03/29/2017 at 23:20 · pavlofox · 1 590

The most economical light bulbs for the home

Everyone sooner or later faces the situation when they need to change the light bulb in the house. It is not difficult to go to a hardware store, but it is quite difficult to decide which product to buy, given the current abundance of species. The right product is not only serviceable and working for a long time, but also a light bulb that saves your budget. Incandescent lamps are already considered obsolete or use a lot of electricity. Such lamps compete with fluorescent, LED and other types of energy-saving lamps. The latter are considered the most energy-efficient (up to 80%). Below we will consider most economical light bulbs for home.

10 Philips

LED lamps from Philips. One of the most reliable manufacturers of energy-saving lamps for the home on the Russian market is Philips. The manufacturer offers its products in various options. Such as standard, candle-shaped, drop-shaped. A standard 5 watt LED product will cost you about 100 rubles. There are also models made in the form of an incandescent lamp. They are transparent, so even when turned off they attract attention as a design decision. Such lamps are suitable for adherents of the classics in home design.

9. Feron

Feron. This company has been on the lighting equipment market for more than 17 years, it offers about 4,000 items of lighting equipment, among which there are sure to be energy-saving light bulbs for your home. The company also owns the brand "Saffit" focused on goods for the population. The manufacturer cooperates with many companies from the CIS countries, so that it can be found throughout the former union. The products offered by the company for the home differ in power, style, design and of course in price.

8. Camelion

camelion. The company produces not only economical light bulbs for the home, but also lighting equipment, power supplies, and lanterns. Like energy-saving lighting products, the rest of the company's products are presented in a variety of forms, depending on the purpose. For the home, LED, fluorescent, halogen lamps are offered. Item prices vary depending on your preference. The company also constantly conducts various promotions, makes discounts on its products. In our rapidly developing world, interior designers come up with something new every day, but manufacturers of energy-saving lighting do not lag behind and constantly update the design of their products.

7.Osram

Osram. This company founded more than 100 years ago is one of the leading manufacturers of lighting equipment in the world. The company specializes in automatic and special lighting, as well as civil products. The production of economical light bulbs for the home is also one of the company's activities. On the Russian market, Osram products are sold, like the official representative offices of the company, but almost all network sellers of lighting equipment. You can buy lamps for the home at a price of 30 rubles or more, depending on what type of product you are looking for and what power you are interested in.

6. Optogan

Optogan. For the first time, the company's products appeared on the Russian market in 2011. In addition, Optogan is the only company that carries out a full production cycle directly on the territory of the Russian Federation. The company's products can be found throughout the Russian Federation, as well as Eastern Europe and the CIS countries. Energy-saving light bulbs for your home can be purchased at specialized chain stores, as well as via the Internet. The price of products starts from 100 rubles. The choice is yours, rest assured you will find what you like.

5.Navigator

Navigator. Until 2006, the manufacturer of the Navigator brand was engaged in the promotion of goods of other companies, such as Panasonic, Duracell, Energizer, etc. But in 2006, the brand appeared, and the promotion of its own products began. The company produces energy-saving lamps for home, industrial use and housing and communal services. Energy-saving lighting technology can be purchased in three main types: LED, fluorescent and halogen. Fluorescent bulbs cost from 100 to 1000 rubles, LED from 65 to 2400 rubles, from 25 to 140 rubles. Many are afraid to purchase halogen lighting because of the gas contained in them. But at correct use they are not only safe, but the cheapest among energy-saving ones.

4. X-Flash

X flash. Another Chinese manufacturer of lighting equipment has appeared on the Russian market relatively recently. LED products of this manufacturer presented in all its diversity, you can choose the right energy-saving light bulb for your home. Prices for products vary depending on the design, functionality and power of the product. So you can buy light bulbs from 50 rubles to 1500 rubles. There are more powerful, expensive models available, but they are mainly intended for industrial facilities. However, if you live in a private house, they can be used to illuminate the courtyard area.

3. Lisma

Lisma. This company is a state unitary enterprise located in Mordovia. The enterprise produces more than 300 types of goods, and is the largest enterprise of its kind in the entire territory of the Russian Federation and the CIS. Energy-saving lamps for the home presented by this company are divided into LED, sodium, metal halide, mercury, fluorescent and halogen. An analysis of Internet offers showed that the price of the company's products is approximately the same as that of other market participants.

2. Dumas

"Duma". On the Russian market of lighting equipment, you can meet another domestic manufacturer, CJSC NPO Dumas from Novosibirsk. The company manufactures LED products, including energy-saving light bulbs for the home. The company offers a variety of shapes and capacities for its products, so that it is in no way inferior to foreign well-known brands. Prices for the company's products are in the same category as the products of other market participants.

1. Bulb Tomic

"Lamp of Tomich". Such an allegorical brand for its products was made by the Tomsk Lighting Engineering Plant. In addition to LED bulbs, the plant produces glass tubes for fluorescent bulbs, LED lamps, conventional incandescent lamps and, of course, special-purpose lamps. The price for "Lampochka Tomich" starts from 230 rubles and varies with dealers. This energy-saving light bulb is perfect for those who love everything retro, ready to sacrifice their hard-earned money for aesthetic pleasure. Since the light bulb is made exactly in the same design as the "Ilyich's light bulb", but instead of a spiral, there are LEDs. With such a light bulb, you will save money and stay true to tradition.

Readers' Choice:

To date, different types of lighting lamps are used, which differ in the nature of light, basic technical characteristics, and can also be used in various conditions.

