LED lights are replacing incandescent light bulbs everywhere because they are energy efficient and durable. But often buyers bypass these “LEDs” because they cannot understand their markings.
Specifications LED lamps more varied - previously it was enough to select the power in Watts, but with new sources of artificial light everything is somewhat more complicated. To choose the best option, you need to take into account a number of parameters.
We will help you understand the characteristics of LED lamps, explain the meaning of the markings, and also provide practical advice on the choice of lamps for different rooms. The detailed information will be a valuable help in organizing comfortable lighting for an apartment, house or office.
To choose the right LED light bulb, you need to study all its parameters. The light it emits differs from the more familiar emission of incandescent lamps. Moreover, this luminous flux is far from being as uniform as before.
LEDs differ greatly in color rendering shade (color temperature), scattering angle and other parameters of the emitted glow.
When buying an LED lamp, the main attention should be paid not to large advertising figures, but to the description of the parameters in small print - all the most interesting things are there. Studying them in detail will help you avoid many mistakes.
The abbreviation "LED" stands for Light-Emitting Diode. These are LED lamps artificial lighting, which are sold in lighting stores. They are used in lighting devices installed both outdoors and in rooms of various purposes.
There is no uniform mandatory labeling for all LED lamps. Each manufacturer creates its own article number. Basic specifications products are, of course, contained in it.
However, this is often done in the form of abbreviations, which are not so easy to understand. In this case, a number of parameters are indicated only on the light bulb box.
All this must be taken into account when choosing LED. It is recommended to select LED lamps individually for each room and lighting area. In this matter, not only the color temperature is important, but also other characteristics of the LED lamp, and it has many of these parameters.
Color temperature and luminescence shade
On the packaging of each LED lamp, the color temperature indicator is always in the most visible place. This is the main characteristic of this lighting device.
If for conventional light bulbs with a tungsten filament the color of light is in a narrow range of 2200–2800 K, then for LED bulbs it fluctuates over a much wider range.
Often the “color temperature” of an LED lamp is mistakenly equated with the “heat” it emits, but LED, unlike the “Ilyich bulb,” practically does not emit thermal energy when illuminated (+)
This indicator does not correlate in any way with the heating temperature of the surface. LED light bulb and the heat it radiates. At maximum, the LED can heat up to 60–65° C. For comparison, an analogue with a 100 W incandescent filament heats up to 250–265° C.
Almost all the electrical energy in an LED is converted into light. And no matter what color spectrum it belongs to, the surface heating temperature will always be approximately the same.
All LED lamps according to the color of light are usually divided into three groups:
- WW (Warm White)– “warm white” with an emission spectrum of 2700–3300 K;
- NW (Neutral White)– “natural white” with a range of 3300–5000 K;
- CW (Cool White)– “cold white” with light emission >5000 K.
According to human perception, the first option approximately corresponds to the illumination on the street from the sun at the horizon. The second is sunlight at lunchtime in clear weather. The third at the beginning of the range coincides with the sun shining at its zenith, and when it goes to 6500–7500 K it is equal to natural light during the day when it is cloudy.
The color temperature of the LED indicates the shade of light emitted by the lamp in the lighting fixture - warm “WW” tones calm, and cold “CW” tones, on the contrary, invigorate and set the mood for work (+)
When choosing the color of light, you need to focus on where the lamps will subsequently be used. Warm yellow shades are more suitable for bedrooms, and whites of a natural or cool spectrum are more suitable for a corridor or kitchen.
Selecting LEDs wisely is a science. And the main thing here is to start from the most illuminated room. An incorrectly selected LED light bulb can greatly harm a person’s vision.
Lighting designers have to take into account not only the color of the LED, but also the brightness and color rendering of the light source. In this case, the influence of the created lighting on people’s perception also plays an important role.
The human eye, when entering a room from the street, has to quickly adapt to the changed illumination. Often the colors of objects even seem distorted and incorrect in the first minutes.
Color rendering degree of LED lamps
The second most important indicator of the light of an LED lamp is the color rendering index, designated CRI or Ra. This indicator is responsible for the natural transmission of all shades of color from an object that falls into the beam of a lighting device.
The maximum Ra is 100 (this is the reference sunlight that a person encounters at noon in clear weather) - usually this parameter for LED lamps ranges from 80–90 (+)
If Ra<80, то предметы в освещенной LED комнате визуально будут казаться тусклыми. При этом надо понимать, что восприятие цветов индивидуально у каждого человека. Плюс с возрастом еще и происходит его искажение.
