operating temperature range from −20 to +40 °C, the time to reach 60% brightness - 0.2 s, and a 3-year warranty. The company has a website where this model should, in theory, be presented, but for some reason it wasn’t there. The inscriptions on the lamp itself are clear, contrasting, but small. Everything you need is there, including a symbol prohibiting use with dimmers.
The flask is milky white, has an average level of transparency, and is rounded approximately in a hemisphere.
Philips branded lighting products are highly trusted by customers. Personal experience The author confirms this, with the exception of the most ordinary incandescent lamps - but who buys them now? The lamp is packed in a box made of thin cardboard, semi-glossy on the outside, inside of which there is an insert made of thin corrugated cardboard that fixes the base. There is an eyelet for hanging in a display case. There is a lot of useful information on the edges of the box, there is a photo of the lamp itself. From what is shown on the box and not included in the table above, it is worth noting installation recommendations (use in open lamps, etc.) and the indicated operating voltage range of 170-240 V (apparently, the lamp will work from 170 to 220 V may, but its performance is not guaranteed). I was able to find one for this lamp on the manufacturer's website. True, there is clearly a different modification depicted there. According to information from the website, the glow angle is 130°. Despite all our efforts, we could not find information about the warranty for this type of product. We contacted Philips support for clarification, and the response we received deserves to be presented in full, in its original form and without our comments:
We hereby inform you that there is no legal concept of a “Warranty” for lamps, because lamps may be subject to improper use or exposure to factors beyond the control of the manufacturer.
For lamps there is a concept of “life expectancy” measured in the expected average number of operating hours, under normal conditions up to a 60% probability of lamp failure.
For lamp 8718696481868 this is about 15,000 hours (or 15 years of service when using the lamp on average 3 hours a day). You can request a replacement lamp if it has lasted less than the specified number of hours.
The inscriptions on the lamp itself are not very clear and lack contrast. The main characteristics are there, but there is no prohibition on use with dimmers - on the contrary, a triangle with a circle at first glance can be mistaken for approval of connection via a dimmer.
The bulb is matte and in terms of its ability to scatter light, it is the least dense among the participants in this test. The flask has the shape of a slightly flattened hemisphere with a rounding just below the equator.
The Supra brand belongs to a Russian company. The lamp is packaged in a box made of thick cardboard, inside of which there are fixing inserts for the base and bulb made of the same cardboard. The box is well designed, on its edges there is Technical information, a photograph of the lamp itself, and even a transparent insert through which part of the lamp can be seen inside. In retail locations, sellers can release the hidden pendant and hang the lamps on the display/stand. From what is shown on the box and not included in the table above, it is worth noting the operating temperature range from −25 to +40 °C, a glow angle of 240° and a 2-year warranty. The box with Supra lamps includes a printed manual, which is also a warranty card:
The box, its design, the inscriptions on it and the contents are similar for both Supra lamps from this test, so we will not repeat it below. Manufacturer's websites - and; You can find some things related to current lamp models there, but not very much. The inscriptions on the lamp itself are clear and contrasting. The main characteristics are there, but there is no prohibition on use with dimmers.
The flask is milky white and has an average level of transparency. Its shape is practically a sphere, truncated slightly below the equator.
The inscriptions on the lamp itself are clear and contrasting. The main characteristics are there, but there is no prohibition on use with dimmers.
The flask is milky white and has an average level of transparency. Its shape is practically a sphere, truncated just below the equator.
The Wolta brand appears to belong to a Russian company specializing in lighting solutions. The lamp box is the most unusual in this test, as it is made of transparent plastic. There is a lot of transparent area left on the walls, so there is no need to depict the product - it is visible as is. Inside the box there are fixing inserts for the base and flask made of the same transparent plastic. The box is well designed and has technical information on its sides. In retail locations, sellers can hang the box from the existing eyelet. From what is shown on the box and not included in the table above, it is worth noting the assurance that the pulsation coefficient does not exceed 3% and a 3-year warranty. The Wolta lamp box comes with a printed manual and warranty card:
The inscriptions on the lamp itself are non-contrasting. The main characteristics are there, but there is no prohibition on use with dimmers.