Only the right choice of light source allows you to get optimal lighting efficiency with minimal electricity bills. We will consider the types and types of lighting lamps in the article.

What are lighting lamps? Depending on the conditions of the intended operation, it is necessary to choose the most suitable light source.

One of the most important characteristics of a lighting device is the lamp power indicated by the manufacturer on the base or bulb of the light source. It is from these indicators, calculated in lumens, that the level of luminous flux directly depends.

Of no small importance when choosing a lamp is also such a parameter as light output, which determines the number of lumens of light per 1W of power:

• in lamps with incandescent filaments - 7.0-17 lm / W;
• in krypton lamps - 8.0-19 lm / W;
• in halogen light sources - 14-30 lm / W;
• in mercury lamps - 40-60 lm / W;
• in luminescent light sources - 40-90 lm / W;
• in compact fluorescent lighting fixtures - 40-90 lm / W;
• in sodium lamps - 90-150 lm / W.

Ordinary incandescent lamps are the very first or oldest source of eclectic lighting. In spite of general principle work with incandescent lamps, the most modern halogen bulbs are distinguished by the presence of a gas composition inside the cylinder, and in any fluorescent light sources, operation is based on the effect of electric current on mercury vapor.

However, a real breakthrough in the field of lighting technology was the emergence of very compact energy-saving lighting devices that differ not only in power, but also in the shape of the discharge tubes.

The principle of operation of LED lamps is the presence of the most common semiconductor, and when a certain amount of current passes, radiation or light is generated.

Incandescent lamps

This variant of artificial lighting is characterized by the formation of light from a filament body, which is heated to high temperatures under the influence of an electric current.

The design can be very diverse, which directly depends on the purpose or operating conditions, but the obligatory elements are always a glass bulb or cylinder, a glow body, hook holders, a leg, current inputs and a fuse, as well as a standard case, an insulator and bottom contacts in the base part .

The advantages of such lamps are presented:

• high color-transmitting index;
• affordable cost;
• small size;
• no need to use ballasts;
• instant ignition;
• low sensitivity to power outages;
• the absence of toxic effects on others.

However, the decline in popularity is also due to some disadvantages, which can be considered low light output and a short service life.

Fluorescent

The widespread use of fluorescent lamps is well justified. Such light sources differ in spectrum, diameter and shape of the bulb, power, physical characteristics of the base and their number, the need to use a starter or the ability to connect without the use of starting equipment.

The principle of operation, as well as the operation features of fluorescent lamps, are the same for the entire class of these lamps. Under the influence of an electric discharge in mercury vapor, ultraviolet radiation is formed, which is absorbed by the phosphor and forms light radiation.

Fluorescent lamp options

The disadvantages of such lighting devices include the toxicity of the bulb filler and, as a result, the need for proper disposal of failed lamps. You should also take into account the lack of soft start and the inability to adjust the brightness of the lighting.

Halogen

Such lighting devices are presented in two types.

In the first case, the operability of the light bulb is ensured by a high mains voltage of 220V without the use of a transformer.

The second option is represented by devices operating in the conditions of using step-down transformers.

Halogen light sources are in great demand as additional illumination and, if necessary, to ensure complete safety, therefore they are often used in rooms with high humidity.

The main difference from a standard incandescent lamp is the presence of a gas composition with bromine or iodine in a cylinder, which allows you to effectively increase the temperature of the filament and at the same time reduce the level of tungsten evaporation.

LED lights

Lighting sources of the LED type have become known to domestic consumers relatively recently. The scope of operation of led-lamps is very wide, due to the following undeniable advantages:

• high environmental friendliness and no emission of carbon dioxide or mercury vapor;
• energy savings up to 60-70% compared to other light sources;
• durability and no need for regular maintenance;
• obtaining uniform lighting;
• lack of effects represented by color spots, stripes and ripples.

Especially popular are console models, which are distinguished by a high level of power and uniform illumination of a large area of ​​space.

All internal parts are provided with reliable protection, represented by a metal and polycarbonate shockproof case.

Types of lighting lamp bases

Regardless of the nature of light, all types of lamps have a common structural element - the base. In everyday life, light sources with a small (E14), medium (E27) and large (E40) base are used, as well as fluorescent and halogen lamps with a pin or G-base.

What types of lamps are used for artificial lighting?

According to its main purpose, all artificial lighting is divided into several types:

• working lighting;
• emergency lighting;
• special lighting.

According to the implementation parameters, all artificial lighting can also be classified into the following groups:

• general lighting;
• local lighting;
• accent lighting;
• combined lighting.

In the direction of the light flux, artificial lighting can be direct and indirect, as well as mixed and diffused. In residential premises, it is advisable to use standard lighting devices equipped with incandescent lamps or energy-saving lamps with an increased coefficient of energy conversion into light.

Any halogen lamps are very sensitive to voltage drops and often fail at home, and a starting device is required to connect fluorescent lamps.

It is strongly not recommended to use neon, xenon and arc lamps in residential premises, which differ high pressure in a flask, limited service life, high starting and operating currents, as well as strong heating and fire hazard.

Conclusion

When choosing a light source, you need to focus primarily on the nature and operating conditions, as well as the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.

The most common incandescent lamps with thermal radiation in our country are very convenient and completely undemanding in operation, but it is customary to use fluorescent lamps in rooms where it is necessary to create the most favorable lighting conditions.

