LED Lamps

The advancement in today's LED technology allows people to choose not only to use a LED lamp instead of an incandescent or halogen one, but even to choose the light output (the lumens), the light colour temperature (daylight, warm white, neutral white, and cool white), and the size and shape. It is safe to say that soon the LED lamps will be available at a lower cost than ever, and they will replace the high consumption lamps with more energy saving light bulbs. What's even more interesting is that many of the existing LED lamps are also dimmable, allowing people to dim the LED lamp sometimes all the way to 0%! However, there are a few problems with the LED dimming - at this point in time. Problems with LED Dimming The LED lights offer a bright light in the light color you desire, so many times you may want to dim them. There are a few questions that rise up here: Are all the LED lights dimmable? Can we dim a LED light with any dimmer? How low can you dim an LED lamp, and how long can you keep it dimmed? If you dim the LED lamp, is the energy consumption also reduced? Is the LED lamp life decreased drastically if you dim it? First of all, at this moment in time NOT ALL the LED lights are dimmable; those who are dimmable are clearly marked "dimmable". If an LED light bulb is not dimmable, it may not be marked so - but unless it is marked dimmable, don't assume that the LED lamp is dimmable. Secondly, the dimmable LED lamps cannot be dimmed from ANY dimmer. Simply changing a dimmable halogen lamp with a dimmable LED lamp doesn't guarantee that the existing regular dimmer will work with the LED lamp. Most LED manufacturers have a list of recommended LED dimmers / LED dimmer modules that would work with a particular dimmable LED lamp, and it is best to make sure you use one of those dimmers, otherwise dimming may not work and the lamp/installation may be damaged. Thirdly, the whole point of dimming is not only to decrease the level of light but also to save energy and consequently, money. So yes, dimming the LED lamp will save you even more energy and money. Lastly, if the LED lamp is dimmable, dimming the LED lamp should NOT have an impact on the lifetime of the lamp. All these considered, there are now more questions with most of our customers such as, So then how can I make sure I have the right LED dimmer for my LED lamps? Is there such a thing as a "universal LED dimmer" that works with most LED Lamps? And what do I do with my existing dimmers - do I need to buy the expensive ones and throw them away? In other words, Is it that Simple to Transform a Regular Dimmer into an LED Dimmer? Six months ago we would have recommended replacing the entire dimmer with a brand new LED dimmer - which costs a lot of money, may not be in the plate and finish you desire, and may not work with all your LED lamps. But now there's such a thing as a "universal LED dimmer" made by Varilight - see the JP250P V-Pro 1 Gang 2 Way Trailing Edge 10W-250W LED Dimmer Module Replacement. It is a normal size as a regular dimming module, so it can easily replace the existing dimmer in the back of your dimmer switch. Of course, such a replacement should be done by a registered electrician - don't try to do any DIY with electricity and electrical devices such as these - so that it may be tested and work properly. Do you need a smooth and silent dimming for your LED lights? Are your LED lights dimmable? Do you want to keep your existing dimmer plate and not replace it with one from this list of LED dimmers? Then your best solution is this LED dimmer module from Varilight, which is currently in stock and very highly recommended. In conclusion, to answer the question in the title: yes, it is that simple to transform a regular wall dimmer into an LED dimmer - if the size of the dimmer module behind the dimmer plate allows it, you can simply replace it with the highly recommended Varilight JP250P trailing edge LED dimmer module. For more details on this, don't hesitate to contact us or leave us a comment below.

Maybe your lightbulbs burned out over the winter, or maybe you just made a New Year's resolution to upgrade to LED lighting - who knows? But if you're disposing of old and expired lightbulbs, there are a lot of complicated recycling guidelines. Some can be thrown out with the rest of the rubbish; others need to be collected. In this article, we hope to dispel some of that confusion. When a lightbulb is recycled, it gets sent to the reprocessor where it is crushed. 98% of the material (glass, plastic, and metal), can then be reused. It's the circle of life. Incandescent Lightbulbs Incandescent lightbulbs are non-recyclable and should be disposed of along with the rest of the household waste. These bulbs are made of a different type of glass than bottles - and the fine wires in the processing are very hard to filter out. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) Fluorescent light fittings are Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Category 5, and must be collected separately for disposal or dropped off at collection points. The handy site Recolight provides a map of the nearest collection points to your postcode. If you have a house full of CFL lightbulbs and a trek from the nearest collection point, it's probably best to wait until you have a collection of expired bulbs - just make sure they don't smash! Fluorescent Tubes Fluorescent tube lights fall under the same regulations as CFLs above: drop them off at your nearest collection point. For larger projects like commercial refitting, you can request a lamp collection. Halogen Lamps Halogen lightbulbs cannot be recycled with regular glass and should be disposed of with regular household waste. Metal Halide BulbsAs with energy-saving lights, high-output metal halide lamps should be recycled in the same manner as CFL bulbs. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) LED bulbs contain no harmful substances and individual LEDs can be disposed of in household waste. However, it is advisable to check the disposal guidelines for the housing and equipment in which they are housed, which often contain plastics. Photo by phozographer on Flickr (Creative Commons)

Many customers have asked us to advise them on what is the correct colour temperature for their LED lights; in this article, we present a quick guide to choosing the colour temperature of the LED lights.Keep reading to find a quick guide on:Warm White vs Cool White - what's the difference?Where should we use Warm White Lights?Where should we use Cool White Lights?Where should we use Daylight Lights?Conclusion: what colour temperature do we need? Before the LED lighting revolution, it used to be so simple: incandescent lights, halogen lamps, and fluorescent lamps; now, things are more complicated, for every LED lamp has a certain Wattage, Lumen output, and Colour Temperature. It used to be quite easy before, when the halogen lamp reached its end of life, you would simply change it to another halogen lamp. Similarly with the incandescent lamps and the low voltage lamps. Nowadays, however, you need to make sure you order the right brightness, the correct colour temperature, and the exact lamp beam so that all these match the existing lamps on the ceiling or the wall. There are many guides, comparisons and charts out there related to the colour temperature of LED lights, and with the recent advancement in