What's The Difference Between Cfl, Incandescent, And Led Light Bulbs?

By Author: Bell Electrical Contractors
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Have you recently checked the types of light bulbs you have in your homes or commercial properties? Well, that’s probably the last thing you want to do since you always hire Bayside electricians to do all your electrical works for you.

From time to time, it’s advisable to check the type of light bulb or lighting fixtures in your home or office spaces because they significantly impact your monthly electrical bill. Start checking your bulbs now to save money and resources.

If you’re not sure what’s the difference between each type, this guide will help you. In this article, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the three major types of lighting solutions: incandescent, CFL, and led lights.

CFL, Incandescent, and LED: Which is Which?

Most homeowners do not know what lighting fixtures to purchase and use for their homes. Without the right information, they simply pick anything which can be costly and ineffective in the long run. That’s why Cheltenham electricians believe that it’s essential to know the major types of lighting solutions. Having a bit of a background ...
... on the subject can help you make a well-informed decision.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

These lighting solutions were the first electrical light bulbs used. It was popularised by Thomas Edison, dating back to the 1800s. It has become a household lighting solution for its low production cost, combability with AC and DC, and intuitive technology.

Over the years, incandescent bulbs have been used in many places, including cars, offices, and homes. However, it’s popularity significantly plummeted because of its glaring disadvantages.

According to Cheltenham electricians, these are the advantages and disadvantages of incandescent light bulbs:

Advantages:
• They’re relatively cheaper to manufacture.
• You can easily buy or replace them.
• They’re available in a variety of sizes, voltage outputs, and styles.

Disadvantages:
• They convert energy to heat instead of light.
• They have a shorter life span (~ 1000 hours).
• They’re not cost-effective because you have to frequently replace them.
• These bulbs are extremely sensitive to vibrations, shock, and drastic weather changes.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. Because of the inefficiency of incandescent bulbs, CFL was developed. Unlike incandescent lamps, CFLs can effectively convert electricity into visible light, making them much more reliable lighting solutions.

They also offer better output, energy consumption, and long-term savings. While CFLs are much more ideal than incandescent bulbs, they are more expensive to produce. Unlike incandescent bulbs, they only have limited shapes, sizes, and designs. Most Bayside electricians would suggest CFL in places where lighting is left on for extended periods and where full brightness is not always needed, such as in offices or common areas.

Here are the pros and cons of CFLs:

Advantages:

• They can produce high light output.
• They offer different colour choices from warm, natural daylight, to cool white.
• They’re energy-efficient and have a longer life span (~10,000 hours).

Disadvantages:

• They’re not eco-friendly.
• They emit a small amount of UV radiation.
• They may flicker once turned on.
• They’re also sensitive to vibrations, shock, and drastic weather changes.

LED Bulbs

Last on our list is the LED bulbs. LED stands for light-emitting diode. These bulbs are great for several applications that require a constant and reliable light source. They are extremely efficient in converting electricity to light energy while keeping consumption low.

Unlike the other types of light solutions, LED bulbs are extremely reliable. In fact, they are unaffected by frequent operation and can last up to 50,000 hours or more. Unlike incandescent bulbs and CFLs, the thermal radiation produced by LED lights is minimal. They do not require a warmup time, and full brightness output can be achieved in a matter of milliseconds.

They can be used in all indoor, outdoor, and roadway applications where incandescent was traditionally found. LEDs are also perfect in spaces where lights are left for extended periods and changing light bulbs cannot be easily accomplished. If you need cabinet lighting or require a light source with thin profiles, most Melbourne electricians would recommend LEDs since they are the best option.

Advantages:

• They have the best efficacy rate.
• They offer maximum light output yet minimal power consumption.
• You can find an extensive selection of colours from the entire colour spectrum, including infrared and ultraviolet light.
• They can instantly light up any space within milliseconds.
• They are not sensitive to extremely cold weather, vibrations, shock, and cycling operation.

Disadvantages:

• They cost relatively high than other lighting solutions.
• They’re sensitive to voltage fluctuations.
• They require effective cooling to avoid overheating.

Bottomline

Choosing the right lighting solutions always depends on your usage and application. If you need help installing light bulbs or require assistance with your electrical problems, don’t hesitate to call Bell Electrical Contractor’s Bentleigh electricians.

Call us now on 0411471922 or check out our website at http://www.bellelectrical.com.au/ for more information.