Related video

With the advent of dark autumn days, and then winter days, artificial light is increasingly used in our apartments. Which light bulbs are best for the home, which ones to prefer, which ones are more economical? We will analyze the pros and cons of commercially available lamps: incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, LED. Let's consider in what tone it is better to choose paws for the house and how to save electricity in the apartment. But first, a little history ...

The most common incandescent light bulb is already over a hundred years old and its appearance was not immediately accepted by the people. At first, electric lighting was treated with caution. Firstly, it is not clear how it works, and everything unclear is terrifying. Secondly, even if there are big fires from a small candle, then it is generally not known what to expect from such a “luminary”. How to remove soot from the wick, how to clean the smoked glass - again the question. In general, people can be understood. I must admit that the light bulb itself looked far from being as elegant as it is now. The first samples of glass did not have any at all (outwardly, Yablochkov’s electric candle really looked like a candle), even charcoal-coated threads were used as an incandescent element, they didn’t last long (Lodygin’s bulbs burned at first for only 30 minutes).

Different lamps are important, different lamps are needed

Modern light bulbs are produced in various types and sizes, the flasks are made colored and matte, they are given any shape. Light bulbs are presented in stores today quite widely and come in four types: incandescent, halogen (halogen), fluorescent and LED.

Incandescent light bulbs

The incandescent light bulb is familiar to everyone and, despite the emergence of more advanced competitors, it confidently holds the lead - fifteen billion electric candles are sold annually in the world. They emit a warm light, which makes our apartments more comfortable and have an affordable price.

Operating principle incandescent lamps are based on the incandescence of a metal arc (which is most often made of tungsten). When an electric current passes, the arc heats up, and heat and light energy begin to be released.

Specifications. Incandescent bulbs have an average service life of a thousand hours, a luminous efficacy of 8-20 lm / W (this indicator indicates how much light is produced by the lamp for each watt of energy), a color temperature of 2800-3200 K, have a yellow glow.

Advantages:

• variety of different forms,
• large selection of different sizes,
• you can choose the desired operating voltage rating,
• not high cost.

Flaws:

• strong heating of the flask,
• consume a lot of energy
• burn out during power surges.

One of the significant drawbacks of incandescent bulbs is that due to strong heating, not all lamps can be used. They cannot be attributed to an economical use case, since they consume quite a lot of energy, while the lion's share of it turns not into light, but into heat. And finally, an ordinary incandescent lamp will not withstand a power surge in your apartment and will burn out.

All this does not speak in favor of this type of light bulbs, for example, they should not be used to illuminate large rooms.

Incandescent bulbs are sold in two types - with a transparent and matte bulb. This should be taken into account and transparent light bulbs should be used only in closed fixtures so as not to spoil your vision by direct light entering your eyes.

Halogen (halogen) lamps

But more and more often, the buyer chooses halogen lamps, which, if you look, are ordinary sisters.

Operating principle. Chemicals - halogens (bromine or iodine vapors) were added to the lamp bulb; better quality quartz glass and special reflectors were used for its manufacture. Simple, but the result is obvious!

Specifications. Such lamps have twice the luminous efficiency (20-30 lm / W), longer service life (ordinary lamps, as already mentioned above, can burn up to a thousand hours, and the service life of “halogen lamps” is from two thousand to seven thousand), less power consumption (due to reflectors, a 50-watt "halogen" shines as brightly as a 150-watt one, on average, the power consumption is reduced by 20-40%), smaller sizes. They have a color temperature of 2700-3200 K, power is from 12 to 1000 W and a yellow glow.

When buying, pay attention to the angle of dispersion of the light beam (if the angle is narrow, the light bulb will shine at one point, and this is not always necessary).

Advantages:

• many sizes,
• a large selection of different shapes,
• the power indicator varies from 12 to 1000 watts.

The possibility of their use in cutting-edge lighting systems also speaks in favor of such lamps. For example, current-carrying tires, to which certain points halogen lamps are attached. They can be easily installed (in any quantity), rearranged as often as you like, change the direction of the light, direct it, for example, to a hanging picture or to focus on furniture, etc. The most common use of halogen lamps is to illuminate the kitchen worktop with them. And with the help of small-sized light bulbs of low power (5-10 W), you can create a real "starry sky" in your own home.

Flaws:

• pretty strong heat
• can't handle voltage fluctuations.

The main disadvantage of halogen lamps can also be attributed, which also applies to incandescent lamps - quite strong heating.

More familiar to us fluorescent lamps are arranged differently.

Operating principle. This is a cylindrical tube with electrodes containing mercury vapor with an inert gas. They emit ultraviolet rays, causing the phosphor applied to the walls of the tube to glow.

Specifications. Such lamps can burn continuously for ten to fifteen thousand hours, and consume five times less energy than incandescent lamps (they, however, need some time to flare up at full strength). They have a color temperature of 4000-7000 K, a luminous efficiency of 40-110 lm / W, white and light yellow glow. They give cold light, so the color and shape of objects in such lighting look distorted. They emit different colors - white, yellow, red, green, blue, therefore they are often used for decorative decoration of rooms. Tubular fluorescent lamps are usually used in offices, enterprises, less often at home.

However, for Lately their design has changed significantly, which has made them quite popular among the people. These are no longer those bulky white tubes that unpleasantly buzz, blink and flood the room with some kind of dead light.

Modern compact fluorescent light bulbs look only slightly different from incandescent bulbs, do not require special wiring and are screwed into standard sockets with a diameter of 27 and 14 mm. They are of a warmer spectrum, giving the usual "shadow" light, indistinguishable from the light of incandescent bulbs. Light bulbs with compact flasks are deprived of another drawback - the light is lit immediately after switching on.