LED technology, there are now CCT selectable lamps, which are available via Sparks here. But in this article, we would like to explain the difference between warm white, cool white, extra warm white, daylight, and other colour temperatures that are mentioned on the box of the LED lamp or the integrated LED light fitting. Quick Guide to the LED Lamps Colour TemperatureWarm White vs Cool White - what's the difference?What is the difference between warm white light and cool white light? The colour of light emitted by a lamp can be warm or cool, on a spectrum, depending on the need. The CCT, the Correlated Colour Temperature, in lighting, describes how the colour of the light appears from an LED Lamp or LED light fitting, and it is measured in Kelvins (K). There is a scale from 1000K (which is a very red light) to 10.000K (which is a very blue light). The higher you go on the Kelvin scale, the closer the light emitted resembles blue daylight. The higher the colour temperature, the "cooler" a lamp will look, that is, the more blue-ish the light emitted is. Here is a quick guide to the Kelvins, the Type of lamp used, the colour temperature, the appearance, and the place it is used. Kelvins (K) AppearanceHow it Looks/feelsLight TypeLocation1000Kcandlelight redyellow light1800Kvintage-look filament lamp,orange lightultra warm whitevintage lighting2000K-3000KOrange to yellow or gold white lightCalming light, Cosy, Inviting, and Intimate LightWarm WhiteBedroom, living room, dining room, decorative lights, garden lights3000K-4500Kbright white, blueish whitebright light, vibrant light, inviting, blueish white, crispCool Whitebathroom, home office, work environment, kitchen, commercial properties, outdoor lights4500K-6500Kvery bright whiteappears as daylight, illuminating, powerful bright lightdaylightfloodlight, security light, garage and workshop, hospital, schools6500K-7000Kcool daylight10000Kblue skyblue lightIn simple terms, the colour temperature of an LED lamp is based on how the colour of the heated metal changes as its temperature is increased, from red to yellow and then blue.The range of colours at different temperatures has become useful for describing the colour tint of white light. At Sparks we stock a variety of warm white LED Lamps, extra warm white LED lamps, cool white LED lamps, and daylight LED lamps. The difference between warm white and cool white is that the warm white light is more yellowish while the cool white light is more blueish. Where to use Warm White LED Lights? What about Cool White LED Lamps?Warm white and cool white are the most popular colours of lights; warm white can be either 2700K or 3000K, and cool white is 4000K. Daylight, for instance, is 6500K, and it mimics the daylight. The question is, where is it suitable for warm white light to be used, and what about the cool white light? Based on our experience with hundreds of customers and on the vast knowledge out there related to colour temperature in LED Lamps, here is our advice.Warm White Lights - All Around the HomeWarm white lights are recommended to be used at home, especially in the living room, dining room, and wherever at home you want to create a warm atmosphere, an inviting and relaxing light. The 3000K and 2700K warm white lights offer an orangey-yellow light, similar to what the older incandescent or halogen lamps used to offer. They are ideal for use in the bedroom for ceiling, wall, or table lighting, and you can also use them in the living room, the dining room, the conservatory, and even in the garden as summer lights for example. To create a warm atmosphere at home, warm white light bulbs are recommended for the table lamps, bedside lamps, and desk lights. You can say that there is soft white light between 2700K and 3000K, and the warm white is between 3000K and 4000K on the Kelvin scale.Buy Warm White LED lamps at Sparks Check out the GU10 warm white lights, G9 warm white lights, E27/ES warm white LED lamps, and the E14/SES warm white LED lamps available at Sparks. Cool White Lights - In the Office and in Busy AreasWhere are the cool white lights suitable to be installed and used? They emit a brighter and more vibrant light, a more blueish light, and they appear closer to daylight. It is recommended to use cool white lamps in more lively areas, where you want to make sure people stay awake and do activities. For example, you can use a cool white LED lamp in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and in utility rooms at home. Also, they are recommended to be used in the office and other work environments. Also, you can use cool white lights in the garage or other places where you need brighter light for completing tasks. The cool white lights mimic the light colour temperature offered by the fluorescent tube lights. Wherever there used to be a fluorescent lamp, the cool white lights are recommended. They are perfect for commercial properties. You can say that cool white is between 4000K and 5000K on the Kelvin scale.Buy Cool White LED Lamps See the cool white G9 lamps, E27/ES lamps, E14/SES lamps, and GU10 lamps at Sparks. Also, check out the cool white LED panels, ideal for office lighting, and the cool white LED battens.Daylight Lights - OutdoorsThe brightest and closest to the daylight are the daylight light fittings and daylight LED lamps, 6000K and 6500K. Where are the daylights most suitable to be used? It is recommended to use them where daylight is required. For example, you can use daylight lights and LED lamps outdoors in the yard, forecourt, floodlighting, security lighting, and sports venues. At home you can safely use daylight lighting to light up the driveway or as garden lights. You can accentuate or highlight features outdoors with daylight lighting, but indoors it is recommended to use cool white when you do the same. We can say that daylight is between 5000K and 6500K on the Kelvin scale. Such light shines bright and exposes every detail, hence it is the preferred light temperature for hospitals, large offices, and classrooms.Buy Daylight LED Lights At Sparks we distribute a wide range of daylight flood lights, daylight LED striplights, daylight security lights, and even daylight LED lamps and tubes. Conclusion: What colour Temperature do we need at Home or Office?In conclusion, you can say that it is up to the preference of the homeowner and the atmosphere you want to create in different venues and rooms around the house or at the office. If you want to create a more relaxed atmosphere, warm white lights are recommended. If you want to create an atmosphere for studying, working, and doing activities, cool white lights are the best. If you want to mimic the daylight in order to highlight or light up the driveway or the facade of the house, daylight is the most suitable. If you want to have a table lamp for reading a book or light up a living space, warm white lights are recommended, since they offer a more relaxing light. but if you want the people visiting or working in a room to be alert and have higher visibility, cool white is more recommended. This is valid for both indoor and outdoor lighting. For more information on the colour temperature you need, do not hesitate to contact us.Disclaimer: the images used for the different color temperatures have been taken from the world wide web - they were not created by us. If they are bound by copyright, we can take them down - simply let us know.

