Which light bulbs are energy saving? Circuit and power supply. Energy saving light bulbs: power

Traditional incandescent light bulbs produce more heat than light. For this reason, energy-saving lamps (EL) were created, where electricity is converted into light by 70%. These include compact fluorescent and LED light sources.

ELs consist of glass flasks filled with an inert gas containing mercury vapor. The inside is coated with a phosphor-based phosphor. The EL design is based on a fluorescent lamp, which is a tube with two pins at the ends with connected electrodes to which voltage is applied. The ballast is used to ignite the lamp, after which invisible ultraviolet radiation is generated, from which the coating begins to glow. In EL it is placed in the base. Depending on the composition, the phosphor produces different shades of light: from red to blue.

Compact fluorescent lamps of different colors

Pros and cons of EL

Energy saving lamps have the following advantages:

efficiency is 5 times higher than that of incandescent lamps;
service life 8-10 thousand hours;
low heat transfer;
uniformity of radiation;
wide range of colors.

Energy-saving lamps also have disadvantages:

the difficulty of smoothly adjusting the brightness, reducing the voltage leads to the lamp turning off;
low power;
decrease in light output when color temperature changes towards the red spectrum;
sensitivity to voltage surges;
delays when turning on lamps: stationary mode illumination occurs after 2 minutes;
dependence of service life on the number of switchings. If they are too frequent, energy-saving lamps are not recommended;
difficulty of disposal. ELs are the most common of all types of lamps due to the mercury vapor they contain. They are prohibited from being thrown away with household waste at home;
relatively high price;
radiation of ultraviolet light, which negatively affects the skin. For people sensitive to it, it is permissible to be no closer than 30 cm from the lamp, and the power should be selected no more than 21 W.

Despite a large number of disadvantages, advantages significantly prevail.

Types and characteristics

Fluorescent lamps were invented when the patent system was not yet developed. They were produced without thinking about standards. This was due to the simplicity of the design in the form of a tube with pins. In addition, lamps were used to produce luminous advertisements, where each product was created individually in the form of images.

Energy-saving ones also include those that can be used to create spectacular light images together with CFLs.

Light image from CFL and LED lamps

Over time, manufacturers had to agree to standardize products, which was due to the need to select lamps that matched the electrical wiring and fixtures. Their main characteristics are reflected on the labeling.

The first letter characterizes what colors should be: B – white, D – daylight, U – universal and others.

In international markings, the color rendering index is indicated first, which is divided by 10. The next two numbers indicate color rendering. If this number is 27, then on the Kelvin scale the color temperature is 2700K.

The power, designated by the letter W with a number, determines what area and how intensely the lamp can illuminate.

The characteristics of the bases are conventionally designated as follows: FS – one base, FD – two, FB – with a driver built into the base.

Energy-saving lamps can be selected with or without a starter for smoother switching (RS).

The lamp indicates the mains voltage, which is 127 V or 220 V.

The shape of the bulb is indicated by the markings: 4U - 4-arc, C - candle, S - spiral, R - reflector, G - ball.

Shapes of compact fluorescent lamps

All main characteristics are present on the labeling of any lamp. Only their location may vary among different manufacturers.

The expansion of the use of ELs has made it possible to adapt them to lighting systems that use standard E27 sockets. Use has become extremely simplified; now you can insert energy-saving lamps into a regular threaded socket (picture below, left). Many types of products are made with pin connections (picture below, right).

Types of compact fluorescent lamp bases

For EL, it is often not indicated what kind of dimensions, so they may not fit in some fixtures. Dimensions can be found on the manufacturers' websites.

Energy saving lamps are used for different voltage: from 12 V to 220 V. When purchasing, you need to carefully check what voltage the lamp is designed for.

In the USA, electronic equipment has 2 classes electromagnetic radiation: A and B. For class A, its permissible level is much higher; such lamps are not suitable for a residential building. One who cannot detect it by marking can detect a negative effect electromagnetic field by jumps in the image on the TV screen when the lamp is turned on.

Choice

When necessary, pay attention to the power, color of radiation, sizes, manufacturers.

Power

Energy-saving lamps are produced with a power of 3-90 W. It is still customary to estimate illumination by the power of an incandescent lamp. When you need to select the electric power, it is divided by 5.

Emission color

Color is an important characteristic and is always indicated on product packaging as follows:

2700K – warm white;
4200K – daily;
6400K – cool white.

Shades of colors energy saving lamps

Increasing the characteristic brings the color of the lamp closer to a blue tint (Fig. above, left), and decreasing it brings it closer to red (right). Before replacing the lighting, you should choose the most comfortable option using one light bulb. Here it is necessary to take into account the interior and type of room (office, apartment, house or workshop).

Dimensions

The first fluorescent lamps found application in lighting enterprises and administrative buildings. They were not suitable for household lighting due to large sizes. Manufacturers have been able to reduce the size of products only recently. The tube was bent several times and its diameter was reduced to 12 mm. In addition, the weight of the lamps was reduced, the ballasts were placed in the base, and high-quality phosphors were created. As a result, the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) began to be used in everyday life.

Reducing the tube diameter required changing the composition of the phosphor, which operates under more severe conditions. Rare earth metals began to be added to it, which made the lamps more expensive. To save money, the coating is made in two layers, applying a higher quality composition on top.