Advantages of both types of fluorescent light bulbs (tubular and compact):

• saving up to 80% of electricity (compared to incandescent bulbs),
• have low heat, so they can be unscrewed even when working,
• do not flicker when turned on.

Disadvantages of fluorescent light bulbs:

• they contain mercury, so they require special disposal (they must be taken back to the store or in special containers),
• harmful effects on human vision (doctors are still arguing about this),
• emit different colors
• not high color rendering,
• react to temperature changes
• fade with time of use
• have a higher price (compared to incandescent bulbs),
• cannot withstand voltage fluctuations.

Energy-saving light bulbs, which include fluorescent ones, are not designed to be constantly turned on and off (this causes them to fail faster). It is enough to turn them on (off) once a day.

If you have opted for fluorescent light bulbs, then it is better to buy well-known manufacturers: Philips, Pila, Osram, General Electric. Since Chinese counterparts, although cheaper, in most cases cannot meet the parameters stated on the packaging: service life, power, glow shade, and even be harmful to health.

LED light bulbs are by far the most energy-efficient type of light bulbs.

Operating principle. The lamp consists of a cathode and an anode, in the center of which is a light-emitting crystal. When current passes from the source, it moves from the anode to the cathode and is converted into light radiation.

LED light bulbs are becoming more and more common in everyday life, the service life of which exceeds one hundred thousand hours!

Specifications. LEDs have a maximum service life, on average it is 60 - 90 thousand hours, light output is about 650 lm / W, color temperature is 2700-3200 K, warm white glow.

Advantages:

• practically work without heating,
• are harmless to the eyes.

Flaws:

• possibility of pulsation
• high cost.

LED light bulbs of the latest generation are widely used for decorative lighting of paintings, panels, and other exhibition works, as they are long-lasting and almost do not heat up (they do not burn out the color of the paintings).

What color is best?

You bought the most beautiful chandelier, hung it from the ceiling, flipped the switch... But the miracle did not happen. Something is wrong ... It turns out that the mood, comfort and warmth of the room in which you are going to often stay or live permanently depends on what kind of light an ordinary light bulb scatters. Therefore, do not neglect this moment and even before buying a light bulb in a store, decide on the tone.

The type of light bulbs can be different, bulbs can emit warm (2700-3000 K), neutral and cold (4000-6000 K) light. And also have a radiance of a different color palette.

warm tone ideal for almost all areas of the apartment: bedroom, living room, dining room.

Cold tone corresponds to daylight and such lamps are best used in large rooms and rooms for various decorative design - highlighting certain areas.

Neutral key as well as white-warm, it can be used for any premises of the apartment, it is especially suitable for the workplace, as it will help concentration, for lighting in the kitchen and in.

In addition, you can find light bulbs on sale that emit lemon, tangerine, azure, jade and pink light. Such lighting has its own impact on a person and this must also be taken into account.

The lemon glow of the light bulb fills the room as if the sun had entered it. Therefore, it is appropriate to use such bulbs for those whose apartments are located on the north side of the house. And also buy in the fall, when cases often appear and such lighting of the room can cheer up the person in it.

The azure glow of the light bulb is perfect for the office, as it helps to focus well.

tangerine glow coming from the light bulb will perfectly emphasize the wooden furniture in the apartment.

Pink glow will refresh the interior itself.

Light bulbs with jade glow will give brightness and freshness to plants located in the interior of the room.

Energy-saving light bulbs - pros and cons. How to save electricity in the apartment?

According to statistics, a third of all electricity consumed in everyday life is spent on apartment lighting.

The meticulous turning off of the light in the rooms when no one needs it, of course, will give some result, but this is far from exhausting all the ways to save money. There are several solutions that can help you save on energy costs. Energy-saving light bulbs help you. We have already discussed their pros and cons above. It remains an open question which of them to choose for solving home lighting problems.

Advantages of energy saving lamps. Fluorescent lamps will help to reduce electricity consumption by almost half without changing the comfortable level of illumination. Their luminous efficiency is 4-6 times greater than that of incandescent lamps. Therefore, a 15-watt fluorescent lamp will shine as brightly as a 75-watt incandescent lamp, and electricity consumption will be reduced by five times. It is estimated that in a standard apartment up to 50 m2, replacing simple light bulbs with fluorescent ones will save almost 1500 kWh per year!

Therefore, another type of energy-saving lamps, which is gaining more and more popularity in last years- . Being absolutely safe for human health, they have a significant service life and consume much less electricity. And the price of them is becoming more affordable every year. I propose to look at the table, from which you can clearly see what kind of savings will be in the apartment, when replacing an ordinary incandescent light bulb with energy-saving ones: fluorescent and LED.

Special thanks to the designers. It turns out that the fashionable design technique of using general and local room lighting also helps to save electricity. When used, for example, for a workplace or a corner for relaxation, lamps with a power of half that of a pendant lamp will be required. For these purposes, you can use, for example, halogen bulbs.

Refrigerator without a "fur coat". Household appliances consume less electricity. The compressor will turn on more often if, in violation of the instructions, the refrigerator is placed close to the wall or constantly stirring uncooled food into it. By freeing the refrigerator from the ice coat in time, you will reduce energy costs by 20%.

Proper electric heater.When buying an electric heater, prefer models with a thermostat and a timer. Heating the air to the set temperature, the device will automatically turn off. Installing temperature regime, keep in mind that the comfortable temperature in the room at night is not higher than +18, and during the day + 20.

