Which lamps are the safest? Which light bulbs are safe for health? How to choose an energy-saving lamp? New "safe" LED technology

Today, each of us wants to save on utility costs, one of which is electrical energy. Next, we will talk about which light bulbs are better for the home, LED or energy-saving, and also consider the rating of the best and their differences from each other.

First of all, lamps should be economical, but not harmful to health. Fluorescent and LED ice lamps have proven themselves more successful on the market.

In this article you will find information on how to choose lighting elements for your home and their main characteristics.

So, which lamp is better: LED or energy-saving? This question can be answered by looking at a brief comparison between them.

In terms of service life, LED lamps are significantly ahead of energy-saving lamps. For 80 - 100 thousand hours of burning LED lamps (about 8 years), energy-saving ones burn for 4 - 12 thousand hours (from 3 to 4 years).

The LED lamp is not afraid of frequent switching on and off; it “lights up” immediately after switching on. “Start - warm-up” energy-saving is 1 minute, although this is a minor minus. Both lamps practically do not heat up and are completely fireproof.

For human health, LED lamps are preferable; they do not contain harmful components, while energy-saving lamps contain mercury, which for some consumers is a deterrent when purchasing.

When there is low power or frequent power fluctuations in the network, an energy-saving lamp may simply refuse to work, which cannot be said about an LED lamp, although its service life is reduced by up to 25%. In terms of power consumption, LED lamps are more energy efficient. Also, economy lamps require special disposal.

Well, and of course the price. In this matter, the LED is inferior to its leading position to the energy-saving lamp, although its cost is more than compensated. After studying this comparison, you will certainly be able to determine for yourself which light bulbs are better, LED or energy-saving, and make the right choice of lighting for your beautiful chandelier.

If you look for differences in these two lamps, it will turn into some kind of absurdity. The thing is that, according to their operating principles, both lamps are completely different. The only thing they have in common is that both LED and energy-saving ones provide light.

Despite the fact that we would like to bypass the cornerstone of the features of lamps, we still have to summarize something, if only in order to make a final conclusion about which type to prefer when purchasing. It is these interesting features related to each type of lamp that we will talk about next.

Since the bulk of the electrical energy in our houses and apartments, except those equipped with stationary electric stoves, is consumed for lighting, replacing incandescent lamps with energy-saving ones will significantly save money.

The LED lamp, unlike incandescent lamps, has a number of undeniable advantages. The luminous efficiency of such a lamp is 5 times greater than that of a conventional incandescent lamp, which makes it possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 80%, for example, replace a 100-watt incandescent lamp with an LED analogue of 12–20 watts.

An LED lamp lasts up to 50 thousand hours, and an incandescent lamp, according to technical indicators, will last up to a maximum of 1.5 thousand hours, although in practice it is even less. If we compare in terms of kWh savings, then based on the number of lamps, hours of burning and power, savings from 50 to 100 kWh can be achieved per month.

Typically, consumers are “scared” by the price of an LED light bulb, the average cost of which varies among suppliers from 100 rubles. for one 12 watt lamp.

The average price of a regular 100-watt incandescent lamp is 20 rubles. But, if we take into account the service life, then for the period of operation of the LED lamp of 50 thousand hours, you will have to purchase up to 50 pieces of incandescent lamps, with a total cost of 1000 rubles. And this difference will really help you save money.

It is worth purchasing LED lamps based on the payback period. Thus, according to experts’ calculations, with an electricity consumption of up to 100 kWh per month, a 12-watt lamp will pay for itself in a little more than a year, with a monthly consumption of 100 to 600 kWh - about 2.5 years.

Energy saving light bulbs

Energy-saving fluorescent lamps are in great demand among consumers on the market.

Unlike an incandescent lamp, where light is converted by passing electrical energy through a tungsten filament, light in an energy-saving lamp is converted from the ultraviolet glow of a gas discharge, which is formed by passing an electrical discharge through the gas filling the bulb.

The advantages of fluorescent lamps include light output, economical energy consumption, they heat up less and have a long service life. Consumers often complain that lamps burn out much faster than the service life declared by the manufacturer.

Why do energy-saving lamps burn out quickly?

The service life of fluorescent lamps is affected by operating rules; they cannot be turned on and off frequently, and power surges in the network are also negatively affected. That is, it is not always necessary to blame the quality from the manufacturer; sometimes energy-saving ones burn out due to improper operating conditions.

Also, energy-saving lamps should not be touched with your hands, because you will simply leave fat on their surface, which in turn will lead to burnout. If you accidentally touch the surface of such a lamp, wipe its surface with a lint-free cloth soaked in alcohol.

Energy-saving lamps also contain mercury. If you accidentally break a lamp, carefully assemble everything, do a wet cleaning with a solution of potassium permanganate and ventilate the room well. Burnt-out lamps cannot simply be thrown into the trash; they are subject to mandatory disposal by specialized enterprises.

What is the difference between LED lamps and energy-saving lamps?

There was a time when everyone began to switch to energy-saving lamps to save money. Now a new trend is LED bulbs.

Today, LED bulbs are really becoming fashionable, like all other devices that help save money and do not harm the environment. Their main difference from conventional energy-saving ones is their operating principle.

The energy-saving lamp contains argon and mercury vapor. When voltage is applied, mercury emits ultraviolet radiation, which, passing through a special coating, produces a luminous flux. A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp glows as a result of current being supplied to the LEDs.

Another difference is power consumption. With the same luminosity, LEDs consume 2-3 times less energy than energy-saving ones, that is, a 3-W LED bulb corresponds to a 5-watt energy-saving bulb (or a 20-watt incandescent one).

In addition, LED lamps are more durable and less sensitive to voltage changes, although they are more sensitive to high temperatures and therefore require constant cooling.

Since environmental friendliness today plays a big role when choosing electrical appliances, another significant drawback of energy-saving lamps is the use of mercury in their design.

This means that, firstly, they require more careful handling (if such a lamp breaks, it can cause harm to households due to mercury fumes), and secondly, they need to be disposed of in a special way - they cannot be thrown away with regular garbage. LEDs are absolutely safe in this sense, but they are also more expensive than energy-saving ones.

Incandescent lamps are rapidly losing their former popularity, and they are being replaced by new, more technologically advanced lighting devices. This happens for the simple reason of unacceptably high energy consumption.

Therefore, today fluorescent, which is popularly called energy-saving, and LED (or LED, from English light-emitting diode) lamps are in great demand. But, despite the wealth of information about each type, many are interested in an expert answer to the question of their differences. So what is the difference between an LED light bulb and an energy-saving one?

