The lowest power of an energy-saving lamp. How to choose the right energy-saving lamp

An energy-saving lamp allows you to save money on utility bills. It also has a fairly long service life. Many manufacturers provide a guarantee for it. This means that if for any reason your lamp fails, you must replace it with a new one. It’s just important not to forget about its proper use.

An LED lamp is a good economical option that is perfect for almost any room. In order to choose a high-quality LED lamp, you must first familiarize yourself with its characteristics. The power indicators of this lighting are given in the additional table. Comparison table between incandescent and LED lamps. It can be seen that LED has a lower power of 3 W, in contrast to incandescent 23 W. So the best option for saving would be the second one. The power ratio of incandescent and LED lamps is significant for reducing energy costs.

Energy saving lamps power - table

A 15 W energy saving lamp corresponds to a 75 W incandescent lamp, which is quite enough to illuminate one room. Then a 9 W energy saving lamp corresponds to 45 W of an ordinary lamp. A 11 W energy saving lamp corresponds to a 55 W incandescent lamp. The table of energy-saving lamps and incandescent lamps shows that the first option will be more economical. The lighting level will be the same. In addition, such a product will last several times longer.

The correspondence between the power of incandescent lamps and energy-saving lamps is quite large. Therefore, an energy-saving lamp is considered the best option for modern savings at high electricity tariffs.

Comparison table between incandescent lamps and energy-saving lamps

Comparisons of incandescent, energy-saving and LED lamps

In order to decide which lamp is better: energy-saving, incandescent and LED, you can consider the power table for each product. The table provides detailed characteristics of the power of all types of lamps. Here you can see that an energy-saving lamp of 20 W corresponds to the power consumption of 5-7 W of a fluorescent lamp and 2-3 W of an LED lamp. This table shows that the LED lamp is the most economical and has many advantages.

Comparison table for incandescent, energy-saving and LED lamps

Nowadays, the issue of saving has become particularly relevant. People try to save on almost everything. It has become especially expensive to pay for utilities. Including light. One way to save money is to use energy-efficient lamps. Comparative characteristics of different types of lamps are given above: incandescent lamps, energy-saving lamps, LED lamps.

To choose the most suitable option for economical lighting in your home, you need to familiarize yourself with the power of each product.

The given characteristics show that the LED lamp will be the most economical and will consume less energy. In order to replace one incandescent lamp with a power of 75 W, it is enough to take a 10-12 W LED lamp or a 18-20 W fluorescent lamp. They can completely replace the lighting in one room. You will immediately feel the savings if you install one of these lamps throughout your apartment. In addition, they last much longer than their cheaper counterpart. They will look great in any lamp, chandelier, sconce, night lights.

Content:

Artificial lighting has long been firmly established in our daily lives. All kinds of light sources are used everywhere - in houses, apartments, premises, offices, industrial production facilities. Most consumers use conventional incandescent lamps with a power of 40, 60 and 100 watts. However, everyone knows that they have a very low efficiency. Only half of the electricity is spent on lighting, the other half is spent on heating the light bulb itself. In this regard, energy-saving lamps are becoming increasingly popular.

The principle of operation of energy-saving lamps

This type of lamp, despite its high cost, is becoming increasingly widespread in many areas of people’s lives and activities. These light sources are compact in size and do not require a starter to start the lighting.

An important advantage of energy-saving light bulbs is their almost silent operation and very simple connection. All of them are equipped with threaded bases that simply screw into the desired lamp. The main advantages of these lamps include high reliability and efficiency, reaching 80%.

The principle of operation of energy-saving light bulbs is quite simple. Each lamp is filled with vapors of inert gases. First of all, it is argon, neon, and in some cases krypton. Some models use mercury vapor. When electricity enters the lamp, the cathode is heated and electrons are subsequently emitted. Under their influence, ionization of the gas mixture occurs. As a result, a plasma with ultraviolet light is formed, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Ultraviolet produces illumination of the phosphor covering the walls of the bulb. Ultimately, the phosphor produces ordinary visible light.