Geometry lesson in the kitchen. The main "devourer" of electricity in the kitchen is the stove. Depending on the model, its total power can reach 9 kW. To maximize the use of heat, it is better to buy cast iron or steel stamped cookware that is enameled all over except the bottom. It should be flat and even so that heat is not lost in the gaps, at least 5-7 mm thick, and in diameter correspond to the size of the burner or be slightly larger. In this case, the energy savings will be about 10%. A small pot on a large burner may boil faster, but it will use 30% more electricity.

Boil water properly in a kettle. After the stove, the second most used appliance in the kitchen is the electric kettle. If you boil water in it, then do not fill it to the brim, pour as much water into it as you need in this case.

On a note

• If you wash the ceiling lamps monthly and wipe the light bulbs from dust, then the house will become not only cleaner, but also lighter.
• And with scale on the heating element, and a vacuum cleaner with a clogged dust container, and an iron with soot on the sole, consume 10-15% more electricity!
• In order not to constantly think about turning off unnecessary light bulbs, you can install a dimmer switch in an apartment or house, and if funds allow, then a motion sensor so that smart automation turns the light on and off by itself.

Let's sum up

On the way to choosing the lighting of your own home, you need to take into account everything: humidity, temperature, the possibility of power surges. This is necessary in order to understand which light bulbs are best for the home - energy-saving or ordinary incandescent bulbs are suitable. If your home is cool, then the heat from a simple incandescent bulb will help warm the room, especially if it is small. In addition, warm, familiar to the eye light comes from them, as they have an ideal color rendition. In this case, perhaps you should not think about energy saving and the good old Ilyich's light bulb will be the most suitable option.

If your house has been renovated and there are, for example, suspended ceilings, then in such structures the use of very hot incandescent bulbs is unsafe. Then you should opt for energy-saving types: LED or halogen. LED light bulbs emit light that is safe for eye health, but it is important to buy them carefully - choose ones that do not pulsate.
I suggest watching a video on how to choose LED light bulbs so that using them in your home does not harm your health.

If you are not satisfied with the too expensive price of LED bulbs, then on the way to energy saving you can opt for halogen ones. They, unlike compact fluorescent ones, are not harmful to health, their light is pleasing to the eye, but in this case it is better to buy low-voltage ones. Energy-saving light bulbs should not be used in the house if: there are power surges in the network, high humidity, unstable temperature. So, compare, choose, turn on. Let there be light!

Energy-saving light bulbs are products shrouded in a halo of mystery. It would seem that the main advantage of their use is obvious even from the name - buy and rejoice.

Nevertheless, many of our compatriots are in no hurry to acquire "miracle developments", wanting to first find out:

• what is their device;
• what is their “frugality”;
• are they dangerous?
• why such familiar and “native” incandescent lamps fell into “disgrace”.

A number of users are also confused by the fact that reviews about the operation of such light sources are not always the most flattering.

All these doubts are fair and have the right to exist. Therefore, we will talk in detail about the advantages, disadvantages and intricacies of operating luminescent "housekeepers". And also about how to choose the right energy-saving lamp, if for you its pluses still outweigh the minuses.

Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) device

The first linear fluorescent lamps were produced in the United States in the late thirties of the last century. They began to be actively used in the fifties and sixties - they became a successful solution to the issue of lighting in industrial enterprises and office buildings. Unfortunately, linear fluorescent lamps could not become a "household breakthrough" for quite obvious reasons - their dimensions are very much not "home".

Therefore, the desire of manufacturers to significantly reduce the dimensions of the development became completely unsurprising. They succeeded in this “undertaking” only in the eighties, after new, better phosphors had been created. The diameter of the tube was reduced to 12 millimeters, and the tube itself was repeatedly bent. Years later, specialists managed to reduce the weight and size of fluorescent lamps so much that they became serious “competitors” to traditional incandescent lamps.

A modern compact fluorescent lamp consists of two key elements - a curved bulb and a base.

In the CFL flask there are tungsten electrodes "coated" with activating substances (a mixture of oxides of barium, strontium, calcium). The flask is filled with an inert gas with a small admixture of mercury vapor.

When voltage is applied to the lamp, a charge arises between the electrodes (which is quite natural), and it lights up. But almost all the radiation generated by it lies in the ultraviolet range. In order for this radiation to be "transformed" into light visible to the human eye, the inside of the bulb is coated with a special substance - a phosphor.

The composition of the phosphor directly determines the color characteristics of the resulting light, i.e. "quality phosphor = efficient lamp".

Interesting! A compact fluorescent lamp is the absolute champion among all light sources in terms of the number of common names. No matter how they call her - “kllshka”, “energy saving”, “housekeeper” ...

The advantages of "housekeepers" over incandescent lamps

1. The first and main advantage of compact fluorescent lamps is the highest light output. About five times larger than incandescent bulbs. If we talk about specific numbers, this means that the light output of a 100 W incandescent lamp will be equal to the light output of a 20 W fluorescent light source. The main trump card of such a purchase, as you might have guessed, lies in the ability to reduce electricity consumption for lighting by about 80%. Reducing the energy used is a "joy" not only for the wallet, but also for the environment. By reducing our consumer demand for it, we reduce the amount of harmful gas emissions, which are an "essential" by-product in the production of electricity.

Important! Throughout the civilized world, it is the importance of preserving the environment that is the key motivating factor for the transition to energy-saving light sources.

