Light Sources: Halogen, fluorescent and LED

Elena Novikova large range of bulbs can select the optimal light source for any room. A time when our country a variety of light sources is usually limited to an incandescent lamp, are long gone. Today, in addition to traditional light bulbs, manufacturers and trade offers to us and others, better lighting - halogen, fluorescent and LED. Between themselves, they differ in a number of parameters that determine their function. Therefore, the designers working on the project, and the simple inhabitant, Transform your living environment, it is useful to know their characteristics, to be able to properly use these new items lighting. Differences The main characteristics of lamps are traditionally considered color, light output and color of light. Color rendering lamps is for designers almost the main parameter that determines the quality of light. Therefore, when choosing lamps for the interior of a first necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the premises and the effect which the designer wants to achieve. So, rest and relaxation contribute to the lamp warm tones, so in the living room and bedroom are appropriate bulb. For classrooms and offices use a more "cold" fluorescent lamps that help create a working atmosphere. In contrast, fluorescent and incandescent halogen lamps are light sources that were closer to the spectrum of the white color, that is, a light will not distort or color of your face, or color scheme of your interior. Therefore, in the kitchen and bathroom halogen lamps are simply irreplaceable. However, this does not mean that in the living room, for example, fluorescent light sources are irrelevant, since subtle mix of lamps of different spectra can provide a very interesting effect. Located on the perimeter LEDs can illuminate large areas known as solid and uniform spectrum lamps, the more distinguishable colors of objects in its light. Thus, the principal for all earthlings natural light source - the sun - has a continuous emission spectrum and the best color. For lamps, it is determined by the reference sample and is measured in Ra (it should be noted, index Ra is quite conventional). However, this index does not permit a conclusion about the nature of color reproduction and therefore may mislead the designer. For example, an incandescent bulb Ra ranges from 60 to 90, in which visible light is predominant in yellow and red parts of the spectrum with a deficiency in the blue and violet (as compared with the daily natural light). The catalogs lamps sometimes provides such a characterization as a luminous flux, measured in lumens. For example, for an incandescent lamp with 100 watts and it is equal to 1,200 lumens, and a 35-watt halogen light - 600 lm. Another indicator - luminous - talks about the efficiency of conversion of electrical energy into light. It is not hard to guess what different types of lamps have different luminous efficacy, measured as the experts say, in the lumen of a watt (lm / W) and indicates how many lumens of light output is produced from one watt of electricity consumed. For example, incandescent lamps have a small light output - about 12 lm / W, since most of the expended energy goes into heating the tungsten coil and only 5% is converted into light. Much higher than the figure for fluorescent lamps - up to 100 lm / W! To properly organize the distribution of light in space, ie in a particular room, you must take into account the size of the body glow. You may say that much more important for this to pick the appropriate lamp, the "responsible" for the redistribution of flux, however, the light source is also playing a significant role. The smaller body of light, the easier it is to use reflectors and lenses, for example, to focus the light into a narrow beam. Agree, the lamp with a large surface luminescence (luminescent) create sometimes wishy-washy picture, softening the contrast and blurring the shadows. Consequently, this light is hard to focus. We should not forget about the lamp life. Especially we would take care of this by installing lighting in remote places - niches, cornices, or ponds. Here the absolute champion is, of course, the LEDs with a service life of up to 12 years! Compared with incandescent bulbs burning is negligible - only 1000 hours, in addition, over time the quality of light (luminous flux) of filament lamp decreases. Comparative characteristics of various types of lamps Incandescent lamps Fluorescent Lamp LED color rendering 60-90 Ra 80-100 Ra 70-80 Ra 0-100 Ra luminous 7-17 lm / W 14-30 lm / W 90 lm / W 25 lm / W The service life of 1000 h 3000-4000 h to 20 thousand hours to 100 thousand hours Cost not economical economical Economical Sverhekonomichny price of 3 rubles. to 25 rubles. 25 rub. - Incandescent light bulb The good old-pear with its warm, pleasant light for many of today remains a symbol of artificial light. So it is quite understandable and its great popularity: the most common sources of light are still just an incandescent lamp. The principle of this lamp is taught in school: a tungsten coil, placed in a flask from which air is pumped, is heated by electric current, and begins to glow. Because of this design efficiency and luminous efficiency of incandescent lamps in the background of the achievements of other lighting looks obviously unconvincing. In addition, as seen from the table "Comparison of different types of lamps, halogen incandescent lamps are inferior, fluorescent lamps and LEDs, and other parameters. These shortcomings apart from a small life can also be considered an unfavorable spectral composition, distorting colors. At the same time, low price and a large number of options are flasks, from the smallest for a flashlight and a Christmas tree garland to large multi-colored searchlights attract customers from year to year. Decorative incandescent lamps, for example, are intended for general, local and decorative lighting. In the chandeliers and sconces their decorative form (a candle, ball candle twisted, fluted candle) can favorably complement the design of the lamp. Halogen lamps Although today incandescent lamp and is considered to be the product of mass production, which seems to be improving, and nothing