An incandescent lamp is a device used to produce artificial light from a heated conductor by passing an electric current through it. It is commonly called a light bulb because of the pear-shaped shape of the classic type. The incandescent lamp is the first electric light source known to the world. The discovery of the first light bulb is attributed to Thomas Alva Edison, and the creator of the first incandescent lamp is Alexander Lodygin. The Hungarian company TUNGSRAM introduced the tungsten filament, which is still used today. With us you will find products from this renowned manufacturer in the industry.
The tungsten filament works much more efficiently and has a longer life. It determines the color of the light and its quantity. At a temperature of 2700°C, bright light (white light) is emitted. In 75 and 100-watt bulbs, the temperature is approximately 2550°C. This temperature of the filament can cause very high thermal radiation, which also releases a lot of visible light.
The main photometric quantity in an incandescent lamp is the luminous flux, which is electromagnetic radiation. The filament in the lamp is heated when an electric current flows through it. It must be made of a conductor with high resistance, so tungsten is most often used. The temperature must be raised to thousands of degrees to achieve light emission, only part of which is visible to the human eye. Infrared rays have a larger share. A large part of the energy is used for thermal conductivity and heat dissipation, which in this case is unnecessary and appears as an additional consumption of electricity. To obtain "white" light, the temperature of the conductor must be increased even more. This is the reason for using metals with a high melting point. For tungsten, it is 3410°C.
The incandescent lamp has one major drawback. The energy loss is enormous. About 95% of it is released as heat and only 5% is converted into visible light. In order to produce a given amount of light, the incandescent lamp must consume much more energy than other alternative lighting fixtures. The efficiency of a fluorescent lamp is between 7 and 15%. LEDs have an even higher efficiency, but they are more expensive and this makes them less preferred.
Incandescent lamps have long been the most widely used for home lighting, although recently alternative products based on other technologies have increasingly begun to enter the market.
ARE INCANDESCENT LAMPS COMPETITIVE?
Incandescent lamps are one of the three most popular types of lighting. The other two are fluorescent lamps and LED lighting. There are supporters of each of the three types, with some even claiming that the light they emit is different. This may have been the case, but with recent modifications and innovations in light sources, almost the same light is achieved in all three types. Ultimately, the main goal is economy and some of the disadvantages can be swallowed, considering that they will save us some electricity costs, which are not particularly cheap even now, but will certainly increase dramatically in the coming years. In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about reducing electricity consumption, thus aiming to protect nature and the atmosphere and at the same time be useful, especially to ourselves.
PROS AND CONS OF THE INCANDESCENT LAMP
Pros:
- Very low price
- Light close to the spectrum of the sun
- Lack of visible flicker
Cons:
- Short life – about 1000 hours
- Heat radiation
- High energy consumption
Undoubtedly, the smallest initial investment is needed for incandescent bulbs. About 5 leva will be enough for lighting an average Bulgarian apartment. This is precisely the reason why many people still trust them despite the gradual ban imposed by the European Union. However, they remain the traditional source of light in the home. Keep in mind, however, that due to the fact that 95% of their energy is converted into heat, they are unsuitable for lamps with delicate lampshades - paper or silk.
WHAT IS A Plinth AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
We have already noted that the socket is a screw thread and serves to connect the lamp to the electrical network. Depending on the type of construction, lamps have different sockets. To navigate in them, the marking will help you.
The first letter indicates the type of socket. In home lighting devices, the following are mainly used:
E – threaded base (Edison)
G – socket with terminals
The number in the socket designation indicates the thread diameter or the distance between the terminals.
The lowercase letters at the end indicate the number of contact plates, terminals or flexible connections (only for some types):
s – one contact
d – two contacts
Sometimes, the first letter is followed by another letter, U, indicating that it is an energy-saving lamp. LED lamps for home lighting have standard threads that fit most lampholders.
E10 – This is the smallest threaded base. It is usually used for flashlight bulbs and string lights.
E14 – so-called minion bulbs. They are used for night lamps, wall lighting, etc. LED lamps of a wide variety of shapes are also available for this type of base.
E27 – light bulbs with this threaded base are the most common and fit into standard lampholders. LED lamps with a similar base can also be placed in standard lampholders.
Sockets with terminals
GU10 – has thickenings at the ends of the terminals and is installed with a twist. These lamps are usually used for ceiling mounting.
GU5.3 – most often found in halogen lamps for accent lighting. LED lamps are also available with this base.