The flask is milky white and has an average level of transparency. Its shape is practically a sphere, truncated slightly below the equator. There is a price on the company’s website, and the price indicated there is the same as the one at which we bought the lamp in the store.
Test results
Start schedules:
The graphs below will help you evaluate brightness modulation. In fact, only in the case of Osram and Philips lamps can we state the presence of any significant modulation with a frequency of 100 Hz. For them, you can calculate the pulsation coefficient (the difference between the maximum and minimum illumination values during the period of its fluctuation, divided by twice the average illumination value for the same period and multiplied by 100%), which is usually used to assess the flicker of gas-discharge lamps when powering them alternating current. In the case of Osram it is 7.7%, and for Philips it is 12.1%. According to Russian standards, of the participants in this test, only the Philips lamp cannot be used in some cases (for example, in rooms for working with displays and video terminals, in computer rooms), since its pulsation coefficient exceeds 10%. And still, even in her case, subjectively no flickering is visible under any circumstances.
Energy characteristics
The power factor of all lamps was less than 0.9. This is not very good, but for everyday use it is not important, since LED lighting is definitely not the main consumer in terms of power required, and the user pays only for active power. The Wolta bulb gets the hottest. It definitely should not be installed in poorly ventilated lamps. Note that when measuring the temperature, the lamps were installed in an open socket with the bulb facing up and kept turned on in this position for 10 minutes. The housings of all these lamps are made of plastic and have a smooth surface, so they cannot serve as effective heat sinks on their own. As you can see in the heat images below, the maximum heating zone (the brightest area) for all six lamps is located in approximately the same place.
Luminous flux, luminous intensity and luminous efficiency:
The luminous flux turned out to be the highest in the Philips lamp, it is even 8.5% higher than the passport value (however, this is the permissible error when measuring light characteristics). This lamp is also the most efficient; the others are significantly inferior to it, and they can be classified into the same group with an efficiency of about 100 lm/W.
Light patterns:
At a constant zenith angle (when the light sensor moves around the axis of the lamp), the glow of these lamps changes little, that is, they shine evenly to the sides, so we do not provide diagrams for this direction. This is not true in the case of a fixed azimuth angle and movement with changing zenith angle: these lamps shine forward from the socket to the top of the bulb more than sideways and backward. The diagrams are plotted in %% of the maximum illumination, which does not necessarily coincide exactly with 0° on the diagram, that is, it does not necessarily coincide with the axis of the cartridge in the direction from the base to the bulb. This is mainly due to the slight curvature that occurs at the place where the socket is attached to the lamp body. In this height test, the center of the lamp was taken to be the point where the diameter of the bulb had its maximum value. The zenith angle varied from 0° to 150° in both directions. It can be seen that the widest radiation pattern is found in the Lexman lamp, and the most directional glow is in the Osram and Philips lamps. The directional characteristic is the angle within which the light intensity is 50% or more of the maximum value (the so-called glow angle). For the tested lamps it is shown in the table below:
Despite the significant variation in the luminous angle values, all of these lamps are not point-type sources, but it is still advantageous to place them so that they are directed at the place that needs to be illuminated, since they shine brighter in the axial direction.
Colorimetric characteristics
| Lamp | Color temperature, K | ΔE | Color rendering index, Ra |
| Lexman | 2750 | 3,7 | 80 |
| Osram | 2520 | 1,6 | 85 |
| Philips | 2860 | 2,5 | 82 |
| Supra-13W | 2720 | 6,2 | 71 |
| Supra-15W | 2760 | 6,2 | 72 |
| Volta | 2750 | 1,7 | 80 |
The color temperature in all cases turned out to be lower than the declared values, the light was a little “warmer”, which in this case is not critical. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (parameter ΔE) even in the worst case is significantly less than 10, so the color balance of all tested lamps is close to natural light. All six lamps have a color rendering index of at least 70, which is good, and four representatives have a color rendering index of 80 or higher, so these lamps can be used in cases where the way the colors of things look under the light of these lamps is of great importance.
conclusions
If we again compare the obtained characteristics of the lamps participating in this test with the characteristics of LED lamps from the previous test, then it is worth noting the increased efficiency, which for this set was at least 95 lm/W. Among the positive trends, it is worth noting the minimal or almost complete absence of significant modulation, that is, flickering, as well as a reduction in the start time to a very small value.