Let's figure it out. The popular name for fluorescent lamps (FL) is not entirely correct; LED lamps are also energy-saving. Moreover, different types of energy-saving lamps may differ in appearance and be based on completely different physical principles of operation. But, for easier understanding of the article, we will use the name that is well-established among the people.

Safety

The main aspect in choosing any product is the issue of safety, which directly depends on the physical principles of operation and design of the product. There is mercury vapor inside an energy-saving lamp, so damage to the glass bulb can lead to human poisoning.

But, in addition to highly toxic mercury, many experts consider their ultraviolet radiation dangerous, which negatively affects the retina. In addition, expired LL is considered hazardous waste and requires special disposal.

The main difference between an LED lamp and an energy-saving lamp, in terms of safety, is the absence of any harmful substances. Moreover, LED light bulbs can be produced without the use of a glass bulb, which significantly increases the mechanical strength of the structure.

Life time

Long service life means maintaining all the characteristics declared by the manufacturer. If we compare only high-quality products, then an LED lamp lasts on average about 30 thousand hours, and a LL lamp lasts only about 8 thousand.

If we compare with conventional incandescent light bulbs, then the gain for LED is about 45 times, for LL and compact fluorescent (CFL) about 8 times. Another difference between energy-saving lamps and LED lighting sources is a noticeable reduction in the operating life of the lamp when switched on and off frequently.

Economic benefit

LED lamps also differ in energy consumption. To create the same luminous flux as from a tungsten filament, a CFL will require approximately 5 times less electricity, and an LED approximately 8 times less.

LED light bulbs are evolving rapidly. Those that were 2 years ago and now are a big difference. The old ice design used LEDs in a plastic housing.

An improved version of the first lamps were products with LED filaments. It contains many diodes protected by a glass strip. And coated with phosphor - a light-accumulating pigment. Such lamps are called filament lamps.

familiar design, like an incandescent lamp;
service life from two to five years;
more efficient energy saving.

The most advanced lamp design is Crystal Ceramic MCOB technology. In it, the emitters are located on round plates made of transparent ceramics. They are lined with phosphor on both sides. Thanks to this feature, the latest generation of lamps shine back and forth, illuminating the area 360 degrees.

Which LED light bulbs are better?

Today everyone has heard about the energy efficiency, durability and economy of LED lighting. In 2014, the revolutionary significance of LED lamps was confirmed by the Nobel Prize, and since then LEDs have confidently entered our lives.

But not all LED lamps are created equal. In February 2016, the Research Center for Testing Electric Lights and Process Equipment conducted comparative testing of LED lamps from the most famous and widespread brands.

The purpose of this testing was to obtain reliable information about the compliance of the actual parameters of the lamps under study with the declared characteristics, as well as to become familiar with the results of consumer testing.

MAXUS LED;
EUROLAMP;
GLOBAL LED;
ELECTRUM;
SIRIUS;
FERON;
LUXEL;
ESTARES;
VIDEX.

For the purity of the experiment, they all had the same power declared by the manufacturer (12 W) and the same (4100-4200K).

compliance of the actual power with the declared one;
compliance of the actual luminous flux with the declared one;
CRI – color rendering index.

In addition, a parameter such as efficiency, or luminous output of lamps, was determined and subject to comparison. This indicator is calculated as the ratio of luminous flux to lamp power (actual indicators were taken for calculations).

LED lamp testing results:

Brand	Power, W		Luminous flux, Lm		Efficiency, Lm/W	CRI
	Stated	Actual	Stated	Actual		Stated	Actual
MAXUS LED	12	12.4	1200	1417	114.3	80	81.3
EUROLAMP	12	11.3	1160	1156	102.3	80	83.2
GLOBAL LED	12	12	1050	1226	102.2	80	82.4
ELECTRUM	12	12	1080	1183	98.6	80	82.8
SIRIUS	12	12.7	1150	1358	106.9	90	75.5
FERON	12	12.9	1100	1148	89	70	73.2
LUXEL	12	11.6	1120	1230	106	80	83.1
ESTARES	12	13	1100	1175	90.4	80	83.5
VIDEX	12	11.4	1100	1175	103.1	80	82.2

As you can see, the power of all tested lamps corresponds to the declared value (the deviation allowed by the standard is +/- 10% of the declared value).

The actual luminous flux value of eight of the nine lamps exceeds, and significantly, the declared values, that is, in fact they shine much brighter. The exception is the LED lamp TM EUROLAMP, its luminous flux is slightly lower than stated.

The actual value of the color rendering index of the tested lamps also turned out to be very close to the declared indicators, even slightly exceeding them, again for eight out of nine lamps.

The exception was the SIRIUS lamp - with a declared CRI of 90 units (the largest declared value of all samples), its actual level turned out to be only 75.5 units. TM FERON has the lowest CRI value, but here the manufacturer at least is not trying to deceive.

The main outsider of the test was the LED lamp TM FERON - it has the lowest luminous flux and color rendering index and the lowest efficiency. Its luminous flux is 23%, and its efficiency is 28% lower than that of the test leader - TM MAXUS LED.

I would like to separately note the TM GLOBAL LED lamp - it showed the most balanced indicators, which characterizes it as a high-quality, reliable middle-class lamp. In terms of efficiency, it took 4th place among others with a color rendering index of 80, and in terms of luminous flux it also took 4th place.

Overall efficiency rating of tested lamps:

	Efficiency rating
1	MAXUS LED	114.3 lm/W
2	SIRIUS (CRI = 70)	106.9 lm/W
3	LUXEL	106.0 lm/W
4	VIDEX	103.1 lm/W
5	EUROLAMP	102.3 lm/W
6	GLOBAL LED	102.2 lm/W
7	ELECTRUM	98.6 lm/W
8	ESTARES	90.4 lm/W
9	FERON (CRI = 70)	89.0 lm/W

Overall rating of tested lamps by luminous flux:

	Luminous flux rating
1	MAXUS LED	1417 lm
2	SIRIUS (CRI = 70)	1358 lm
3	LUXEL	1230 lm
4	GLOBAL LED	1226 lm
5	ELECTRUM	1183 lm
6	ESTARES	1175 lm
7	VIDEX	1175 lm
8	EUROLAMP	1156 lm
9	FERON (CRI = 70)	1148 lm

With the help of the information presented, it will be easier for you to navigate the selection of optimal lighting for your room.

Rating of LED lamps for home

The LED lighting market in Russia is still in its infancy. Our demand for energy-saving lighting devices developed much later than in other countries.

Therefore, the share of domestic LED products on the market is small; mainly imported LED lamps are sold. Almost all of the manufacturers listed below have official websites in Russian.

European countries

LED products made in Europe are of high quality, harmless to health, and meet all modern requirements for lighting devices. Of course, this also affects the price.