The tubes began to be divided into several parallel short sections of smaller diameter or curled in the form of spirals. This increased the radiation surface with smaller dimensions.

Small compact fluorescent lamps

Most CFLs use standard E27 and smaller diameter E14 for small lamps and sconces. This made it possible to screw them into ordinary incandescent lamp sockets. However, CFLs are produced different type glow. Therefore, they must be selected depending on the type of room:

6000-6500K – office or office;
4200K – children’s room and living room;
2700K – bedroom and kitchen.

Lamps should be chosen in different quantities and in small quantities so that they better suit the room. You can buy more in a few days required amount lamps according to tastes and needs.

Cheap "housekeepers" are not worth purchasing. In most cases, they do not reach the stated deadlines. It is better to take a lamp from well-known manufacturers with a warranty of 6-36 months. The shape is chosen for aesthetic reasons. U-shaped and spiral-shaped products have proven themselves well.

For a house or apartment with dimmers, you should not purchase energy-saving lamps. During operation, they may fail, for example, the light bulb driver will burn out.

Manufacturers

Behind Lately many new ones have appeared brands, it has become more difficult to decide on the choice of products. The best suppliers are well-known brands that have proven themselves in the market and have positive reviews.

Philips is the first manufacturer of new CFLs since the eighties. The products are of excellent quality, have an impressive appearance and a wide range.

Compact fluorescent lamps manufactured by Philips

Osram is one of the first manufacturers of “economies”. The products have a long service life (15 thousand hours) and can easily withstand frequent starts.
Navigator – the company appeared on domestic market recently. The products are distinguished by their original shapes and compactness. The diameter of the tubes reaches 7 mm.
Camelion - the company produces a wide range of CFLs according to characteristics and prices. Available budget options which are in wide demand.

The world's best brands fulfill their warranty obligations with proper organization of domestic service. If the EL fails in warranty period A faulty lamp can be replaced with a new one completely free of charge if you keep the box and receipt confirming which store the product was purchased from. You just need to fill it out correctly warranty card, since some stores set deadlines of no more than two weeks.

Exploitation

During operation of a new lamp, the characteristics initially change somewhat during the first hundred hours. Then the brightness of the glow gradually decreases. On products Low quality Spots and dark deposits quickly appear at the ends of the tubes.

Exceeding or decreasing the temperature of the lamp relative to the nominal one worsens the glow and ignition conditions, which shortens the service life. At negative temperature environment, the LL working with the starter begins to start worse. Overheating of the flask more often occurs when working in a closed fitting. In this case, the color of the glow may change and the intensity may drop.

DIY lamp. Video

The video below will tell you how to make an LED table lamp from an energy-saving one with your own hands.

Energy-saving lamps from well-known brands allow you to save energy and last for the period declared by the manufacturer, if you follow the operating requirements correctly.

Since energy-saving lamps appeared on the markets, conventional incandescent lamps have rapidly begun to lose their positions. This is due to what comes from the very name of the product - energy saving. However, the latest scientific research has shocked buyers with the statement that energy-saving lamps are dangerous. How to choose a housekeeper, weigh all the pros and cons and come to the right decision?

Energy-saving light bulbs: pros and cons

First, let's talk about the advantages of these products.

Energy saving occurs due to high luminous efficiency. Incandescent lamps lag significantly behind energy-saving lamps in this indicator, since more than 85% of all energy expended is spent on heat accumulation, which enters the tungsten wire. In housekeepers, the same electricity is directly converted into light.
Continuing to talk about the pros and cons of energy-saving light bulbs, we must not forget about the durability of these devices. The average time that a light bulb can work without interruption is 6-15 thousand hours. These lamps do not contain a filament, which burns out over time. Therefore, the lifespan of a housekeeper is several times longer than the operating time of incandescent lamps.
Energy-saving lamps allow the user to independently choose the level of illumination.
The best energy-saving light bulbs even at the most high power do not overheat. Therefore, they can be used in tight fixtures made from materials that can warp from heat. At the same time, incandescent light bulbs can melt the lampshade, plastic accessories on the chandelier and even wires, which is very dangerous.
Light is distributed evenly throughout the room. In the design of conventional light bulbs, light is emitted directly from the tungsten filament in only one direction. An energy-saving lamp distributes light as evenly as possible due to the fact that everything glows. Researchers note that this effect reduces the level of fatigue in human eyes.

Energy saving lamps and their disadvantages

So, continuing to talk about what energy-saving light bulbs have pros and cons, let's now focus on the disadvantages.

The lifespan that can last directly depends on the selected mode. Energy-saving light bulbs are not suitable for rooms in which the lights are constantly switched on/off.
The price is quite high (from 75 to 350 rubles).
Warm-up duration. It is impossible to instantly illuminate a room with this lamp, since it warms up gradually. On average, this process lasts 2 minutes.

