Things to consider before purchasing LED Lights
LED (Light Emitting Diodes) are the most popular lights in the market right now. They not only come in a wide variety but also offer different varieties and colors. LED lights are long-lasting. They last for several years.
The reason behind the popularity of LED lights is not only the variety, but it is their low power consumption as well. Typical light bulbs consume a lot of power and create pressure on your budget. On the other hand, LED lights provide brighter luminosity without reducing budget pressure on customers.
All these attributes of LED lights explain the reason behind their popularity. However, there are certain things that people need to consider before buying LED lights.
Here is the list of essential things about LEDs you need to keep in your mind if you are going to purchase the LED lights:
1. Check for lumens, not watts in LED bulbs
It is a common practice of people to check the watts while purchasing the bulbs. It is because they have the misconception that watt represents the brightness of the bulb. However, watt defines the amount of energy drawn from the bulb. Therefore, more the watts, more power is used by the bulb.
For incandescent bulbs, watts and brightness are correlated. But for LED bulbs, a watt is not a good predictor of illumination. Therefore, a new system called lumens is accepted for the LED bulbs.
Lumen defines the brightness of the LED bulbs. The more the number of lumens, the brighter is the LED bulb. Therefore, while purchasing the LED lights, make sure you buy them according to their lumens rating and not the watt ratings. It will give you the exact idea of the brightness of a LED bulb.
2. Choose the right color for the LEDs
Gone are the days when we only got dull yellowish bright light from the incandescent light bulbs. Contrary to traditional light bulbs, LED lights come in a spectrum of colors. From indigo to red, you can change the color of the LED bulb according to the setting and mood.
However, people usually look for standard LED bulbs when they purchase them for their homes. The most common color options for the LED lights are soft white and bright white. They are also known by the names warm white and daylight, respectively.
Soft white or warm white produce a yellowish light which is similar to the glow of a candle. On the other hand, bright white or daylight have a whiter light.
The color of the LED bulb also decides the temperature. The color temperature of an LED bulb is measured in Kelvin(K). The higher Kelvin number indicates that the light is bluer, while the lower Kelvin number suggests that the light is yellower. Therefore, the bluer LED lights are more relaxed than, the yellower LED lights.
So, while purchasing the LED bulbs, make sure to select the color of the LED bulb based on your choice and temperature.
3. Choose the dimmable LEDs:
Dimmers are devices that are used to reduce the brightness of a light. It is done by lowering the voltage. With the decrease in voltage, the light gets dim too.
Most of the dimmers present in our homes are designed according to the traditional incandescent light bulbs. However, the non-dimmable LED bulbs are not optimized according to the dimmers. It is because dimmers cut the electricity amount to the bulbs and thus reduce the brightness. Since the LED bulbs already consume less energy, dimmers do not affect them.
Having non-dimmable bulbs at home creates strain in the eyes. It is why LED bulb companies have started producing dimmable lights. These LED bulbs can quickly dim, and they also consume less power. The dimming of LED bulbs increases their life span too.
It is why to opt for dimmable LED bulbs while buying LEDs in the market. It is not only compatible with dimmers but keeps your eyes safe too.
4. Choose LED with a high-quality chip:
With the increase in the popularity of LED bulbs, many companies have jumped into manufacturing LEDs. They promise to provide LEDs that offer good brightness, consume less power, and are low in price. However, all the manufactured LEDs are not equal.
The quality of LED bulbs depends on the company. Several LED bulbs in the market are offered with the promise of a long life, but they do not stick to the contract. It is why it becomes necessary to choose only trusted companies while purchasing the LEDs.
Another thing besides considering the company is the LED chip. The functionality of LEDs mainly depends on these chips. The LEDs made from high-quality chips offer better light and keep on glowing for a long time.
The high-quality LED chips are costlier than cheap quality chips, but they also ensure the long life of the LED bulbs. It is why it's better to spend extra bucks on high-quality LED bulbs and ensure a long life of them.
So, while purchasing the LEDs, always consider the company and high-quality LED chips to ensure better brightness, less power consumption, and longer bulb life.
5. Choose the correct fixture for LEDs:
Before purchasing the LED bulbs, people need to decide the fixture for them. LED bulbs emit lesser heat in comparison the incandescent bulbs. However, this heat is not negligible.
LED bulbs emit heat, and this heat travels back to the sink of LED. From there, it is transferred into the air. It is the reason the LED bulb's surface does not get hot.
If the house is enclosed, the heat will find no place to escape. It will remain near the bulb. Just like the other devices, overheating is not suitable for the LEDs too. The heat near the LED will reduce its life. It mainly happens to the ceiling lights. They remain enclosed inside the house and lose their lives after a short period.
It is why it's essential to decide the fixture that is not enclosed for the LED bulbs. If it is not determined, the LED bulb will die a slow death because of the heat.
6. Check the IP rating LED:
IP is the abbreviated form of Ingress Protection. The IP rating determines the durability of LED bulbs. In addition, it decides to how much extent the LED bulb is resistant to foreign elements.
The first number determines the resistance of the LED bulb against the dust, while the second number determines the resistance of the LED against the bulb. Thus, the higher the rating of the LED bulb, the more it is protected against foreign elements.
If you are purchasing the LED bulb for outdoor purposes, make sure the bulb has both ratings. It is because LEDs used in outdoors are prone to both dust and water.
Conclusion:
With so many LED options in the market, it isn't easy to find the best LED that meets all your requirements. In such situations, it becomes necessary to get acquainted with the basic knowledge of LEDs.
It is why before purchasing an LED bulb, check all the specifications. Then, analyze if those specifications meet your requirements or not? It will surely help you to come out with the best decision before purchasing the LEDs.