Philips. A global brand based in the Netherlands, operating in three main areas: healthcare, lighting solutions and consumer products.

LED lamps from this manufacturer can cost 500–1800 rubles; they can be purchased at almost any reputable retail outlet that has a department of electric lighting devices.

Osram. A German company known throughout the world for more than 100 years as a proponent of “intelligent light.” Lamps can be purchased for 400–1600 rubles in specialized lighting stores. Foton Lighting. Manufacturing and trading lighting company headquartered in London. Foton Lighting LED lamps cost 400–700 rubles. They are easy to find in online electrical stores.

Japan

Japanese engineers have a reputation as pioneers in many areas of technology, and Japanese attention to detail can rival that of Germany. This is why products from the Land of the Rising Sun are so popular all over the world, and LED lamps are no exception.

Nichia. The high-brightness LEDs produced by this company have long been used in dozens of areas of modern industry, and have recently found their consumers in everyday life.

A special feature of Nichia LED lamps is the use of special optical lenses, thanks to which the light is distributed evenly. Prices for lamps from this manufacturer start at 300 rubles.

Russia

Domestic LED products are currently not inferior in quality to European ones, and with the same characteristics they can cost less due to the fact that production facilities are located in Russia.

Gauss. A wide range of LED products that undergo strict quality control in independent laboratories in Europe, China and Russia. LED lamps cost 400–2000 rubles and can be purchased at the Gauss brand store and other retail outlets. "Optogan". The Optogan group of companies is one of the few in the world and the only one in Russia that has technologies and a full cycle of production of LEDs and LED equipment.

Optogan LED lamps for household lighting have been introduced in Russian retail chains since 2011. The model range is constantly updated. The average cost of “Optogan” is 500–700 rubles.

ASD. Today the company sells over 1,000,000 LED lamps per month. The quality of the products has been awarded at international exhibitions, and prices start from 100 rubles.

You can purchase LED lamps from this company in online stores, supermarkets, construction markets, and lighting stores.

China

First of all, it should be noted that the practice of purchasing nameless LED lamps in Chinese online stores is currently not justified. Previously, the mass consumer did exactly this, and if a cheap lamp failed, he simply bought a new one.

Now this is unprofitable, and no one is responsible for the quality of such lamps. For example, 0.15 W and 0.09 W LEDs can be produced in the same packages as 0.5 W, supplied in the same quantity, only the lamp will produce, for example, 400 lm instead of 1700 lm.

However, in Russia you can buy certified products from well-known Chinese brands, the quality of which is beyond doubt.

Camelion. High quality lamps, lighting equipment, power supplies and flashlights, produced for over twenty years. The company's Russian-language website provides complete information about the products, including certificates of conformity.

The warranty on LED lamps is 3 years from the date of purchase, the service life is 30,000–40,000 hours. You can purchase them in large Russian retail chains, online stores and specialized lighting stores. Cost 100–450 rubles.

Selecta. The assortment includes light sources, lamps and accessories for them. The products are widely represented in online lighting stores. Estares. Trademark of the famous Chinese company MaySun. You can purchase LED lamps, LED controllable ASTRELLA lamps, interior and functional lamps for home, office and retail space in stores selling lighting equipment and LED products.

Lamps can be purchased for 200–500 rubles, recessed thin LED lamps cost 1200–2500 rubles.

Russia-China

Russian-Chinese products are distinguished by a combination of innovative technologies with reliability and ease of use.

Ecola. LED lamps GX53 produced by Ecola are energy-saving, flat, used for stretch and suspended ceilings in offices and at home. They cost 150–500 rubles and can be purchased both on the company’s website and at multi-brand online and offline retail outlets. Newera. The company's brand is SVeto-Led, under which LED lamps have been produced at Chinese production facilities for 9 years. You can buy them through the SVeto-Led website at a price of 170–500 rubles.

Light bulbs come in different color temperatures and brightness.

warm (2700-3500 K (kelvins)) - emit soft yellow light, like incandescent lamps;
neutral (4000-5000 K) - emit daylight white light;
cold (5500 K and above) - are distinguished by a white glow with a bluish tint, similar to hospital light.

Doctors say that cold and neutral color temperatures are suitable for work. They stimulate the brain, suppressing the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and encouraging you to stay awake. For your home, choose warm light. It encourages you to relax and unwind.

Some manufacturers' actual lamp brightness levels are worse than those stated on the packaging. Before you buy, read reviews about the model you like or measure the brightness yourself in the store.

The table will help determine the brightness of an ice light bulb in relation to the power of its incandescent counterpart:

Incandescent lamp power (W)	Luminous flux of LED lamps (Lm)
25 W	220 lm
40 W	415 lm
60 W	710 lm
75 W	935 lm
100 W	1340 lm
150 W	2160 lm
200 W	3040 lm

Power. If you decide to replace conventional lamps with LED ones and don’t know how to choose the power, a simple formula will help you: divide the power of the replaced incandescent lamp by 8.
Voltage. LED lamps operate on a conventional voltage of 220 V, but can also be designed for 110 V.
Number of LEDs. Although LEDs do not burn out like regular incandescent bulbs, they do experience aging. The more LEDs provide the required brightness of the lamp, the longer it will last.
Design and shape of the product. LED lamps can be made either in the traditional version with one or another bulb (ball, pear, globe, candle), or in the form of “corn” with LEDs located similar to grains on the cob.
Case materials. Frosted and transparent glass, aluminum, plastic, and ceramics can be used in the manufacture of LED lamp housings. When choosing between glass and plastic, give preference to glass ones - they have higher light transmission rates.
Product protection degree. This indicator is indicated by the letters IP and numbers. For a normal room, IP40 is enough, for a dusty room - IP50.
Base. LED lamps have screw and pin bases. Screw ones are designated by the letter E and numbers indicating the diameter in millimeters. Pins are designated by the letter G and numbers indicating the distance in millimeters between the pins.
Price. High-quality lamps cannot be cheap. Of course, even 500 rubles can be psychologically difficult to give away, not to mention larger amounts. However, if you remember about the energy efficiency and service life of LED lamps, this problem will disappear by itself.
Manufacturer. The intensity of the blue spectrum in LED radiation is high, and this factor can negatively affect vision and psychological comfort. The best manufacturers make sure that LED lamps are safe for health, while small nameless ones are not interested in this issue at all.

The search for high-quality LED lamps should begin with the choice of manufacturer, since for unknown companies the characteristics stated on the packaging may not always correspond to reality.

High-quality LED lamps for the home

Philips;
Osram;
Wolta;
Nichia.

Due to the influx of cheap Chinese products and the difficult financial situation in the country, most Russian manufacturers have significantly reduced the quality of their products.

X-Flash;
Lisma;
Navigator;
Gauss.