You may have noticed that the energy efficiency label on the packaging of LED lamps has changed, and some LED lamps now have a rating of E; do not be alarmed, they are still energy efficient! The reason the energy labels look different is that the rating system has changed in Europe and in the UK, and this blog post tells you everything about the new energy efficiency labels for LED lamps. Some customers were quite intrigued to purchase a 5W or 6W LED lamp and find out that the energy efficiency label says it is E or D. We had quite a few calls and emails from customers concerning this, so we thought we should explain to the best of our ability what all this means. How come an A+++ energy-rated LED lamp is now a D energy-rated lamp? Read below to find out more concerningThe new rules for energy labels for lighting products.The old energy label vs the new energy labelThe new energy efficiency requirementsThe contents of the Light Products New Energy LabelHow to Read the Packaging for a LED LampNew Energy Efficiency Label - FAQConclusion and Further ReferencesWhat are the New Rules for Energy Labels for LightingThe reason there are no more A++, A+, etc is that there are some alterations to the rules for energy efficiency labels. These were triggered by the new EU 2019/2020 Single Lighting Regulation (SLR, laying down ecodesign requirements for light sources and separate control gear) and the new EU 2019/2015 Energy Label Regulation (ELR, laying down energy labelling requirements of light sources). The SLR replaces and repeals three regulations: (EC) No 244/2009, (EC) No 245/2009 and (EU) No 1194/2012, giving a single point of reference for compliance, and it defines in new terms the light sources covered under the regulation and separate control gear. By light sources, we mean anything that emits light such as LED lamps, LED modules, LED luminaires, etc. These new and more stringent minimum efficacy thresholds on light sources and separate control gear push the lighting industry forward to innovate and improve energy efficiency beyond existing technology. Furthermore, they encourage design for a circular economy, reducing refuse and increasing reuse. Products now need to be designed to be more reliable, even upgradable, and the "right to repair" is now enabled; furthermore, they need to contain more recyclable material and be easier to dismantle. All these are good both for consumers and for the earth, for less waste will end up in a landfill. The ELR replaces and repeals two regulations: (EC) No 874/2012 and (EC) No 2017/1369. It defines the new energy labelling requires for packaging, sales literature, websites, and distance selling. All products requiring energy labels will need to be registered into the EPRLEL database, and a QR code that links to the technical product info is mandatory. In the UK, these rules were incorporated into the UK law under The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Lighting Products) Regulations 2021 2021 No. 1095. According to Integral LED, one of our lighting suppliers, "These are new European Commission regulations which were ratified and published in December 2019. Since the UK has left the European Union, it decided to replicate the technical requirements and combine them into one UK regulation known as a Statutory Instrument.  In practical terms, this means the new lighting regulations will apply to EU member states and the UK in a near identical fashion – only specific regulatory markings are likely to vary, for example, CE/UKCA and EU/GB flags on point of sale energy labels."LED Lamps and LED Lights at SparksThe Old Energy Label and the New Energy Label: what's the DifferenceIt is not just the label that changed but the energy rating has also changed. The old ratings lost clarity as the efficiency essential to the previous regulation had maxed out. There were products rated A, A+, or A++, while the E and F ratings had become redundant. There was a need for better energy ratings to make things more clear and improve the understanding of the energy rating classifications. Here is what the old EU Energy Label used to look like, with a rainbow colour scale going from Green to Red, and a lettering scale from A+++ to E. Here is what the new EU and UK energy labels look like; the revised scale is still green to red in colour, but the lettering scale is from A to G, with more energy efficiency needed to achieve these levels. Just as a quick reference, many lighting products that were rated A++ in the old energy label will now be rated C or D in the new energy label. See here some of the newest LED lamps with the best energy label rating. The New Energy Efficiency RequirementsJust as a comparison, what used to be 120lm/W in the A++ class before 2021, now it is class E in the new energy efficiency requirements.The reason lighting products have lower ratings now on their new label is not that they are less efficient; rather, they consume the same amount of power as they always have, but now their energy efficiency has been lowered. The old energy ratings A+, A++, and A+++ no longer exist; the new scale is from A to G, and B and C ratings are the best in class, the most energy-efficient lights. Unfortunately, there's no way to compare the old label with the new one due to the new energy efficiency requirements. Full explanations and details regarding the Energy Label can be found via this website, and there's a PDF that can help you understand more concerning the label. The focus has shifted from Watt to Lumen; yes, wattage is important, but more light output is appreciated. For example, a 20W halogen spot is equivalent to 190lm LED 12V and 110lm LED 230V, while a 15W incandescent bulb is equivalent to 140lm LED and 130lm energy-saving bulbs. The contents of the Light Products New Energy LabelAccording to the new rules, the new energy labels need to contain certain items, such asThe supplier's name and model number. This refers to the manufacturer's name and the model number of the LED lamp. Energy Rating: the new energy rating on a scale from A to G. Power Consumption: the number of kWh/1000h consumed by the LED lamp; it is rounded up to the next single watt. QR code: QR code to access the detailed product information sheet registered in the European Commission's EPREL database.Buy Integral LED Light bulbsHow to Read the Packaging for a LED LampOn light products' packaging, you can now find a lot of useful information by reading its label. The new rules are being applied from the 1st of October 2021, and the lighting manufacturers need to indicate either by icons or text concerning the following features:Energy label: The light sources energy consumption in kWh per 1000hWattage: the on-mode power for the light source in WLuminous Flux (lm): indicating how much light the light source emits. A high Lumen value means a more distinguished light. Kelvin (K): is a colour temperature scale used to indicate how warm or cold the