Halogen, Low Energy or LED? Which is best for me?
We regularly receive calls from customers that know the lamp fitting that they require, but find the number of choices slightly overwhelming. Why are there so many variations? Which will be best suited to your needs? Why are LED's so expensive? Hopefully the following condensed guide will point you in the right direction.
LED
LED lamps represent the latest lighting technology, rapidly outdating existing products as they continue to improve. Their popularity lies in an extremely long life span, which can be a staggering 25 times longer than the halogen equivalent (up to 50,000 hours) and incredibly low power consumption. Suggested replacements for a 50w halogen lamp will draw around 4.5w, which needs little explanation, thats less than 10% of the power! Unlike CFL's, LED's are the same size as standard lamps, are often dimmable and never get too hot to touch, protecting inquisitive children from burnt fingers. However, as with any new technology, there are drawbacks. The initial purchase cost of LED's is significantly higher than both halogen and CFL's and often more importantly, they do not yet match halogens in terms of brightness. The colour temperature of LED's is also generally slightly higher than other types of lamp, which some people find unsuitable. To view our range of LED lamps click here.
Halogen
Halogen bulbs have been extremely popular over recent years for their high light output and low purchase cost. They are widely available and compatible with dimmer switches. However, their high light output creates considerable power consumption and a high operating temperature, making them too hot to touch. Halogen lamps generally have the lowest life span of the three technologies, on average lasting around 2000 hours (product dependant). To view our range of Halogen lamps click here.
Low Energy (CFL)
When referring to 'Low Energy' lamps we are speaking of Compact Fluorescents (CFL). These form a mid-point between halogen and LED technologies. They offer an improved life span (approx. 400% of halogen equivalent) and lower running costs (approx. 20% of halogen equivalents). However, CFL's are often larger than standard lamps, causing occasional issues with ill-matched fittings. On top of this, they are not dimmable, can have some disposal issues and often take a few minutes to reach full brightness. To view our range of Low Energy lamps click here.
Compare the Technologies |
Technology Type |
Pros |
Cons |
Halogen |
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Low Energy (CFL) |
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LED |
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