It is customary to take the undistorted color rendition, which is formed when an object is illuminated by the rays of the sun, as the standard Ra=100. That is, this is how we usually see it on the street in bright natural rather than artificial indoor lighting.
The color rendering index of LED lamps can be divided into four classes:
- 100 – maximum, which is equivalent to the perception of color in natural light;
- from 100 to 90– such light bulbs are designed for places where the most accurate color reproduction is required (laboratories, work desks and areas);
- from 90 to 80– options for ordinary living rooms and general lighting;
- below 80– lamps for luminaires for corridors, toilets and utility rooms, where high quality shade transfer is not so important.
There is no direct connection between color rendering and color temperature. These are independent characteristics of an LED lamp.
Scattering angle and glow intensity
One of the advantages of LED lamps over conventional lamps is the narrow directionality of the lighting flow. By itself, one LED produces a light beam only directly in the direction from its body.
An LED light bulb usually contains several or a whole array of them to create a specific cone of light. The same one, on the contrary, shines in all directions at once all around.
Lamps with a narrow scattering angle are widely used in zoning rooms and in night lamps; with their help, designers place light accents and highlight a separate space in the interior
The luminous flux of LED bulbs can be scattered at an angle from 60 to 340°. Narrowly directed options are used to organize oriented spot lighting and to illuminate specific areas in the interior. Wide angle lamps are designed for general ceiling lighting.
Glow intensity (luminous output) reflects the emission efficiency of the LED lamp. This characteristic is measured in lm/W. The value in lumens (lm) is the value of the luminous flux, and Watts is the power of the light bulb. In the marking they are indicated together as a single figure in lm/W or separately.
The higher this indicator, the more energy efficient and economical the LED lamp is. On the other hand, the higher the luminous flux of a particular light bulb, the fewer such products will be needed to illuminate the room.
Design: base and bulb
Structurally, the LED lamp consists of:
- printed circuit board with a driver for converting alternating current into direct current;
- light source - one or more LEDs;
- diffuser bulbs designed for uniform light dispersion;
- base and housing.
Plus, there is a small radiator inside that dissipates the thermal energy generated when the LED crystal glows. Although it is formed a little, it is still there.
Of all these elements, the only thing that might be of interest to a buyer of an LED lamp is the shape of the bulb and. The remaining details are not even described in the markings and data sheets of such light bulbs.
LED lamps are now available with all types of bases (threaded, pin, soffit, etc.) - this is specially done for their wider distribution and easy replacement of old analogues (+)
Most often, at home, LED lamps are used with standard threaded sockets.
They have the letter “E” in their designation and a number indicating the diameter size. The typical option is similar to a regular household lamp with a 60, 80 or 100 W filament.
In homes you can also find light bulbs (“candles” for sconces).
The bulb shape of an LED lamp can be anything from classic pear-shaped to twisted and tubular - for each lighting project there is the most suitable option
Models CO or GU are designed to replace halogen counterparts. And GX are small flat lamps for recessed lighting. They are mounted in furniture walls and ceilings.
The design of the case also varies according to. In dry rooms without much dust (for example, corridors and bedrooms of apartments), IP20 or IP21 will be sufficient. For installation in kitchens, bathrooms or garages, a lamp should be selected with IP56 or higher. And only models with at least IP65 are suitable for outdoor use.
Power and power parameters
The LED is powered by a constant voltage of 12–24 Volts. In order for an LED light bulb to be screwed into a 220 V lamp, its housing contains the necessary transformer. For LED strips, this converter is an external device. For lamps it is initially already built into the base.
If there is a voltage drop in the network, a high-quality LED lamp will not burn out and will continue to shine; it has built-in protection. However, the light output at reduced voltage will be lower than with proper power supply
For incandescent lamps, brightness and power consumption are directly related. The higher the first indicator, the higher the second.
With LED analogues the situation is somewhat different. Here, the brightness is determined by the characteristics of the LEDs installed inside and their number. At the same power, different LED lamps can vary greatly in luminosity and color temperature.
Choosing LED for different rooms
Lamps with natural white light are the least likely to tire your eyesight. However, for residential premises it is still recommended to select LEDs with a soft yellow tint. Artificial light from them is more comfortable when exposed to the eyes for a long time. Bright indoor lights will sooner or later start to irritate.
