BLT Direct

My Compact Fluorescent Code Doesn’t Match Your Website… Help?

As CFL bulbs or tubes are becoming obsolete it can be confusing trying to match the part numbers that are present on your current lights with the modern versions. This can be for a number of reasons such as the code becoming obsolete with the model being no longer made

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Are Lumens?

Lumens are the unit for measure used to demonstrate the total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source. It comes from the Latin word for light and this metric is used worldwide to denote how bright a light is. When most household lighting mainly relied on incandescent bulbs,

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Are PAR Lamps Used For?

What Are PAR Lamps Used For? PAR stands for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. These lamps are available in incandescent, halogen, or LED technology and are known for their precise beam control and sturdy construction. They are designed to provide directional, high-intensity lighting and they are a popular choice for applications where

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Understanding Light Bulb Caps and Bases

Light bulb caps and bases are the essential parts that connect a bulb to a light fitting. A lot of bulbs will have different bases but this should always be advised on the packaging of the bulb itself. Choosing the right cap/base will make sure the bulb fits properly

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Are the Different Types of Light Bulbs?

There is a wide variety of technology when it comes to bulbs currently and it is no longer a case of every bulb being an incandescent one. The most popular would be incandescent; halogen, fluorescent and LED. Each bulb will have different pros and cons and it is important to

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Colour Temperature Do I Need?

Choosing the right colour temperature for your lighting is a key factor in making the desired atmosphere and environment you are looking for in any space. Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin which will be represented by the letter K often with a number in the thousands next to it

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Does Beam Angle Mean?

The beam angle is the measurement for how the light is distributed and how large of an area it illuminates. It is the angle at which the light spreads outward from the source it is coming from. It is measured in degrees and will often have three classifications: narrow, spot

What Does COB Stand For?

The abbreviation COB stands for “Chip on Board”. It refers to a newer type of technology for making LED lighting where multiple chips are mounted onto a single circuit board or substrate. This creates a single, powerful light source module. The unit is covered with a common phosphor layer, which

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Understanding IP Ratings: What Does IP Rated Mean?

The term "IP Rated" is used to evaluate electronic equipment for their resistance to dust and water. IP stands for Ingress Protection and this system is one that has been defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard IEC 60529. The IP rating is crucial because it gives

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Does RGB Stand For?

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue and it is a term that is commonly referred to in terms of lighting. These colours are often used in a variety of ways to produce other colours in lighting. This model is used for the lighting within various technologies that use light

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Do LED lights attract insects?

Yes some LED lights can attract insects but it is a lot fewer than the standard fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. Insects are naturally drawn to light and they have highly sensitive eyes which are receptive to UV (ultraviolet) light which is a bluey/purple colour. The science behind light attraction

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Does SMD Stand For?

The term SMD stands for Surface Mount Device. It is a type of electronic component package that is made to be directly mounted onto the surface of a Printed Circuit Board (also known as PCB). SMD components are generally smaller than previous SMT technology which require leads to be inserted

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What does wavelength and frequency mean?

Light can be defined as a form of electromagnetic radiation. Wavelength and frequency therefore become relevant concepts when discussing light. We will talk about what both of these mean and how they are relevant to light below. Wavelength Wavelength refers to the distance between successive crests of a wave within

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What is a Germicidal Light Bulb?

A germicidal light bulb is used as a highly effective disinfectant as it emits a UVC type light which disrupts the DNA or RNA of microorganisms. This light is classed as a type of ultraviolet light and unlike UVA and UVB rays that come from the sun UVC light is

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What are daylight light bulbs used for?

Daylight bulbs are also known as full spectrum and natural lights and are designed to mimic natural daylight. They produce a crisp white colour with a bluey tinge that replicates natural daylight (between 5000K and 6500K). They are normally used for colour clarity and accurate presenting of objects. Practical applications

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Is A GLS Bulb?

The term GLS stands for “general lighting service.” The GLS bulb is one of the most recognisable shapes of light bulb; so much so that if you picture a bulb in your mind it will most likely be a GLS type bulb. It has been the standard choice of bulbs

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Is A LED?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. It is a semiconductor light source that produces light when a current is passed through it. This process is called electroluminescence. LED technology was invented in the early 20th century and the first practical use of visible spectrum LED light was developed in the

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Full Spectrum Light: Definition and Reproduction by Light Bulbs

Full Spectrum light is a phrase that is used to describe light that mimics natural sunlight as closely as possible. Natural sunlight is a definitive example of a full spectrum light. Full spectrum light provides a full distribution of all colours that make up the visible light spectrum including various

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

How long do energy saving light bulbs take to warm up?

Energy saving lights are commonly either CFL’s or LED’s . The warm up time between these two types of lamps varies dramatically. CFL warm up The CFL bulbs need a few minutes to reach the optimal brightness because when the bulb is cold the mercury vapour is not fully

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Understanding the difference between Black Light and Black Light Blue

When you hear a light being described as “black light” and “black light blue” it is not immediately obvious what the difference between these two things would be. The confusion between these terms is fairly common and there are a few key differences meaning it is important to know the

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Understanding Wattage Equivalence in Energy-Saving Lamps in CFL and LED technology

The change from incandescent lighting to energy-efficient alternatives being offered such as CFL and LED has introduced a new way of thinking about light output. In the past consumers would rely on wattage to determine the brightness of a light but with this updated technology lumens are now what needs

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

How bright are LED light bulbs?

This is a common question asked about LED bulbs when swapping from incandescent or CFL bulbs. With the traditional bulbs the wattage was an indicator of their brightness but LED’s are measured in lumens. A lumen is the unit of measure of the total amount of visible light, so

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Do LED’s have a warm up time?

LED bulbs do not have a warm up time, they are instant and this is one of the main advantages of changing from CFL’s to LED’s. CFL bulbs require a warm up time which is normally around 30 seconds to reach full light output. The fact that LED’

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Can MR16 light bulbs be swapped for coloured versions?

Swapping standard MR16 bulbs for coloured versions is an easy way to add mood and character to a space, but there are a few things to consider first. This guide explains compatibility, brightness differences, and what to check to make sure coloured MR16 bulbs work safely and

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Choosing the Right LED Flood Light to Replace a Halogen Flood Light

Choosing to replace your halogen floodlight with LED is undoubtedly a cost effective and forward thinking solution. It will save energy used in the longer term and also save costs in terms of maintenance. To choose the correct LED floodlight you will need to compare the lumens rather than the