more to work on its technical perfection continues. Familiar to us on a built-Halogen lamps - an advanced, thanks to some technological innovations (adding halides to the lamp bulb, the use of special varieties of quartz glass) version of incandescent lamps. Spot light - the embodiment of the functional aesthetic advantages over conventional halogen lamps, incandescent lamps are: always a bright light over its entire life. In addition, "galogenki" emit beautiful "mellow" light, which provides superior color and the ability to create attractive lighting effects. Also, halogen lamps are compact, higher light output (at the same power with incandescent bulbs), and, consequently, increased profitability. They have a longer lifespan (two times greater than standard incandescent bulbs). By the way, several times the lifetime of both tubes is possible, using low voltage power network. In this case, however, the emission spectrum is shifted to the red. Halogen light creates fascinating effects glossy surface of the illuminated object. Impresses with its beauty and live game of the spectral light reflector halogen lamps. Small size and a huge selection of halogen light bulbs - from lamps with a concentrated beam of light to the wall lamps flood lights - open up new opportunities for designers in the selection of unusual lighting conditions. The main drawback of "galogenok - heating in the combustion process. It is because of this they do not recommend use in children's rooms to illuminate paintings and other valuable works of painting. Fluorescent lamps Fluorescent lamps, discharge lamps or low pressure, is a cylindrical tube with electrodes, which pumped mercury vapor. Under the influence of an electric discharge mercury vapor emit ultraviolet rays, and they, in turn, makes printed on the wall of the tube phosphor to emit visible light. Fluorescent lamps have excellent color rendition and light output. Two versions of lamps - from three-and five-band phosphors have different proportions of these indicators. Lamps with three-phosphor are more economical (svetotdacha to 100 lm / W), but have worse color rendition (Ra = 80). Lamps with a five-band phosphor has excellent color reproduction with less luminous efficiency (up to 88 lm / W). However, like incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps are often poorly convey some of the colors. Fluorescent lamps provide uniform soft light over the whole area of ??radiation fluorescent lamps provide uniform soft light, but, as already mentioned, due to the large area of ??emission distribution of light in space is difficult to manage. However, the conventional fluorescent lamp can be replaced by a compact in which the tube is twisted into a helix. The more so because its parameters compact fluorescent lamps are close to linear. By the way, compact fluorescent lamps are often used to replace incandescent lamps. All fluorescent lamps have a small power consumption and very long service life. For example, linear fluorescent lamps operate at 8-20 times longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs, and depending on the type and brightness consumes 85% less electricity. These properties of fluorescent lamps (durability and efficiency) define their widespread use in offices. In addition, various shades of light (from a similar incandescent to fluorescent) and color of fluorescent lamps offer additional benefits for their application, not to mention the variety of their types (power, size, design and shape: straight, circular and U-shaped). Among the weaknesses - the relative bulkiness, the need for a special ballast (starter and throttle), sensitivity to ambient temperature (at temperatures below +10 ° C lamp can not light), the presence of stroboscopic effect, which cause frequent, not perceptible to blinking of fluorescent lights to the beat fluctuations in the AC electrical circuit. As a result, a person violated the right perception of speed of movement of objects, an unpleasant sensation. In addition, inappropriate placement (without the protection of capacitors in the ballast) fluorescent lamps are sources of interference to radio and TV. LEDs LEDs (also commonly used acronym LED - light emitting diodes), perhaps today is the most promising sources of light. Initially, the LEDs used in electronics, then - in light signaling equipment (traffic lights, road signs, signboards and signposts). Later, this technology has been used in decorative lighting. What are its advantages? Efficiency. LEDs operate on low voltage and, therefore, consume very little power, as compared to conventional light sources, almost all the energy converted into light. This helps reduce energy consumption by 75%. Practically eternal life. Theoretically up to 100 000 hours of burning, that is, when you use the lamp on average 8 hours a day, he will serve 35 years! For comparison - the usual halogen lamps with capacity of 10 watts is sufficient only to 2000 hours. Strength. Unlike traditional sources of light emitting diodes are much more durable and less prone to mechanical stress, since they lack the elements (helix, electrodes) that may be damaged. Lack of LEDs ultraviolet and infrared radiation, which allows their use, particularly for the exposure light. Any shade. A special system tsvetosmesheniya (installation in a single package of three groups of LEDs) can get almost any color of the light flux, which certainly enhances the possibility of using LEDs. LEDs are widely used in decorative lighting. In addition, LEDs have other advantages over existing light sources. Thus, the small size makes an unusually wide range of application. Several LEDs, combined into one form, can replace conventional incandescent light bulb: the perimeter, they can cover large areas (for example, LEDs can be considered an ideal source of light at the cornice strip lighting). As light sources for outdoor and decorative lighting, they have some unique advantages, including the exact orientation of the light and the ability to control the color and intensity of the radiation. The drawbacks of LEDs include their higher cost compared to other light sources. However, it should be understood that the above advantages are more than worth the investment cost.