The most optimal option for LED lighting for the home is “warm yellow” diffused light from the ceiling and spotlights with a neutral white spectrum by zone
Lamps with blue cool shades are more suitable for offices. There, the vigor and concentration “generated” by them will come in handy. But in the bedroom and nursery, such options are definitely not worth installing.
Another point is the pulsation of LED light bulbs. If the LED transformer board is not designed professionally, the lamp will pulsate. This is a result of its AC power supply.
In the vast majority of cases, this is not even noticeable to the naked eye. However, this constant pulsation has a negative effect on vision and the brain. When buying LED lamps, you should not chase excessively cheap prices.
How do LED light bulbs designed for household lighting work:
When choosing an LED lamp for a household lighting device, it is necessary to take into account all its parameters and technical characteristics. There are quite a lot of them, but the time spent will definitely pay off. And not so much with money, but with the good health and comfort of the household.
Do you have anything to add or have questions about choosing LED lamps? You can leave comments on the publication, participate in discussions and share your own experience of using such lamps. The contact form is located in the lower block.
Visible light is distinguished by its hue, and visible objects are distinguished by their clarity. The parameters responsible for these characteristics are color temperature and color rendering index.
Let's try to figure out what these characteristics depend on and how to choose the right LED lamp with the necessary parameterscolor temperature and color rendering index.
- What is the color temperature of light?
- How is color temperature measured?
- What is the color temperature of light?
- How to determine the color temperature of an LED lamp?
- What is the color rendering index of an LED lamp?
Colorful temperature– this is one of the main characteristics of LED lamps, which determines the spectral composition of the light source’s radiation. It determines the objectivity of human perception of light.
Color temperature is measured in kelvins or miradahs (reverse microdegrees).
To measure color temperature, you need to use a colorimeter. But for the buyer it is enough to know the color temperature range.
Below is the range of color temperatures used in LED luminaires. These ranges will be similar for other light sources.
Dependence of color temperature on wavelength:
The closer Colorful temperature to 5000 K, the more balanced the spectral composition of the light is (the line is more horizontal), and the closer it is in composition to the ideal “white” light of the Sun - CRI=100 (CRI - color rendering index). The lower the color temperature, the greater the proportion of red and the less blue. This is why incandescent bulbs with a low color temperature give a reddish tint to everything they illuminate. The higher the color temperature, the greater the proportion of blue and green.
High-quality LED lamps of any color temperature make the white color as white as possible, but all other shades are not necessarily transmitted correctly. This is precisely the difference between lamps with different color temperatures, but the same color rendering index. If the color temperature is different from 5000 K, then all shades other than white will be warmer (<5000 K, больше красных оттенков), или более холодными (< 5000 К, больше голубых оттенков) - отсюда названия трех основных типов ламп:
Color rendering index (CRI - color rendering index) is a parameter that characterizes the level of correspondence of the natural color of an object to the visible (apparent) color of this object when illuminated by a given light source.
Understanding color temperature comes with the acquisition of certain life experiences in childhood. As children, everyone learns that fire is hot and ice is cold. Accordingly, orange and red are warm, and blue and cyan are cool. Such associations have a very strong influence on how we perceive various scenes. This is used by photographers and film directors. This is what helps create a certain atmosphere.
The basis of all colors is white, although it was this color that confused scientists for a long time. In the 17th century, Isaac Newton used a prism to prove that white is a combination of all other colors. In 1900, Planck discovered a pattern that described the proportions of combining different colors to obtain new colors and shades.
Max Planck is a German physicist. He fulfilled orders from incandescent lamp manufacturers. His task was to find out the best temperature for the filament, which would provide maximum brightness and minimum energy consumption.
Modern theories did not allow Planck to understand the nature of light. Over time, he realized that light is emitted and absorbed in portions. This allows you to see different colors.
When the body's temperature increases, it begins to release more heat or electromagnetic waves. Very intense heat causes the body to emit visible light. The glow of the body begins when the body passes a certain temperature mark. This is described by Planck's law. It is this law that can describe color temperature. It determines the ratio of the position of white to black at a specific temperature.
Max Planck's research made it possible to determine the optimal color temperature of 3200K for an incandescent lamp.
The color temperature of the Sun's surface is about 5800K. Passing through a series of natural filters in the atmosphere, the light of the sun changes its temperature from 2800K during sunset and sunrise to 6500K during cloudy weather. 5600K is a generally accepted value for balanced daylight.
