Shopping tips
If you need to replace a light-bulb or if you’re looking to improve the atmosphere in your home, you need to take a few things into consideration. At any-lamp.ie, we are always happy to help our customers. Therefore you can find below all the tips and information you need when buying a lamp.
Voltage
Firstly, to choose the right bulb, you need to decide what lamp you need and how much voltage it should require. Check if it is a 12V or 230V. If you have a 12V lamp, you need a transformer that can change from a 230V to 12V. In order to choose the right transformer, you need to know the wattage of the lamp. For example if you have a 35W light-bulb then you require a transformer that supports a 35W lamp. If you change to another wattage, for example to 50W, then you require a transformer that will support a 50W lamp.
Socket
You can only replace light-bulbs that use the same lamp base also known as socket. If you’re using an E14 socket, then you can only replace it with a E14 light-bulb. Any other type would not fit on that fixture. Here below is a description of the most common lamp bases which are also available on our range of products at any-lamp.ie.
Lamp types
Incandescent
- Incandescent lamps are one of the oldest form of lighting technologies; however their robust tungsten filament enables them to withstand intense shocks. As a result of this they are still often used in places such as construction sites. Find out more here.
Halogen
- Halogen lamps, unlike incandescent ones, use a different type of gas which has a small amount of halogen added. This compound creates a constantly intense light which is also more efficient, and has a longer lifetime. The ‘halogen cycle’ also prevents the blackening of your bulb (which is common with incandescent) so you will always benefit from bright, sparkling light. Find out more here.
Compact fluorescent (CFL)
- Compact fluorescent (CFL) lamps or energy saving lamps that have a low energy consumption. As a result of this they are an efficient form of lighting and consequently used in places where they will be switched on for long periods of time. All CFL bulbs (except E27 and E14) require the use of a ballast. Find out more here.
LED (Light Emitting Diode)
- LED (Light Emitting Diode) Lights are a new and innovative form of light. LED technology uses an electrified semiconductor to produce light; rather than a filament. As a result of this, LED lighting can be create in a variety of shapes and sizes. This technology is well known due to its low energy consumption, good quality light and extremely long lifetime. Apart from this specifications and the fact that they do not contain any chemicals, these lamps are eco-friendly and sustainable. Find out more here.
Lumens and watts
There is a confusion about how bright a light bulb is. When there were only incandescent type lamps, you could choose between 40, 60, 75 or 100 watt bulb. However, with the introduction of CFL and LED technology everything has changed.
What is the difference between lumens and watts?
A lumen (flux index) is a standard unit of light as it is perceived by the human eye. The lumens tell you how bright something is. Watt is a measurement of energy consumption or output:
|
Lumens |
Incandescent |
Halogen |
Compact fluorescent (CFL) |
LED |
|
Lumens/ watt |
15 lm/ watt (low efficiency) |
25lm / watt (low efficiency) |
50 lm/ watt (medium efficiency) |
80 lm/ watt (high efficiency) |
Colour code = colour rendering + colour temperature
The colour code consists of the Colour Rendering or Colour Display Index (Ra) and the Colour Temperature (Kelvin).
Colour Rendering (Ra)The first digit in the international color code stands for the colour rendering index: 8 = CRI Ra 80-89 |
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Colour Temperature (Kelvin)The next digits in the international colour code stand for the colour temperature. 27 = 2700 Kelvin |
Colour Display Index (Ra)
The Colour Display Index shows how well lights display colour. For example at supermarkets an shopping malls.
TL Lamps are usually indicated by these numbers 827/830/840/865. The 8 stands for 80Ra, the 27/30/40/65 stands for the colour temperature, for a better understanding of the colour temperature you can see the above mentioned Colour Temperature Display under Kelvin (K).
Between 90 and 100Ra you get a perfect result. The colour is displayed exactly how its supposed to be displayed, without any difference in the colour. Red remains deep red and doesn’t look dull. 90 and 100Ra are usually used in areas such as hospitals, printing rooms, car painting areas and in the graphic world and as well as in clothing shops.