The possibility of flickering, which irritates the eyes, cannot be ruled out.
Energy-saving lamps emit ultraviolet light. Such rays are dangerous for all people because they negatively affect the skin, especially for those whose skin is very sensitive. They are strictly forbidden to be near such lamps, no closer than 30 cm. Excess ultraviolet radiation leads to skin diseases. According to studies conducted by doctors, the optimal lamp power for people with problem skin is 21 watts and below.
These lamps cannot be used in chandeliers where light intensity control is provided. This happens due to an inappropriate design: when the voltage drops by at least 10% from the standard, energy-saving light bulbs turn off due to lack of power.
Due to their chemical composition, the lamps are not dangerous in daily use. However, when they break, they release mercury and phosphorus into the air. Vapors of these substances from one light bulb, according to research by scientists, can exceed the permissible limit by 20 times, from which pregnant women and children who are in the room at that moment can suffer irreparable health problems. If an energy-saving light bulb does break, the average user does not always know what to do, so there is a set of specific rules that we have given at the end of the article.
Mandatory special disposal. Burnt-out lamps are strictly prohibited from being thrown away along with all other waste.

Choosing an energy-saving lamp

Today the market provides big choice such a product as energy-saving products, so that the lamp suits us in terms of its characteristics and cost.

Previously, when we were choosing an incandescent lamp, our attention was most occupied by the questions: how integral is the tungsten filament, the base and what is the power. Based on the latter, we automatically began to calculate how many kilowatts the meter would show after using one such light bulb. A significantly low indicator and, therefore, a relatively small fee for its consumption are advantages for which buyers prefer energy-saving light bulbs; their price is higher, but they pay for themselves over time. Moreover, the service life of the “housekeepers” is long.

Considering what energy-saving light bulbs have pros and cons, we talked about this important indicator like working hours. The average operating time of a fairly compact fluorescent lamp is at least 8 thousand hours. At the same time, you will need at least 8 ordinary light bulbs. In order to save your own money, you should also choose a more economical option.

The most popular are linear ones; they are quite compact due to the smaller tube diameter and low mercury content.

Base of energy saving lamps

The sockets have standard size, therefore, both incandescent and one - E27.

E-14 type sockets are also possible for cases where the lamps have custom size, less than usual.

Energy saving light bulbs: power

The power of energy-saving light bulbs varies within a range of 3-90 W. When choosing a lamp for your home, you must remember that the level of light output of such lamps is 5 times higher than that of conventional ones. You can choose a lamp for a room using a simple mathematical operation: you need to divide the power of an incandescent lamp by 5 and we will understand what energy-saving light bulbs we need to buy. We will consider below how to choose this product based on other indicators.

Color index

Fluorescent lamps are developed using special technologies that make it possible to reproduce different levels lighting. These colors correspond to the cold-warm range. The color temperature depends on the quantitative indicator. The higher the temperature characteristics, the closer the light produced by the lamp will be to cold tones, and the room will be filled with blue light. Conversely, a low temperature reading will fill the room with a reddish color.

This indicator is calculated as follows:

Below 4000 K - warm shades.
4000-6400 K - daylight lighting.
6500 and above are cool shades, approaching blue.

Rules for using energy-saving lamps so that they do not blink

When considering energy-saving light bulbs, the pros and cons of these products, we cannot ignore the issue of light bulb blinking. This is bad both for the lamp itself - it burns out faster, and for the person - frequent changes in lighting have a bad effect on a person’s nerves and eyes.

Let's look at why a switched off energy-saving light bulb blinks and how to deal with the possible problem of this phenomenon.

From a safety point of view, switches must be connected to the phase, and not to the neutral.
When using fluorescent lamps, switches should not have a backlight indicator.
To prevent the lamps from blinking, you should pay attention to more quality models. They should have a turn-off delay of at least 2 seconds, then the lights will not blink, even if the switch has a built-in night light.
It is advisable to screw one ordinary light bulb into a chandelier with several shades.

Precautions when using lamps

Lamps rated for medium wattage typically contain about 1 mg of mercury. This is about the same as one ball at the end of an ampoule of pen paste. Thermometers contain about 500 mg. Despite the fact that the difference in mercury content in a lamp and a thermometer is quite large, when using lamps, do not forget to be careful. Even a small amount of vapors should not enter the air. However, it is not always possible to avoid such situations.

Broken energy saving light bulb

Many buyers ask the question: “If an energy-saving light bulb breaks, what should I do?” If it does break, you need to take the following measures:

All unauthorized persons must leave the premises, avoiding the area with the broken lamp.
The room must be well ventilated.
Ventilation should only be done using windows; the artificial air conditioning system must be turned off.
If its fragments and remains must be collected using thick paper and placed in a hermetically sealed jar or plastic bag.
Collect small parts and powder using tape or adhesive tape.
The place where the fragments were should be treated wet wipes. All materials that were used to collect residues must also be placed in
If an energy-saving light bulb breaks, never collect the remaining mercury using a vacuum cleaner.
All things that came into contact with the fragments must be thrown away. Those that are simply saturated with steam should be washed well.
Shoes should be immediately wiped with napkins and left to air in the open air.
All unnecessary items should be disposed of, and necessary items should be thoroughly ventilated.
After disposing of all waste, wash your hands well.

Are you planning to update the lighting in your home or office? Then pay attention to energy-saving lamps, especially since the luminescent type of such light sources has good power. Today these light bulbs have become an excellent alternative yellow incandescent lamps with high temperature heating threads that are already obsolete. With less power and electricity consumption, such products are becoming more and more in demand from year to year.

What are energy saving lamps

Today, energy-saving light bulbs are widely used not only for lighting in offices and institutions, but also in apartments and private houses. This type of product is light bulb, which has a significantly higher light output compared to many analogues, which allows you to save a lot on electricity bills. It can have the usual U-shape or spiral. An energy-saving light bulb is installed in the same conventional socket as an incandescent lamp. At the same time, some models have a cool white glow, while others have a warm glow.