Based on the results of this testing, the prize of our sympathy goes to the Philips lamp with code 8718696481868, since this is the most efficient lamp, comparable in size to an ordinary incandescent lamp in a pear-shaped bulb, and in terms of luminous flux even surpassing this now forbidden light source. Moreover, the price of the Philips lamp is not even the highest of those tested. The only drawback of the Philips 8718696481868 can be considered significant light modulation - however, it is still too small in amplitude for visible flicker. The Supra SL-LED-PR-A65-15W/3000/E27 lamp, based on the luminous flux criterion, can also be considered a replacement for a 100-watt incandescent lamp, but the dimensions of this Supra are already significantly larger, although it heats up less than the Philips. The remaining four full-size 12-watt bulbs produce the same light output as 85-watt incandescent bulbs.
In conclusion, we provide a table for calculating the total cost per unit of light energy. The lower it is, the more profitable the lamp will ultimately be.
The cost of owning a lamp consists of its actual cost and the cost of electricity consumed during its service life. The light energy that a lamp produces is equal to its luminous flux multiplied by its operating time, that is, its service life. By dividing the cost of owning a lamp by the light energy, we get a value that shows how much a unit of light energy costs. It is more convenient to express this cost in kopecks per thousand lumens per hour.
If we take the prices indicated at the beginning of the article, the service life data from the manufacturer, and the power and luminous flux values that were obtained in our test, then the most expensive lamp will be the Lexman 12-A60 E27/30 R ( 5,88 cop. per km/h), and the most profitable ones are Supra lamps for 13 and 15 W - 4,59 And 4,53 cop. per km/h, respectively (at a tariff of 3.77 per kW/h).
There is a misconception that LEDs are too dim, that they flicker with a harsh greenish light, that they are not suitable for standard sockets, and that they are too expensive. If you are nodding your head in agreement right now, then you should definitely read this text.
Gone are the days when LEDs were too dim, flickered with a harsh greenish light, did not fit standard sockets, and were expensive. The quality of LED lamps is increasing year by year, and their prices are steadily decreasing.
So-called tunable lamps or RGB lamps can be remote control provide a cozy atmosphere. Philips Hue is one of their most popular representatives, but there are also competitive products at a better price.
However, determining which lamps are truly good is very difficult. To achieve this, CHIP conducted comprehensive tests of LED lamps from reputable manufacturers and brands. Not all of them are available for retail sale in Russia, but if you want to get high-quality lighting, you should order these light bulb models via the Internet - for example, on eBay.
Semiconductors instead of heating
LED lamps are fundamentally different in structure from incandescent lamps. Instead of a thin metal filament smoldering under the influence of electricity, in modern lamps electronics control the glow semiconductor elements- LEDs.
With a certain directionality, LEDs become ideal light sources, and are also used in the lamps we tested with E14 and E27 sockets.
If someone is bothered by phosphorus-yellow LED strips when they are turned off, you can also choose light bulbs with frosted glass - they are optically no different from incandescent lamps, but do not heat up as much.
Almost like an incandescent lamp: many small LEDs and a yellow luminescent layer create the effect of incandescent filaments with almost omnidirectional radiation. A common misconception is that LED bulbs do not produce heat. This is not true: LEDs convert more than 70% of their power consumption into heat. But because LEDs use less power, you can safely touch most light bulbs when they are on without fear of getting burned. Most of the heat generated by electronic components is dissipated through the heat sink to the environment.
If your LEDs fail prematurely, the cause may be a thermally faulty socket. “Breathing” lamps, on the contrary, last for many years and do not suddenly fail.
If previously, when choosing, you had to pay attention only to the type of socket and the number of watts, now many parameters are indicated on the packaging of light bulbs. They can only give an idea of the light characteristics of the lamp when viewed together.
Lumen data without angle information is as useless as saying “warm white lamp” without CRI. You can find the most important terms in the glossary below. Manufacturers are required to indicate these values on the packaging.