Characteristics

The most important indicator of each energy-saving light bulb is its low power consumption. Almost all the received power is converted into . There are tables to compare the performance of energy-saving lamps and conventional incandescent light bulbs. They clearly show the difference between lamps with the same light output. Thus, the difference is approximately 5 times. That is, with the same glow, a regular light bulb consumes 100 watts, and an energy-saving light bulb consumes 20 watts.

Table of power of energy-saving lamps and incandescent lamps.

The effective operation of a light bulb is determined by the luminous flux, which is an important distinguishing characteristic of each lighting device. This parameter is measured in lumens and the brightness of the glow directly depends on it.

The most important characteristic and feature of energy-saving lamps is. Modern models are represented by threaded and pin options. Some designs have sealed contact and may be non-standard. In any case, each base must be selected according to the cartridge.

Table of light parameters

One of the parameters characterizing a light bulb is color temperature. To measure it, there is a special Kelvin temperature scale. First of all, the degree of whiteness of the illumination emitted by the lamp is determined.

The main color temperatures include the following:

1. Warm white, with an indicator below 3000 K.
2. Neutral white (natural light), in the range of 3000-5000 K.
3. Daytime white (cold light) is over 5000 K.

In living spaces, it is recommended to use soothing and relaxing warm shades. For office premises, the best option would be light in cool tones. Natural light with a color temperature of 2800-3500 K is perceived best.

An important indicator is the luminous efficiency parameter, measured in lm/W. It determines the productivity of electricity and the amount of light produced by a particular light bulb. The level of illumination of any surface, measured in lux (lx), is of great importance.

The transmission of natural tones of illuminated objects is determined using the color rendering index. For light bulbs, this indicator is related to spectral radiation. Absolutely correct transmission is indicated by the Ra index. A decrease in this indicator indicates a deterioration in color rendering properties.

Other indicators

The service life of energy-saving lamps is of no small importance. Normal operation largely depends on the number and speed of switching and other design parameters. These indicators make it possible to determine all the costs that determine the economic feasibility of purchasing such devices.

Product labeling greatly facilitates the correct choice of lighting fixture. There are special tables that are recommended to be used when purchasing energy-saving lamps.

Possible malfunctions and repairs

During the operation of energy-saving lamps, various malfunctions and breakdowns may occur:

• If the voltage is too high, the capacitor may swell and leak, causing the lamp to stop working. In this case, all semiconductors will need to be replaced.
• The increased voltage caused the capacitor to break through. The device glows at the locations of the filaments. In this case, the capacitor must be replaced.
• As a result of improper operation, the luminous flux begins to be distributed unevenly. The bulb is partially sealed, and the lamp itself cannot be repaired.
• If at least one filament burns out, the lamp will stop working. The capacitor will need to be checked, and at the site of the filament break, the diode is replaced with a resistor by desoldering.
• A faulty diode thyristor also needs to be replaced.

Energy-saving lamps can be repaired only after the fault has been accurately determined and the spare parts required for replacement are available. A complete transition to energy-saving lamps provides significant savings for the family budget.

Arranging lighting in an apartment and in your yard is quite a difficult task. With so many different light source models out there, choosing one can be lengthy and really complicated. After all, if you choose lighting that does not suit your requirements, you will remain dissatisfied, and you may have to spend extra money for replacement.

In this article we will help you choose powerful energy-saving lamps for you. Let's talk about the principle of their operation and how they are designed. Let's write down what types exist and compare them with the most popular models, such as halogen, incandescent and LED. We will describe the process of selecting a device and tell you which manufacturers are best to choose.

The structure and principle of operation of the lamp

Often the same. They consist of a base - a base. It can be of different types, but the main varieties found are E27 and E40. It is equipped with two contacts for connection, the plus is located on the back in the form of a point, and the minus is directed towards the entire base.

Also, the walls are made in the form of a spiral thread, making it possible to screw the base into a standard e27 and e40 socket.

The outer visible part of the lamp is represented by a glass spiral, which is filled with special vapors, which ignite when current is applied and the entire system is triggered. Usually the tube contains mercury vapor, which emits light. Due to this design feature, llamas cannot be thrown away, but must be disposed of in special receptacles.