Color temperature and photography
It is important for any photographer to know that the color temperature under incandescent lighting is 3200K, and on a bright sunny day it is 5600K.
Most cameras allow you to manually adjust white balance using a gray card. To do this, you need to place a white or gray object in front of the lens and, using the function in the camera, tell the device that this color is neutral. All subsequent photographs will be adjusted according to the specified standard.
More precise control is provided by the manual white balance function. This adjustment allows you to add more warm or cool tones to your photos in a couple of clicks. Increasing the color temperature will make your photos warmer. Decrease - on the contrary, it will cool the scene.
Shooting in RAW format will allow you to adjust the color temperature in the graphics editor. You can bring the photo to a natural look or add an interesting creative flame or frost effect.
A big problem is the presence of different color sources when photographing. In one room there may be light from a window, incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps. Each source will create its own temperature, and if we tune in to one of them, the colors of objects illuminated by other sources will be distorted.
If it is not possible to use the same light sources to illuminate the entire scene, use colored flash gels. They are able to adjust the color temperature and make it easier to adjust the image during processing in a graphics editor.
If you are not concerned about the rendering of natural colors, if you are not shooting an interior for demonstration to a customer, but are engaged in creative photography, you can safely use different light sources with different temperatures. With their help you can achieve various creative effects.
You also need to know that the temperature of a halogen lamp can be adjusted by adjusting the brightness. Reducing the electrical voltage across the contacts will make the light warmer.
Modern photography is very multifaceted and unusual. Any phenomenon can be used for good, and when processing images on a computer, you can artificially create different combinations of color temperatures. But this does not mean that we can forget about this phenomenon. Knowing the mechanism of how color temperature works, its nature and psychological impact on the viewer, this can be consciously used to create more interesting works.
Color temperature is one of the most important characteristics of lighting technology, which should be taken into account not only when decorating the interior, but also when selecting lamps for a car. Spectral properties, color rendering index, glow color - these are not all the properties of a light source for which the color temperature of light is responsible.
Color temperature in physics
In the works of Max Planck, the founder of quantum physics, more than once
the laws of energy distribution were described. Part of the Nobel Prize laureate's research concerned the study of absolutely black bodies, which made it possible to identify such a concept as color temperature. The unit of measurement for this quantity is Kelvin, as in the case of absolute temperature. According to the formula, this indicator is equal to the temperature of the black body at which the body emits radiation in the same color range as that being measured.
The sequence of observations is as follows:
- The lighting is turned off, current is supplied to the terminals.
- The resistance gradually decreases.
- The black body begins to barely noticeably illuminate in red.
When measuring the temperature of an object at this moment, the indicator will most likely reach 900 ºС. The principle of superconductivity indicates that at zero Kelvin, the speed of atoms is also zero, but the radiation itself depends on it. For convenience, it is better to discard the Celsius scale accepted in our latitudes and use a foreign one.
Color temperature and its tint display
The beginning of the visible spectrum of the blackbody radiation is characterized by an indicator of 1200 K. It is this mark that is the boundary of the red tint. If you continue the process of heating the coil, you will notice significant color changes. Already at 2000 K, red will be replaced by bright orange, which will gradually turn into yellow, and will be completely replaced by it when it reaches 3000 K. The color temperature of the lamps can correspond to a warm or cold range.
For tungsten filaments, the peak is around 3500K, after which they begin to melt, but light sources based on a different principle of operation can easily heat up further.
The color temperature of LED lamps can easily reach 5500 K or more. With this indicator, you can see the usual bright white color. With subsequent heating to 6000 K, the radiation will become somewhat bluish, deeper and deeper into this shade, until, upon reaching 18000 K, it comes close to the violet edge of the spectrum.
Color temperature and lighting
When designing a lighting system, it is important to take into account many nuances, but it is the color temperature that is responsible for the perception of shades. Cold and warm colors differ significantly in their performance. Thus, the flame temperature of an ordinary candle is characterized by 1200 K, and the winter sky - by 12000 K.
