LED Light Bulbs: What to Look For

FeaturesA standard 60-watt incandescent bulb puts off about 800 lumens. The more lumens, the brighter the light is. LED light bulbs provide many lumens for few watts compared to incandescent bulbs.

Since this is the case, it's better to find a bulb that has low wattage but high lumens because it will save you on your energy bill.You also want to find an LED light bulb that offers a long lifespan. Most offer between 25,000 and 50,000 hours of light.

When you look at a Lighting Facts label on the light bulbs, they typically list the lifespan in years. This is based on a standard of using the light for three hours per day each day of the year.When you're looking for an LED light bulb, another thing to consider is the color of the light.

Depending on where the light bulb lands on the color temperature spectrum, lights can be all colors: red, yellow, green, blue and shades of white. The shades of white range from warm to cool white. The lower the color temperature, the more yellow your white light will appear.

If the light is higher on the color temperature scale, it will appear to cast a cool, bluish hue. Another aspect of the color is the color rendering index (CRI). The higher the CRI number, the greater the number of objects lit by the light bulb that will appear natural.

The bulb should also be UL listed and comply with part 15 of the FCC as a Class B device, meaning it won't interfere with radio frequencies. It's also an added bonus if the light bulb is Energy Star Qualified.DesignThe dimensions and weight of LED bulbs are not the same as a standard incandescent bulb.

LED light bulbs are on average a quarter of an inch taller. The average diameter of these LED lights is similar to that of incandescent bulbs but varies depending on the model. LED lights are also heavier than incandescent bulbs, so you'll want to be sure that your light fixture can support the extra weight.

Most LED light bulbs can't be fully enclosed in a light fixture because heat decreases the life of the light bulb. If you plan to use your LED light bulbs outside, you'll first want to verify that they can withstand damp outdoor conditions. If you want to dim your lights with an LED light bulb, you'll need to have one that the manufacturer has specifically designed to perform as a dimmer.

The beam spread is another thing to consider. While incandescent lights put off light in all directions, LED lighting typically sends its light in one direction. The best LED light bulbs that are comparable to 60-watt incandescent bulbs distribute the light around the bulb as well as from the top.

Help & SupportChances are you won't need to be in contact much with the manufacturer to use your light bulbs. However, having a practical return policy and warranty are importance since these light bulbs cost more than incandescent and CFLs. A good LED light bulb should come with at least a three- to five-year warranty.

LED lighting presents a new, more environmentally friendly option. It's long lasting and can save you money over an extended period. These lights are heavier than other lighting options, and the bulb is on average a little taller than a standard light bulb; however, the base can fit in standard light sockets.

These lights will keep going long after incandescent and CFLs would have stopped working, and they'll save you money on your electrical bill.At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.more info you can visit: htm.

·RELATED QUESTION

I didn't get Google Glass Explorer Edition. Is trying to learn Glass dev without the hardware a futile effort?

No, you can still learn the fundamentals of Glass development without the hardware.

There are three main approaches for accomplishing this:

1) Visit the Mirror API documentation, get into the playground, and start hashing up some code. Download the PHP, Java, and Python library, whichever you're most comfortable with. Familiarize yourself with the jargon and converntions (timeline, bundles, menus, etc). Read the support documentation (second link below) to see how the Glass hardware actually functions. Build some apps to this specification. Soon enough, you will find a friend with hardware to t