light output is perceived. Outdoor use: it indicates whether the light source can be used outdoor - this has to be on the packaging. Beam angle: the angle of the light output in degrees or the range of light output angle.Dimming: the dimming icon indicates whether the light source is dimmable or not. Lifetime: it indicates the light source's lifetime in hours from the start of use until the light output has degraded to less than 70% of the original output. Ra-value (Colour rendering index, CRI): the Ra-value indicates the light source's ability to reproduce a lifelike colour; daylight, for example, has a Ra-value of 100. QR Code: Further product information will be available to consumers via the new QR Code included in the labels. The product manufacturer is responsible for ensuring the QR code links to a relevant information source, this could be for example the new EU product database or their own website. LED lamps with CRI 80New Energy Efficiency Label - FAQQ: Why are there two different energy labels with my product?A: Over the last 20 years, the energy efficiency of products has improved. This means the information on the energy label needs to change to ensure it can continue to help you find the best products. As the new information is phased in, there will be a short time when products may feature both the old and new labels.Q: Why do the two labels show different information for the same product?A: The new label will show different energy ratings for your product. This may seem strange but the new label has been updated to take into account how you use your products at home, as well as provide more detailed information on other features of the product. This will give you a more accurate and realistic idea of how your product will perform over its life.Conclusion and Further ReferencesThe matter of the energy labels for the light bulbs/LED lamps is a complicated and vast one, and in this guide, we do a quick overview of this issue. There is nothing to worry about if you purchase a LED lamp that has an energy rating of E or D according to the new label; you simply need to check the lumens output and make sure it is low wattage, and it will save you £££ of your bills. Read more on this topic via the following links:Guide to energy performance certificates (via Energy Saving Trust).New Lighting Regulations 2021: what you need to know (via Integral LED)Energy ratings: everything you need to know (via Energy Saving Trust).The New Energy Label for Light Sources (via Label 2020 Europe). The New EU Energy Label Explained (via gov.uk). About the changes to energy rating labels this year (via ML Accessories). 

We used to rely on trusty halogen lamps or classical incandescent lamps, but their time is over; we now need to choose the light colour temperature that we need for our LED lamps. The GU10 halogen lamps and the E27 or E14 incandescent bulbs used to be quite simple to use and replace, and their price has gone down after a while. But we are now in a new age, the age of energy saving, the age in which we use LED lamps to save not just on the electricity bill but also save the planet. However, the LED lamps do not all offer the same light colour: they now can be programmed or set to offer a particular kind of colour in a chart of light colour temperature. What are the Light Colour Temperatures for LED Lamps?If you want to change your old halogen or incandescent lamp and wanted to get a like-for-like replacement, you may be surprised to find out that such lamps are no longer for sale. What you will discover, however, is that there are energy-saving alternatives to these high-energy-consumption bulbs. There is a LED lamp that can replace the GU10 halogen lamp, and there's an E14 (small Edison Screw) and E27 (large Edison Screw) LED lamp to replace the incandescent lamps. But this time you need to choose both the light colour temperature and the wattage. Here are the most popular light colour temperatures for LED lamps:Warm white light: from 2000K to 3000KNeutral white light: from 4000K to 4500KDaylight white: 6000K - 6500KThe Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) is measured in degrees Kelvin - from 1000K to 10.000K. The lower the Kelvin temperature is, the warmer the light is, and the higher number of Kelvins, the brighter/whiter it is. For example, the candle lamp from 10 years ago offered a colour temperature of approx. 2000K, a halogen lamp would offer either 3000K (when it was yellowish) or 4000K (when it was blueish), and the sunlight offers approx. 6000K light. The higher the colour temperature of a LED lamp, the whiter the light appears. Note: Philips calls warm white around 2700K, neutral white around 4000K, and cool white at 5000K or more. Also, via Wikipedia, we see an enriched version of the categorization of the different lighting colour temperatures. The question is, what is the light colour temperature you need for your lamp?LED Lamps Colour Temperatures and Where to Use ThemIt can be confusing where to use a cool white lamp and where to use daylight or a warm white lamp. This didn't use to be a problem, but now the home user and office worker alike are put in front of the dilemma of choosing the light colour temperature for the setting he's in.There's a variety of colour temperatures, and as the households and offices are switched to LED, the colour temperature has to be just right. We need to identify the correlated colour temperature (also called, CCT) of the existing light bulbs and find the LED alternative, the perfect replacement. Based on the room where you need to change the lamp, there are recommended correlated light colour temperatures for the LED lamps. Remember, the colour temperature of the lamps you use has an important impact on the way we feel and the functionality of the space we use and the activities we perform there. Where should we use Warm White LED Lamps?Warm white light refers to CCT of 2000K - 3000K, and it is more relaxing, calming, and inviting. It is recommended to use warm white LED lamps in locations such as the bedroom, the bathroomthe dining roomthe living room decorative lightinghospitality ambient lightingBuy the Montparnasse bronze pendantWherever we need to create a warm, inviting glow, we should use a warm white LED lamp. In the bedroom, for example, we should always use warm white light, because the cool white light can disrupt our circadian rhythm and can negatively affect the quality of our sleep. In the bathroom, similarly, when we use a warm white light, warmer tones are more flattering and relaxing. When it comes to the dining room lighting, it is recommended not only to use warm white lights but also dimmable lamps, so that you can adjust the lighting as appropriate. Similarly, in hospitality lighting and decorative lighting, warmer light colours are recommended. Light fittings that use warm white light are table lamps, floor lamps, pendants, chandeliers, and downlights. Cool White