A Brief Guide to Modern Domestic Light Bulbs

Not that long ago, domestic light bulbs were all pretty much the same. These days however, it would be fair to say that the choice of bulbs available for modern domestic light fittings is vast to say the least. Indeed, there is now a seemingly endless selection of bulbs available in shapes and styles all kinds. Of course, prices are also a lot more varied than they once were; however, the best advice is always to stick to the well-known brand names as their bulbs are generally manufactured to a higher standard than more obscure variants.

In addition to the wide variety of shapes and styles; there are also different types of light bulbs around these days.

Indeed, there are three main types of domestic light bulbs now available: incandescent bulbs, low energy bulbs and halogen bulbs.

Incandescent

Incandescent light bulbs are the traditional type of bulbs which we all grew up with. These bulbs work by using a filament which becomes white hot as electricity passes through it.

The main advantages of incandescent light bulbs are that they provide a very bright, white light and are easily accommodated in most light fittings throughout the UK.

Low Energy

Instead of a filament, low energy bulbs have a sealed glass tube which is full of inert gas that illuminates when an electrical current is passed through it. The technological advancements made in this field in recent years has enabled low energy lights to be manufactured in a far greater range of sizes; therefore, the decorative options for their use is a lot more substantial than it once was.

The chief advantage of low energy lighting is that it is of course incredibly efficient. Indeed, low energy bulbs use up to 80% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs and can last up to twelve years.

Halogen

Although halogen light bulbs are somewhat similar to incandescent bulbs, they employ different materials and gases which emit a very attractive bright, white light which is akin to natural daylight. Halogen bulbs themselves are available in two distinct forms: low voltage or mains voltage (although low voltage halogen bulbs require a separate transformer to operate).

The key advantage of low voltage halogen light bulbs is that they are much safer to use than mains powered variants. Moreover, they are also relatively energy efficient as they use up to 50% less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs. The flip side of this is that halogen bulbs typically run at higher temperatures; therefore they have to be manufactured with special insulating materials. This means that they are not only more expensive to produce; they are also more expensive for consumers to buy. However, when it comes to producing super clean and ultra-bright white light, halogen bulbs really are in a league of their own.

To find out more about the options discussed above and view a comprehensive range of high-quality light bulbs in more detail, simply explore our pages further here at The Lighting Superstore.

References:
1. /light-bulbs/
2. http://www.primelocation.com/discover/home-design-and-style/how-to-light-your-home/