1. The classic reason for the failure of incandescent lamps is the burnout of the tungsten filament. The principle of operation and structure of CFLs are radically different. This allows them to operate 6-15 times longer. The average resource of housekeepers is 6-12 thousand hours.
2. Since CFLs need to be replaced much less frequently than Ilyich's bulbs, they are very convenient to use in hard-to-reach fixtures (for example, in apartments with high ceilings).
3. Housekeepers not only consume less electricity, but also emit less heat. This allows you to safely install them in chandeliers and lamps with a temperature limit. Now you don’t have to worry that the cartridge, trim elements and wire will “float”.
4. Energy-saving lamps allow you to organize softer and more uniform lighting.

Disadvantages of energy saving lamps

1. Replacing all the ordinary light bulbs in the house with housekeepers at once can be quite difficult financially. One CFL will cost 10-20 times more than a conventional incandescent lamp.
2. Too frequent on / off will significantly shorten the life of the housekeeper.
3. Standard CFLs must not be used in luminaires that are controlled by dimmers (dimmers). For these purposes, there are special CFLs with brightness control, but needless to say, they cost an order of magnitude more expensive than the already expensive "ordinary" housekeepers.
4. CFLs contain mercury and other toxic substances - they must be disposed of properly; You can't throw them in a regular trash can.
5. It takes some time for the housekeeper to warm up to full power. In a room with a normal room - up to 45 seconds.
6. When using compact fluorescent lamps outdoors, it will not be possible to achieve the same bright light as indoors.

High-quality energy-saving lamps - how to choose and what to look for?

Weighed all the pros and cons? Have you come to the decision that this development definitely deserves consumer attention? So, it's time to go shopping. But which energy-saving lamp to choose if there are so many of them on the shelves?

There are a number of parameters by which you can determine the best samples for each specific case.

Power

Power is the first parameter that you should decide on when choosing an energy-saving light bulb. Considering that the light output of a CFL exceeds the light output of a conventional incandescent lamp by about five times, it is necessary to use this “translation” rule - divide the power of a “classic” light source that you are used to, by five. In practice, it will look like this: if 75-watt incandescent bulbs “flaunt” in your chandeliers, then a housekeeper with a power of 15 watts will be quite enough.

Note! The “law of division by five” does not always work. Some Chinese manufacturers can "please" buyers with only a fourfold increase in capacity. Therefore, the information on the packaging should be studied more than carefully.

Plinth type

The vast majority of modern housekeepers, intended to replace obsolete incandescent lamps, use the "traditional" Edison base. The designation has such energy-saving lamps e27.

Sconces and small lamps may require light sources with an e14 base - pay attention to this. It differs from the classical one in a slightly smaller diameter.

Large energy-saving lamps with an e40 base are suitable for powerful and overall lighting fixtures.

Colorful temperature

Unlike incandescent lamps, CFLs can produce different kind glow. That is why some housekeepers seem to us uncomfortable for the eyes.

Such visual irritation occurs due to the incorrect color temperature of the lamp matched to a particular room.

• for office premises and cabinets, lamps with a color temperature of 6000-6500K will be optimal. They emit a cold white light with an "admixture" of blue;
• for the living room and nursery, it is advisable to stay at housekeepers with natural white light (4200K). This tone is very close in spectrum to natural light;
• for the kitchen and bedroom, CFLs with a color temperature of 2700K are ideal. Lighting from such a source is very similar to the atmosphere created by an incandescent lamp.

Price and service life

You should not be tempted by an obscenely cheap housekeeper. Otherwise, you run the risk of running into an “instance” that is unable to work even thousands of hours out of the declared four to six.

Guarantee

The warranty period for an energy-saving light bulb can be from 6 to 36 months, depending on the manufacturer. Naturally, the bigger it is, the better.

Be sure to ask at the place of purchase of the goods for the terms of the guarantee. As a rule, it is required to keep the receipt and the box from the product.

Form

The form of luminescent housekeepers can be quite diverse:

• U-shaped;
• spiral;
• semi-spiral;
• flask-shaped (pear, ball, candle).

Choose the one that best suits your aesthetic preferences and overall interior design.

Worth knowing! The most popular are U-shaped and spiral housekeepers. The shape of the product does not affect the quality of its work, which cannot be said about the price. Spiral, as a rule, are more expensive than U-like due to more complex production technology.

Useful advice! When buying fluorescent light bulbs for the first time, do not try to take a dozen at once to all rooms of the house. Take two or three with different color temperatures, test them, see if the eyes get tired from the acquired samples. And after a couple of days, buy the lamps to the required amount.

Which company to choose an energy-saving lamp?

If it is not difficult to determine the power, color temperature and type of base, then, as a rule, difficulties arise with the choice of a manufacturer. What are the best energy-saving lamps to choose, given that brands are “like stars in the sky”?

Experts are unanimous - preference should be given exclusively to those brands that have been on the market for many years and which can boast of exceptionally positive feedback from consumers.

The best energy-saving lamps, according to experts, are Philips, Osram, DeLux, Navigator, Camelion, Era.

Philips

Philips is the first company to offer new energy-saving light sources in the eighties. Since then, it has been actively and fruitfully developing the field of energy-saving technologies. Philips energy-saving lamps are always a wide range and beautiful appearance. And excellent quality and durability.

Osram

Osram is another "pioneer" of the housekeeper market. The company produced its first lamp in 1985. All Osram fluorescent energy-saving lamps have a long service life (up to 15,000 hours) and can easily withstand an impressive number of restarts (5,000 - 500,000).

