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

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

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

How many Lumens Do I Need to Replace a Halogen GU10 with LED?

Changing your halogen GU10 bulb to a newer LED model is one of the most effective ways at reducing energy use and cost from your lighting. What you need to keep in mind when changing over to LED is that you will need to compare the lumens rather than the

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Do fly killers need black light or black light blue types of light bulbs?

Fly killers also known as bug zappers use UV light to attract insects, Both black light and black light blue are types of UVA light but the commonly used UV ln fly killers is the standard black light. These UVA bulbs emit a wavelength of between 350-370nm and are highly

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

How many Lumens Do I Need to Replace a Halogen MR16 with LED?

The need to replace a halogen MR16 spotlight bulb with a LED version is becoming increasingly common with government legislation being introduced aiming for improved energy efficiency within the lighting industry leading manufacturers to stop making halogen MR16s and instead producing LED MR16s. As LEDs require much less wattage to

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

LED Replacement for Halogen MR8 Light Bulbs

MR8 is a reflector lamp with a 35mm diameter. They are a small low voltage bulb and are usually used whether directional light is required, such as display cabinet lighting and fibre optic lighting. Understanding MR8 Halogen Bulbs MR8 bulbs like all other halogen bulbs are energy inefficient and produce

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Type Of UV Light Bulb Does My Pond Purifier Require?

UV pond sterilisers are a great way to remove harmful bacteria and pathogens within the water. These require a UV bulb to operate as this is done by using ultraviolet light. UV light draws together single celled algae (a well known cause of pond water looking green) and neutralises the

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Coloured Floodlights: Options, Applications and Choosing the Right Hue

You can get coloured floodlights, LED’s have made them very accessible. In days gone you used to have to put a coloured filter over a floodlight but now you can readily get them in several different colours for both aesthetic and functional illumination. The Availability of Colored Floodlight Coloured

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

GU10 vs. MR16: Understanding the Key Differences in Lighting

Reflector spotlights most commonly come in two types - MR16s and GU10s. A MR16 has two pointed pins and a GU10 bulb has two rounded pins. They are both used to provide a focused bright light but vary in their design, voltage and installation needs. Understanding these differences is key

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What are Energy Saving Halogen Light Bulbs (Eco halogens)?

Energy saving halogens are often known as eco halogen bulbs and were developed as a short term energy efficient replacement for the standard halogen bulbs. They operate in the same way as standard halogens but inside they have a quartz envelope which is filled with halogen gas. The energy saving

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Multiphosphor vs. Triphosphor Lighting: What is the difference?

Multiphosphor and Triphosphor refer to two different types of fluorescent lighting. It refers to the blend of phosphors (this is the material coating the inside of the tube) which are then used to convert UV energy into visible non-harmful light. The type of phosphor blend results in variations between light

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What is the difference between switch start and high frequency lighting?

When it comes to fluorescent and discharge lighting there are two primary methods to ignite and operate this type of lighting, these are switch start and high frequency. They are both designed to illuminate a space but their mechanisms and how they operate vary greatly. It will help to understand

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

How Can I Dispose Of My Light Bulbs and Batteries?

Disposing of light bulbs and batteries requires careful consideration as they contain materials which could be harmful to the environment. Can I put light bulbs in the recycling bin? You should not put most light bulbs in your recycling bin, standard incandescent and halogens ones can go in the general

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

The History of Light Bans and Ones to Come

The History of Light Bans and Ones to Come The regulation and banning of specific lighting technologies is driven by energy efficiency and concerns for the environment. When did the incandescent bulb ban start? The incandescent ban was the first to be implemented as these bulbs are inefficient and most

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Understanding Fluorescent and LED Tube Standards: T2, T4, T5, and T8

When it comes to tubular lighting it can be confusing to determine which tube you require. However there is a way that is simpler than it may appear - using the “T” number (T4, T5 etc.). This determines the diameter of the tube so as long as the “T” number

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What is the difference between a G4, G6.35, and G9 Capsule?

Capsule lamps are small lamps with small two pin bases. They are used in places such as desk lamps, display and decorative lighting. The number next to each of the given titles for the lamps (G4, G6.35, G9 etc.) refers to the amount of millimetres between the two pins.

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Don’t energy saving light bulbs give a harsh light?

This concern stemmed from the early days of CFL’s which could be a cold stark light, however the newer versions and the LED’s have overcome this problem by offering a better choice of light temperatures (Kelvin rating) Colour Temperature (Measured in Kelvin - K) . Harsh/Cold Light (High

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Understanding MR16 Light Bulbs: Color, Types, and Compliance

MR16 light bulbs are commonly used in track lighting, recessed ceiling light fittings and display lighting. They can be identified via the two small pointed pins they have as their base. The Difference Between White, Black, and Silver Backed MR16 Light Bulbs Some MR16 bulbs will have a visible colour