Lighting lamps: types, characteristics, purpose

The life of a modern person is unthinkable without the use of electricity. Today, the bulk of light sources are electric. About 15% of the total amount of generated electricity is consumed by lighting devices. To reduce energy consumption, increase light output and extend the life of light sources, it is necessary to use the most economical light sources, gradually abandoning older and unreasonably energy-consuming analogues.

Light bulbs

Consider the generally accepted classification. Based on the principles of operation of electrical appliances in terms of lighting , the following types of lighting lamps are distinguished : incandescent lamps, including halogen incandescent and discharge lamps, as well as LED lamps, which over the past few years have become increasingly popular.

lighting lamps
It is worth noting that the electric lamps differ in shape, size, amount of energy consumed and heat transfer, life, cost. So, we will consider electric lighting lamps in more detail and determine the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Lamp types

Which lamp is the cheapest and easiest to use? This is a familiar lighting incandescent lamp - a veteran in the work of numerous household electrical appliances. The low price and ease of operation have made them popular for decades. They are not afraid of temperature changes, they are instantly ignited and do not contain hazardous mercury vapor.

incandescent lamp
They produce lamps of various capacities from 25 to 150 watts. True, the number of working hours for such lamps is not high, only 1000, and the energy consumption is much higher than that of energy-saving analogues. Over time, due to the vapors released during operation, the glass of the lamp becomes cloudy and loses its brightness. Therefore, they are unprofitable, and over time they are abandoned. So, in many European countries, their production and sale are discontinued and prohibited by law.

Reflex lamps

Reflected incandescent lamps have found their application. They are much like an ordinary incandescent lamp, the only difference is a silver-plated surface. This is used in order to create directional lighting at a certain point, for example, on a display case or billboard. Label them with R50, R63, and R80, where the number indicates the diameter. They are easy to use, equipped with a threaded base in standard sizes E14 or E27.

Fluorescent lamps

As you know, for the operation of lighting devices, about 15% of all generated electricity is needed. Agree, it's a lot. To reduce this indicator, a transition to more economical light sources is necessary. According to current legislation, since 2014, the power of lighting lamps should not exceed 25 watts. The usual incandescent lamps have been replaced by energy-saving fluorescent lamps, which consume five times less electricity, while the level of lighting remains the same. What are they? This is a white glass bulb coated on the inside with a phosphor and containing an inert gas with a small amount of mercury vapor. The collision of electrons with mercury vapor gives ultraviolet radiation, and it, in turn, is converted by the phosphor into the light that we are used to seeing.

characteristic of lighting lamps
The life of such lamps is about a year, or 10,000 hours of continuous operation. But lighting lamps of this type have one significant drawback: they contain mercury. Therefore, they require very careful use and special disposal conditions. They can not be dropped or simply thrown into the trash can - because, as you know, mercury vapors, even in small quantities, are very dangerous. Moreover, getting into the air, they do not dissolve, but freeze, poisoning everything around. So, the amount of mercury vapor from one broken lamp is approximately 50 mg 3 with an acceptable level of vapor concentration of 0.01 mg / m 3 .

Another drawback of such lamps: the color of some of them is unpleasant for the eyes, their lighting is quite aggressive. There is a solution: when choosing a lamp, its color temperature should be taken into account. It is measured in Kelvin (K). So, a lamp marked 2700K - 3000K gives a softer, warmer shade, it is this indicator that is most optimal for the human eye when working indoors, as it is closest to natural sunlight.

The use of fluorescent lamps

Among the huge number of light bulbs, there are those whose main task is to work continuously for many hours in a row. They are used in rooms of a certain type: hospitals, supermarkets, warehouses, offices. It is believed that their light is closest to natural, hence the name: fluorescent lamps.

The lamps are made in the form of an elongated glass tube with contact electrodes at the edges. They have found application at home. They are used as the main source of light on the ceiling or mounted on the walls as an additional. They are very convenient, for example, in the kitchen, above the work surface, when directional lighting is needed, or as decorative lighting in niches, under shelves and paintings, for lighting aquariums or heating indoor plants in the cold season. They work from a conventional network and do not require special current converters. Such lamps are considered energy-saving, as compared to an old-style incandescent lamp, they practically do not heat up, consume up to 10 times less energy, and their useful life is about 10,000 hours of continuous operation. But there is one caveat: such lighting is usually used indoors at a temperature of 15-25 degrees. At lower temperatures, they simply will not work. In addition to white and yellow, such lamps can emit other shades: blue, red, green, blue, ultraviolet. The choice of color depends on the purpose and application.

Halogen lamps

To date, more than one type of lamp is used, consuming two times less electricity than their predecessors. Such lamps are classified as energy-saving. These are halogen lighting lamps that are widely used in everyday life. Due to their compact size, they are convenient to use in lighting fixtures such as a floor lamp, sconces, ceiling lights with a non-standard ceiling, for decorative built-in lighting.

electric lamps
To fill the flask of such a lamp, a mixture of special gases with bromine or iodine vapors is used. When the device is connected to the network, the filament (tungsten spiral) heats up and gives a glow. Unlike a conventional light bulb, here, when heated, tungsten does not settle on the walls of the flask, and when combined with gas gives a brighter and longer glow, up to 4000 hours. Such lamps emit ultraviolet rays, which is very harmful to the eyes. Therefore, high-quality lamps have a special protective coating. They are very sensitive to power surges and can very quickly fail.