Also on this list, a separate item worth noting is the well-proven Chinese company Camelion. The products of the listed brands really have excellent characteristics and will serve in the home for a long time.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, abbreviated as CFLs, are called energy-efficient. The abbreviation will be used throughout the text.

By design, this is a conventional fluorescent light source in a more compact format. The power supply is installed at the base of the case near the plinth; for cooling, small holes are made through which air circulates.

shape in the form of a spiral, circle, square, horseshoe;
base E14, E27, E40;
with a flask in the shape of a pear, candle, ball;
Possibility of brightness control, dimming.

If you decide to switch from CFLs to LEDs, you will encounter a common problem. For LEDs with an E14 base, the luminous flux is no more than 600lm, due to the fact that the sizes are limited. The power in this case is 6-7W, this is almost analogous to a 60W incandescent.

LEDs may not be enough to illuminate a room where CFLs previously stood. The illumination will be lower than expected, but it should be with a margin, taking into account the degradation of LEDs. Even the Chinese don’t have powerful ones, although they write in parameters from 1000 to 1500 lm, which is 2-3 times too high.

Only recently E14 LEDs with 800-900 lumens, power consumption 10W, produced by X-Flash have appeared. But now they are in short supply, E14 at 10W are sold out immediately, they are not even often available on the manufacturer’s website.

slow ignition for up to 10 minutes;
reduced light output at low temperatures.

How to choose energy-saving light bulbs

To choose the best energy-saving lamps you need to know 9 basic parameters, half are similar to diode ones.

rated power - energy consumption;
power factor - the ratio of active and reactive;
luminous flux – source brightness;
color temperature – 2700K warm white or neutral white 4000K;
color rendering index CRI – color rendering of objects;
warm-up time - the period of time after which it shines by 60-80%;
ignition time – time required for ignition;
service life - the number of hours after which the brightness will drop by 30% of the initial value;
number of switching cycles.

The easiest way to choose the best is by brand, it should be well-known. If you are hearing the brand name for the first time, it is better to refuse. The larger the brand, the more they worry about quality.

When you compare energy-saving ones in price with cheap diode ones, then in terms of service life they will not work much longer than CFLs. A good LED costs from 200 rubles.

Consider the installation location; if it’s on the street or in the entrance, there will be many people who want to steal it or break it. That’s why I put filament LEDs with a broken bulb in the entrance; they can’t be unscrewed without a tool. If you try to twist it by hand, you will break the LEDs, and it’s not very noticeable in the lampshade.

Nowadays, a large number of energy-saving lamps are imported from China. They look for a production plant in China, put their own brand on them and sell them in Russia. To sell, a brand does not have to understand them and have its own laboratory.

Chinese up to 3,000 - 5,000 hours, although they promise up to 10,000 hours;
branded 6,000 - 10,000 h.

Probability of failure from Osram:

Domestic brands send lighting equipment to me for testing, some of them are very deceived by the Chinese and do not admit to deception. They slip in false test results as evidence with which they can convince an amateur.

After looking at the test results, it was clear how they were deceiving. Cheap lamps from little-known domestic brands work much less than branded energy-saving lamps from Osram, Philips and other well-known ones.

Cheap ones have lower quality components in the power supply. In addition, it gets very hot, shortening its service life. You've probably seen blackened ones in the part where the power supply is located.

The service life is also affected by the build quality; Chinese manufacturers save on everything, even where it is impossible to do so. Therefore, instead of the promised 15,000 hours, the cheap one works for 5,000 hours, that is, the characteristics are overestimated.

Branded Philips and Osram are guaranteed to work for a specified period of time; abroad the requirements for light bulbs are more stringent. Philips has models with an operating time of up to 10 thousand hours, but their stage is correspondingly much higher.

It can be indirectly determined by the warranty period. If the warranty is 1 year, then do not expect long-term performance. A 3-5 year guarantee is given only for high-quality ones.

“Halogen light bulbs are not so common in everyday life... in terms of energy consumption, they are only twice as efficient as conventional ones...”

“They are relatively cheaper than LED bulbs and nominally consume much less electricity than incandescent bulbs. But besides the fact that they often do not fulfill the nominally declared efficiency, such lamps, having spent their life, pose a powerful threat to the environment due to the mercury content in one of the components of the design - the phosphor (from 5 mg to 1 gram).”

It seems these two phrases are not very accurate.
Why? Efficiency = light divided by consumed electricity. In my opinion, the efficiency of lamps is as follows:
1. Efficiency is 3-5% for incandescents: 3% for ordinary incandescents, 4% for short-lived reheatings, 5% for powerful incandescents. Used in houses of the East and West.
The most durable in the world - it seems up to 15 years when turned on every evening - were at the Brest plant during the USSR.
All imported incandescent lamps contain a jumper that burns out in ~25 days. Therefore, they are not worth the money at all. Although the Kalashnikov plant near Moscow in reddish packaging has surpassed even imports - the lamps burn out in 1-3 days! In new capital times, capital monopolies dictate and worsen prices and quality specifically for the sake of excess profits. The more often the lamps burn out, the more profitable it is for them. It's called product sabotage of capital~monopolies! If you wish, you can find a blacklist of product sabotage on the Internet, even for tens of thousands of product names.

2. The efficiency is 6-7% for a hotter filament - halogen, the efficiency is almost twice as good - with a reflector. Nowadays they have become popular in the east. They are becoming popular in the West too.

3. Efficiency is 20% for standard fluorescent lamps, except for cyanotic lamps with ordinary air.
They have been used in the USSR since the 1960s everywhere, in factories and offices and on the streets, except for less consuming home conditions, although some hobbyists have also acquired them at home. Transformer converters cannot burn out due to voltage instability.
Soviet and imported lums are interchangeable, although this is not written about.
Soviet lum is honest. Imported lume is 1.5-2 times more compact in diameter, but usually 1.5-2 times weaker in light - according to experimental measurements, i.e. the inscriptions of the most famous companies lie blatantly and without blushing.
At home, tabletop lume lamps have become popular in the USSR. For example, 11W lume, in the case of the best spectrum and gas composition, actually replaces a 75W incandescent lamp in a table lamp!
Electronic voltage converters have an efficiency of almost 100%, and do not itch, although they occasionally fail when the voltage of the new Chubais era was unstable, 280V instead of 220V. Occasionally even 320V instead of 220V.
You can make it yourself more reliable - an eternal electronic converter.
You can also make lum - potentially eternal, with zero operating costs.
Analogy of lume lamp in nature? Polar Lights!