The curved spiral design is due to the fact that thanks to this shape the lamp is much more compact with a rather long glass tube. This was done in order to significantly save space and allow the devices to be used in standard home luminaires.

A special electrical circuit is installed in the base, which is responsible for ignition and stabilization of the device. It also sells the current necessary for the lamp to function. You can call such a component a ballast mechanism, but simply it is called electronic ballast.

This device works according to the following principle. After the current supply starts, it flows to the electrodes and heats them to the required temperature. After achieving the desired heating, the process of thermionic emission occurs. The electrodes then begin to release a stream of electrons, which collide with the atoms, which in turn begin to emit light.

But mercury by its nature emits only ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the human eye. Here the phosphor comes into play, converting it and producing a visible spectrum of light. The thermal indicator of the light of such lamps ranges from 2700 to 6500K. It depends on the type of phosphor.

Such a device is capable of emitting its own visible light, but its share is only two percent, the rest of the light is ultraviolet, which interacts with the phosphor. The visible part of the light does not participate in the transformation in any way and remains unchanged.

A short comparison with analogues

The technical characteristics of energy-saving lamps differ significantly from other similar devices. Therefore, to make sure whether you need exactly such a light bulb, you should compare it with similar analogues.

For comparison, it is worth choosing the most common light sources, such as halogen lamps, LED and incandescent lamps.

Very often, manufacturers like to compare a fluorescent lamp with an incandescent lamp right on the packaging. By adding a visual comparison of some technical characteristics, such as power, or adding flashy names that outline the essence of the difference itself.

We will compare them according to the following criteria: power, emitted light flux, required voltage, durability, type of base. The power of light bulbs is completely different, and it is generally accepted to compare it with the power of incandescent lamps; this is a kind of constant constant.

Halogen lamps have approximately the same performance as a similar incandescent light bulb. LEDs, on the contrary, have up to ten times less power. Energy-saving lamps have a power rating of approximately 15 watts, which is equivalent to a 60-watt light bulb.

Comparing different types of lamps

The average 15-watt light bulb is capable of emitting about eight hundred lumens. The radiation indicator of halogen lamps will be several times less. LEDs, with such power, will be able to produce more than one and a half thousand lumens.

All listed devices are capable of operating from a 220 volt network. Only LED lights require additional equipment, since their standard operating voltage is 12 volts. But you can purchase a device with a built-in transformer to create the required voltage indicator.

Base E27 and E40 have incandescent lamps and LED fluorescent devices. Halogen ones require the use of a specialized lamp with a special connection diagram. Although there are options with a regular base E27 or E40.

The devices differ significantly in terms of service life; having the same power, they can last the following number of hours:

• Incandescent lamp - on average 1000 hours.
• Halogen - about 2-3 thousand hours.
• Luminescent devices - 10-15 thousand working hours.
• LED – more than 50,000.

Based on this, it can be assumed that energy-saving light bulbs have fairly good performance in comparison with their counterparts. They do not compromise on it at all and will be able to satisfy your needs in full.

In terms of popularity and with a more in-depth analysis of their characteristics, energy-saving light bulbs take an honorable second place after LED ones.

Choosing an energy-saving lamp

Having chosen the right device to illuminate your room, you will be completely satisfied with your choice and it will suit all the wishes and requirements for the place where you install the light bulb.

What indicators should you pay attention to:

• The first thing to note is the installation location. Not every room will have such light bulbs that can function properly. The same applies to the lamp; if installed in the bathroom, it is necessary to select a waterproof lamp.
• Requirement for luminous flux power. Depending on your personal wishes and the need to create a certain level of light, you should choose the power of the light bulb. For example, for the work area, you should choose more powerful devices to ensure the required luminous flux. For a bedroom or table reading lamp, a low-power device is sufficient. If you want to fully illuminate your yard, then buy a high-power fluorescent lamp.
• The type of socket in which the light bulb will be installed. You should select a light bulb so that it is equipped with an E27 or E40 base; these two options are the most common in home lamps. The e27 and e40 sockets are compatible with the e27 and e40 sockets, respectively.
• When choosing a device to illuminate a home nursery or aquarium, you should choose a lamp specifically for such purposes. There are also varieties for indoor and outdoor use. They have varying degrees of protection from dust and moisture.