Navigator

Navigator energy-saving lamps appeared on the domestic market in 2006. The range of products under the name Navigator includes about a hundred positions, among them: U-shaped, spiral-shaped, decorative light sources.

camelion

The range of Camelion energy-saving lamps is able to satisfy the wishes of any buyer with any income level. Three series of housekeepers are produced under the Camelion brand:

• Camelion ECO;
• Camelion Classic;
• Camelion Pro.

Camelion ECO is a standard size, half-year warranty, high brightness and a service life of 6000 hours.

Camelion Classic is compact in size, guaranteed 1 year, service life - 8000 hours.

Camelion PRO is an ultra-compact size, exclusive range, warranty - 1 year, service life - from 10,000 hours.

Era

Era energy-saving lamps first appeared in Russia in 2008.

Their current range makes it easy to replace absolutely all incandescent lamps - regardless of the shape and type of base.

TOP 3 questions about energy-saving lamps

Is it worth it to “completely” change all the light bulbs in and around the house to housekeepers?

Definitely not. In every house and in every apartment there are such lamps that turn on for a total of five minutes a day (appliances in the pantry, basement, in the attic, in the toilet, finally). In a year you will save a penny on them, while CFL will pay off in 10-12 years, if it still “survives”. As they say, the game is not worth the candle.

When are energy-saving light bulbs a truly cost-effective solution?

The housekeeper is a smart choice for chandeliers and fixtures that run at least three to four hours a day. In this scenario, by reducing energy costs, the product pays off in 3 years. And then, accordingly, "works" for you.

What other energy-saving light sources, besides CFLs, can be used in everyday life?

Halogen lamps are an excellent choice. True, it is impossible to call them such energy-saving ones, since they are only twice as economical as incandescent lamps. But the advantages of halogens are already enough:

• narrowly directed light distribution;
• possibility of use with regulators;
• compact dimensions;
• the highest quality of light transmission.

Light-emitting diode (LED) light sources are becoming a very promising option for home use today. They are durable, energy efficient, and produce quality light.

Electricity prices are now such that, willy-nilly, you begin to think about saving. The easiest way to lower your energy bills is to lower your lighting costs. It is it that “eats” most of the kilowatts in an ordinary apartment or house. Which lamps are best for the home and by what parameters, we will discuss in this article.

On the shelves of shops you can see different lamps. Let's take a closer look at those that are installed in private houses and apartments.

Lighting in the house should be cozy, comfortable ... preferably economical

Incandescent lamps

The oldest lighting fixtures are over a century old. They give light that is pleasant to the eyes, but during operation they get very hot, as they have low efficiency - about 97% of the energy is spent on heat generation. Therefore, lighting using conventional incandescent lamps is expensive. It is for this reason that many decide to replace them with more economical ones, while deciding which lamps are best for the home and for the wallet.

There is another unpleasant property of incandescent lamps - not too long service life. On average, it is about 1000 -3000 hours. Since the price of these lighting fixtures is low, this is a small burden on the wallet. However, frequent replacement can be unnerving - you have to constantly have a couple of pieces in stock.

A widespread trend - the usual incandescent lamps are replaced by more economical ones

It is also worth taking into account that, due to the design features, they are produced only with a screw base, but they work from a 220 V network and do not require any converters or special devices. Due to the large amount of heat, they are not used to illuminate furniture, they are not compatible with all suspended ceilings, but they are not friendly with stretch ceilings at all. In general, this is a classic lighting, but not ideal.

Halogen

Halogen lamps are a type of incandescent lamp. They differ in that the flask is filled with halogen vapors (most often iodine or bromine), which increases the service life by 2-3 times. The design allows you to make them not only with a screw base, but also with a pin base. The different shape of the bulb, the use of reflective coating, allow you to make light sources with different scattering angles. Therefore, at one time, they were widely used as built-in ceilings or furniture.

Halogen incandescent lamps - a more "advanced" option

Since these are also incandescent lamps, they have almost the same drawbacks - a significant heat generation. And that's the problem. But the power consumption is less (about 2-3 times). So they are more economical compared to the classic design. But they have an additional minus - they do not tolerate pollution on the flask. A fingerprint can cause burnout. Therefore, the installation must be done with gloves.

Fluorescent: tubular and compact (housekeeper)

In the operation of these lighting devices, a different principle is used - the property of certain phosphor substances under certain conditions to emit light. Structurally, it consists of a glass tube coated with a phosphor. Inside the tube there are electrodes and some mercury vapor. An electric charge is created on the electrodes, the energy of which is converted into light radiation with the help of a phosphor.

To create and maintain an electric charge, fluorescent lamps need a ballast - a voltage transformer and a starter. As standard, these devices are mounted on the body of luminaires, which can only work with this type of luminaire.

Available in two types:

If we talk about comparison with incandescent lamps, then they are 3 times more economical, they almost do not heat up. A serious minus - due to the pulsation, the light is unpleasant for the eyes and potentially hazardous to health (leads to increased fatigue, can be a cause bad mood). In this type of lighting devices, it is almost impossible to get rid of the ripple. What can be done is to minimize it and, by adding one incandescent lamp, to minimize the negative effect.

Still many are alarmed that inside the flask contains mercury vapor, which carries a potential hazard. This is briefly about the main disadvantages, then we will take a closer look at the pros and cons of fluorescent lamps.

LED

This is the third type of lamp that uses semiconductor devices - LEDs. They do not need any special atmosphere, so the flask is leaky, and this is more a tribute to tradition than a necessity. All that LEDs need to work is a constant voltage of 12 V or 24 V. So it’s easy to operate - to connect to a 220 V network, you need a voltage converter (power supply, adapter). In LED lamps for standard fixtures, this converter is built into the body, so it is easy to replace the usual incandescent lamps with them.