As a child, I spent my free time doing chemical experiments in the evenings. Sometimes the mercury smoke was so thick that you couldn’t see your hand for half a day. In my opinion, the consequences of mercury poisoning are very exaggerated, this is suspicious. Mercury is a valuable commodity for producing interesting compounds. To do this, it may be worth collecting scarce mercury in a small bottle with a high-quality sealed stopper, buying some medicines at the pharmacy for the sake of the bottle and throwing them away. And don’t give it to anyone! Moreover, it’s free. :)
But the lumens of mercury in the phosphor are too minuscule for it to be collected, much less poisoned.

4. Efficiency is 15-25% for LEDs, typical efficiency is 15% for blue ones, 25% for the best rare ones. This new product is still too expensive for the impoverished in the ex-USSR. And the efficiency is too unstable. Although potentially in laboratory conditions one sample even achieved an efficiency of 42%.

What can we say in the end? In my opinion, in the conditions of the ex-USSR, in factories, streets, and now at home, it is still worth using lume lamps. It is most profitable to use 1-2 Soviet lumes - the most powerful 60W or 80W or 150W at a price of 0.5-1$, which is equivalent to an incandescent lamp up to 1000W. You can make your own lume adjustment, which the rich can buy - in Europe there is already one model of an adjustable ceiling lamp priced at 1,500 euros.
Lume lamps are more profitable in the long run than the readily available fast-burning stearine candles of the 19th century, the all-available fast-burning incandescents and halogens, and the inaccessible, too weak LEDs with too unstable efficiency are slightly worse.

For now, it is more profitable to sabotage capital monopolies and cartels in the field of lamps, and their custom-made articles like this one, and decrees of some of their henchmen-presidents - for example, on the ban on mercury and, therefore, all lumen lamps for supposedly good purposes.
Is it really possible to suddenly listen to them, throw out all the lum lamps around, and sit in the dark?
In my opinion, such mercury bans may even look like terrorism against everyone!

But potentially in the future, when LEDs are tested to normal stability and efficiency of more than 25%, and maybe 42%, then LEDs will become more profitable due to greater efficiency and durability, even if they are expensive.

Yes, interesting arguments in favor of fluorescent lamps. But the future, apparently, will belong to LEDs, when they drop in price to ordinary incandescent ones)

Continuation. When I turned it on, the electronic ballast clicked its teeth, burning out immediately.
It was not possible to find another electronic ballast after a month of searching. The magicians said that they might bring another electronic ballast next time - in the spring, maybe next year, or more likely in 2-3 years.
I managed to buy the cheapest Chinese digital multimeter for 300 rubles in a month, choosing one normal one from the magician out of 20 that showed an excessive error of 20-30%.
I had to open and repair the only available electronic ballast.
All parts with unclear designations have new color markings. And the transistors and resistors burned out. I had to think about how it should work, and what resistors and transistors could be there if I came up with the circuit.
I spent more than a month doing the calculations, looking for details, and at the same time slightly redesigning the circuit. And he selected different things experimentally, measuring the numbers - in the northern winter twilight, standing on a swinging stool on one leg, squeezing a multimeter under the ceiling with his chin, looking at the indicator with one eye, looking at the probe with the other eye, touching the parts with the probe, avoiding the paths on the board between which there was a gap the air sparked kilovolts, and currents burned out paths. In general, this task turned out to be difficult, and not for the faint of heart.

Result? The lume tube with the inscription 36W began to shine when turned on - consuming 135W with a redesigned circuit, with cold or warm parts with almost no heating - with an efficiency closer to 100%, which we managed to put into the same metal electronic ballast with the inscription 36W. It seems there is no analogue in the world.
One 135W lumen tube with an efficiency up to 5 times more economical is enough to illuminate the entire room, almost like an incandescent lamp up to 675W! Ultimate minimalism!
After a while, we managed to get another last similar electronic ballast from some warehouse with the inscription 36W, which turned out to be reliable, but its measured real power turned out to be only 22W, i.e. the power is as much as 36W/22W = 1.6 times worse than what is written.
This means that we managed to actually upgrade the power by as much as 135W/22W=6.1 times!
Then, checking somewhere else, I found out that such lies of capital monopolies seem to be inherent in all imports, including well-known brands - to a lesser extent. Unlike Soviet honest ballasts, they were also measured.
Then I accidentally found a switch with a string for 100 rubles. I screwed it to the ceiling to regulate the power of the lume tube downward, since full power is rarely needed. If it burns out, you can probably replace it with a lume tube of any length and power from 36 to 80W, or a less reliable spiral compact CFL that you can find.

What can you say about the durability of lume? The inscription about working up to 10,000 hours is more suitable for Soviet lums. And cap. branded inscriptions lie many times over, because in reality cap. lumes work from 1 second to 3 years, and rarely 5 years. Companies deliberately under-form lumes, grossly violating manufacturing technology, in order to cause rapid burnout of one of the filaments when it is turned on - product subotage.
How to increase the durability of cap.lums to 10,000 hours, and even many times more? Some Soviet engineers invented new methods of lum molding, etc. at home, increasing durability by 2-6 times when combining all methods. It seems this too has not yet been described in the literature anywhere. They require modernization of the circuit and the purchase of several difficult parts.
Under what conditions is it important to improve durability? When there is a shortage of lumes, as in my case, so that this powerful lume can also become eternal. Then at the same time there will never be 1 milligram of mercury waste in the form of burnt lume.
Compact spiral lumen-energy-saving devices are expensive, because they are always sold with integrated electronics, which amount to up to 95% of the cost. Therefore, some, even those far from soldering, began to be interested in upgrading with their own hands, and increasing the durability many times over in new ways - for all their lums, new ones purchased, and even for old ones. Very profitable!

Even when the lume filament burns out at one or both ends, instead of throwing out the lume, more advanced economical ones can light the lume light for another six months to several years, if you slightly upgrade the circuit - to semi-heating, or cold start of the lume without heating, using a high-voltage discharge, lightning that penetrates any gas. Of course, capital monopolies will never tell you the useful information described above. Even if they knew something about this topic. After all, what is beneficial and environmentally friendly for everyone is very unprofitable for capital monopolies. It seems that the interests of capital monopolies are always contrary to the interests of everyone. :)

As promised, some additional information on how to choose the right lamp.
After power, the color of the lamp temperature is important. It often happens that due to a poor choice in the store, the lamp appears bluish or yellowish-reddish - generally darkish and uncomfortable, which leads to fatigue and the need to buy lamps up to 3 times more powerful.
How to choose lamps so that their light always appears white and comfortable, even at minimum power? There is almost no information on this topic on the internet. Many years of experience in purchasing lamps of different temperatures and wattages lead to a choice according to a rare schedule:

