As an indispensable material for modern home and commercial lighting, lights and lanterns have more than just lighting functions. Different light sources can create different lighting effects to achieve the desired effect. It is ironic how we like to block the light in the morning when we are looking for sources otherwise.
So, what are the common types of light sources for lighting fixtures? What different spatial occasions are each suitable for? Below, the author will detail the classification and characteristics of home lighting sources for you in the future, and give you super practical light source purchase skills.
1. Key parameters about the light source of the luminaire.
Luminous flux: The total amount of light emitted by the light source per unit time. Generally, the greater the power, the higher the luminous efficiency and the higher the luminous flux.
Color temperature: At a certain temperature, the color of the light emitted by the light source is exactly the same as the color radiated by the black body. At this time, the black body temperature is called the light source color temperature.
Color rendering: The average life span of the light source to the true color of the object. A batch of light sources are lit at the same time. When 50% of the light sources fail, it is the average life span of this batch of light sources.
Light efficiency/electro-optical conversion rate: different light sources consume the same amount of electricity at the same time, and how much light is emitted. A light source with high luminous efficiency is definitely more power-efficient than a low-efficiency light source.
The number of strobes: the number of times the light source flickers per second. The higher the strobe, the greater the adverse effect on vision.
2. Classification of lighting sources
Incandescent light
The biggest shortcoming of incandescent lights is their short life span. The operating time is generally between 3000 and 4000 hours. Some incandescent lights of poor quality can only be used for 1500 hours. Normally, incandescent lights are used in home living areas such as bedrooms and dining rooms. It feels more comfortable in terms of color.
Advantages: small light source, many kinds of lightshades; high versatility, more color options. The luminous forms are directional, scattering, and diffuse. The color light of the incandescent light is the closest to the sunlight, and it has a good effect to enhance the three-dimensional sense of the object.
Disadvantages: It is not environmentally friendly. When using incandescent lights, 95% of the electric energy is consumed for heating, and only 5% of the electric energy is really converted into visible light; the heating temperature is high and the heat evaporates quickly. Short life (1000 hours). The infrared component is high and it is susceptible to vibration. Low color temperature, yellowing.
Scope of application: home dining room, bedroom
Tungsten halogen light
The metal halide light is actually a kind of incandescent light, aFnd its life span is generally between 3000 and 4000 hours, not more than 6000 hours. If you want to focus on certain places, you can use this cold light cup for focused lighting. For example, decorative paintings and decorations on the walls. The white light of the light can be changed according to different home decoration styles, and it is consistent with fashion.
Advantages: simple, low cost, easy to adjust and control the brightness, and good color rendering.
Disadvantages: Because the filament is at high temperature for a long time, it is easy to fuse. The luminous efficiency is not high, the failure is frequent, and the service life is short.
Scope of application: car headlights and rear lights, and homes, offices, office buildings, etc.
Fluorescent light
Advantages: energy saving, about 60% of the electric energy consumed by fluorescent lights can be converted into ultraviolet light, and other energy can be converted into heat energy.
Under normal circumstances, the efficiency of converting ultraviolet light into visible light is controlled at 40%. Therefore, the efficiency of fluorescent lights is about 60%×40%=24%-approximately twice that of tungsten filament lights with the same power.
Disadvantages: First, light decay occurs, and the color rendering is not as good as that of incandescent lights; second, the lights flicker, which affects eyesight; third, environmental pollution. Whether in the production process or after use and disposal, mercury is susceptible to contamination.
Scope of application: public places, such as schools, hospitals, factories, supermarkets, offices, warehouses, etc.
Energy-saving lights
Energy-saving lights are popular because of their energy saving. A 40-watt incandescent light can be worth a 9-watt energy-saving light. The life of energy-saving lights is also relatively long, generally 8000 to 10000 hours. After a period of normal use of energy-saving lights, the light will dim, mainly because of the loss of phosphor, which is technically called light decay. Some high-quality energy-saving lights have invented constant-brightness technology, which can keep the light in the best working condition for a long time. After 2000 hours of use, the light decay is less than 10%.
Advantages: high luminous efficiency, more than 5 times that of ordinary incandescent lights, and obvious energy-saving effect; long life, about 8 times that of ordinary bulbs; and small size and easy to use.
Disadvantages: light decay will occur; low color rendering, incandescent and halogen lights have a color rendering of 100, which is perfect; energy-saving lights are mostly between 80 and 90, and low color rendering light sources not only look at things, the color is not beautiful It is also harmful to health and eyesight.
Scope of application: traffic lighting, indoor lighting, landscape lighting
LED lights
In fact, it is a light-emitting diode. White LED lights from Suntechleds have better performance, but still need to be further improved technically.
Advantages: small size, long life, environmental protection and energy saving, low power consumption. They were originally used for outdoor decoration and engineering lighting, and now they are gradually developed into household lighting.
Disadvantages: Usually the price is slightly expensive. Constant current drive. The light effect is relatively low. The heat dissipation effect is not good. Among the seven bands, the blue and green bands of the LED light are relatively small, so there will be missing when displaying the color of things.
Application: traffic, indoor, outdoor, and landscape lighting
As above, we have detailed the types of common light sources and their advantages and disadvantages for home lighting fixtures, and hope to help you in your selection of lights and light sources. The light source of the light is not as expensive as possible, nor is it as bright as possible, as long as it suits your preferences and space needs.
