What lights should I use Spiral bulbs for?

What lights should I use Spiral bulbs for?

Spiral bulbs are the most common type of energy saving bulbs on the market right now. More commonly referred to as ‘CFL’ bulbs, which stands for ‘Compact Fluorescent Lamps’, they are a new take on the linear fluorescents that were produced first as an alternative to the energy eating incandescent bulbs that are now long gone. This new compact design meant that the CFL’s could fit into the same sockets as the incandescent bulb once did.

Spiral bulbs are the most common type of energy saving bulbs on the market right now.

How do they work?

CFL Bulbs do not use a filament and instead utilize the electrical current to excite a gas called argon inside the tubing, that then generates a small amount of ultraviolet light that then causes the inside of the bulb to glow. The glass casing is coated with a phosphate mix inside, containing manganese, rare elements such as lanthanum, and yttrium as either an oxide or a phosphate, along with a barium/aluminium oxide. Phosphor components may vary slightly depending on the colour of the lamp. When this fluorescent coating is introduced to the ultraviolet light this then emits a visible light. If you want to see other types of bulb, see our light bulb guide which illustrates and explains the purpose of each bulb, their sizes, and cap types.

Where to use.

Spiral bulbs are most commonly used in light fittings where the bulbs are not exposed. Whilst these bulbs are great for energy saving, they are apparently not very aesthetically pleasing it would seem. Any fitting that is going to have a shade covering the bulb would be the ideal place to use these. CFL’s are frequently bought by industries that need to light a large area or many areas, such as in hospitality or in an apartment building, this helps reduce energy usage and is no doubt a wonderful trick for saving money without compromising integrity.

Pros & Cons

Pros.

Save money – CFL’s are reasonably cheap to buy and will pay for themselves with energy savings pretty quickly when compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.Long Life – Average bulb life of 10,000 hours, which is roughly about 10 years of standard use. Soft Light – Close to traditional Incandescent Energy Saving – Of course the number one Pro for these is that they are energy efficient and every little helps when it comes to looking after our planet!

CFL’s are reasonably cheap to buy and will pay for themselves

Cons.

Warm up time – Due to the chemical reaction these bulbs can take a while to warm up and get bright, making them a poor choice for places that need instant light such as hallways and stairways.Extra care – Due to these bulbs containing a small amount of mercury they need to be recycled and extra care taken when handling especially if they break. Aesthetics – In all honesty they are not the best-looking bulbs so are best suited in ‘hidden’ situations.

Compared.

Incandescent bulbs are soon to be a thing of the past, but which of the new energy saving bulbs are right for you? The two alternatives to CFL’s are Halogens and LED’s, we have compared a few of the key factors for you.  Price wise the cheapest Incandescent alternative is the halogen bulb but it’s the cheapest for a reason as they also have shorter lifetimes and are less energy efficient then CFL’s and LED’s. LED’s are the most expensive to buy up front but are the most energy saving and have the longest bulb life. 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