If you use the highest quality, durable items, then the consumption of energy and items is reduced to a minimum. This means there is no waste and it is environmentally friendly.
Which lamps are the most durable? To answer this question, everyone will have to sort through a lot when choosing on the market, wasting time and money. Maybe that’s why the market economy is the most ineffective lagging behind?
You can reduce everyone's overkill if you consult with each other, in Soviet style. :)
Advice. Of the efficient, energy-efficient compact luminescent CFLs tested in practice, only two surprised by fulfilling the promised durability of more than 10,000 hours.
One in a table lamp 11W, the warmest 2300K, turned on every evening for a long time, lasted more than 10 years. Worth the photo below.
The second CFL, the most powerful sold ~36W, the warmest 2300K, the only one with a soft start ~1sec, turned on in the kitchen in the chandelier for a long time and often 10-20 times every evening, has been serving for the 10th year, without noticeable signs of aging. Made at some rare ~Soviet factory ****Gorsky - only once seen on sale. Too lazy to unscrew the chandelier-shade to look more accurately.
And the remaining 10 pieces, from Chinese to Russian and European, of varying heat and power 26-36W, burned out quickly. Some costing up to $10 burned out faster than incandescent lamps. Buying such CFLs is a waste of money.
I now avoid CFLs. And I avoid LEDs, except for a flashlight.
I returned to lumen tubes, incandescent and halogen lamps.
It might be worth trying - mercury DRLs, sodium HPS, and metal halide MGLs. It seems that the efficiency is even more economical by as much as 1.5-2 times. And with a large mercury for starting without a high-voltage impulse, the durability can be several times longer. They are the ones who are prohibited. Apparently, capital monopolies are again dictating a deterioration in quality, durability and, therefore, ecology...

Variety of choices

Today you can illuminate your home with a wide variety of light bulbs. The lighting market offers the buyer a simply huge assortment of lamps that can be screwed into chandeliers, wall sconces or ceiling floor lamps.

Each light bulb has its own advantages and disadvantages. But besides this, some products can cause certain harm to human health, especially if you look at them for a long time. This article will tell you what types of light bulbs exist, as well as the harm they can cause to human health.

Selection options

The choice of lamps to create the necessary lighting in a room is quite problematic, since their range gives extensive scope in this matter. Each room in the house has its own lighting requirements. Therefore, the choice of light bulbs should be made according to several parameters:

power;
light level;
characteristics of the created lighting
duration of work;
price;
the potential harm that light bulbs can cause to human health. It is very important here that only environmentally friendly materials are used in the creation of the light bulb.

Note! You should also choose a light bulb according to the requirements of the room in which it will work. Only in this way will the purchased product best meet your needs.

All these parameters should be used to evaluate products offered on the lighting market.

Variety in everything

Today, the following light bulbs can be used to illuminate the interior of a house or apartment:

Pear light bulb

an incandescent light bulb (“pear”) or, as it is also called, “Ilyich’s light bulb.” This is the most common and well-known model. Our grandparents also used it. But today, due to a sufficient list of shortcomings, such light bulbs are used less and less. The disadvantages of this product include insufficient light level and heat generation during operation. Besides that, it's not very pleasant to look at. But such a light bulb is quite cheap, thanks to which it is still in demand among the population;

Halogen lamp

halogen bulbs. These are products of a new generation, compared to the pear lamp. The advantages of such lamps include high luminous efficiency, long service life, and affordability in terms of pricing. In addition, halogen models are economical and compact. Also, such lamps do not heat up during operation, since they are based on halogens. They combine with tungsten atoms, thus preventing the walls of the flask from heating up. Therefore, it will be easier to look at such light bulbs than the previous type. Their use in the home for indoor lighting is less harmful than conventional incandescent lamps;

Note! Halogen lamps today are most often used to create decorative and additional lighting in rooms.

Fluorescent Lamp

fluorescent lamps. Such products are most often found in public institutions: hospitals, schools, office buildings, laboratories, etc. They are used in rooms where there is a need for constant lighting. They are characterized by a fairly high light output along with a long service life. Such positive qualities were achieved through the use of ballasts. It creates a high voltage that charges the tungsten electrodes. This charge, in turn, excites the mercury atoms that coat the flask. They emit ultraviolet photons, creating a luminescence effect;

Note! Improper use of the product can lead to its rapid breakdown and harm to human health.

LED lamp

LED light sources. Such light bulbs are quite popular today, as they have one of the longest service lives and are very economical. But the cost of such products is quite high.

As you can see, each of the above light sources has a number of advantages, remaining popular today.

Disadvantages of operation

Artificial lighting has long become an integral part of our lives. Many people today are active in the evening or at night. At the same time, few people think that such lighting can be harmful to our health. Moreover, you don’t have to look at the light bulb to cause harm.
To understand the harm that each light bulb can cause to human health, let’s look at them in more detail:

incandescent light bulb. Despite the presence of obvious disadvantages in terms of operation and technical characteristics of the luminous flux, today they are among the safest light sources. This is primarily due to the operating principle, which is the passage of current through a tungsten filament. The only negative point may be long-term observation of the light bulb, which can lead to the appearance of “circles” before the eyes;
halogen light. This kind of lamps are more advanced than the previous version. The operating principle here has undergone minor changes, which has improved the service life and luminous flux characteristics. As a result, the lamp glows quite brightly and richly. Such products are also completely safe and can only cause indirect harm. During operation, halogen lamps heat up, so when touched they can cause pain or even a slight burn. This, in principle, also applies to incandescent light bulbs;

Note! Halogen lamps should be kept out of the reach of children.

fluorescent and LED lamps are the most dangerous models. These products are very popular today and are most often used to illuminate the interior of a home. But they are quite dangerous due to the peculiarities of their design.

The danger of popularity

Fluorescent light bulbs are less popular today than LED bulbs, but are also very often used in our lamps. At the same time, few people know that in the process of their work they create strong electromagnetic and radio frequency fields. They have a negative effect on the human nervous and immune system. Also, their work can negatively affect a person’s overall well-being, leading to the emergence of a certain kind of chronic disease.
It has also been shown that using fluorescent products as a light source for reading books for one year can lead to a decrease in visual acuity.
It is also worth noting that the operating principle of fluorescent lamps requires the presence of mercury.

Lamp device

Even such a microscopic presence of mercury is quite enough to cause health problems if such a light bulb breaks.
In addition, such devices are characterized by flickering, which negatively affects the visual system and clarity of vision.
LED light sources are less dangerous. This is due to the fact that they do not contain mercury. They give a softer light without flicker. But such devices create a radio frequency field. Therefore, for safe operation they should be placed at a sufficient distance from people.

Leader in negativity

Ultraviolet lamps

It is also worth noting that the most dangerous light bulbs today are ultraviolet light sources. Often such lighting devices are used in nightclubs and bars. This is due to the fact that they can highlight some of the materials used in the manufacture of clothing.