Essential LED Terms
— Radiation angle (in degrees)
The area in which the lamp reaches at least 50% luminous intensity (in candelas).
— Efficiency (lumens per watt)
Modern high-quality LED lamps reach values above 75 lm/W
— Color temperature (in Kelvin)
LEDs up to 3300 K glow with warm white light (similar to incandescent lamps), up to 5000 K - neutral white, starting from 5000 K - cool white light.
— Color rendering index (CRI)
Shows how closely the body color in the light emitted by the lamp corresponds to natural light. Incandescent lamps reach an index value of almost 100 units, modern LED lamps often reach values from 80 to 95.
— Power consumption (in watts)
Unlike incandescent lamps, the power of LED lamps does not measure brightness, but only energy consumption.
— Luminous intensity (in candelas)
The brightness of a light source in a certain direction (spatial angle).
— Luminous flux (in lumens)
Overall lamp brightness. Daylight brightness, depending on conditions, ranges from 250 lm (approx. 25 W) to 1100 lm (approx. 75 W).
This is how CHIP tests LED lamps
For testing, we concentrated on current lamps that should replace incandescent lamps: warm white lamps E14 and E27 with frosted glass, where the LEDs are not noticeable when turned off.
Before testing, three copies of each lamp model were operated for three weeks (that is, for 504 hours). We obtained subsequent test indicators using a photogoniometer, which we modified for dynamic radiation measurements using our own developments.
During testing in in some cases we found appalling variation between instances of the same design. The chart shows the performance of three Globe E14s - the difference is up to 36 candelas. In the tables with test results at the end of the article you will find the measurement results and the most important manufacturer data. In the category "Light Performance" we evaluate the maximum beam angle and homogeneity, that is, the uniform distribution of brightness when turning the lamp.
Ledare LED Kerze E14 has the shape of a candle, but only a few LEDs are installed in its top, which forms a dip at 0 degrees. The Color Rendering category includes both the color rendering index and the difference between the measured color temperature and the manufacturer's data. The Energy Efficiency category includes the ratio of luminous flux and power consumption.
Not all indicators affect the final result. And this makes sense: in many aspects, lighting is a matter of taste. For example, there is no “best” color temperature. Many people prefer warm light for a cozy room, but perhaps you'd like cooler lighting?
The principle “the brighter the better” also does not always work: you are unlikely to want to use a stadium floodlight as a table lamp. However, there are some measured values that you should definitely pay attention to when purchasing.
Victory for IKEA
The most convincing test results were demonstrated by LEDARE lamps from IKEA - both with E14 and E27 bases. Although these lamps are only average in energy efficiency, they offer very even brightness distribution at high beam angles and excellent color rendering - and are also reasonably priced.
Since unestimated parameters can also be important, when purchasing, pay attention to the dimensions of LEDARE lamps. The winning models in the test have a width and length that exceeds the average - they will probably protrude from some lampshades.
LEDARE lamps have passed our endurance test, and they will delight you with their work for a long time, but as a precaution, you should not screw them into narrow sockets to avoid overheating and, as a result, a decrease in service life.
11 models passed the endurance test energy saving lamps: fluorescent and LED samples in the “budget” price category.
In the labeling of their products, manufacturers indicate how many hours the lamp will operate. For LED models this is an average of 30-40 thousand hours, for fluorescent models - 10 thousand hours. A resource test carried out in the laboratory of Roskontrol made it possible to determine whether the brightness of the lamps changes over time, as well as how frequent switching on and off affects their service life.
Two copies of each lamp model were installed in an automated test bench. Its power supply is stabilized in voltage and frequency, which allows for the most correct operating conditions for the light bulbs. At the stand, one light bulb of each type worked for 1000 hours continuously, and the second - in pulse mode, turning on for two minutes and then resting for the same amount of time.
During the testing process, a number of parameters were measured:
- heating during operation;
- brightness when turned on and startup time;
- noise during operation;
- Compatible with brightness control (dimmer).
A sample operating in pulsed mode helps evaluate the resistance of the light bulb design to frequent switching on. Essentially, this is an imitation of intensive use (for example, in a bathroom), only in accelerated mode.
