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Lighting is a crucial component of interior design. Even a dull room can feel warm and inviting with bright, pleasing lighting. On the other hand, bad lighting can sabotage a space's otherwise attractive design. However, how you define "excellent" lighting will vary depending on the circumstances. For instance, you want the white in your bathroom to be as crisp and pure as possible. You may then apply your hair and cosmetics without being distracted by dim or strangely colored illumination. A dining room, on the other hand, benefits from a softer, warmer white that creates a more candlelight-like atmosphere.
When using LED bulbs, this gets a little more difficult. When compared to CFL or standard incandescent lights, LEDs have a few key advantages. They are incredibly energy-efficient, roughly 90% more so than incandescent bulbs, for starters. Additionally, they last a long time. LEDs have a lifespan of thousands of hours as opposed to the hundreds of hours of an incandescent bulb. However, ballasts have frequently been incorporated into the design of LED lights. This is irrelevant for some light fixtures since the bulb is concealed. But if your bulb will be on display, you should choose one that is gentler on the eyes. A vintage-style light can help in this situation. These are contemporary LED bulbs, however they are made to resemble vintage "Edison" bulbs.
Lumen Output.
In the past, people have looked to a light bulb's wattage to estimate how bright they need something to be. As a result of their widespread use, LED bulbs frequently mention their wattage equivalent. On the packaging of a 4-watt LED bulb, for instance, it might indicate "40-watt equivalent." It is therefore intended to produce an equivalent level of light to a 40-watt incandescent bulb.
However, luminous flux, sometimes known as "lumens," is a more accurate approach to gauge a lightbulb's output. The package for a bulb will often have this information someplace. For comparison, a 40-watt incandescent bulb produces about 450 lumens of light. An average 100-watt bulb produces 1,600 lumens.
Temperature of Color
The light's color temperature is the second most crucial factor after brightness. This "temperature" is a measurement of the whiteness of your bulb, and it is expressed in Kelvin (K). The color will be more crimson as the temperature drops. The bulb turns completely white as the temperature rises before eventually taking on a bluish hue. Contrary to popular belief, "warm" white is defined as having a lower color temperature whereas "cool" white has a higher color temperature. Since we are looking at older bulbs, their temperatures tend to be warm or very warm, between 2,000 and 3,000K.
1. Can regular LED bulbs be dimmed?
The same as incandescent bulbs, regular LED bulbs cannot be dimmed. Bulb designs for dimmable and non-dimmable versions are completely different. It might first appear to work if you install a non-dimmable bulb on a dimmer circuit. In reality, it will function flawlessly as long as the dimmer is set to 100%. However, using the dimmer will cause the bulb to wear out quickly. The bulb will, in the best case scenario, swiftly wear out. However, it can blow out right away or possibly harm your fixture. A dimmable bulb is required if you're intending to use a dimmer switch.
However, the reverse is not true in the same way. A dimmable bulb can be installed on a non-dimmable circuit and will still function properly. Dimming is the only thing it won't do.
2. Does My Dimmer Switch Need to Be Replaced?
You might not be able to use LED bulbs with your current dimmer switch because of the type of switch you have. It's probably not if you originally used the dimmer switch for incandescent or halogen lighting. This is thus because leading-edge dimmers, which are those that use more recent technology, are older dimmers. Though less popular, newer trailing-edge dimmers are better suited for LEDs. You can check to see what kind of switch is installed if you still have the documentation for your switch. An electrician can also assist you in solving the problem.
So why can using a leading-edge dimmer cause problems? They are made to accommodate higher-wattage bulbs, which is the reason. In reality, they are frequently made to operate halogen bulb strips or racks. Therefore, your maximum wattage rating will normally range from 250 to 1,000 watts. If you use a lot of power, that is excellent news. However, it uses far too much wattage for LED bulbs. However, this does not necessarily imply that you cannot use the dimmer. All you have to do is stay inside a very narrow range of power limits. The total load of LEDs must be at least one-tenth the dimmer's minimum wattage. If not, the lights will flicker and quickly expire. On the other hand, the bulbs will also suffer harm if their wattage exceeds 1/10th of the dimmer's maximum.
Often referred to as "LED-ready" dimmers, trailing-edge dimmers are made exclusively for LEDs. They are made for LED lamps' lower wattage requirements, for starters. As a result, a greater variety of LED lights will be compatible with you. Additionally totally digital are trailing-edge dimmers. This is just a better technique to manage LED power, to put it simply—without getting too technical. However, it's important to note that while some LEDs can be dimmed using cutting-edge technology, the contrary is also true. With a trailing-edge dimmer, you can still utilize incandescent or halogen lighting. Simply stay within the relatively low wattage restrictions of the dimmer.
Regarding Color Temperature
The light's color temperature is the second most crucial factor after brightness. This "temperature" is a measurement of the whiteness of your bulb, and it is expressed in Kelvin (K). The color will be more crimson as the temperature drops. The bulb turns completely white as the temperature rises before eventually taking on a bluish hue. Contrary to popular belief, "warm" white is defined as having a lower color temperature whereas "cool" white has a higher color temperature. Since we are looking at older bulbs, their temperatures tend to be warm or very warm, between 2,000 and 3,000K.
These are the greatest LED light bulbs in the Edison vintage style. They are long-lasting, strong, and quite inexpensive. These light bulbs can make your house feel cozy and welcoming.
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