Which manufacturer is better

You shouldn’t sift out all the cheap manufacturers at once and stop only at expensive brands. As a rule, absolutely everyone has a share of marriage. And whether you will fall into this unpleasant percentage by paying a lot of money or a meager amount is completely unknown and unpredictable.

Less popular and budget brands use cheap materials in their devices. This is precisely due to the low price. But it is not a fact that they all produce low-quality products. As often happens, such devices work no worse than their expensive counterparts, but their service life may be shorter.

Energy-saving ones include compact fluorescent and LED. Currently, there is an active process of replacing traditional incandescent lamps with energy-saving analogues.

To equivalently replace an incandescent lamp, which provides a certain illumination, it is necessary to select an energy-saving one with an equal or similar luminous flux, measured in lumens (lm). The luminous flux value of a specific energy-saving product is given on its packaging.

Lamp power table

The table shows a comparison of the electrical power of incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps and LED lamps, providing different luminous fluxes. In the last row of the table the light output efficiency is presented, which characterizes energy consumption.

The table below matches the power of incandescent lamps with the power of both compact fluorescent and LED lamps, establishes power ratio.

It follows from the table that the efficiency (cost-effectiveness) of a compact fluorescent lamp over an incandescent lamp is 4.2 times higher, and that of an LED lamp is 7.5 times higher, respectively. It should be noted that LED is 1.8 times more economical than compact fluorescent.

Example of lighting efficiency calculation

We will evaluate the economic efficiency using the example of the annual costs of lighting an apartment. Let’s say it is necessary to use 3 incandescent lamps, each with a power of 100 watts, for lighting every day for 3 hours for one year (365 days x 3 hours = 1050 hours). The total power consumption is 300 watts or 0.3 kW. An equal luminous flux can be created by 3 compact fluorescent lamps with a total power of 78 watts (3 pcs. x 26 W) or 0.078 kW, or 3 LED lamps with a power of 14 watts each, which corresponds to 42 W of their total power (3 pcs. x 14 W). Calculation of lighting costs for each option is presented in the table.

Something to keep in mind: incandescent lamp life is 1000 hours(this will require purchasing 3 pieces annually), fluorescent compact ones are 8000 hours, and LED ones are 25000, which is also taken into account in the calculations in the efficiency options.

As can be seen from the table, the lighting option with incandescent lamps turned out to be more expensive and, therefore, ineffective already at the end of the first year. In the first year, the costs for this option are 2 times higher than the costs for the lighting option with compact fluorescents and 1.4 times for the option with LEDs.

Second year of lighting confirms the effectiveness of the option with fluorescent compact ones over the option with LED ones (at the end of the second year it loses 170 rubles).

At the end of the third year, the LED version becomes more effective than the compact fluorescent version.

It should be noted that the comparison options are given at the level in September 2015 for the central regions of Russia, with the cost of electricity and prices for lamps remaining unchanged.

When choosing a lighting option, you must take into account the following circumstances:

LEDs do not have these disadvantages., which allows you to make a choice in their favor.

Trends in the development of technology and LED manufacturing technology have made it possible to reduce their cost by 3.5 times in the last 5 years. At the same time, the cost of electricity increased 2.2 times (from 2.15 to 4.68 rubles per 1 kWh).

conclusions

1. Thus, if these trends continue, LEDs will displace compact fluorescent ones during 2016 - 2018. and will replace them (by 85%) by 2019.
2. It is worth mentioning the versatility of LEDs, which can be used both for a pocket flashlight and for home and street lighting.

Energy-saving lamps work on the same principle as conventional fluorescent lamps, with the same principle of converting electrical energy into light. Often the term "energy saving lamp" is usually applied to compact fluorescent lamp, which can be installed in place of a conventional incandescent lamp without any modifications.

To calculate the room illumination, you can use the room illumination calculator.