Test results
Based on the testing results, it was possible to identify which light bulbs will save energy and not disappoint with poor performance. We go from worst to best.
gausselementary 23217A
Pros: No merits worth mentioning were identified.
Minuses: Not compatible with dimmer control. The measured power is noticeably lower than declared. Significant drop in brightness after just 1000 hours continuous operation.
Verdict: The gauss elementary 23217A model formally passed the resource test, but during continuous operation for only 1000 hours (4% of the declared resource), the loss of brightness of the unquenchable sample was 17%. In addition, the measured power turned out to be noticeably lower than declared.
ERASP-M-12-827-E27
pros: Turns on without delay.
Minuses: It turns on immediately, but at less than half the brightness. Over 1000 hours of continuous operation, the loss of brightness was 7%. The measured power is almost 22% less than declared. Low resistance to frequent switching on. Incompatible with brightness control (dimmer).
Verdict: Despite the fact that this model formally passed the endurance tests, it is at the lower limit of the requirements: resistance to frequent switching on is lower than that of competitors, and the loss of brightness during continuous operation of only 1000 hours was 7%. And there is a huge difference between the measured power and the declared one.
CamelionLH13-FS-T2-M/827/E27
Pros: Excellent resistance to frequent use. This means that the light bulb can be used, for example, in bathrooms. The light turns on, albeit with a delay, but at 2/3 brightness.
Minuses: Delayed switching on. Incompatible with brightness control (dimmer).
Verdict: This fluorescent light bulb can be safely used where the light is turned on and off frequently (for example, in bathrooms or in table lamps). The light turns on without delay, although not at full brightness. Based on the totality of indicators, it is a worthy model.
- Econur 1411130
pros: Turns on without delay.
Minuses: Not compatible with dimmer control. The measured power is lower than declared. It is not recommended for use in bathrooms of crowded rooms (in this mode it will last for a maximum of 1.5 years).
Verdict: The measured power turned out to be lower than declared, although the spread is not fatal. In addition, the model does not tolerate frequent switching on well, so it is better not to use it in bathrooms and table lamps. But when used in constant glow mode, it can last quite a long time.
- "Every day" FST2 1411130
pros: Decent (in comparison with analogues) tolerates frequent switching on; Turn on without delay;
Minuses: Not compatible with dimmer control. The measured power is slightly less than declared.
Verdict: Despite the fact that formally this model has passed the endurance tests, it is at the lower limit of the requirements: resistance to frequent switching on is lower than that of competitors, and the loss of brightness in just 1000 hours of continuous operation of the watch was 7%. And there is a huge difference between the measured power and the declared one.
- EcowattM-FSP 11W840E27
Pros: It tolerates frequent use well (in comparison with analogues).
Minuses: Turns on with a delay and at less than half the nominal brightness. A bad option if light is needed immediately and in full. Incompatible with brightness control (dimmer). A characteristic feature of most fluorescent light bulbs.
Verdict: A typical fluorescent light bulb that can be used in rooms where the lights are turned on and off frequently (for example, in bathrooms). Among the shortcomings, we note the inclusion with a delay and with low brightness. Not the best option, if you need light right away, but otherwise it’s a good model.
- Jazzway PLED-SP
pros: The resource test passed without any complaints.
Minuses: Not compatible with dimmer control. The measured power is noticeably lower than declared. It starts in “turbo mode”, which can shorten the life of the LED unit.
Verdict: Both samples of the Jazzway PLED-SP model passed the resource test without any complaints. But experts were wary of “turbo start”, which could reduce the service life of the LED, as well as the fact that the declared power turned out to be 20% higher than measured.
- ERALEDsmdB35 7w-827-E27-Cler
Pros:
Minuses: Incompatible with brightness control (dimmer). The measured power is 26% lower than declared.
Verdict: During testing, a complaint about the ERA model LED smd B35 7w-827-E27-Cler only one occurred, but it was serious: the measured power was a quarter lower than declared! In addition, there is concern about the “turbo start” of the LED, which may affect its durability.
- CamelionLEDUltraLED7.5-G45
Pros: The resource test passed without any complaints.