Colour temperature
The colour temperature defines is the method of describing the color characteristics of light, usually either warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish), and measuring it in degrees of Kelvin (°K). The most common colour Temperatures (Kelvin) are as follows:
- 2700K = Very Warm White. Ensures for a relaxed & intimate sphere (Bedrooms)
- 3000K = Warm White. Not to warm and intense. Pleasant to the eyes (living rooms)
- 4000K = Cool White. Sharp white light. Ideal for working environments (Offices or shops)
- 6500K = Daylight. Comparable to daylight. Suitable for areas where everything has to be clearly visible to the eyes (factories, warehouses, garages)
Energy efficiency
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The energy efficiency is an energy rating label in line with the EU Directive 874/2012. It displays the energy efficiency range of the luminaire and the compatibility with the lamps on the market. Since March 2014, all the luminaires carry it. As you can see in the image, the energy rating A+++ (very efficient) through to E (least efficient) is calculated based on the Lumen output and the Wattage consumption. Therefore, the more energy efficient the bulb is the higher the Eco rating is. |
Beam angle
The beam angle of a bulb is the angle at which the light is distributed or emitted. It is measure in Degrees.
- Narrow (16D - 30D)
- Medium (31D – 50D)
- Medium (31D – 50D)
- Very wide (More than 100D)
IP Rating
An IP Rating (Ingress Protection Rating), classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against intrusion of solid objects, dust, accidental contact and water in electrical enclosures. It consists of the letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter, which indicate conformity with the conditions summarized in the tables below:
First Digit
| Level | Object size protected against | Effective against |
| 0 | Not protected | No protection against contact and ingress of objects |
| 1 | >50mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part. |
| 2 | >12.5mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part. |
| 3 | >2.5mm | Tools, thick wires, etc. |
| 4 | >1mm | Most wires, screws, etc. |
| 5 | Dust Protected | Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact. |
| 6 | Dust Tight | No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact. |
Second Digit
| Level | Object size protected against | Effective against |
| 0 | Not protected | No protection |
| 1 | Dripping water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect. |
| 2 | Dripping water when tilted up to 15° | Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position. |
| 3 | Spraying water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect. |
| 4 | Splashing water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. |
| 5 | Powerful water jets | Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 6 | Powerful water jets with increased pressure | Water projected in powerful jets (6.3 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction, under elevated pressure, shall have no harmful effects. |
| 7 | Immersion up to 1m | Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). |
| 8 | Immersion beyond 1m | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. |
For instance, an electrical lamp rated IP68 will mean the following:
| IP | 6 | 8 |
| Ingress Protection | First digit: Solids Protection | Second digit: Liquids Protection |
Available Technologies
| TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY | TODAY’S LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |||
| Incandescent | Halogen | Compact fluorescent (CFL) | Light Emitting Diode (LED) | ||
| FEATURES | ENERGY EFFICIENCY | Very low – Class E | Low – Class C & D | High – Class A & B | Very high – Class A- & A+++ |
| COLOUR RENDERING | 90-100Ra = top visual comfort | 90-100Ra = top visual comfort | 80-90 and 90-100= from high visual comfort to top visual comfort | 80-90 and 90-100= from high visual comfort to top visual comfort | |
| COLOUR TEMPERATURE | Warm white | Warm white | From warm white to cold white | From warm white to cold white | |
| DIMMABLE | Yes | Yes | Partial range (special dimming CFLs available) | Partial range (special dimming LED available) | |
| LIFETIME (approx. 3h use per day) | 1000 hours (approx. 1 year) | 3,000 hours (approx. 3 years) | 10,000 hours (approx. 10 years) | 25,000 –70,000 hours (approx. 25-70 years) | |
|
LIGHT OUTPUT |
Lumens/ watt | 15 lm/ watt (low efficiency) | 25lm / watt (low efficiency) | 50 lm/ watt (medium efficiency) | 80 lm/ watt (high efficiency) |