LED Bulbs

Our high output LED light bulbs consume a fraction of the power of conventional bulbs and are ideal for use in any light fitting in your home. With their long life, LED bulbs save you money in energy costs, replacement lamp costs and time spent replacing failed bulbs. Available in warm white, white and cool white, there is an LED replacement light bulb for every application.

What are LED’s

LED stand for ‘Light emitting diode’ which is a device that produces light when an electrical current is passed through it. They have been around for a long time, originally as a single LED in remote controls and car key fobs and security systems. As they evolved, they were used in mobile phone screens, hand held devices and even television screens.

LED light bulbs were a natural evolution for the LED, and they don’t disappoint. They have many advantages over the outgoing incandescent light bulb.

• Energy efficiency: LED lights consume up to 90% less energy for the same light output as a standard light bulb.
• Longevity: A quality LED bulb is expected to last for 30,000 to 50,000 hours.
• Control: LED bulbs are available as dimmable or non-dimmable. The dimmable versions can be dimmed between 10% and 100% brightness, making them very controllable.
• Fewer Emissions: LED bulbs do not emit any ultraviolet or infra-red radiation. This makes them ideal for use in picture lights, as they will not fade the artwork.
• Cool running: LED bulbs run cooler and are safe to touch. This makes them safe for use in lamps that could be touched by a young child.
• Colour temperature: Unlike the incandescent bulb, LED replacements are available in a number of different colour temperatures. They can be purchased in warm white, daylight white and cool white.
• Lumens V Watts: LED bulbs show both wattage and lumen output. When looking for a replacement bulb, lumens should be your deciding factor. For guidance, 800 lumens is equivalent to a 60W incandescent bulb.

What are colour temperatures?

The colour of light bulbs is measured against the Kelvin scale, but what does it mean, and what are the different colour temperatures?

• 1200k – 1500k = Candle flame – romantic
• 1800k – 2400k = Sunrise and sunset – gentle on the eye
• 2700k – 3500k = Warm white – The same as an incandescent light bulb and the most popular choice
• 4000k – 4800k = Cool white – best for downlights, task lamps and outdoor lighting.
• 6000k – 6500k = Noon daylight – best for kitchen downlights, security lights and task lamps
• 6500k – 1000k = Into the blue spectrum and best avoided

Always buy quality bulbs from a reputable supplier. The market is awash with cheap alternatives that don’t last very long and produce poor quality light. Buy cheap, buy twice, as the saying goes.

Recently, we have been getting more and more enquiries asking if LED bulbs are safe, as some social media platforms are suggesting that they are bad for your health.

It is true that a recent report by the European Commission highlighted potential risks under certain circumstances. It relates primarily to LED’s in the blue band (cool white) and is only relevant if you stare directly at them for protracted periods without blinking or moving the eyes. Whilst it is a potential risk, it is unlikely that anyone would stare at a bare bulb directly for any amount of time.

For further information, please have a look at our guide on How to Choose the Correct Dimmer Switch and What are Lumens and do They Matter.