LED Lamps: where to use them and why?The cool white LED lamps, or the cool white colour temperature is recommended in settings where we need to stay alert and focused. At the office, for example, it is recommended to use cooler temperatures, since we need to focus on work and concentrate on the tasks at hand. Similarly, in the kitchen, we can use cool white light to help us stay awake while making breakfast or dinner.Buy IP66 Tough Shell LED bulkheads Sometimes even in the bathroom, you can use a cool white light to keep you alert in the morning. Some of the locations where cool white LED lamps are recommended are office/work environments, accent lightingbathroom lightingbasement lightingtask lighting garage lightingPlease bear in mind, however, that the correlated colour temperature you need depends on the task or activity to be performed, so if you need to stay more alert in the bathroom, then cool white light can be used, but if you just want a relaxing atmosphere in the bathroom, the warm white light is recommended. Here is an example of a cool white LED lamp and a cool white LED fitting.Daylight LED Light Bulbs and where to Use themThe daylight colour in LED lamps is >5000K, basically 6000K and 6500K. Such lamps emit colour similar to the sunlight, a colour that is not just yellowish (warm white) or blueish (cool white) but whiteish (daylight).Buy IP65 7W Firestay LED CCT downlight Locations, where daylight colour temperature can be used, are security lightinggarages lighting display areas - display lightingtask lighting. The LED flood lights used as security lighting outdoor can offer daylight CCT, shining a bright sun-like light to light the path or expose the intruders. Similarly, if you want to highlight a display or shed light in the garage, you can use daylight LED lamps. Such light is crisp and invigorating, and many task light fittings and security lights use it. They are the preferred light colour temperature in industrial and commercial settings and applications. ConclusionOne of the most common questions we have been asked at Sparks for the past few years, as we make the transition from halogen and incandescent lamps to LED lamps, is what colour temperature the LED lamps should be. As LED technology is developing, there are more and more options for the increasing number of settings, scenes, activities, and tasks. To find out more about what kind of colour temperature you need for your LED lamps, you can give us a call or contact us via email. Note: we now have CCT lamps where you can choose the LED colour temperature before installing it, and if you change your mind later, you can change it again. See these CCT lights here. 

Winter is coming around the corner and many of us can expect to experience the 'winter blues', also known as 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' (SAD). What is SAD? It is a common mood disorder that is a growing phenomenon in modern society. It is widely perceived to cause decreased mood levels and depression and has now been directly linked with seasonal changes and the light levels people are exposed to,  especially in countries with irregular weather patterns such as the UK. Why is SAD affecting more people? The adoption of electronic light in recent times has led to a change in the ‘circadian’ rhythms of the human body, which controls key features such as sleep-wake behaviour and hormone secretion. Other modern-day factors such as technology, globalisation and shift work has been seen to disrupt the lines between night and day, disturbing the 24 hour sleep cycle we ought to be operating on for maximum health and happiness. The hidden powers of LEDs and why they may be a surprise solution However, there could be a solution to the problem, which itself is partially caused by artificial lighting; this solution is from another artificial lighting source - LEDs. LEDs are more helpful in tackling SAD than traditional incandescent light sources primarily due to the quality of light provided by LED bulbs, which give the options of different shades of light, from warm white light, to cool light and daylight. Having these options available is essential for combating the ‘winter blues’ associated with shorter days and less natural light. Commercial lights often max out at only 10,000 lumens, which has far too little effect on the mood to help with the effects of SAD. When SAD light therapy research was initially being conducted, scientists could only operate within the confines of the 10,000 lux offered by the best traditional lighting at the time. However, it was soon acknowledged that a far higher number of lumens was needed, and then LED lamps came to the rescue, with a far more powerful light than that offered by fluorescent bulbs.Buy LED Lamps at Sparks The importance of Kelvins provided by LEDs The best LED lights can offer up to triple this amount, with 30,000 lumens, which research has demonstrated is the equivalent of 1800 wattage from regular incandescent bulbs or 1500 watts of halogen bulbs. A proponent of LEDs swears by an LED with a Kelvin level of 6000K which replicates that of natural daylight and is described as ‘crisp and invigorating’ on the Kelvin Colour Temperature scale. According to the ‘Psychology Today’ website, LED lights perpetuate the bright blue light of daytime. This is essential in a time when the interval between day and night has become increasingly erratic and the natural 24 hour sleep cycle that should be natural to people has been broken due to the high demands and stresses of modern life. How LED lights that can brighten up your 'Winter Blues' At Sparks, we thankfully have no shortage of LED lighting, adapted for every type of interior or exterior setting. You can start your day off by grooming in the light of a Palermo LED Bathroom wall light, which offers a generous helping of bright and vibrant 3000K light to immediately brighten your mood. Our range of Louvre Fascia LED wall lights will brighten up your outdoors with 3500K of white light if you are spending a some evenings outside, or if you just came home from work and need some welcoming light along the way. Finally, if you arrive home after a day cooped up in the office, feeling you haven’t got your share of sunlight, then we at Sparks also provide a range of Flos table lamps, to be placed by your bedside or on your table as you read or surf the internet to unwind. So, if the winter blues has you feeling under the weather, a few well-placed LED lamps may have you feeling better in no time.Buy Palermo LED Bathroom LightsArticles on LED lamps affect on SAD which inspired us: An explanation of SAD (via Wikipedia) The effect of light exposure on mood and brain chemistry (via US National Library of Medicine) information on light-levels effect on our psychology and stress levels (via Psychology Today). Factors that could be increasing the cases of SAD in our population (via Meaningness) Via Meaningness, why more lumens could be the solution, and how LEDs can improve mood levels. Kelvin Colour Scale explained (via Lumens)