Such light bulbs create bright lighting, which, in addition to flickering, negatively affects the human psyche and his vision. The eyes begin to water and get tired very quickly. Especially with long-term use.
Ultraviolet light sources are not recommended for use at home.
As you can see, not all light bulbs are safe for use in houses and apartments. Therefore, make an informed choice. Remember that health comes first!

How to choose outdoor metal halide floodlights
Halogen incandescent lamp - what you need to know when choosing

Due to low energy consumption, energy-saving light bulbs have become widespread. This article will help you figure out what harm these products cause to human health.

Shapes of energy-saving light bulbs

Cancer as a consequence

As scientists from the United States have found, the concentration of ultraviolet radiation emanating from a light bulb is harmful to human health.

This negatively affects the skin and leads to premature death and aging, and in the most severe cases – to melanoma and skin cancer.

Manufacturers of energy-saving light bulbs admit that some amount of ultraviolet radiation is released during operation, but claim that the radiation dose is within normal limits. However, research results show that the outer coating of the light bulb has a large number of microcracks, which are the source of increased ultraviolet radiation.

In addition to cancer, it is possible to develop:

allergic rash;
eczema;
psoriasis;
swelling of skin tissue.

According to medical experts, the use of energy-saving light bulbs can cause:

epilepsy attacks;
migraine;
deterioration of body tone.

Currently, there are two common types of energy-saving light bulbs: collagen and fluorescent. Their second variety is considered the most harmful to human health.

Israeli scientist Abraham Chaim argues that the harm of fluorescent lamps is significantly underestimated, especially when used at night. The fact is that energy-saving lighting technology disrupts the production of melatonin due to the emission of a bluish glow, which inhibits the pineal gland and, as a consequence, the production of this hormone, which, in turn, increases the risk of developing breast and prostate cancer.

Mercury poisoning

Energy-saving lamps are based on a gas-filled container with a certain percentage of mercury content.

When making a light bulb, a phosphor, argon gas with an admixture of mercury vapor is used. If the integrity of the housing is violated in a closed room, the permissible value of the above-mentioned harmful substances in the environment begins to exceed the permissible value by 20 times.

A broken lamp is a health hazard

First of all, the following are at risk of poisoning:

pregnant women;
babies;
Small children;
old men.

Radiation

According to British experts, unlike the classic incandescent light bulb, energy-saving lighting technology, regardless of power, is a source of electromagnetic radiation.

Violation of the permissible radiation norm occurs within a radius of 15 centimeters from the light source. Thus, the use of these bulbs is not recommended in table and wall lamps, near which it is possible to stay for a long time.

The electromagnetic field, which is generated when the light bulb is operating, can lead to the development of the following human diseases:

central nervous system disorder;
suppression of immune defense;
diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Electromagnetic waves complement other unfavorable environmental factors and are therefore detrimental to health. They are able to awaken “dormant” chronic diseases and reduce resistance to viral infections.

Effect on vision

Some types of light bulbs that use LEDs can have a negative effect on the human visual system. This is due to the fact that “daylight” light waves are formed through the use of blue and yellow diodes.

A danger to the health of the visual organs is blue radiation, saturated with ultraviolet light, from which the retina of the eye suffers, and, as a result, oxidative processes occur.

At risk are:

Children, because they are sensitive to the effects of energy-saving devices on the eyes, due to the fact that they do not have a formed eyeball crystal (which acts as a filter), so they do not have ultraviolet protection.
People suffering from macular degeneration.
Undergoing medication courses.

Disposal

One light bulb contains 7 milligrams of mercury. In principle, this is not a lot, but throwing them in the trash can is strictly prohibited. The manufacturer recommends recycling failed energy-saving lighting devices.

The functions of receiving and recycling light bulbs theoretically fall on regional departments: building management directorates (DEZ) or repair and maintenance departments. But, as practice shows, energy-saving lamps end up in landfills.

The reason for this is that if you follow the manufacturer's instructions, you will need to find a company that specializes in the disposal of mercury waste and enter into an agreement. The catch is that you have to pay for it; there is no monetary compensation from the state. Considering the popularity of energy-saving products and the number of light bulbs that end up in landfills, environmental disaster is a reality of the near future.

Special bin for non-working lamps

When choosing a lamp, it is recommended to give preference to collagen models; they are considered less harmful due to the nature of the light emitted.
To illuminate residential premises, you should not install lamps with a power of more than 60 watts equivalent to an incandescent lamp; if the illumination level is insufficient, it is better to use several light sources.
It is recommended to choose lamps with an operating color temperature of no more than 3100 Kelvin and a yellow glow. At this temperature, the emitted light flux is the most “natural” and does not have such a detrimental effect on the retina of the eye and human skin.
During installation and replacement of the lamp, it should be handled with care to avoid damaging the integrity of the gas-filled bulb. If the lamp breaks, you should immediately open the windows and leave the room for several hours to remove mercury gases from the room. After ventilation, remove the fragments and dispose of the lamp.
When used in tabletop lighting equipment, it is recommended to install the lamp at a distance of at least 15 centimeters from its permanent place of residence.

Video

Every year, LED lamps for home lighting are becoming more and more popular. They are the most economical in terms of electricity consumption. Their manufacturers guarantee the complete safety of such lighting devices, but skeptics, as usual, have their doubts. Who is right?

What is an LED lamp?

A modern LED lamp (LED lamp) is a rather complex device. The source of light radiation in it is LEDs - semiconductor devices that convert electrical power into light. But LEDs cannot be connected directly to the network, so each lamp contains inside a board with built-in LEDs, an electronic driver (power converter), and a metal radiator housing for cooling. On the outside there is a base for connecting to any standard lamp and, very often, a translucent light diffuser.

A light-emitting diode (LED) is essentially a crystal capable of emitting light under the influence of an electric current. The color of the emitted radiation depends on the material: gallium arsenide produces red, gallium phosphide produces green, and zinc selenide produces blue. How do we get the white light we are used to?

There are several ways. Firstly, white light is a mixture of light waves of different ranges, so if red, blue and green LEDs are densely placed and their radiation is mixed using an optical system, the result is white light.

Secondly, there are phosphors - substances that can absorb and transform light. If three layers of phosphor are applied to the surface of an LED emitting in the ultraviolet range, each of which produces blue, green and red light, respectively, the result will be white light, close to natural light.

What is a radiation diffuser used for? LED emitters shine predominantly in one direction and produce narrowly focused light. This is good for a flashlight, and also good for illuminating a work area, but diffused light is required to illuminate the room evenly. To do this, use a special transparent or matte diffuser lens.