ESL has a fairly high service life (depending on the type and manufacturer) - 10,000 hours, and it is five times more economical than an incandescent lamp, the service life of which is only 1000 hours.

The operating principle of an energy-saving lamp.

The tube has two electrodes at the ends that heat up to 900-1000 degrees, as a result of which many electrons are formed in the tube, accelerated by the applied voltage, which collide with argon and mercury atoms. Low-temperature plasma appears in mercury vapor, which is converted into ultraviolet radiation. The inner surface of the tube is coated with a phosphor that converts ultraviolet radiation into visible light. An alternating voltage is supplied to the electrodes, so their function is constantly changing: they become either an anode or a cathode. The voltage generator supplied to the electrodes operates at a frequency of tens of kilohertz, so energy-saving lamps do not flicker compared to conventional fluorescent lamps.

Differences between incandescent lamps and energy-saving lamps.

Ordinary incandescent lamps contain thin metal threads that glow when electricity passes through them. However, 90% of electrical energy is transferred as thermal energy rather than light.

Modern energy-saving lamps work on a different principle: they transmit 25% of electrical energy in the form of heat, and a larger share - 75% of electrical energy - are transmitted as light energy.

ESLs are produced with powers from 7 to 250 W. Their power is 5 times less than the power of incandescent light bulbs, so it is advisable to choose based on the proportion of 1 to 5.

Comparative table of power of incandescent lamps and energy-saving lamps.

Power lamps incandescent, W	Similar power energy saving lamps, W
100
125
130
150
225
275
425
525	105

Main indicators of ESL.

Power. measured in Watts (W or W). The higher the power, the brighter the lamp will shine, but the higher the energy consumption.

Light flow. Measured in lumens (lm or Lm). It means how light the room will be, i.e. how much light the lamp will “give” out. The higher this number, the lighter it will be. It has a “bad habit” of decreasing over time of use.

Light temperature. It is measured in kelvins (K). Lamp color index, i.e. the shade that we see and most often divide into:

. “like a regular lamp” (approximately 2700-3300 K), also often called warm color. This is the temperature the sky has at sunset;

Daytime (4000-4200 K), called natural color; This is the color of a dim, diffused sky;

Cold (about 5000 K).

Luminous efficiency of an energy-saving lamp- this is a parameter of the efficiency of a light source, which shows how much light a particular lamp produces for each watt of energy expended on it. Luminous output is measured in lm/W. The maximum possible output is 683 lm/W and theoretically can only exist from a source that converts energy into light without loss. The luminous efficiency of incandescent lamps is only 10-15 lm/W, while fluorescent lamps are already approaching 100 lm/W.

Light level - This is a parameter that determines how illuminated a particular surface is by a given light source. The unit of measurement is lux (lx). This value is defined as the ratio of a luminous flux with a power of 1 lm to an illuminated surface with an area of ​​1 sq.m. In other words, 1 lux = 1lm/sq.m. The acceptable level of illumination of a working surface for a person according to Russian standards is 200 lux, and according to European standards it reaches 800 lux.

Color rendering index - this is a relative value that determines how naturally the colors of objects are reproduced in the light of a particular energy-saving lamp. The color rendering index (Ra) of the reference light source (i.e., ideally conveying the color of objects) is taken as 100. The lower this index is for a lamp, the worse its color rendering properties. The color rendering range comfortable for human vision is 80-100 Ra.

Labeling of energy-saving lamps.

Domestic marking of fluorescent lamps contains a letter - an indicator of the parameter:

• L - luminescent;
• B - white color;
• TB - warm white;
• D - daytime color;
• C - with improved color rendering;
• E - with improved environmental friendliness;

International marking. The first digit in the color code is the color rendering index, the other two characterize the color temperature in hundreds of degrees. The quality of the phosphor for the home should not be lower than eight. The ideal temperature for a home is 2700 - 3600 K. The marking should be 827, 830 or 836

Characteristics of energy-saving lamps.

