More and more people are realizing that using LED lighting in their homes is energy efficient. This allows everyone to work towards a greener planet and will be a great help in the current cost of living crisis.
As we all know, energy prices are rising and lighting your home with LEDs versus traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs is a great way to save money.
Do you need new fixtures for LED bulbs?
Can LED bulbs be installed in any light fixture? In most cases, you will not need new light fixtures for your LED bulbs.
They are designed to easily fit into existing fixtures. Most LED bulbs have the same bases as traditional bulbs.
Replacing existing bulbs
Whenever you decide to replace a bulb, the new bulb must have the correct base and voltage. The process is exactly the same for LED bulbs.
You will be able to replace most of the light bulbs in your home with LEDs. LED bulbs are designed to work in fixtures that everyone has in their home. However, there are a few exceptions and factors to consider before placing a bulk order.
Bulb connections
The most common fittings in a home are E27 screw fittings and GU10 pin fittings. Just like halogen and incandescent bulbs, there are many LED options that have these bases.
It's not rocket science, but a pin bulb simply won't work in a screw bulb, so make sure you know what base you need.
Light dimmers
Unfortunately, the dimming system you already have in your home is probably not compatible with LED bulbs. While there are many LED bulbs that have a dimmer switch , they require a different system to function optimally.
Therefore, if you want to replace a dimmer bulb, it is time to call a professional electrician . He will be able to replace the control panel of your dimmer so that it works with an LED bulb.
Even if you are the most experienced electrical DIYer, it is always best to call a professional to ensure your safety.
Closed luminaires
Enclosed fixtures are not suitable for LED bulbs. This is because an LED needs enough space to dissipate heat. They thrive in cold environments and in an enclosed fixture, the heat has nowhere to go. Their lifespan can be significantly reduced or they simply won't work when you install them.
Closed fixtures are especially common in the kitchen or bathroom. In most of these rooms, ceiling lights are designed to be semi-flush .
This is a nice aesthetic feature, but an inhospitable environment for a standard LED bulb. Some lights can also be considered recessed . Small fixtures typically don't have enough room to dissipate heat comfortably.
As long as the fixture is well ventilated and open on all sides, you will be able to use an LED bulb and enjoy its incredibly long lifespan and high energy efficiency.
That said, there are LED bulbs on the market that are specifically designed for enclosed spaces. The best advice is to carefully check the specifications of the bulbs to find out where they can be used and consult a professional if in doubt.
Mix of traditional bulbs and LED bulbs
Simply put, it’s never a good idea to mix traditional bulbs with LED bulbs . You may be considering replacing the bulbs in a fixture that has multiple fittings, but you’re not sure if it will work with LEDs. If you decide to buy a bulb to test, remove the other bulbs from the fixture before testing it.
Incandescent or halogen bulbs emit heat in addition to light. LEDs thrive in cold spaces, so heat from traditional bulbs nearby can damage the LEDs.
This can cause malfunction, reduced light intensity, flickering or reduced lifespan. If you own a chandelier, you may think about replacing each bulb as needed.
However, if you are switching to LED, it is best to replace all the bulbs at once.
Power in watts
The only rule of lighting is that you cannot safely use a bulb with a higher wattage than the one recommended for a light fixture.
Each light fixture comes with a recommended wattage , which is a maximum limit. Using a bulb with a higher wattage may pose a safety risk and cause overheating.
In this case, you risk damaging the light fixture itself and will need to have a new one installed.
However, things get a little confusing when it comes to LED bulbs. The watts listed for LED bulbs don’t directly correspond to halogen or incandescent watts. When you’re switching from a traditional bulb to an LED bulb, you need to compare lumens.
For example, an 18W halogen bulb produces approximately 220 lumens. An 18W LED bulb produces 1300 lumens. Therefore, if you are replacing a 60W incandescent bulb that produces 700 lumens, the LED equivalent is a 10W bulb, which will also produce approximately 700 lumens.
It is therefore perfectly safe to use a higher LED power than the device recommends. LEDs consume much less energy to produce the same amount of light as a traditional bulb, so a 60W light fixture can be safely used with a 100W LED bulb.
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