Table 1. Color temperature and shades
| Hue | Characteristic | |
| 2700 K | Warm white, reddish white | Used in conventional incandescent lamps. Makes the interior more comfortable, truly homely. |
| 3000 K | Warm white, yellow-white | Characteristic of most halogen lamps, slightly cooler than light from an incandescent lamp. |
| 3500 K | Regular white | This is the radiation from fluorescent tubes of various sizes. |
| 4000 K | Cold white | It is an indispensable attribute of the high-tech style, but its “sterility” evokes thoughts of an operating room. |
| 5000-6000 K | Day | Used to simulate sunlight in greenhouses, terrariums, etc. |
| 6500 K | Cold daytime | Used in professional photography and cinematography. |
The selection of lighting sources should be carried out depending on the desired effect. The intensity and color temperature of lamps may also be perceived differently depending on the time of day.
LED based lighting
Lighting systems are increasingly based on these elements. LED color temperature includes 3 main shades:
- Warm white (in foreign sources - Warm White (WW)) - up to 3300 K.
- Neutral, also known as natural white - Neutral White (NW) - up to 5000 K.
- Cold white - Cool White (CW) - over 5000 K.
Differences between the main gradations of white
When selecting a lighting source, it is very important to predict how the illuminated object will be perceived. This is relevant not only when selecting lamps for photo shoots, but also when planning a home interior or developing street lighting systems.
The color temperature of the LEDs will help not only determine the contrast and maximum distance, but also make it possible to understand how the lamp will behave when weather conditions change.
Cool white light sources
Only the sun can boast of ideal perception accuracy; other lighting sources have only more modest indicators. The color temperature of most factory-made LED-based luminaires is in the range from 5000 to 7000 K. The average transmission index is about 65 units.
The advantage of cool white sources is their contrast, which is ideal for illuminating dark objects. Together with the long illumination distance, the color temperature of LED lamps in the cold range makes the lamps the most efficient for the road. Moreover, this shade demonstrates maximum distortion of color perception.
Neutral and warm light sources
Manufacturers of lighting elements do not limit themselves only to cold colors, which are the sharpest and worst perceived by the human eye. The color temperature of LED lamps is 2500-6000 K, which makes it possible to achieve a color rendering index of 75-80 units. Such lamps demonstrate excellent results at relatively short distances.
Lamps with warm and neutral shades show the greatest advantage in unfavorable weather conditions. Rain, fog and smoke, which become obvious obstacles for cold lamps, are not so significant for warmer lamps. The fact is that such sources illuminate not so much the object itself as the space before it. For the same reason, warm light sources are more effective underwater.
Other lighting sources
The color temperature of energy-saving lamps used for home lighting often corresponds to the warm spectrum. Cold springs are quite harsh, and they are unlikely to make your home more comfortable. In general, the characteristics of home lamps are determined, rather, by their brightness and service life. When choosing automotive lighting, other indicators are important.
Xenon color temperature
Xenon and bi-xenon lamps differ not only in manufacturer, but also in their features, which largely depend on the color temperature.
Lamp properties:
- Bright yellow color (3000K).Mainly used in anti-fog
lighting, has an indicator luminous flux about 3300 lumens. - Yellow-white (4300 K). Typical of factory fog and headlight bulbs. High color output (approximately 3400 lumens) and gentle effect on the eyes make them an excellent option for the car. This xenon is clearly visible on wet asphalt, but is not very noticeable to fellow travelers.
- Regular white (4500-5000 K). This xenon color temperature is considered the optimal option from the point of view of perception by the human eye. They have a high color output power (about 3000 lumens), which significantly expands the scope of application of such lamps.
- Cool white, white-blue (from 6000 K). Depending on the type of optics (lensed or reflective), the tint has a greater or lesser degree of blue. Such lamps are inferior to warmer ones on wet asphalt, but on dry ground or snow they provide excellent visibility.
- Blue, blue-violet (from 8000 K). Such lighting sources can be classified as decorative. They are not particularly distinguished by their emission power (up to 2200 lumens) and are poorly visible on any road surface.
According to surveys over the past few years, the majority of car enthusiasts preferred xenon lamps with a color temperature of 6000 K. Lanterns should be selected based on personal comfort; it is impossible to clearly name the optimal temperature, because trips to the office and long country trips dictate completely different requirements.
When color temperature is important
Most characteristics of lighting sources should be considered inseparably from each other. Color temperature is inseparable from brightness, because this is the only way to choose the optimal lighting source for any situation. It is also worth starting from how exactly this or that lamp will be perceived, which is equally important for lighting interiors and exteriors, automotive, street and advertising lighting systems.
Loading...
