< Back to Main Blog Page

How to Shop for LED Light Bulbs

Electrical Tips

shopping for LED light bulbsThere’s no arguing that LED light bulbs are the way of the future. Incandescent bulbs are fast going the way of VHS tapes and Atari consoles. So if you haven’t already, you will soon find yourself shopping for LED bulbs to fill the fixtures in your home. There are some handy things you’ll need to know when shopping for LED bulbs, so the team at Jeremy Electrical put together this little tutorial.

Don’t Be Frightened by the Price

One thing you’ll notice is that LED light bulbs cost more than either incandescent or CFLs (compact fluorescent lighting). Don’t let this discourage you as LEDs last for years. In fact, a quality LED bulb can last anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 hours,  which means that if you use it for 6 hours a day, 365 days a year, your LED bulb could last 20 years! Think of how many incandescent lights you’d have burned through in that time. Plus, they use only about 20 percent as much electricity so you’ll make back the initial cost in a couple of years. because of LEDs’ energy efficiency and long life. Good news too – with advances in technology and growing popularity, the prices are expected to continue to drop.

WATTS Up with LEDs?

Because we are used to shopping for brightness based on watts, it may be a little confusing at first because LED brightness is rated by lumens. Have no fear! Here is a handy chart that will help you know what to look for based on the incandescent wattage you are familiar with.

  • 100 watt = 1600 lumen
  • 75 watt = 1100 lumen
  • 60 watt = 800 lumen
  • 40 watt = 450 lumen

But I Heard LEDs Give Off a Harsh Light

Incandescent bulbs produce war light and we all got used to that. When LEDs first came out, they produces a blue/green color that seemed cold and harsh. But don’t worry, today’s LEDs are available in warmer temperatures. Color is measured as temperature on the Kelvin scale. The higher the degrees Kelvin, the whiter the color temperature. If you want a warmer light, look for LEDs with around 2700K – 3000K. To give you a little bit better idea of the Kelvin scale, there are three primary types of color temperature for light bulbs. They are:

  • Soft White (2700K –3000K)
  • Bright White/Cool White (3500K – 4100K)
  • Daylight (5000K – 6500K).

We hope this guide helps you choose the perfect LED lighting for your home. If you need any help with anything electrical, give the professional electricians at Jeremy Electrical a call at (913) 375-0070.