There's been a huge breakthrough in the lighting industry over the past few years. With the arrival of LED technology, lighting has gained a whole new dimension and a wide range of new possibilities have emerged. Today it's becoming increasingly difficult for us to find interiors illuminated with traditional incandescent light bulbs. They have been pushed out by LED spotlights, which are constantly leading the way, and there's a very good reason for that.
With so many various LED lights available on the market, it's not always easy for us to make the right choice. This short guide will show you what features of LED spotlights to consider when looking for the most suitable product for yourself.
LED spotlights are among the most common interior lighting fixtures. They are usually small spotlights mounted on the ceiling which send a bright, narrow beam of light and can perfectly illuminate even very distant objects. LED lights have a great amount of advantages. They look and work exactly the same as the traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs, however the use of advanced technology makes them more efficient and energy-saving, more cost-effective and more environmentally-friendly.
Because their price is higher than the price for their traditional equivalents, some people may consider that as a drawback. However, when we realize that the lifespan of an LED bulb is 20-50 times longer and when switching to LED lighting you can save up to 90% off your energy bill, we can see that the overall savings are huge!
Not all LED spotlights are the same, and the wide variety of products available on the market may cause a bit of confusion and frustration. Here's a few important things to consider while looking for the best LED spotlights for your home or work space.
When choosing the right spotlights, we need to consider the size and form of the bulbs. Depending on the type of room, we might need a different set of spotlights to best fulfill their purpose and match an overall interior design.
There are basically three main types of LED spotlights: MR, BR and PAR. The main difference between them is the angle of the light beam, their size and the type of base fittings. The most common type of spotlight is the GU10, which is similar to a bayonet cap, however it will not be compatible with BC fittings.
We should also remember that the more powerful the LED bulb, the greater size it will be because it will require a larger heat sink.
Beam angle determines how narrow or how wide the light beam will be cast by a certain type of bulb. LED spotlight bulbs can reach up to 120°. A wide beam will illuminate a larger area and create a nice even coverage, so it's most suitable for your living room space or kitchen counters.
A narrow beam (from 20°-40°), on the other hand, would be the best choice for highlighting a piece of artwork. Spotlights casting a narrow light beam can be also easily adjustable, which enables us to direct the light at any desired spot.
The power and brightness of the LED bulb is probably the most important feature. We are used to thinking about this in terms of Watts, as we remember that a 60 watt incandescent light bulb gives out more light than the 40 watt one. We should remember, however, that by watts we measure the amount of energy in, and not out.
The same goes for brightness, for which watts are no longer a relevant means of measure. Foremost a narrower beam angle will result in more brightness. However, it isn't the level of brightness but the amount of light which is produced that really matters, and that is measured in lumens (lm). For a general home use, it's enough to choose a light bulb with lumens value between 300-800lm.
When we compare LED spotlights with the halogen ones, we notice a significant difference as it comes to the colour temperature of the light. LED spotlights give us a choice of the colour temperature, thanks to which we can create a desired mood in the interior.
There are basically three types of colour temperature: cold, neutral and warm, and this feature is measured in Kelvins (K). The higher the number the bluer (colder) the light, while 4000K marks the middle of the scale and is often called the "neutral white". If you buy LED lights for the first time, it's recommended to start with 3000K LED spotlights.
CRI rating is measured on a scale from 0-100 and it describes how accurate the colours and details of an object would appear under the light. This information should be given on the product's specifications.
Low CRI would make the surface of an object look dull and lacking in colour. An ideal CRI would make objects look exactly the same as under a halogen light. It is recommended to buy spot lights with a minimum of 80 CRI.
When choosing the best LED spotlights, it's also worth considering whether you need dimmable or non-dimmable lights. It's very beneficial to add bulbs with this feature because not only will this allow you to control the intensity of light in your room. Also, you'll be able to save a substantial amount of money as dimmed light will use less energy.
When selecting this option, make sure that you use the right dimmers because not all of them are compatible with certain spotlights. Wrong installation may result in malfunction or cause some LEDs to break so it's recommended to contact a specialist who will be able to provide you with the best advice.
LED spotlights form a large category in the contemporary lighting industry. There are thousands of products available at different prices and in various shapes and colours, with a great selection of light bulbs. Thanks to that, every person can find a set that suits his needs perfectly. Hopefully thanks to this short guide, you will understand these products' features better and know what to consider while shopping in order to get the best results in terms of energy-saving and interior design.
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