Device

Inside the light bulb is filled with inert gas and mercury or indium almagama. There is no filament in it. During exposure high voltage the movement of electrons begins, which collide with atoms of the filling substance. The internal part of the product is electronic circuit starting and power supply, called electronic ballast. Models used for household lighting have such basic parameters as Colorful temperature and power. The surface of the bulb is coated with a phosphor to give the light flux a color.

Kinds

Currently, economical light bulbs are divided into several types, which must be taken into account when choosing the best option for good lighting. First of all, they are divided into LED lamps, which have a standard base, fluorescent (gas-discharge) and halogen. In addition, they come in spiral and U-shape. Depending on the diameter, products are 7, 9, 12 and 17 mm. Types of energy-saving lamps by color of radiation:

daytime;
neutral white;
warm white;
cool white color.

Power

Before you buy energy-saving lamps in an online store with delivery by mail, familiarize yourself with such a parameter as power. Today they produce products from 7 to 250 W. It should be taken into account that their power is approximately 5 times more power incandescent lamps, so it is advisable to choose in accordance with the proportion of 1:5 to achieve the desired lighting. In general, the higher this setting, the brighter the light will be.

Advantages and disadvantages

When buying compact, economical lamps for ordinary lamps or general/spot lighting of a particular room, familiarize yourself with their pros and cons. Here are some disadvantages:

When choosing linear fluorescent daylight models or other energy-efficient light bulb options, remember that their cold or soft White color differs from the usual one produced by an incandescent lamp. If the color is chosen incorrectly, this can become a significant disadvantage, because... It will be very difficult to get used to such lighting.
Another disadvantage of energy-saving lamps is their high cost, which is 10-20 times higher than a regular light bulb. In addition, they contain mercury, which is considered a dangerous poison.
The most harmful is the presence of ultraviolet radiation, which affects the retina and cornea of the eye. In this regard, such lamps should not be placed closer than 30 cm from the eyes - this applies to a greater extent to lighting devices: table lamps, bedside lamps.

As for the advantages of energy-saving devices, they include:

low power consumption;
long term operation;
high light output;
choosing the desired color;
low temperature.

Buy energy saving lamps

To find out how much an energy-saving light bulb costs, you need to do some kind of price monitoring and, in addition, compare the characteristics of several products from the same category. This is the only way you can choose compact-sized light bulbs with enough power for normal lighting. In this case, you need to pay attention to both the diameter of the base and the diameter of the flasks. It should be added that today on the market you can find fluorescent lamps not only made in China, but also Russian, and in different color shades.

Linear

Indoor economical lamps with linear form, great for table lamps. With their help, you can create the comfort you need for work, not only in the office, but also at home. They are not only economical and durable, but also stylish. In addition, such products provide an even light that is comfortable for the human eye. At the same time, the question often arises: how much does an energy-saving light bulb of this type cost? You can find out about this below:

Model name: Camelion G5;
price: 120 rubles;
characteristics: power 20W, bulb shape – tube, not mirror;
pros: durability;
cons: there is no possibility of connecting a dimmer.

Another option, which has a good emission spectrum and a long service life, and is produced by a well-known company, is:

Model name: Philips G5;
price: 262 rubles;
characteristics: light - daylight, color temperature - 4000 K, diameter - 17 mm, height - 1.5 cm;
advantages: service life – up to 24 thousand hours;
cons: high cost.

Compact

To save electricity, pay attention to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Manufacturers produce them in large quantities price range, so you can choose a model that will cost as little as possible. Remember that their service life greatly depends on the operating mode; for example, they do not like frequent switching on. A good compact option is:

Model name: Uniel G23;
price: 244 rubles;
characteristics: light - daytime, power - 15 W, base type - G23, color temperature - 4500 K, luminous flux - 900 lm, diameter - 27 mm, height - 19.3 cm;
pluses: they work for a long time, have a convenient flask shape;
Cons: expensive, takes a long time to burn.

One more famous brand, which produces products with good light emission is OSRAM. Today you can even order them online, especially since some virtual stores hold promotions. A good purchase for you might be:

Model name: OSRAM 2G1;
price: 282 rubles;
characteristics: power – 55 W, color rendering index – 80Ra, diameter – 17.5 mm, height – 2.36 cm, weight – 115 g;
advantages: service life up to 20 thousand hours;
Cons: The U-shaped base does not fit all fixtures.

For spotlights

Another good option for lighting an apartment is to use spotlights. You can find them on sale everywhere, be it Moscow, St. Petersburg or another city in the country. An important parameter when choosing is the light temperature. Thanks to the low installation depth Spotlights widely used by installers suspended ceilings. One popular option is:

Model name: ERA GU10;
price: 130 rubles;
characteristics: light - daylight, power - 6 W, luminous flux - 500 lm, color temperature - 4000 K;
pros: works up to 30 thousand hours;
cons: expensive.

Another option that can be purchased on sale in different retail outlets, is the model:

Model name: Elektrostandard G5;
price: 34 rubles;
characteristics: light – warm white, power – 11 W, luminous flux – 300 lm, color temperature – 2700 K, weight – 16 g;
pros: reasonable price;
cons: short service life of 10 thousand hours.

