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Over the years, more and more people have been incorporating LED lighting into their homes. From ceiling lights to garden lights and everything in between, LED lights have revolutionised home lighting. Below, we’ll explore the most commonly asked questions about these light bulbs, as well as LED lighting benefits.
What is An LED Light?
An LED light is one that features a special semi-conductor known as a “light emitting diode,” giving the bulb its name. Illumination is generated when an electric current moves through this semiconductor. Whereas traditional lighting such as halogen bulbs rely on the heating of a filament to create light, LED bulbs require none.
In this semiconductor, you will typically find elements from groups three and four on the periodic table. This has earned this area the nickname of “semiconductor junction.”
When a current moves through the semiconductor, electrons combine with its material and output photons — otherwise known as particles of light.
Will LED Lights Reduce My Energy Bills?
LED technology is the most energy efficient way to light your home. LEDs use up to 90 percent less energy than traditional bulbs.
Since they require less energy to run than halogen bulbs, this low energy lighting doesn’t need as much electricity to generate illumination. Less electricity used means lower energy bills.
Such bulbs cost little to purchase, and with the LED lighting lifespan expected to last for tens of thousands of hours, the savings stack up. You can quickly mount up enough LED lighting cost savings to pay for the purchase of the LED bulbs.
Upgrading just one bulb has the potential to save you as much as £152 in energy bills according to the latest energy prices in the UK.
What is CCT And What is The Right LED CCT For The Home?
Colour correlated temperature, or CCT, is a metric that indicates the warmth or coolness of an LED light. Often simply called colour temperature, these units exist on a broad spectrum and are measured in units Kelvin.
The spectrum ranges from 1,000k to 10,000k. The higher you go, the cooler the light becomes. The lower you go, the warmer it becomes.
Each LED colour temperature has its place. For example, outdoor lights tend to favour cool colour temperatures, especially for security lighting. On the other hand, interior lighting tends to look best with warmer colour temperatures. This is especially true in the case of task lighting, such as reading lights.
When it comes to your home’s indoor lighting, warm white colour temperatures between 3,000k and 3,300k are generally recommended. These temperatures provide gentle, warm illumination while still being bright and crisp enough to make it easy to see.
Can LEDs Be Dimmed?
LED dimming is one of the main draws of LED lights for many people. While many LED bulbs are dimmable, not all of them are.
It is important to only use dimmer switches with lights that are compatible. In order to determine if your LED bulbs are dimmable, you can check the technical information on the packaging. If your LED lamp is dimmable, it will specifically state this.
What Are Lumens And How Many do You Need in The Home?
Lumens are a way to measure the brightness level of an LED bulb. LED light fixtures offer the opportunity to customise your LED lighting design, thanks to the variety of lumens and colour temperatures they have to offer.
Brightness ultimately comes down to preference, but you can calculate the recommended lumen count for any given space by following these steps:
- Determine how many square feet there are in the room. You can do this by multiplying the length of the room by the width.
- Figure out how many “foot candles,” or light per square foot, you will need. To determine this number, multiply the square footage of the room by the foot candle count.
Generally, rooms like bathrooms and kitchens require brighter light around 70 to 80 lumens per square foot. Sitting rooms, on the other hand, tend to only require 10 to 20 foot candles.
With the lumen count determined, you can begin shopping for LED bulbs.
What Does Layering Light Mean And How Can I Apply it in My Home?
LED lighting trends may come and go, but layered lighting remains evergreen. Layered lighting simply means creating a balanced lighting scheme in a room. This is accomplished by three “layers” of light: ambient light, accent light and task lighting.
When you incorporate all three into a space, you are layering light sources and providing a well-rounded space. Mix and match the various sources of light to accomplish this:
- Ambient Light –
Ambient light is the general illumination in the room and is usually provided by:
- Chandeliers
- Floor lamps
- Pendant lights
- Recessed lights
- Accent Light –
Accent lights are used to create mood lighting or draw attention to certain features in a room. These come in the form of:
- Picture lights
- Track lighting
- Wall lights
- Track Lights –
Track lights are used in task heavy areas to provide more focused lighting. Using task lighting, you can more clearly see while performing different activities. Common task light fixtures include:
- Desk lamps
- Drawer lights
- Lights over worktops, such as kitchen counters
- Reading lights
- Vanity lights
What is The Difference Between an SMD LED and a COB LED?
SMD stands for “surface mounted devices” and refers to different types of surface mounted technology. COB, on the other hand, stands for “chip on board” used in bare chip mount technology.
In an SMD light, the LED chip consists of an insulating glue and a conductive glue attached to the lamp bead pad. With a COB light, the chip is attached right to the pad. Compare the other differences of these lights below.
- Brightness: COB lights are brighter than SMD lights.
- Light quality: SMD lights provide light from multiple sources all fixed together. COB lights are surface lights that provide a more uniform glow.
- Price: SMD lights tend to be more expensive than COB lights.
- Energy efficiency: COB lighting is known to be more energy efficient than SMD lighting.
How Long do LEDs Last Compared to Halogen Lights?
Where traditional halogen bulbs tend to only last around 1,000 hours, LED bulbs last for tens of thousands. You can expect any LED lighting for the home to last a minimum of 20,000 hours. This will reduce replacement frequency, saving you time, money and effort.
What Are Some Common Problems With LED Lights?
While LED lights have their benefits, they are not without their issues at times. Installing LED lights incorrectly can negatively impact the effect of the light. This includes mistakes like:
- Electrical supply overload
- Exposed or loose wires
- Incorrect power distribution
Problems can also arise if you do not use the correct current or voltage. You should always look at the ratings of the bulbs before buying to make sure they are compatible with your home’s current electrical setup.
Do LED Lights Get Hot?
LEDs do not rely on heat to create illumination the way halogen bulbs do. Therefore, they practically emit zero heat. This keeps them cool to the touch, making them exceptionally well suited for homes with children and pets.
Ideas for LED LightLBing
Perfect as an ambient light source, the Leon 12 Watt 450mm Wide Brushed Silver LED Wall Light is a bright and powerful way to light up a room. This light generates 1200 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shines over a wide area of space. It is durable with its aluminium body and opal acrylic diffusers. The light measures 450 millimeters by 70 millimeters and is designed to be mounted on the wall.
Elevate your outdoor space with the LWA369 3 Watt Brass Finish Outdoor LED Wall Light. This fixture shines illumination down onto the wall below it, creating a washing effect. It generates a modest 300 lumens of 3000k warm white light at a 30-degree beam angle. Due to its brass construction and IP65 rating, it is perfectly durable for outdoor use. The fixture measures 90 millimeters by 44 millimeters with a projection of 66 millimeters from the mounting surface.
Modernise your bedroom with the Elegante Round Recessed LED Bedside Reading Light. This reading light provides sleek bedside task lighting with its recessed design. It features a light head that pops in and out of place to turn the light on or off. You can also tilt and twist it to shine light in any direction you choose. It generates a pleasant 206 lumens of 3000k warm white light, which is bright but gentle on the eyes. This light has a diameter of 110 millimeters.
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LDC724 8 Watt 800 Lumen Recessed Anti Glare LED Downlight
Light up any room with the LDC724 8 Watt 800 Lumen Recessed Anti Glare LED Downlight. This one of a kind light is designed to eliminate glare entirely thanks to the deeply set bulb within the fixture. It generates 800 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shines at a 24-degree beam angle. The fixture is built to last from high quality aluminium that comes finished in white with a black internal reflector. It measures 76 millimeters by 76 millimeters in total.