What is a driver and why is it in a light bulb? For the LED to operate normally, a stabilized electric current must flow through it, independent of fluctuations in the supply voltage. A special pulse electronic device performs this task, thanks to which the LEDs do not burn out instantly.

What are the advantages of LED lamps?

The popularity of LED lighting is increasing every day, despite their high cost. This suggests that such LED lamps are superior to all other types in many respects. What are the advantages?

Consume little energy. This significantly reduces energy costs and makes it possible to make flashlights and emergency lighting lamps that do not require frequent replacement of the power source.
Long service life. Manufacturers claim that the service life of their products is more than 10 years of continuous glow.
Does not contain mercury. Disposal of such lamps does not harm the environment.
Warm up instantly. When turned on, they light up immediately and do not require time to reach full brightness.
Low weight and volume. LEDs are small in size; they can be used to construct both large lamps and spotlights, installing them in hard-to-reach places and portable devices.
Impact resistance. LEDs are not damaged by shocks and impacts, so the lamps can be installed in any location.
Work well at low temperatures. Unlike other lighting devices, LEDs work without problems in the cold, which is convenient for street lighting.
Almost no heat is generated. This allows you to embed LED light bulbs almost anywhere: in a closet, in the ceiling or in a baseboard; they do not cause fires due to overheating.

LED lamps have many advantages, they are economical, designers love to use them, as they allow the most daring ideas to be realized. But every device also has its drawbacks. It's hard to believe that LED bulbs are perfect.

Disadvantages and features of LED lamps

LED light sources also have disadvantages, but these are not always disadvantages of the lamps, sometimes it is simply their illiterate use. The properties of any lighting device must be taken into account in order to get a good result, and not a problem.

Price. This is a significant drawback of LED lamps. The cost of production is decreasing every year, but it is still high compared to other types of lighting fixtures.
Degradation phenomenon. Lamp manufacturers claim that their service life is more than 10 years, but they give a guarantee for 3-5 years! The fact is that there is a phenomenon of degradation, i.e. the quiet dying of LED crystals. The luminous flux gradually decreases, and in some cases changes in the phosphor are also observed. The rate of degradation depends on the quality of the material and increases with increasing ambient temperature. An LED whose brightness has decreased by 30% during operation is considered faulty. Light bulbs that have lost their brightness can be used quite successfully in the toilet or pantry for a long time.
Glow color. Many people complain about the unpleasant spectrum of the glow. They experience discomfort if the workplace is lit with bluish or bluish-white light. As you know, the shade of lamp light is determined by the color temperature. For the convenience of customers, manufacturers mark their products not only by indicating the color temperature in degrees on the Kelvin scale, but also put a mark on the image of the color scale on the packaging. This mark indicates the color of the light - warm yellow, cold blue, the most comfortable is white light with a yellowish tint. When buying a light bulb, you should choose the one that is most familiar in color and will not cause any discomfort.
Narrow beam pattern. LEDs provide directional light. If you screw a regular incandescent lamp into a table lamp, it will illuminate the entire table with diffused light, the middle of the table will be better illuminated, but the edges will also be clearly visible. The LED lamp will give a very bright circle in the middle of the table, the edges will be lost in the darkness. Such sharp transitions are harmful to the eyes. The problem disappears if you choose a lamp with a matte cap - a radiation diffuser.

Are all LED lamps safe?

Any household appliance and device for the home should be as safe as possible. Are LED lamps always absolutely harmless? Unfortunately, not always. And the reason is simple - not all lamps are of high quality. Some manufacturers try to make extra money by simplifying the technology as much as possible and sell cheap, low-quality lamps. Why are they dangerous?

Ultraviolet radiation. Does it exist?

Household LED lamps do not emit ultraviolet light. Is it good or bad?

Ultraviolet light is considered harmful. The main source of ultraviolet radiation on Earth is the Sun. It emits waves in different spectral ranges. Long-wave ultraviolet radiation is mainly absorbed by the atmosphere; mid-wave radiation is imperceptible to the human eye and is absorbed by the corneal epithelium; short-wave ultraviolet radiation can penetrate to the retina. Tanning occurs under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Germicidal blue lamps emit ultraviolet light and kill harmful bacteria, but should not be looked at to avoid damaging your eyesight. UV radiation is beneficial for fruit growth and ripening.

If there is practically no such radiation in LED lamps, is this a plus or a minus? The debate continues among experts to this day.

And there are also ultraviolet LEDs coated with a phosphor that produces white light. They are cheap to make and are produced by many manufacturers. The phosphor absorbs ultraviolet light. But all or not all? What if the LED is of poor quality? Is the presence of a small amount of radiation in the ultraviolet range bad or, on the contrary, good, since it is closer to natural light? There is no definitive answer yet.

LED lamps flickering

Good LED lamps do not flicker, unlike the fluorescent lamps we are used to. Why do they talk about flickering? The voltage converter uses a special microcircuit that generates a series of short pulses with the necessary parameters. Conscientious manufacturers install ripple smoothing at the output of these converters, but with cheap drivers the manufacturer can save money. The light will flicker. This is not perceived by normal vision, but prolonged work in such lighting can lead to deterioration of vision.

How to determine whether a light bulb is flickering or not? The eyes will not notice this, but if we look at the lamp through a digital camera, we will immediately see a pulsating light on the screen. This stroboscopic effect can be seen in this short video, where a demonstration stand with LED lamps turned on in a store was filmed with a regular camera. Some of them flicker, others don't.

What is the harm from flickering? Pulsating light causes constant contractions of the ciliary muscle, it gets tired, which leads to the development of myopia. Some people complain of watery eyes, eye fatigue, and drowsiness when working in flickering lighting conditions.

How to choose a high-quality LED lamp?

There are few rules:

Never buy cheap. Prices from manufacturers of high-quality lighting devices are approximately the same. Manufacturing technologies are slightly different, but this has little effect on the cost. If a store offers LED lamps with the same parameters, but with a large difference in price, then confidently pass by the cheap ones if you value your eyesight.
Never buy many lamps at once. There is no point in purchasing light bulbs for the whole house at once. Even if they offer a discount. The color temperature of LED light sources is different, they also differ in dispersion. It is better to choose the degree of blue or yellow tint individually. There is always somewhere to screw in a poorly chosen lamp. If the choice turned out to be correct, then you can safely take the same ones in the required quantity.
Check for flicker. Taking a phone with a camera with you is not a problem, nor is looking through it at the switched-on lamps. But, if this is not possible, then it is better to buy one, turn it on at home and watch it through the camera. It flickers – hang it in the hallway or in the bathroom.

LED lighting sources are confidently conquering the world, they have many advantages, but, like everything new, you need to get used to them and learn how to use them correctly. And never buy cheap, low-quality fakes.

< Назад
Forward >