Base E27

Lighting devices with such a base are the most widespread today. They fit standard sockets installed indoors. Energy-saving lamps of this type closely resemble conventional incandescent lamps. If you haven't decided yet the best option, then check out the characteristics of the model:

model name: Navigator E27;
price: 141 rubles;
characteristics: light - daylight, power - 15 W, bulb shape - pear-shaped, matte, color temperature - 4000 K;
Pros: durable, pleasant soft light;
cons: expensive.

Check out another energy-saving option with LEDs, which, however, costs a little more:

Model name: ASD E27;
price: 215 rubles;
characteristics: light – warm white, power – 20W, color temperature – 3000 K, luminous flux – 1800 lm;
pros: durability, optimal light spectrum;
cons: expensive.

Base E40

This type of base is also called a goliath. It is used mostly in street lamps and for lighting industrial premises. By replacing conventional lamps with energy-saving lamps with such a base, you can reduce energy costs by almost 10 times. One of the common representatives of this category of goods is:

model name: Wolta E40;
price: 742 rubles;
characteristics: light – cold, power – 85 W, color temperature – 6400 K, shape – spiral;
advantages: long service life;

Remember that you can buy economical light sources more or less cheaply only if you order them in bulk. This is the only way you will have the opportunity to purchase powerful sources 100 W lights with a good discount. Another option:

model name: Feron E40;
price: 1379 rubles;
characteristics: light - daylight, power - 125 W, color temperature - 4000 K, diameter - 105 mm, height - 28.8 cm;
pros: durability, good brightness;
cons: very high cost.

Base E14

These sockets, called minions, are designed for miniature classic light bulbs. To a greater extent, bases of this marking are used in chandeliers, sconces and small lamps. Modern energy-saving light sources are often made in such a base, so they can replace standard incandescent light bulbs. One option is:

model name: Ecola E14;
price: 99 rubles;
characteristics: light - daylight, bulb shape - reflector, power -5.2 W, color temperature - 4200 K, light flux - 460 lm;
cons: reasonable cost.

If the described option does not suit you in some way, then check out the characteristics of another, no less popular product:

Model name: ASD E14;
price: 95 rubles;
characteristics: light - daylight, power - 5 W, bulb shape - candle in the wind, color temperature - 4000 K, light flow - 450 ml;
advantages: service life – up to 30 thousand hours;
cons: reasonable cost.

Professional

The rise in electricity prices is forcing users to look for new ways to save. One of them is to purchase professional and modern energy-saving lamps. With the same lighting, such light sources will consume 5 times less electricity than traditional incandescent lamps. In addition to this, they have virtually no flickering effect. If you are looking for an option for use in professional equipment, then pay attention to:

name Fancier 45W;
price: 899 rubles;
characteristics: power – 45 W, base – E27, creates an intense stream of bright light;
advantages: universal use;
cons: expensive.

Another option for professionals that is used for Lumifor AMATO studio lights is:

name Lumifor LLB-75W;
price: 359 rubles;
characteristics: power – 75 W, base – E14, provides even light;
pros: can be used both in home photo studios and small professional ones;
cons: expensive.

How to choose energy-saving lamps

To answer the question of how to choose an energy-saving light bulb for an apartment, you must first decide on the parameters:

Power. This figure for energy-saving models is 5 times higher than for incandescent lamps, so if you use a traditional 100-watt lamp, then the energy-saving model should have 20 watts.
Base. The most common type is the base with the designation E27. For large lamps, E40 is suitable, for sconces/table lamps - E14.
Type of glow. The higher the temperature spectrum, the whiter the lamp will shine. Work cubicles and offices are in most cases equipped with models with an indicator in the range of 6-6.5 thousand K. For a bedroom or kitchen, it is better to choose 2.7 thousand K. As for a room for children, the best option would be a lamp with 4, 2 thousand K.
Lamp shape. It does not affect anything other than the interior and design of the room. In order not to overpay and save money, make a choice in favor of U-shaped products, because... Spiral analogues are more expensive due to the complexity of manufacturing.
In addition, pay attention to cost, durability and the availability of a manufacturer's warranty.

Video

Energy-saving lamps are now in trend and this is not without reason. With ever-increasing energy prices, many people want to reduce their electricity consumption to reduce costs.

And one way to save money is to use energy-saving appliances in your home.

And most often, savings begin with lighting fixtures. After all, changing light bulbs in a house is easier and cheaper than, for example, a refrigerator.

At the same time, the use of lamps that are economical in terms of energy consumption can significantly reduce the cost of electricity in the house.

So we’ll try to figure out what kind of energy-saving lamps there are, and whether they can really save us electricity.

General advantages and disadvantages of housekeepers

Let's start with the concept itself - an energy-saving lamp. To determine whether a lighting device is economical, it is compared with a conventional incandescent lamp. And any lamp that consumes less electricity than the “Ilyich light bulb” is considered energy-saving.

But there are few types of such lighting devices, and in domestic conditions three types of lamps are used:

halogen;
luminescent (gas discharge);
LED

These lighting devices have many advantages over incandescent lamps:

The first and most important of them is significantly lower energy consumption with the same light output, due to more high efficiency. An incandescent lamp has a very low efficiency - about 18%, that is, out of every 100 watts of energy consumed, such a lamp converts only 18 watts into light radiation, the rest of the energy is spent on heating the coil. For energy-saving lamps, the efficiency can reach 80%, but this depends on design features each device. Below we take a closer look at the efficiency of all types of lamps;

Increased service life, which also affects financial costs, but here again a lot depends on the design of the lamp and operating conditions;

Safety of use (does not apply to halogen lamps). The absence of a direct connection of contacts (in an incandescent lamp they are connected by a spiral) eliminates the occurrence of short circuit.

