Today there is a large assortment of electric lamps designed for room lighting:
- incandescent lamps;
- halogen;
- light-emitting diode (LED);
- luminescent;
- mercury gas discharge;
- xenon arc;
- sodium gas discharge;
- compact luminescent.
Lamps differ in the principle of operation, size, shape of the base, technical characteristics, service life and scope. Each of the species has certain advantages and disadvantages.
However, for home lighting from the entire list, four types of electric lamps are usually used:
- incandescent lamps;
- halogen;
- compact fluorescent;
- LED.
We propose to consider each type separately, and determine the main pros and cons.
Incandescent lamps
The most common type of lamp used both in everyday life and in specialized facilities. Differs in availability and low cost. Products instantly light up when turned on, have a wide range of operating powers, and a dimmer can also be connected to them. However, since incandescent lamps have a low efficiency (20% of the released energy goes to lighting, and 80% is spent on heating), over time they lose their relevance.
Halogen
The main distinguishing features of halogen lamps in comparison with incandescent lamps are the content inside the bulb halogen gases, long service life, as well as maintaining a stable light output throughout the entire time use. For the rest of the characteristics, they are very similar. A significant disadvantage is low-frequency noise when using a dimmer.
Compact fluorescent
Refers to a variety of energy-saving lamps. Products are characterized by increased luminous efficacy, high efficiency, long service life, while consuming less energy. They differ in shape, size, power consumption and section color options. In the process of operation, compact fluorescent lamps do not heat up, but they light up for a long time when switched on. Due to the presence of toxic substances (mercury vapor), special disposal is required.
LED
The most practical and environmentally friendly type of lamp. Products are distinguished by almost 100% light output, low energy consumption, and a long service life. (from 3 to 12 years old), do not heat up and do not contain harmful substances, therefore they do not require special conditions recycling. However, LED bulbs are the most expensive and cannot be installed in enclosed luminaires.
When purchasing lamps for home lighting, you should focus on the size of the room. Too bright, or vice versa, dim light negatively affects vision and human health. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the correspondence between the power of the light bulb and the lamp (chandeliers). If the power of the light bulb is higher than the lamp, the socket will overheat and deteriorate over time, which can cause a fire.