Minuses: Incompatible with brightness control (dimmer). The measured power is a quarter lower than declared. It starts in “turbo mode”, which can shorten the life of the LED unit.
Verdict: For a high-quality LED lamp, 1000 hours of operation is nothing. It is gratifying that the Camelion LED Ultra LED7.5-G45 did not show any degradation during this period. However, the declared energy consumption turned out to be significantly higher than measured, and yet an LED light bulb is often chosen based on power.
- Volta 25Y45GL7E27
pros: Successfully passed the resource test. The indicated power consumption corresponds to the measured one.
Minuses: Not compatible with dimmer control.
Verdict: Among the LED models tested in the fall of 2016, this one turned out to be the most “honest”, showing the minimum discrepancy between the measured and declared power. The resource test was passed successfully by both samples
- Cosmos 7WLEDA60E2745
Pros: Successfully passed the resource test.
Minuses: Incompatible with brightness control (dimmer). The measured power is slightly lower than declared.
Verdict: The measured power of the Cosmos 7W LED A60 E2745 is 9% lower than declared, but otherwise the model did not cause serious complaints and successfully passed the resource test.
For a typical fluorescent lamp, 1000 hours of continuous operation is only 10% of the declared service life, and for an LED lamp it is generally 2-5%. Therefore, most lamps, after working for 1000 hours, not only did not work worse, but even vice versa. For example, the brightness of LED “Era” increased by 19%, and fluorescent lamps “Every Day” and Ecowatt - by 7%.
Only two samples dimmed during the life test: LED gauss elementary by 17% and fluorescent “ERA” by 7%. It is unknown whether this negative dynamic will develop with further operation, but it is an alarming symptom.
According to experts, for LED lamps, the 15,000 switching times included in the program are absolutely normal, since even frequent clicks of the switch do not particularly affect the life of lamps of this type.
High-quality luminescent models, based on the operating time declared by the manufacturer and the average frequency of use, should withstand from 10 to 15 thousand inclusions. Otherwise, the lamps will have to be changed too often, which will make their use unprofitable for the consumer.
As expected, in pulsed mode, all LED lamps survived 15,000 starts without problems. Among the luminescent models, the leaders are Ecowatt and “Every Day”: they have worked over 10,000 cycles. On the contrary, “ERA” did not show a very good result, failing after 7056 starts. This in itself is not a violation, since most often manufacturers of luminescent models do not declare the estimated number of inclusions at all.
“ERA” did the same. Therefore, we can talk about the results only in the format of comparing results that fit or not into the range of consumer expectations for the ability to use a light bulb even in a room or in a bathroom. After all, the manufacturer, as a rule, does not provide any recommendations for the use of its products!
True, the plastic of the luminescent sample of the ERA brand melted. This is an alarming symptom, since in the previous life test a similar light bulb of the same brand began to emit smoke.
- Heating during operation. Almost everything in the base area is scalding hot energy saving light bulbs– about 70 degrees. The “coldest” is gauss (48 degrees), the luminescent Camelion (93 degrees) is the hottest. Because of this, experts recommend using LED bulbs in light fixtures that can be accidentally touched by a person, since they do not have an exposed glass bulb, but only a plastic casing. Therefore, the risk of destruction or burns is minimal.
- Turn-on brightness and startup time. LED models turn on instantly and at full brightness. Fluorescent light bulbs start up with a certain delay (it can be measured in tenths of a second, or can reach up to two seconds), and the maximum luminous flux does not begin to be produced immediately, after 30-60 seconds. Therefore, if you need bright light right away, then alternatives LED models No. Among the luminescent samples, Camelion and Ecowatt take the longest to start, and the latter initially produces approximately half of the nominal brightness. Like ERA, but at least it starts without obvious delay.
Which model is the most profitable?
With comparable brightness, the energy consumption of an LED lamp is about 70% of the energy consumption of a fluorescent lamp. At the same time, LED lamps, as the test results show and as the manufacturers themselves say, are more durable.
The most cost-effective per hour of use are LED bulbs from the ERA, Camelion and Jazzway brands. But outside the laboratory, the “lifetime” of a light bulb can be greatly reduced due to voltage surges, overheating (when working in tight lampshades) or simply factory defects in components.
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