On the 1st of September 2018, the EU ban on halogen bulbs came into full effect; after more than half a century of brightening our homes and streets with halogen lightbulbs, these are finally banned across Europe. The remaining stocks can still be sold, and the capsule lamps, linear lamps, and low voltage incandescent lamps in the oven lights are exempt from this ban, but a continent-wide ban came into effect for halogen. The halogen lamps are to be replaced with LED lamps, mainly to slash emissions and cut down the energy bill, and to prevent the carbon emissions. It is estimated that a consumer would save up to £112 per year when you switch from halogen to LEDs, though there's an initial investment - with many long-term benefits and savings. We all understand the main reason for switching to LED lamps, but there are still some questions that need an answer, such as, Why are Halogen Lamps Banned? According to the European Union directive EC 244/2009, there has been a progressive banning of less efficient light sources (such as the high wattage incandescent lamps and energy-consuming halogen lamps) with the aim of improving the energy efficiency and cutting the carbon emissions across all countries in the EU. First, the traditional incandescent light bulbs were banned in 2009, and now it is the halogen lamps turn (see our interview with BBC on this topic). The main reason for banning the halogen lamps is because they use much more energy than the LED lamps or compact fluorescent alternatives, plus, they have a shorter lifespan (2000h, which is approx. 2 years of use when used 3h per day). The ban affects the classic style halogen lamps made of glass, those operated without a transformer, which emit light in all directions, using lamp caps such as E27 (Edison Screws), B22 (bayonet lamps BC), E14 (small Edison screw SES), and B15 (SBC) types.Check out the LED Lamps at Sparks Do I need to change my Halogen Lamps to LEDs? The EU directive doesn't force any individual user to immediately switch from incandescent lamps or halogen lamps to LED lamps; however, it is recommended to reduce the energy consumption not only for saving money on electricity bills, but also to reduce the carbon emissions. How does the halogen lamps ban affect the regular homeowner? Halogen lamps will still be available for purchase, because retailer such as Sparks Electrical are still permitted to sell through any existing stock; however, these are phased out, and it will be increasingly difficult to source. Of course, some specialist light bulbs where a LED alternative is not available yet (such as G9, G4, and R7s - used in ovens or cooker hoods) will still be available, but as their energy-saving replacements become available, these also will be phased out. What about Brexit and the Halogen Lamps Ban in UK? That is a good question: does Brexit affect the halogen bulb ban? The answer is, Not really, since the UK still follows the EU legislation, and light bulbs manufacturers are decided not to make both high wattage light bulbs and LED lamps to meet the need of both markets. Is switching to LEDs a Cost-effective Solution? Many people are not even considering to switch from their existing incandescent or halogen lamps to LED lamps simply because their light bulbs work just fine - so why fix something that's not broken. Also, as we all know, LED lamps are a bit more expensive than the halogen lamps, at least initially; the prices have decreased year by year as the technology advances and the manufacturing costs are lower, but still, a LED light bulb is a bit more expensive than a halogen lamp. However, a halogen lamp may need to be changed after 2-3 years of use, while a LED lamp may last between 10-20 years (based on 3h or use per day). You as a consumer do not have an obligation to replace your existing halogen bulbs now, before they expire; however, if you want to save money on your electricity bills and extend the lamp life, and if you want to reduce the carbon footprint, then the replacing of halogen lamps is a must. It's worth considering switching to more energy-saving LED bulbs as the nights are getting longer and lights will be on more. Are All LED Lamps the Same? Can they All be Trusted? Switch from Halogen to LED lamps (picture via Integral LED) The LED lighting market is flooded with all kinds of LED lamps, and many times we hear stories of people buying LED lamps which fail either to dim or to work properly. There are fire risks associated with counterfeit or faulty LED lights which are often sold on well-known e-commerce website (as indicated by ECA here), so consumers are advised to only buy electrical goods from reputable retailers. We at Sparks carefully source the LED lamps we sell, and if there are any faulty ones, we replace it like-for-like. However, when it comes to LED lamps we all need to pay a little more attention to such details as the lamp cap used (GU10, E27/ES, SES, BC, etc), the wattage you desire (for example, a 6W LED lamp can be equivalent to a 60W halogen lamp), the colour temperature desired (warm white, cool white, daylight, etc), and whether the LED lamp needs to be dimmed. When it comes to dimmable LED lamps, there may be only some LED dimmers that are recommended with the dimmable LED lamps, so you may have to also change your wall dimmer.Buy LED Lamps at Sparks It is best to check with a registered electrician on this matter of dimming, since they may need to change your dimmer switch also. If you have any other questions regarding the EU ban on Halogen Lamps, please leave us a comment or read the further articles linked to below. We at Sparks still stock halogen lamps (as stock lasts) and we warmly recommend the alternative LED lamps which are more energy-efficient and longer lasting. Let's save the planet together. Let's reduce the carbon footprint, and let's reduce the energy consumption in our homes, workplace, and public places! More info on EU ban on Halogen Lamps Articles on this topic which inspired us and highlighted some of the main points on the EU ban on Halogen Lamps and their replacement with LEDs: EU product ban on halogen bulbs came into force on 1 September - Households to save Billions Following Halogen Lamp Ban (via Professional Electrician). All you need to know about the Halogen Lamps Ban in the EU - via the Evening Standard. Europe is banning the Halogen Lightbulbs - via the Guardian. EU bans production of 60W incandescent lamps - in 2011, on Sparks blog. EU's ban on Halogen Light Bulbs takes Effect on 1 September 2018 - via EuroNews. Everything you need to know on EU Halogen Light Bulb Ban, via Which. Via Fortune Environment, EU Ban on Halogen Light Bulbs Takes Effect this September. Here's what you need to know about Halogen Light Bulbs being banned in the EU - via inews. The EU's bright spars han the halogen bulbs, via Express.