Briefly about the properties. They have high efficiency - they require 7-8 times less electricity than similar incandescent lamps, many times longer service life (at the request of manufacturers, they can work for 25-35 years). Disadvantages - expensive, it is difficult to determine the quality, low-grade ones have a strong ripple that negatively affects the eyes and well-being, and often fail. Therefore, choosing an LED lamp is not an easy task, requiring certain knowledge. But the bills, indeed, become much smaller.

Which lamps are best for home

All these lighting devices are used to illuminate residential premises. It is definitely impossible to answer which lamps are better for the home - everyone has advantages and disadvantages. If you are most concerned about eye comfort, the answer to the question “which lamps are best for your home” is incandescent. But at the same time, you will not be able to save on lighting. Slightly better is the situation with halogen. But for the eyes, lighting from 12 V halogens is more pleasant, which requires the presence of transformers. For those that work from 220 V, the light is too bright.

If we talk about saving on electricity bills, then the best will be LED lamp. This is undeniable. But you need to buy with knowledge of the matter - so that they are of good quality and work for a long time, and such are expensive. But, even under such conditions, they are beneficial, as they really help to significantly reduce energy consumption. A

Why LED, and not housekeepers? Let's compare their properties.

Compare fluorescent and LED light bulbs

When people have a desire to reduce electricity costs, they begin to think about replacing incandescent lamps with more economical ones. These are considered energy-saving (compact fluorescent) and LED. To understand which lamps are best for your home, you need to take a closer look at their advantages and disadvantages.

Having decided to replace incandescent lamps with more economical ones, it is necessary to decide which lamps are better for home - LED or compact fluorescent

housekeepers

So called compact fluorescent lamps. They were the first to appear on the market (compared to LEDs), which is why this name was assigned to them. Let's start with pluses:

At the time it was very good suggestion. The ability to receive "warm" and "cold" light, save on electricity - all this has led to the popularity of fluorescent energy-saving light bulbs.

But limitations they are serious:

There are many shortcomings, and almost all of them are serious. It is they who stop many, even despite the savings.

LED

These light bulbs are made on the basis of semiconductor elements - LEDs. Some of them are installed in a single housing, connected to a power source. Power supply - from a constant voltage of 12 V. In order to be able to use the lamps in standard fixtures, a rectifier and a circuit that lowers the voltage to 12 V are built into the case (both of these devices are often called a driver).

LEDs generate heat during operation. To remove it, a radiator is built into the case. And the bases of these lamps are different. They can be installed instead of incandescent lamps of various sizes, halogen, tubular fluorescent.

If we compare all four types in terms of power consumption with equal luminous flux

Advantages led lamps:

• They consume 7-8 times less electricity than incandescent ones, and 2-3 times less than fluorescent ones (housekeepers too).
• They have a long service life.
• Not afraid of vibration and shock.
• Light up immediately after switching on.
• They have a wide operating temperature range -40°C to +40°C.
• Can be any shade (any color).
• There are dimmable (changing the brightness of the glow).

The benefits are impressive. Particularly impressive is the economy and service life. But one should be skeptical about the figures announced by the manufacturers (about 25-35 years). They are for ideal conditions, which in our realities is practically unattainable. Really indicates the period of work declared by the manufacturers warranty period. This is the time they will most likely work. But even despite this, the period is considerable - 2-5 years.

Without shortcomings didn't work either:

• High price. 4-5 times more expensive than energy-saving ones and 20-40 times more expensive than incandescent ones.
• Low-quality LED lamps have a significant ripple.
• Without a diffuser, the light blinds the eyes, because most LED lamps are made with milky glass. Those in a transparent flask can only be used in conjunction with frosted shades.
• LEDs are afraid of overheating. When the critical temperature is exceeded for a long time (about 90°C), they lose their brightness. Therefore, it is unreasonable to use LED lamps in closed-type lamps.

When compared with the properties of fluorescent lamps, the advantage is clearly behind the LED. But everything is not so rosy in reality.

Which lamps are better for home: LED or fluorescent

In fact, LED lamps are better in all respects. But there it hurts "BUT". These should be high quality LED lamps. The thing is that the manufacturing technology is simple, does not require super complex or very expensive equipment. It is difficult to make LEDs, and it is not difficult to assemble an LED light bulb from them. Therefore, there are a lot of fakes and low-grade goods on the market. They use cheap low quality crystals, the driver is made the simplest, which does not suppress flicker and quickly fails.

The difficulty is that it is impossible to determine “by eye” the quality of LEDs or the same driver. Some experts are able to distinguish good LEDs by appearance. But in lamps they are hidden under a frosted bulb. Having set a goal, their quality can be checked by indirect signs - by measuring the illumination, pulsation, evaluating the color rendition. But the quality of the parts used in the power supply cannot be assessed. You only know when something breaks.

All this leads to the fact that many consider LED lamps unreliable - they burn out quickly, but are expensive. So it turns out that there is no savings. Moreover, there are problems with flickering ... It seems so, but this is true only if you buy cheap LED lamps. Branded lamps really serve for years without problems, they give out even, pleasant light for the eyes. So the main task is to find good quality LED lamps. And then you will know for sure which lamps are best for your home.

In summary: Replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs will only save on lighting bills if they last a long time, and perhaps only if High Quality. Quality light bulbs are not cheap. So, perhaps, this is the case when saving during the acquisition is not worth it.