LED Bulbs vs. Incandescent and CFL Bulbs

General Information

• All bulbs are rated at 2700 kelvin, designed for a warm light similar to incandescent bulbs.

Incandescent Bulbs

• Traditional bulbs with warm color.
• Rated lifespan: 1,000 hours.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) Bulbs

• Early alternatives to incandescent for energy efficiency.
• Disadvantages:
  • Unfavorable look to many users initially.
  • Take time to reach full brightness.
  • Perform poorly in cold temperatures.
  • Contain mercury (toxic element), requires careful cleanup.
  • Generally do not dim well.
  • Frequent on-off cycles reduce lifespan (Rated 6,000-8,000 hours now).

LED (Light Emitting Diode) Bulbs

• Advantages:
  • Frequent on-off cycles do not affect lifespan.
  • More robust, no delicate filament or glass envelope.
  • Operate well in cold weather.
  • Most LEDs dim smoothly, though not as fully as incandescents.
  • Provide directional lighting, appearing brighter.
  • Rated lifespan: 25,000 hours.
  • Use one-sixth the energy of incandescents or less.

Dimming Comparison

• Incandescent bulbs: dim completely.
• CFLs: dim slightly.
• LEDs: dim about halfway but improvements are ongoing.

Color Rendering

• Incandescent: renders reds well.
• LEDs: render blues and greens vividly, comparable to incandescents but different.
• CFLs: produce faded colors.
• Color Rendering Index (CRI):
  • Incandescents: nearly perfect rating.
  • CFLs and LEDs: good rating but may not reflect actual performance well.
  • LEDs render colors nicely and differently than incandescents.

Conclusion

• LEDs replicate incandescent look without CFL downsides.
• Most cost-effective bulbs available today.
• Available at competitive prices at LightingSupply.com.