If you're not convinced that the LED lights are the future of lighting (at least the near future) then we have more reasons for you to reconsider. Whether exterior or indoor light fittings, LED lights can easily replace both the residential lights and the commercial lights, bringing with them more energy-saving features while maintaining the bright light as needed. There's a shift in the lighting industry from halogen, fluorescent, and incandescent lighting to LED lighting, and the technology is rapidly developing to the extent that you can get a wide range of LED lights to replace your existing lights. There are a great many benefits to both the consumer and the installer when installing LED lights, and in this article, we will touch the aspects of "saving money", "saving the environment", and "excellent lighting". Save Money when Using LED Lights When choosing LED lights you can reduce lighting bills by up to 90%, since LED lights use up to 80-90% less power than traditional lights. For example, you can replace a 50W halogen lamp (which uses a lot of energy - and a lot of money - and gives lots of heat too) with a 7.5W LED lamp, thus reducing the energy bill. LEDs use up to 90% less power than traditional incandescent light sources, and they also offer the potential for a noticeable and significant reduction in energy costs. You also save money when using LED lamps because the LEDs offer a lifetime far in excess of traditional lighting, typically tens of thousands of hours. This means that you don't have to change the light bulb that often, so you don't have to pay again for a light bulb! LED lights save you money and reduce your maintenance costs: the long life of the LEDs results in reduced labour costs associated with luminaire maintenance, such as replacing the light bulbs.Buy Energy Saving LED Lamps Save the environment by Switching to LEDs It is quite important to reduce our carbon footprint, and by switching to LED lights we do just that. You can reduce the energy usage - thus save the environment by reducing the carbon footprint - with LED lights, for they typically use less power of an installation compared with traditional light sources. This means that, by using LED lights, you decrease the overall power consumption and you contribute to lower CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the LED lights are mercury-free: unlike the fluorescent lights, the LEDs are free from this pollutant. And on top of that, there's no UV light or IR, thus increasing the range of applications where the LED lamps can be used. It is good to consider the consequences of using a particular light, and in most cases LED lights are an environment-friendly alternative. Get Excellent Lighting with the LEDs Some fluorescent lights (which tend to be energy-saving) need a "warm-up" time period; the LED lights provide instant full brightness. You get an excellent light with LEDs, and it comes on with no waiting time! And if you want to dim the light, you can simply opt for the dimmable LED light bulbs, which are specially designed for optimal dimming performance. You can also choose the light operating temperature, from warm white to cool white, daylight, and natural light. The LEDs can perform well at low temperatures, increasing the areas within which they can be installed. When it comes to retrofitting, there's an LED light solution for almost any lamp and luminaire, and in some cases it is as simple as changing a light bulb! On our website we have a dedicated section of LED lights (LED light fittings), LED dimmers, and LED drivers, with all the pictures and technical specifications needed.Buy Excellent LED Light Fittings

We get asked hundreds of questions concerning how to do more energy-saving lighting, from, "Do I need to replace all my downlights with LED lights" to "do you have low voltage LED lights" and "is this LED lamp dimmable". Our consultants over the counter and on the phone at Sparks and Lights are ready to advise all those who want to save energy, so why not pop into our lighting showroom in Archway, North London, N19 5SE! Oh, by the way, they are doing some nice road repairs at the Archway gyratory, so it will be quite awesome when all these construction works are finished in a month or two... One of the questions people ask us is, How can I keep my existing low voltage downlights and use LED lamps? Many times the low-voltage LED lamps are either more expensive or they may not work with the existing installation. Furthermore, nobody wants to "rip out all the 12V downlights" in the kitchen and in the bathroom, just so that he would install GU10 downlights that work with LED lamps. So at Sparks, we have a simple solution to this situation: GU10LH + 141724 The GU10LH Lampholder is a simple mains voltage lamp holder with tails that can be installed in the low voltage downlight to convert it to mains voltage GU10 recessed lamp. Of course, the 12V driver must be removed (and the MR16 lamp holder too, if possible). Adding and installing this GU10 lampholder by a registered electrician (please, don't DIY this one!) will allow you to convert a low-voltage downlight into a GU10 downlight. Megaman LED Lamps - retrofit dimmable GU10 lamp offering a warm white or cool white light, the ideal LED lamp for your ceiling light. This LED light bulb is dimmable with a leading edge or a trailing edge dimmer; in other words, you can dim this LED lamp even without having to install a LED dimmer.Buy GU10 LED Lamps at Sparks So you don't need to dig out and replace your existing wall dimmer - you simply install this Megaman 5.5W GU10 LED lamp, and you're sorted out! This is only one of the many ways of keeping your existing LV downlights yet using them with LED lamps. It requires the help of a registered electrician, but the procedure is simple. Here's a simple checklist of the features and benefits of such a situation: Do you want to keep your existing ceiling downlights in the kitchen or the bathroom? Check. Do you want to use energy saving lamps - LED lamps - and thus save £££ on your bills? Check. Do you want to minimize the electrical work done to your ceiling while switching to energy saving? Check. Do you want to dim your LED lamps without paying extra money for LED dimmers? Check. Do you want to want to switch to LED lamps and not spend tons of money on it? Check. Do you want to make sure you don't book your electrician again and again, but you have a clear job for him? Check. What do you think? If you are an electrician or a home owner, or you have found a better way to keep the existing low voltage recessed lights and yet use LED lamps, let us know in the comments.