Reducing the load on the network, which also increases security.

And these are just the main advantages inherent in all energy-saving lamps.

The main common disadvantage for economical elements is their cost.

There are also a number of advantages and disadvantages that each type of housekeeper lamp has.

Basic parameters of lighting elements

In order to further understand the operating parameters of the above types of lamps, we will consider each of them using the example of a conventional incandescent lamp, since all calculations are based on it.

The main parameters for any lamp are its luminous output, also known as efficiency, and light temperature - the intensity of light emission. This can also include a resource.

The efficiency of a lamp is the luminous flux (measured in Lumens) that it emits when consuming a certain amount of energy (measured in Watts).

Simply put, this parameter means how much light the lamp will emit after consuming 1 Watt of electricity.

So, a 75-watt incandescent lamp provides a luminous flux of 935 lm and has a luminous efficiency of 12 lm/W.

Light temperature is the intensity of radiation from a light source, taken as a wavelength in the optical range (measured in Kelvin).

To make it clearer, this parameter indicates what brightness and color shade the emitted light will have.

A 100-watt incandescent lamp has a light temperature of 2800 K, which in the optical range corresponds to warm white light with an orange tint. This temperature is sunlight during dawn and dusk.

The average lifespan of an incandescent lamp is 2000 hours. We will proceed from these parameters in the future. The service life of lamps can be extended by special devices that not only regulate the level of illumination of rooms, but also save electricity.

Halogen devices

Now let's start with the halogen lamps themselves. Essentially, this is the same incandescent lamp, but with some modifications. In her flask, in place of vacuum, there is a buffer gas (bromine, iodine vapor).

The use of these vapors made it possible to increase the light temperature to 3000 K, and the lamp efficiency is 15-17 lm/W to provide the same 900 lm luminous flux.

Due to its better light output, the halogen element is able to provide the same amount of light as a 75-watt conventional incandescent lamp, but it only requires 55 watts of energy, meaning there are already electricity savings.

In addition, the use of buffer gas increased the lamp life to 4000 hours of operation.

The advantages of halogen elements, in addition to efficiency and increased resource, also include their availability, since they cost not much more than conventional lamps.

They are available with E14 and E27 sockets.

At the same time, they often have smaller overall dimensions than incandescent lamps, which allows them to be used even in miniature lamps.

The disadvantages of halogen elements are the same as those of conventional incandescent lamps.

Luminescent

These lighting devices are very reliable, safe, and immune to voltage surges.

Produced with the most common types of bases. There are elements in the design of which batteries are additionally included, which allows you to use a lamp from regular network or from the battery in case of power outages.

There are also devices and remote control management.

The only drawback of such lighting devices is the very high price, about twice as high as the cost luminescent analogues.

Options to select

Now about what parameters need to be taken into account when choosing an energy-saving light bulb. First of all, you need to decide on the type. In this case, you should immediately pay attention to the cost and resource.

Power.

The first selection criterion is the power of the lamps. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the correspondence of the selected elements to those already used at home.

For example, 100-watt incandescent lamps are used everywhere in housing, and the light from them is quite sufficient.

Based on luminous efficiency, we can determine that the same amount of light can be provided by a 70-watt halogen lamp, a 20-watt fluorescent lamp, and a 12-watt LED lamp.

If there is not enough light, then you can choose a more powerful energy-saving element.

In this case, you don’t even need to carry out any calculations, comparison tables are usually printed on the packaging of these lamps, which allows you to quickly and easily select a light bulb with required parameter by power.

Base type.

The second thing you need to pay attention to is the type of base. Lamp sockets with the designation E27 are suitable for conventional sockets.

In lamps and sconces, a cartridge for an E14 base is often used.

Before going to the store, you should definitely ask what types of bases are needed. But you can do it even simpler - unscrew and take with you the light bulb that will be changed and compare the bases.

Dimensions, shape.

The third selection criterion is shape and size. If there is a lot of space for installation, then you can buy almost any shaped lighting element. In limited installation spaces, you will have to select lamps according to size.

The only thing you need to pay attention to is the LED lamp - they can provide both diffused and directional lighting.

Elements with diffused lighting can be used almost everywhere, but those with directional lighting are better suited for installation in lamps.

Colorful temperature.

And the last parameter, and an important one, is color temperature. Here the selection is made according to the place of use.

So, in bedrooms and living rooms, the most optimal color is considered to be warm white in different shades. Therefore, in such rooms it is better to use lighting elements with a temperature of 2700-4200 K.

For kitchens, bathrooms, and garages, the best color is cool white, which is provided by light bulbs with a temperature of 5000-6500 K.

More suitable for offices daylight, the light temperature of which is 4000-5000 K. Also, such lamps can be used in bathrooms and kitchens.

See below for other criteria for choosing energy-saving lamps.

Bottom line

Note that the savings from using “housekeepers” will not be immediate, because the lighting element must first pay for itself using the savings, and this may take quite a lot of time, and this also depends on the intensity of use. And it doesn’t matter whether you use such lighting devices in a private house or in an apartment.

