Buying Guides: A Quick Guide to LED Light Bulbs

A Quick Guide To LED Light Bulbs

Today's most efficient way of illuminating and lighting is undoubtedly LED. When compared with older lighting technologies such as Incandescent, Halogen and CFL bulbs, you will find that LED is by far the most energy saving and smart solution.

What is an LED?

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are a type of electronic light source. LEDs are different from conventional light sources such as incandescent and halogen lamps. They last much longer, consume far less energy and emit very little heat. They are highly durable and do not feature fragile elements such as glass tubes or filaments; they are also safer because they do not contain any mercury or lead.  LED bulbs are now available in the most common light fittings, including GU10, B22, E27 and MR16.

How much power do LEDs use?

LED Bulbs use up to 90% less energy than an incandescent or halogen bulb of equivalent brightness. LEDs are far more efficient at converting electricity, measured in watts, into light, measured in lumens. As such, a typical 4 watt LED bulb can easily achieve a light output comparable to a 50 watt halogen, sometimes higher due to its high lumen to watt ratio.

How much money will switching to LEDs save me?

As a guide, switching four standard incandescent GLS (traditional-shaped) bulbs from incandescent to LED bulbs will save you £32.50 per year (based on 14p per KWh and having the light bulbs on for an average of three hours per day).
So, you’ll payback the costs of the bulbs in the first year. However, because LED light bulbs last so much longer than old-fashioned bulbs, you’ll be making that saving over and over again for many years.

Long Life - How long do LEDs last?

One of the biggest benefits of using LED is its outstanding life time expectation due to very efficient thermal management, LED Bulbs are able to remove heat through heat sinks to help prolong the life expectancy of the bulb by slowing down lumen depreciation. A well-built LED with good thermal management should last up to 30,000 hours. Good, branded LED bulbs are tested through thousands of use cycles to ensure that the manufacturers can substantiate these claims.

What to look when you shop for LED light bulbs

How bright are LEDs?

The brightness of a bulb is measured in lumens (Lm), the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the bulb. Despite using very low wattages, LEDs are able to emit the same brightness as traditional light sources. To make things easier, here at ryness.co.uk we  quote an equivalent incandescent wattage so consumers can replace their lights and keep the same brightness.

Are LEDs safe?

Yes. Unlike CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps), LEDs do not contain mercury. They also give off comparatively little heat, making them safer to handle after prolonged use. The absence of glass enclosures and fragile parts also reduces the likelihood of breakage, so you won't have to worry about broken glass.

Why are LED Bulbs Eco-Friendly?

Using LED lights cuts carbon emissions. When you replace your old incandescent or CFL bulbs with LED, you are essentially reducing harmful CO2 levels being released into the air. This is because LED lights use less energy, energy that power plants produce by burning fossil fuels and oil. The less energy that these power plants need to make through burning of fuel, the less carbon emissions are released into the environment.

LED lights don't waste energy. Incandescent bulbs consume high amounts of energy but only give minimal light luminance. Where is the excess energy going? Excess energy is converted to heat and released also into the environment, excess energy means wasted energy.

LED lights do not contain harmful metals. Lead and mercury are classified as the most toxic heavy metals in the world. And halogen, incandescent, and CFLs contain these heavy metals. Discarding these bulbs elsewhere or even in landfills can cause the lead and mercury content to spill and be mixed into your source of water or as a vapour in the air you breathe. On the other hand, LEDs don't contain any of these harmful metals.

What types of LED bulbs are there?

Thankfully, LED bulbs exist as replacements for most caps, shapes and sizes so there's always an LED for you.  We stock LEDs bulbs of every type including standard GLS, candles, golf balls, reflectors, spotlights and tubes.

Will your LED Bulbs work in my existing fittings?

Yes, all our LED bulbs are retrofit and are designed to work with existing light fittings and be used as direct replacements. Please ensure that any fittings being placed in bathrooms are both fire rated and waterproof and hold suitable certification of IP65 or higher to comply with relevant building regulations for bathrooms.

Are LED Bulbs dimmable?

We offer both dimmable and non-dimmable LED Bulb options; you will find these on our respective product pages. Good quality LED bulbs (as with the branded versions sold by ryness.co.uk) have a very smooth dimming action.

Do I need to use a special dimmer for LED dimmable bulbs?

Yes. LEDs use very little power compared to halogen bulbs. While this is good news for your electricity bills, it also means they will not work properly with your existing dimmer switches and may lead to a shortened bulb life, a lower light output and a buzzing sound. For an optimum performance, you must use trailing edge dimmers which have lower minimum loads and are designed to be used with LED bulbs.

We offer a wide range of compatible LED dimmers, which you can browse here.

Do LEDs come on immediately or do they need to warm up?

Unlike CFLs, which usually take a few minutes to reach full brightness, LEDs reach full brightness instantaneously.

Will LEDs operate outdoors or in cold temperatures?

LED are ideal for operation under cold and low outdoor temperature settings unlike CFLs. They are also extremely durable and built with sturdy components and can withstand tough conditions. Because LEDs are resistant to shock, vibrations and external impacts, they make a perfect choice for outdoor light systems.