Light Bulb Evolution
Light bulbs are in constant evolution. There are different types of bulbs according to the bulb components and also on the technology behind the light generation.
Incandescent Bulb (ex: BR/R20, BR/R30)
- Incandescent lamps are inefficient. They produce light by heating a solid material until it glows, most of the energy they consume is given off as heat (90%), resulting in low performance.
- The incandescent light bulb uses a glowing wire filament heated to white-hot by electrical resistance, to generate light . The bulb is the glass enclosure which keeps the filament in a vacuum or low-pressure noble gas, in order to prevent oxidisation of the filament at high temperatures.
Halogen Bulb (ex: MR16, GU10, PAR20)
- Offer up to 20 % greater energy efficiency, longer service life and improved light quality. Halogen lamps appear whiter and brighter.
- Tungsten halogen lamps are a refinement of incandescent technology. The halogen gas inside a halogen lamp causes the evaporated tungsten to redeposit on the filament. This process, along with high pressure inside the capsule, slows down deterioration of the filament, improves lumen maintenance and extends the lamp’s service life.
Fluorescent Bulb (ex.CFL)
- ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use about 75 % less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
- They produce about 75 % less heat, so they are safer to operate and can cut energy costs.
- A fluorescent lamp is a “gaseous discharge” light source. Light is produced by passing an electric arc between tungsten cathodes in a tube filled with a low pressure mercury vapor and other gases. The arc excites the mercury vapor which generates radiant energy, primarily in the ultraviolet range. This energy causes the phosphor coating on the inside of the tube to “fluoresce,” converting the ultraviolet into visible light.
LED (Light Emitting Diodes)
- LED = durability and exceptionally long life. LED can maintain up to 50% of its initial brightness after 100,000 hours. (energy efficient)
- Since their introduction in the early 1960s, LEDs have evolved from simple indicator lights and alphanumeric displays to an exciting new source for general lighting. LEDs differ radically from traditional light sources in that there are no glass bulbs or filaments to break, or electrodes to decay. Instead, LEDs are solid state light sources – basically, a chemical chip embedded in a plastic capsule. When the chip is energized by applying a voltage, it emits visible light, the color depending on the chip’s chemical composition.