A halogen lamp will pay for itself the fastest, but in the long run the savings from it will be negligible.

The luminescent element can pay for itself after just a year of use, and in the future it will begin to save money. As for LED light bulbs, they have the most a long period payback period is about three years.

In general, only those lighting elements that have a significant resource and can operate without problems for more than two years can bring truly tangible savings.

Finally, let’s say that it is not necessary to immediately replace all the lighting elements in the house with energy-saving ones, because this can result in significant costs.

If you change them gradually, then the expenses will not be so noticeable, and ultimately it will be possible to completely switch to energy-saving lamps.

Modern Russian market lighting fixtures are varied. Manufacturers predetermine at the design stage of lighting devices optimal characteristics for each element. Light sources (lamps) are no exception. Choosing the appropriate bulb shape, base type or lamp power for a particular lamp is not difficult. It is much more difficult for the consumer to decide on the type of light source: energy-saving or LED.

This issue can be resolved both by comparing the advantages of the common structural elements of energy-saving and LED lamps, and by determining the pros and cons of their additional operational parameters.

Design Features

The only structural element that unites all types of lamps is the base. Otherwise design differences Energy-saving devices from LEDs are significant.

All similar devices are divided into three types:

Incandescent. Base: tungsten filament; vacuum flask, usually containing an inert gas composition.
Gas discharge.
LED.

Only gas-discharge and LED light sources are considered energy-saving.

Glow gas discharge lamps implemented through an electrical discharge in metal or gas vapor. Gas dischargers can be divided into:

High pressure lamps. There are sodium, mercury and metal halide. This type is optimal for outdoor lighting.
Lamps low pressure. This type includes fluorescent light sources. The main structural element is an electrode tube, which is filled with argon and mercury gas vapors. The inside is coated with phosphor. For it to glow, a short-term high-voltage discharge must hit the spiral. If the power supply at home low voltage, the lamps may light up problematically (not immediately and dimly or not light at all). They are used for both indoor and outdoor lighting of a house or apartment.

When you need to choose which light bulbs are better for your home: LED or energy-saving ones, the latter means fluorescent devices.

A modern alternative to the types of lamps described above are LED devices. Such lighting elements, due to their design, are characterized as:

energy saving;
environmentally friendly;
durable, resistant to mains voltage surges.

A minor drawback is the cost of LED lamps. The technology for their production is new, not yet modernized, and therefore quite expensive. The return on one-time costs for their acquisition is almost 100%, due to their durability and cost-effectiveness.

Design features of LED sources:

The principle of using light flux. The light emitter is an LED or a group of them. Such a diode element converts electric current into light by flowing current through a special crystal (semiconductor).
The light-emitting element of the diode family converts electrical current into light by passing it through a semiconductor crystal. A significant advantage is that current is passed only in the required direction.
The light emitter can be either in an open design or placed in a special flask.

Such light emitters are much more resistant to mechanical stress, in contrast to a similar element of fluorescent lamps (an electrode tube with mercury and gas vapor).

Differences in the design of CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) and LED light bulbs are one of the main parameters of technical and operational characteristics, which allows us to determine how they differ. Their cost-effectiveness is also important.

Luminous flux: which lamps are more economical

Most consumers are guided by this very criterion when choosing fluorescent or LED lamps. The difference in economics and electrical efficiency of these two types can be determined by comparing them in terms of energy consumption and operational efficiency with traditional incandescent lamps.

The most important indicator, without which it is impossible to make such a comparison, is the luminous flux. This parameter determines how light it will be indoors in a house or apartment. Measured in Lm (lumens; lm). How higher figure luminous flux of the lamp, the brighter the room will be during its operation. Over time, this value may decrease.

Almost all manufacturers of energy-saving and ice bulbs indicate on their packaging that the main operating parameters of their lamps correspond to the same characteristics of incandescent lamps.

Based on the average values of similar performance characteristics of most common lamp models and manufacturers, an analysis was made of the efficiency and economy of electricity consumption in relation to the luminous flux value. The results of such a comparison are shown in the table.

Based on the tabular data, you can easily determine that LED light bulbs are much more economical and have better quality of operation compared to similar energy-saving ones.

Efficiency

The efficiency of the light bulb is also indicated by the ratio of the luminous flux to the operating power of the lighting element. This value isolates a certain set of indicators and is called efficiency (coefficient useful action) or "luminous output". Measured in lm/W. The higher the indicator, the more economical the lamp operates.

For an incandescent lamp this value is very low - less than 10 lm/W, therefore, it has a very low luminous efficiency. This is its most significant drawback. For comparison: the average efficiency of an ice lamp is 90%; for most energy-saving ones it is below 90%.

To make it easier to make a choice, it is worth considering how else these types of lamps differ.

Comparison of quality indicators of light sources

The fundamental differences in the main parameters of such characteristics should be summarized by highlighting the most basic criteria. Namely:

Brightness. This parameter is also called luminous intensity. Measured in cd (cd). Data on this indicator are found on the packaging of lamps intended not for home use. This important criterion when choosing an artificial source for the “running lights” of cars.
Colorful temperature. Also called color rendering index, color temperature. It is measured in K (kelvins). The basis is an indicator of the hue of the source color, which can be divided into:
- warm color. It is indicated on the packaging by numbers from 2700 K to 3300 K. This shade is comparable to the diffused color of the sky at sunset;
- daytime or natural color. Designated 4000 K; 4200 K. Compare with the shade of a dim sky;
- cold. The packaging indicates 5000 K.

