Light Globes: Everything You Need to Know

At Electrx, we attract a lot of lighting clients and we are proud to be a Preferred Electrician For Beacon Lighting!

We have installed some beautiful and functional lighting in many restaurants and new home builds across Melbourne.

Lighting is not just about lighting up a room – There is a lot of science involved when doing lighting selection. The right lights will set the mood to a room and allow you to use the room or area for what you intend it’s function to be.
Read more about Aesthetic and Functional lighting

When it comes to lighting, there are three main types of light globes.

This section will cover the different types of light globes, how they work, and their effects on your lighting.

Incandescent Bulbs

These are the old-fashioned, “typical” light bulbs many of us grew up with. They’re not very energy-efficient-Approximately 90% of the energy generated in these bulbs is heat instead of light.
They are incredibly inefficient and do not last long.
Halogen globes also fall under this umbrella.
In 2009 the Australian Government started to focus its attention to phase out these globes

They are only found if you are looking for specialty lights such as heat lamps or retro-style fittings that modern globes do not fit into.
Even the antique-style-looking globes you see use modern lighting technology

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights). 

CFL light globes use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as their illumination source.

These are the globes that look like a spiral. They can be bulky when fitting into a light fitting and look unattractive if left as a naked bulb.

They were popular because they consume relatively little energy and emit little heat, which makes them ideal for spaces where you want to reduce your carbon footprint.

The cons of CFLs 

They take time before they warm up, and their full lighting strength is available.

If broken, they require special clean-up guidelines as they contain mercury, a hazardous/toxic product. They must also be safely disposed of when the bulb is to be replaced.

Although CFLs have been replaced by more energy-efficient LED options in recent years, they remain an affordable choice for many people.

 LED ( light Emitting Diodes)

LED light globes use LEDs as their source of illumination. They’re popular because they provide consistent, high-quality illumination, regardless of the surroundings. 

With a lifespan of approximately 25,000–35,000 hours, an LED bulb lasts 2 to 4 times longer than a CFL, and 25 to 35 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb.

 

Because LEDs don’t produce heat as incandescent bulbs do, LED light globes can be used where traditional lights were unsuitable.

LED lights are now used in almost every conceivable lighting configuration – From having the power to be used as floodlights – The MCG lighting towers are all LED lights!!

To be used in fashion accessories like jewellery or costumes.

Lumens, Candela & Lux Explained

When buying a light bulb, do you consider how much light you need?

Maybe you are asked about Watts, Lumens, Lux and Candela!

What Are Lumens

Lumens measure the total amount of light that comes from a light bulb.

We now measure the lighting strength or brightness with lumens. 

When incandescent bulbs were used, Watts or Wattage was used to indicate how much light a bulb would emit – the higher the wattage, the brighter the light. Watts was the energy measurement of how much power the globe used to create the light.
New lighting is now low energy, and the watt or wattage is no longer applicable.

Some LED lights will use the term Equivalent Wattage to indicate how bright a light is.
The light strength is now measured in lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light.

What is Lux?

Lux is also known as illumination,

It is the measurement of the amount of light seen on a surface area of 1 square metre from a certain distance.

For example, a light placed 2 metres above a work table may make it difficult to see what you are doing compared to a light 1 metre above your work table. So you will need a light with more illumination, or move the light lower, so the area is illuminated. 

In commercial settings, Lux is an important measurement as many tasks require an amount of illumination so that a task can be performed to a standard or for safety reasons.

As medical and dental electricians, medical settings require the highest lux requirements.
Read more about the requirements for dentists and medical clinics.

What Is Candela

Candela measures the intensity of light coming from a particular direction.
This is what candela is – the intensity of light in a particular direction and angle. It measures the volume and power of the light.

The word is linked to the term candlelight and is approximately equal to the amount of light emitted by a single wax candle.

But how is a candlelight measurement relevant today?

When working with feature lighting or spotlights, candela comes into play.

When a globe emits light – it is emitted equally from all of the globe.
What if we placed a mirror behind one side of the globe and angled it to create a light beam to shine on a feature. Now you have a light that has light that is concentrated and angled to shine at a certain point.

Lighting Bottom Line

By understanding the basics of lighting – from types of bulbs to lumens and candela – you can narrow your choices and find the perfect light fixtures for your home. 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing the right lighting for your home. However, keeping some basic principles in mind, you can find the perfect fit for your space. 

Whether you’re looking for something energy efficient, long-lasting, or stylish, there’s a light fixture perfect for you.

So go ahead and transform your space with light!

As lighting electricians – Electrx is skilled in helping you determine what lighting is going to suit your home or business; we consider everything we have just described.

We are Beacon Lighting’s preferred electricians – we can help you light up your home and get your lighting at better pricing.

Get in touch with our team today.