Energy-saving lamps

A universal and energy-efficient light source today is considered to be one of them that use several times less energy for operation, while not reducing the power of the generated stream. As, for example, energy-saving lamps designed for residential and office premises. They are universal and can be used in various types of lighting products.

modern lighting lamps

The characteristic of lighting lamps of this type: electricity consumption is several times lower than that of incandescent lamps, they last up to 10 times longer, do not heat up, do not flicker, do not hum, are sufficiently durable and do not contain hazardous components.

Among the disadvantages, the following can be distinguished: slow warm-up (up to 2 minutes), work at a temperature of at least 15 degrees. They can not be used outdoors in open fixtures.

The main advantages of LEDs

But one of the most beneficial in terms of energy saving are LED or LED lamps. Translated from English LED - light emittingdiode - "light emitting diode". The light output of such lamps is 60-100 Lm / W, and the average service life is 30,000-50,000 hours. At the same time, modern lighting lamps of this type do not heat up and are completely safe to operate. Well, if one of the bulbs burns out, this will not affect the operation of the whole mechanism, it will continue to work.

LED lamps for home how to choose

The color temperature they have is quite diverse - from soft yellow to cold white. The choice of color depends on the use of the room and the preferences of the owner. So, for example, for the office it is better to choose bright white with a mark of 6400K, for a children's room natural light is suitable, not so aggressive, 4200K, but for a bedroom - a slightly yellowish shade, 2700K.

And one more plus: they are deprived of the main disadvantage of fluorescent lamps: buzz and flicker, and the eyes under such lighting are very comfortable. They work from a conventional 220 W network and are equipped with a standard base E27 and E14.

Using LEDs in the home

Interestingly, a dozen years ago there was not even such a thing as LED lamps for the home. Only an auto mechanic could tell how to choose and install them - after all, they were mainly used on the dashboard of a car and light indicators. Today, their operation at home has become so familiar that we do not even think about choosing between LED lamps and old-style lamps, so the choice is obvious and not in favor of the latter. The main point: in LED lamps, the current is a constant value, so the cost of heating is minimal. Therefore, they do not heat up and, like fluorescent lamps, can serve for many years in a row. Despite their high cost, they are beneficial to use. By consuming less energy, such lamps help reduce the monthly amount of electricity bills. By the way, choosing LED lamps for the home, one should take into account such a difference in power. There is one secret. You need to know the power that a general-purpose lighting lamp consumes and divide it by 8. For example, if you change an ordinary lamp to 100 W, then 100: 8 = 12.5. So, you need a LED lamp with a power of 12 watts or more.

LED lighting lamp

Another no less important indicator - such lamps have different light temperatures. From this indicator, how comfortable lighting will give a LED lighting lamp in the room. Of the existing shades of white light, the most optimal is the shade in the range of 2600-3200 K and 3700-4200 K. Such light is soft, most close to natural sunlight and pleasant to the eyes. An indicator of 6000 K gives a very cool white tint, and less than 2600 K gives an oppressive yellow. Such shades are harmful to the eyes, a person quickly gets tired, headaches may appear and vision may deteriorate. Therefore, it is very important to purchase only high - quality LED lamps for the home. How to choose, the consultant will tell you in the store, and also provide all the necessary quality certificates.

Like it or not, a LED lamp is beneficial in many ways.

- It consumes several times less electricity.

- It does not heat up during operation, which makes it possible to use it with flammable materials, for example, in cornices, false ceilings. A large number of such lamps do not overheat the air in the room.

- Such lamps do not burn out, and over time they only lose their brightness, up to about 30%.

- Long service life, up to 15 years.

So, having an idea of ​​what types of bulbs are, knowing their main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, you can safely go to the nearest store. But there is another important point, without which even a simple replacement of a blown lamp would be impossible. Indeed, in order to choose a lamp for a lighting fixture, you need to know what kind of its base is. With the help of the cap, the lamp is attached to the cartridge, and it is he who supplies the electric current to the bulb.

Choose the right base

For the manufacture of the base use metal or ceramics. And inside are placed contacts that transmit electric current to the working elements of the device. Each lighting fixture is equipped with one or more lampholders. It is important that the base of the lamp purchased matches the cartridge. Otherwise, it will not work.

Despite the variety of types of socles of electric lamps, two types are more often used in everyday life: threaded and pin.

The threaded base is also called screw. The name accurately conveys the method of connecting it to the lamp holder. It is screwed into lighting lamps, for this thread is applied on its surface. For marking, use the letter E. This type is used in many types of lamps in household appliances. Such socles vary in size. So, marking the base, after the Latin letter E, the manufacturer must indicate the diameter of the threaded connection. In everyday life, socles of two sizes are most often used - E14 and E27. But there are more powerful lighting lamps, for example, for street lighting. They use the base E40. The size of threaded joints has remained unchanged for many decades. Even now, you can easily replace a blown ordinary light bulb in an old chandelier with a more economical LED. The size of the cap and cartridge they exactly match. But in America and Canada, other parameters are adopted. Since the voltage in the network is 110V, in order to avoid the use of European-style bulbs, the diameter of the base is different: E12, E17, E26 and E39.

Another type of socles used in everyday life is the pin. It is attached to the cartridge with the help of two metal pins. They serve as contacts that transfer electricity to the light bulb. The pins differ in diameter and the distance between them. For marking, use the Latin letter G, followed by a digital designation of the gap between the pins. These are the socles G4, G9 and G13.

Now you can safely proceed with the repair. And although redevelopment or the construction of new walls is only possible for specialists, but you can fully cope with the choice and replacement of electric lamps yourself.

Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/C46343/


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