Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

FL58W835: Understanding fluorescent tube codes

FL58W835: Understanding fluorescent tube codes The code FL58W835 or similar conveys information about the tubes specifications. It allows you to work out the size and colour temperature. Understanding these codes is important when coming to replace the tube and ensures compatibility with the control gear. Deconstructing the code FL58W835 * FL

Understanding UV Nail Dryer Bulbs

When choosing the correct replacement bulb for a UV nail dryer is it important to make sure that it will work with the UV dryer that you are using in order for it to continue to cure the gel polishes effectively. You will need to consider what wattage; technology and

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

Can You Get LED Versions of Halogen Capsules?

Yes you can. Led capsule lamps are a popular choice for modern lighting upgrades. This style of lamp includes G4, GY6.35 and G9 bases and they are being increasingly replaced by updated LED models. They have a much better energy efficiency as they use less wattage to produce the

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

How to Install LED Strip Lights

Installing LED strip lights has become a popular DIY project for homeowners and renters alike as it offers an energy-efficient and highly customizable way to add ambient or accent lighting to any suitable space. Whilst it is a generally straightforward process it is helpful to understand the components, steps, and

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Are Discharge Lamps?

Discharge lamps, which are also known as high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, produce light by creating an electrical arc between two electrodes within a sealed tube. The tube contains an inert gas such as argon or xenon and it also includes a mixture of metal salts or metallic vapor. Discharge lamps

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

What Are Dichroic Light Bulbs and How Can I Tell Them Apart from an Ordinary Lamp?

The term "Dichroic" refers to a specialised optical coating that is put onto a reflector lamp enabling it to transmit and reflect light based on wavelength. This technology allows the bulb to manage heat and color much more effectively than standard incandescent or halogen lamps. How Dichroic Filters

Frequently Asked Lighting Questions

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

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