Upgrading Your Lighting: Everything You Need to Know About LED Light Bulbs
Article by Ian Cobb, 4/5/22
Today's most efficient way of illuminating and lighting your home is undoubtedly with LEDs. When compared to older lighting technologies such as Incandescent, Halogen and CFL bulbs, you'll find that LED is by far the most energy efficient and the smartest solution. Although LED technology has been around for many years, the pace at which it is growing is truly incredible. Today's LED technology has completely changed lighting as we know it.
On this page we'll help you understand what LEDs are and we'll help you choose the right LED bulb. And with energy prices rising steeply but LED bulbs getting cheaper and cheaper, there has never been a better time to upgrade your bulbs to LEDs.
What is a LED?
LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are a type of electronic light source. LEDs are different from conventional light sources such as incandescent and halogen lamps. They last much longer, consume far less energy and emit very little heat. They are highly durable and do not feature fragile elements such as glass tubes or filaments; they are also safer because they do not contain any mercury or lead.
How much power do LEDs use?
LED Bulbs use up to 90% less energy than an Incandescent or Halogen bulb of equivalent brightness. LEDs are far more efficient at converting electricity, measured in watts, into light, measured in lumens. As such, a typical 4 watt LED bulb can easily achieve a light output comparable to a 50 watt halogen, sometimes higher due to its high lumen to watt ratio.
How long do LEDs last?
One of the biggest benefits of using LED is its outstanding life time expectation due to very efficient thermal management, LED bulbs feature heatsinks to disperse the heat they create, prolonging the life expectancy of the bulb. As such, a well-built LED bulb should last up to 50,000 hours. Here at G&T's, we only sell good quality LED bulbs from trusted manufacturers that have many years' experience developing and producing the highest quality bulbs.
How Bright are LEDs?
In one word, very! The brightness of a LED is measured in lumens (lm), the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the bulb. Despite using very low wattages, LEDs are able to emit the same brightness as traditional light sources. When LED light bulbs first appeared, their efficiency varied between 20 and 50 lumens per watt. Today, their efficiency is around 80 to 110 lumens per watt. To make things easier, we like most retailers quote an equivalent incandescent wattage so you can easily replace your existing bulb while keeping the same brightness. To help you find how many lumens you'll want from your new bulb, you can use the chart below:
| You use to look for this many watts | Now you need to look for this many lumens |
| 25W | 230-375lm |
| 40W | 400-500lm |
| 60W | 700-900lm |
| 75W | 900-1125lm |
| 100W | 1300-1500lm |
| 150W | 2250-2600lm |
Will LED bulbs work in my existing fittings?
All LED bulbs are retrofit and have been designed to work with existing light fittings and be used as direct replacements.
What types of LED bulbs are there?
Thankfully, LED bulbs are now available in most caps including both sizes of Bayonet and Edison screw, GU10, MR16 and G4 and G9. They're also available in most shapes including GLS, candle, golfball, spotlight, reflector and capsules.
Small Bayonet Cap (B15)
Large Bayonet Cap (B22)
Small Edison Screw (E14)
Large Edison Screw (E27)
GU5.3
GU10
GLS / Standard
Candle
Golfball / Round
Spotlight
Reflector
Capsule
What colours are LED bulbs available in?
Gone are the days when LED bulbs were only available in that horrid bluish shade that just felt cold and uninviting. LED technology has advanced a great deal in recent years, allowing you to replace your cosy Incandescent or Halogen bulb with a warm white LED without noticing the difference. All LED bulbs have a colour temperature that is measured in degrees of kelvin and denoted by a numerical figure followed by the letter 'k' on a scale from 1,000 (warmest) to 10,000 (coldest). Traditional Incandescent bulbs have a colour temperature of 2,700K, with a slightly yellowish glow. There are three colours to choose from: warm, cool or daylight. Warm white is usually to be found in domestic environments such as living rooms and bedrooms. Cool white is the colour most often associated with fluorescent tubes in offices or commercial properties, but is also ideal for kitchens and bathrooms where a cooler light is more refreshing. Daylight is a very white light similar to sunlight, almost with a tinge of blue and is best suited to commercial or retail environments, where accurate colour reproduction and focus are required. Use our colour temperature chart below to match the Kelvin scale rating with the colour you're after.
Are LED bulbs dimmable?
There are now both dimmable and non-dimmable options available in most caps, shapes and sizes. Look out for the Dimmable 
icon on the bulb packaging prior to purchase. The only caveat is that in some circumstances you might need to upgrade to a LED suitable dimmer. Because LEDs use very little power compared to halogen bulbs, it means they will not work properly with Leading Edge Dimmers which require a high minimum load to work. If using a LED bulb in an incompatible dimmer, there is a chance that feedback can occur (switch buzzing) and may lead to a shortened bulb life. The dimmable lightbulbs that we sell are designed to be used with Trailing Edge dimmers, which are designed for lower minimum loads.
Do LEDs need to warm up after being turned on?
No. Unlike CFLs, LED bulbs reach full brightness immediately so no waiting to see where you are going!
Are LED bulbs safe?
Yes. Unlike CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps), they do not contain mercury. They also give off comparatively little heat, making them safer to handle after prolonged use. In fact, you can easily unscrew a LED bulb which has been on for days and you wouldn't get burned. Most LED bulbs are also made from durable plastic and not glass, so you don't have to worry about the likelihood of handling broken glass and fragile parts.
Are LED bulbs eco-friendly?
Yes. Unlike Halogen and Incandescent bulbs where most of the energy is turned into heat, LED bulbs convert the majority of the energy into light rather than heat. As they use less energy that power plants produce by burning fossil fuels and oil, by moving to LED bulbs you are reducing the level of harmful CO₂ being released into the atmosphere.
Can I use LED bulbs outdoors or in cold temperatures?
Yes and yes! Unlike CFLs, LED bulbs operate just as well outdoors as they do indoors. Extremely durable as they are made from sturdy components, LED bulbs are resistant to shock, vibrations and external impacts. They aren't however weatherproof, and if being used outside will need to be encased in a suitable IP rated enclosure.
What is a SMD LED?
SMDs (Surface Mounted Device) are the new generation of LED lighting. SMD LEDs are brighter than standard LEDs and offer a higher lumen output with a lower energy consumption. As well as being more energy efficient, SMD LED bulbs also feature a wider beam angle, in some cases exceeding that of most Halogen bulbs. The LED is soldered directly onto the PCB therefore requiring less space and improving the thermal connection.
What is a COB LED?
Chip on Board (COB) is the most recent development in LED technology using chips with multiple diodes (typically 9, or more). There is no casing with COB technology which enables a much denser LED array of light compared to SMD. Most notably, COB LED technology allows for a much higher packing density of the LED array and improved lumen density. For example, using COB LED technology on a 10mm x 10mm square array results in 8.5 times more LEDs compared to SMD LED technology, resulting in higher intensity and greater uniformity of light.