How to Choose LED Bulbs?

Hi Buddy,

Have you recently gone light bulb shopping? If you have, you may have observed that LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs are now the most popular. Incandescent bulbs have all but vanished from store shelves, while CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs are losing favour. CFLs just cannot compete with the energy efficiency and light quality of LED bulbs, while being more energy-efficient than incandescents. LED lights can last 20 years or more, whereas CFL bulbs are lucky to live two to five years. However, deciding which is the best type of LED bulb to buy can leave you scratching your head.

While purchasing LED bulbs you will need to consider various factors. There is no such best bulb. The one that is best for me may not suit your purpose. Hence, I feel you should consider the below-mentioned factors.

• Examine the Label

The majority of the information you'll need to choose the correct LED light bulb is on the package, however, it's not on the front. On the back or side of the container, look for the "Lighting Facts" label, and pay special attention to two terms: "Brightness" and "Light Appearance."

• Think Lumens instead of Watts.

Gone are the days when a light bulb's wattage indicated how bright it was. When shopping for an LED bulb, look for the number of lumens on the Lighting Facts label directly across from 'Brightness.' The wattage equivalents, which are normally printed on the front of the package, are simply intended to give you a rough idea.

If you're replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb, choose an LED with a lumen output of 1,600. A 40-watt incandescent bulb replacement should generate around 450 lumens.

• Choose between warm and cool temperatures depending on your needs

When you are pondering how to choose LED light bulbs, I would like to say that on the Lighting Facts label, 'Light Appearance' refers to colour temperature, which is measured in Kelvin (K). Choose a bulb with a colour temperature of 2,700 to 3,000 K for table lamps or living room light fixtures to get a warm glow akin to that of older incandescent light bulbs. Choose a bulb with a colour temperature of around 5,000 K for task lighting in locations like workshops and laundry rooms to get a cooler, bluish light that looks more like natural sunshine.

• Special Bulbs Are Required for Enclosed Fixtures

Some LED light bulbs can live for decades if the heat they produce is dissipated properly. If it can't, heat will harm the bulb's electronics, causing it to fail prematurely. If you require a bulb for a totally enclosed fixture, double-check the packaging to make sure it's approved for that application. Enclosed-fixture bulbs feature a more efficient thermal design and are designed with components that can endure higher temperatures.

• Select dimmers and bulbs that are compatible with each other

Although many LED bulbs can be dimmed, older dimmer switches were designed for incandescent lamps and would not function with LEDs. If you're not sure what type of dimmer switch you have, check the websites of light bulb manufacturers for a list of compatible dimmers.

• LED Light Bulbs Won't Work in These Situations

When you are considering how to choose LED bulb for home oven, I would like to say that never use an LED bulb in an oven; instead, use traditional incandescent 'appliance bulbs' for that purpose. The heat from an oven will quickly kill an LED light. LED appliance lights are available, but they're designed for refrigerators and freezers and might be difficult to obtain locally, so you might have to look for them online. Because an LED bulb in a fridge or freezer is only on for a few seconds at a time, it won't save you any money (yes, they do actually turn off when you close the door).

LED bulbs can potentially cause problems with garage door opener remote controllers.

I would like to conclude my answer here about the best type of LED bulb. I hope this helps:)

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