Lamp markings		Color of light and characteristics color rendering	Color t-ra, TO
domestic	imported
LB		Warm white (more yellow)	2900
—		Cold white	4100
LD		Cold daytime (blue)	6200
—	827	Warm white (more yellow)	2700
—	830/930	Warm white	3000
—	835	white	3500
—	640/840/940	Cold white	4000
—	864	Cold daytime (into the blue)	6100
—	765/865/965	Cold daytime (more white)	6500
—	880 SKYWHITE	Cold daytime (bright white)	8000
—	950/954	daytime (white)	5400
—	960	cold (blue)	6400
—	76/79	for meat counters	—
—		for aquarium	—
—		for plants	—
—		for checking banknotes and interior lighting	—
—		red	—
—		yellow	—
—		green	—
—		blue	—

ESL base type.

Modern ESLs can be easily screwed into a classic Edison base. It has the designation E27. The number determines the diameter of the base in millimeters.

In small lamps, table lamps, sconces, the E14 base (the so-called minion) , which differs from the classic one in its smaller diameter.

In powerful lamps, an E40 base is used, which has a larger diameter.

Energy-saving lamps may have other sizes of bases, for example: pin and threaded. The most common pin ones.

• G23
• 2G7
• G24Q1
• G24Q2
• G24Q3
• G53

There are also lamps for installation in E14, E27 and E40 threaded sockets with built-in electronic ballasts. The base sockets for such lamps are very simple to install in conventional lamps; the declared service life of such lamps ranges from 3,000 to 15,000 hours.

Diagram of operation of an energy-saving lamp (11W lamp).

The energy-saving lamp circuit consists of power circuits that include noise-protecting choke L2, fuse F1, a diode bridge consisting of four 1N4007 diodes and filter capacitor C4. The triggering circuit consists of elements D1, C2, R6 and a dinistor. D2, D3, R1 and R3 perform protective functions. Sometimes these diodes are not installed in order to save money. When the lamp is turned on, R6, C2 and the dinistor form a pulse applied to the base of transistor Q2, leading to its opening. After startup, this part of the circuit is blocked by diode D1. After each opening of transistor Q2, capacitor C2 is discharged. This prevents the dinistor from opening again. The transistors excite transformer TR1, which consists of a ferrite ring with three windings of several turns. The filaments receive voltage through capacitor C3 from the boost resonant circuit L1, TR1, C3 and C6. The tube lights up at the resonant frequency determined by capacitor C3 because its capacitance is much smaller than that of C6. At this moment, the voltage on capacitor C3 reaches about 600V. During startup, peak currents are 3-5 times higher than normal, so if the lamp bulb is damaged, there is a risk of damage to the transistors. When the gas in the tube is ionized, C3 is essentially bypassed, causing the frequency to drop and the oscillator being controlled only by capacitor C6 and generating less voltage, but still sufficient to keep the lamp glowing. When the lamp lights up, the first transistor opens, which leads to saturation of the TR1 core. Feedback to the base causes the transistor to close. Then the second transistor, excited by the oppositely connected winding TR1, opens and the process repeats.

Malfunctions of energy-saving lamps.

Capacitor C3 often fails. As a rule, this happens in lamps that use cheap components designed for low voltage. When the lamp stops lighting, there is a risk of failure of transistors Q1 and Q2 and, as a result, R1, R2, R3 and R5. When starting the lamp, the generator is often overloaded and the transistors often cannot withstand overheating. If the lamp bulb fails, the electronics usually fail too. If the bulb is already old, one of the spirals may burn out and the lamp will stop working. Electronics in such cases, as a rule, remain intact. Sometimes the lamp bulb can be damaged due to deformation, overheating, or temperature differences. Most often, lamps burn out the moment they are turned on.

Repair of energy-saving lamps.

Repair usually consists of replacing the broken capacitor C3. If a fuse blows (sometimes it comes in the form of a resistor), transistors Q1, Q2 and resistors R1, R2, R3, R5 are probably faulty. Instead of a blown fuse, you can install a resistor of several ohms. There may be several malfunctions at once. For example, if a capacitor breaks down, transistors may overheat and burn out. Typically, MJE13003 transistors are used.