The Anatomy of the LED Light Bulb

LED light bulbs

When considering the use of LED lighting there are four main things that you need to know in order to make an informed decision. They are the following:

Before and After

Color or Correlated Color Temperature is measured in Kelvins. Temperature, in this case, is not referencing the actual temperature of the bulb but instead the color that is being produced. Therefore, the lower the number, the warmer it looks and vice-versa.

Color Temp (Kelvin)Color TemperatureIdeal Application
1,000KVery Warm Candle Lighting 
2,700KWarmIdeal for Bedrooms and Living Areas, General Lighting. (relaxing)

 
2,800KIncandescent Light
3,000KWarm White
4,000KWhite (Halogen/CFL)Ideal for Office, Retail, Kitchens, and Bathrooms. (energizing)
4,800KDirect Sunlight
5,000KCool White
6,000KDaylight Commercial, Industrial, and Retail
10,000KVery Cool (Blue Sky Light)
Before and After

Lumens: It is very important to know that lumens represent the amount of light that is given off. Traditional incandescent bulbs are measured in watts which represent the amount of energy consumed. This has caused a lot of confusion because LED's are measured in lumens.  Below is a comparison chart to further breakdown the difference. 

Watts (Energy Used)Lumens (Light Produced)
Incandescent LightingLED Lighting 
40 Watts 4-5 Watts450 lumens
60 Watts6-8 Watts750-900 lumens
75 Watts9-13 Watts 1100-1300 lumens
100 Watts16-20 Watts 1600-1800 lumens

Need help figuring out which light fixture to choose for your commercial lighting project? Check out our commercial lighting application guide! 

Bases: Bases are the LED Bulb’s first point of contact and are responsible for receiving power from the source. They are also important because they keep the bulb connected to the power source.  Here is a list of the most common bases for LED bulbs. 

E12 Candelabra Base

E-12 Candelabra Base - Typically found in chandeliers, wall sconces, bath bars.

E17 Intermediate Base

Intermediate E-17 - Typically found in commercial exit signs. Sometimes found in ceiling fans and appliances.

E26 Medium Base

E-26 - Medium base. Also known as a standard household base. Typically found around the home in fixtures such as lamps.

E39 Mogul Base

Mogul E-39 - Mainly commercial use.

GU10 Base

GU10 - Typically found in bath bars, ceiling fans, and track lighting with a twist and lock base.

GU5.3 Base

GU5.3 - Has two pins and can be found in track lighting, bath bars and some ceiling fans.

Light Bulb Base Types

Drivers: Pairing the appropriate driver with its respective bulb is very important. A failure to do so could cause Underdriving or Overdriving.

  • Underdriving – This is when the driver is not administering enough power to the respective bulb. This can cause the lights to appear dimmer or not come on at all.
  • Overdriving – This is when the driver is administering too much power to the respective bulb. The light produced will be brighter but will significantly shorten the life of the bulb. In addition, the more power administered the hotter the driver gets and can cause the circuit to burn out. 
Retrofit Light fixture

Now that you have more knowledge regarding LED lighting, it’s time to get moving. Leave your question below in the comments if you are still confused. Considering a purchase? Visit our website at homelectrical.com where we have the most competitive prices on LED bulbs and more. No matter the project, we have the solution.

To learn more, check out our Light Bulb Fitting Guide!

Falyn Eaden
Falyn Eaden

Working as Project Management Officer at CORL Technologies and armed with a B.S. in English & Professional Communication and an M.S. in Cyber Security, Falyn works to create environments that protects and represents the world around us. He loves life, fast-paced environments, flag football, eating and exploring new things.

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