To determine the priority in this choice, it is also worth considering the difference in the sizes and shapes of the lamps.

Appearance: base type

The perception of interior design largely depends on the quality of lighting in the room. A correctly selected lighting option will highlight the advantages of the interior and hide the shortcomings. Important aspect, without which it will not be possible to implement such a design move, is the choice of a suitable shape and pleasant appearance of lamps for modern lighting fixtures.

Having decided on the type of light bulb, a person pays attention to the type of base. They are:

Standard or screw. The most common in everyday life are E14 (minion) and E27. The number indicates the diameter of the base. There are no installation features provided. Light bulbs with sockets of type E40, E27 or E14 are allowed to be mounted in standard incandescent lamp sockets. The E27 base has a thread of 27 millimeters, and the E14 has a reduced thread of 14 millimeters.
Pin. In everyday life they are not used as often as screw ones. Pin contacts are more often used in luminaires of modern lighting options. The marking of the cartridge is very important.

The number that follows letter marking This type of base is the distance between the pins, indicated in millimeters (GU4 or GU5.3, etc.).

After selecting the base, the type and size of the lighting electrical elements is selected. LED and halogen lamps have a more original shape (candle, ball) and beautiful design. Luminescent ones can only have the shape of a spiral or tube.

Comparison of shapes and sizes

For the modern consumer, it is important not only how economical the operation of one type of lamp will be compared to another, but also the priority of their appearance.

By choosing the optimal size, you can eliminate the situation when a lamp that is not suitable in size and shape sticks out of a regular lamp.

Energy-saving lighting elements can often be found in the form of a complex spiral tube with a phosphor deposited inside. They are as compact as possible - they can be mounted in a medium-sized lampshade.

LED devices have a much more varied interpretation of shapes and sizes. Of these, the two most common are:

Mini size. The diameter of the crystal circumference is 1.5–3 cm. A source with this LED size will turn out to be very small - less than three centimeters. Very often, such a light bulb is installed in furniture and suspended ceilings.
Standard format. It all depends on the size of the flask. Its presence is not required. The diode does not require a specific environment. Bulbless LED lamps (called “corn” for their characteristic appearance) are increasingly being used.

As a result, when choosing which type of lighting sources is better, you can see that LED lamps have more advantages - many different shapes and sizes.

Advantages of LEDs compared to fluorescent analogues

Of course, if you have the opportunity to choose, it is better to buy ice lamps to illuminate your home or apartment. To justify such a decision, it is enough to highlight the advantages of this type of light bulbs and compare them with an analogue, based on the above material, namely:

Increased operational efficiency. The average luminous efficiency level in relation to operating power is 130–160 lm/W. For comparison: most energy-saving light bulbs have a maximum of 100 lm/W.
Immunity to temperature. This means that this type of light source can work at different temperature indicators environment, both at –60 °C and at +40 °C.
The presence of different directions of light flux. Important advantage, especially when installing tabletop or wall-mounted lighting devices. The ice bulbs mounted in them will provide a uniform luminous flux for a specific narrowly focused device.
Quality of luminous flux. The design of this type of lamp is made with different amounts LEDs. Due to their significant concentration, the quality of light output will be as high as possible.
Some modern devices with ice technology are designed with the ability to adjust the brightness level.
Durability. Structural elements ice light sources are immune to most external factors, do not have elements that burn out (as in old lamps - tungsten filament). The service life of an average energy-saving light bulb, according to manufacturers, is about 10,000 hours of operation, for an LED light bulb - from thirty to sixty thousand.

It all depends on the manufacturer, the price-quality ratio. Preference should be given to global brands: OSRAM; Philips or domestic - “Era”; "Space". These companies are stable in terms of selling high-quality products.

In addition to the technical and operational advantages of LED sources, it is also worth dwelling on a comparison of the impact on the user’s health.

Effect on the human body: comparison of fluorescent and ice lamps

This criterion can most easily be determined by highlighting the following main points of impact:

Radiation. LED light bulbs are completely coherent. This means that the LED itself acts as an emitter of light in the working spectrum. Compared to energy-saving ones, it does not have a noticeable effect on human vision. Fluorescent lamps are the opposite. The principle of producing light is based on the interaction of a discharge and a phosphor, which is exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the discharge. This creates lighting. Moreover, such a discharge also creates an additional luminous flux - ultraviolet radiation. The effect on vision is minor, but negative.
Flicker. This performance characteristic is not typical for an ice lamp; there is practically no flickering, due to the fact that a constant voltage is required for the operating power of the LED. And the flickering frequency of fluorescent lamps is about fifty hertz.
Mercury. IN fluorescent lamps contains mercury vapor. If the flask breaks, the body is poisoned by certain doses of these fumes. LED sources do not contain any harmful substances.

Choosing an LED or energy-saving lamp to illuminate your home is a very pressing issue. It’s quite easy to decide by assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each type: both operational and structural. After such a comparison, the user will understand how to distinguish an ice lamp from an energy-saving one not only by appearance, but also to find differences in their functionality. Then you will be able to select the optimal light source for a specific design solution lighting and for individual operational features of the room.