In June 2014 Integral LED was awarded by "Which?" with the "Best Buy for GU10 LED bulb" in the categories of durability, performance, and energy saving. The tests they performed and the results they obtained can be found on their website, but one thing is certain: after rigorous testing against many of the big-name LED manufacturer brands, Which? has awarded the "Best Buy (Spotlights)" in June 2014 to the Integral LED made GU10 PAR16 5.3W 3000K non-dimmable LED lamp.October 2022 update: this particular LED lamp has been discontinued and replaced by the more energy-saving and energy-efficient GU10 lamps on our website. What we are talking about is a retrofit LED lamp that delivers a warm light and brightness, being the equivalent to a 50W halogen bulb (see the manufacturer announcement on their blog). Also, this LED lamp features quad-high output Everlight LEDs, has an anti-glare refractor, and is finished in aluminum and plastic with a GU10 lamp cap and a thermally efficient body. Great for both commercial use and domestic applications. This LED light bulb is a perfect replacement for the once-efficient but now energy-wasting and quite inefficient 50W halogen lamps and this LED lamp can help you reduce your electricity bills by up to 85% instantly. Think about it: you can save money every month on electricity with a fast payback of less than a year! Buy GU10 LED LampsTechnical specifications for this Awarded LED Lamp Wattage: 5.3W (equivalent to 50W halogen lamp) Dimming: non-dimmable LED lamp Type: GU10 PAR16 LED light bulb Light color: warm white 3000K Anti-glare refractor, high quad output Everlight LEDs. Lumens: 350 useful lumens (370lm nominal) Lumens per watt: 69.8lm/W Construction: plastic and aluminium heat-sink Dimensions: 52mm length, 50mm diameter Mains voltage LED lamp, 50Hz IP rating: IP20 rated. Energy rating: A+ More specifications and technical details together with more other pictures and videos for this awarded BEST LED Spotlight in 2014 can be found via our dedicated page for this GU10LS5W LED lamp at SparksDirect.co.uk.Please note: this LED lamp has now been replaced by more energy-saving and energy-efficient LED lamps, all of which can be seen via GU10 LED Lamps.

The LED lights are no longer merely a fancy light-emitting diodes solution for coloured lighting or indicators on electrical devices and appliances; the LED technology is evolving to the point that today you can safely have LED lights all around the house, and this even with a low budget! As seen above, we at Sparks we have a dedicated section that compiles most of the LED lights and LED fittings that we do at the moment, and even at a glance you will be amazed at the wide range of light fittings available that either use or can take LED light bulbs! LED Lighting All Around the House - even with a Low Budget! If you are like most of us, you would like to have LED lights (since they are both energy-saving and "the new thing") all around the house, and, if possible, these lights should also be dimmable. And we know this because MOST of our customers ask us via email, website, phone, chat, Twitter, and in-person something like this, I want a LED light that is dimmable - do you have any? Of course we do :) and we will continue to bring them in as long as the are high quality, serviceable, replaceable, and with excellent feedback. And the greatest thing about the LED lights is that their price is going lower and lower, even though they incorporate the latest LED technology! Here are some of the LED lights you could install all around the house without having to bleed money or have a heart attack when you see the price:Buy LED Lights at Sparks Indoor LED Lighting The wide range of LED Lights for interior lighting includes LED wall lights, ceiling lights, table lights, undershelf lights, bathroom lights, table lights, bedside lights, etc. For example, the ELAN-LED range of LED downlights is a great solution for dimmable downlights offering a neutral white or a warm white light and coming in white, chrome, or nickel finish. And if you want to change the bezel of this fitting, you can easily do so with the available brass, black, or chrome bezels available, both in a round and in a square version. Moving to the pendant lights, the Firstlight 8613 bar pendants and most of the high-quality pendants can use a LED light bulb, many of which are also dimmable. For a nice concealed lighting we would recommend the USLED range of LED undershelf strip lights - nice looking under-shelf strip lights for anywhere in the house (except the bathroom). In the bathroom you can either use some IP44 rated wall or ceiling lights which take LED, and above the mirror the OMLED10 will definitely save you both money and energy. Do you want to have a bedside table lamp or an LED spotlight with a flexible head mounted on the wall by the bed? There's a wide range of bedroom LED lights, from LED table lamps to children's lamps, bedside lamps, reading lamps, etc. You should definitely check out the NX326 Mento LED light.Buy ELAN-LED Downlights Outdoor LED Lighting Say "goodbye" to the high wattage and high energy consumption halogen flood lights and "Hello" to the energy-saving LED flood lights! Whether you want to light up the building facade or make sure unwanted visitors are surprised by the PIR-triggered light beam, the LED flood lights are now more affordable and useful than ever. For more concealed lighting and highlighting outdoors you can safely use the many LED strip lights for outdoor. They come in warm white, cool white, or even in RGB color changing if you prefer this, and some of them can be even remotely controlled. For a more fancy rectangular wall-mounted LED fitting you should take a look at the Astro Lighting Puzzle AX0931 LED light - it will puzzle both you and your guests as you can hardly see where the light source is! And if you are not convinced yet, we would like to invite you to visit the LED lighting section on our website where you can see more, read more, and choose the best LED light fitting that you need.Buy Outdoor LED Flood Lights If you're from around London and you would like to see how the LED downlights, wall lights, strip lights, etc look like, you can pay us a visit in Archway at our Lighting Showroom - we're open daily from 8.00am to 5.00pm, and on Saturday from 8.30am to 2.00pm.

As the LED lights the LED lighting is being developed and is advancing, there's the same question that our customers ask us, Does this light fitting take LED lamps? And you know what, if we check the manufacturer's updated specs, many of the light fittings we sell on our website can safely take LED lamps (subject to the lamp cap and dimensions). It is safe to say again and again that it is time to change that light fitting you have with an LED one - save energy, save money, and invest in the future! As we all know, investing in a relatively more expensive LED lamp will help us reduce our electrical bill and will pay for itself in not such a long time. In this blog post, we thought we should make a list of what kind of lights now take LED lamps and / or are completely LED lamps. Watch and be amazed - even the energy-saving classical fluorescent fittings and the modular panels (so popular in the office or commercial environment) now can be found in an LED alternative! Here are some of the most recently popular LED alternatives.Latest LED Lamps at Sparks LED Corrosion Proof Fitting Replacing the Fluorescent Luminaire The fluorescent fittings are quite energy saving, long lasting, and with a low maintenance cost; changing the tube will keep the light going on for a long time in the office, on the corridor, etc. They are not that expensive and, honestly, they are everywhere. But now it is time to make space for the new LED luminaires, the ultimate in energy saving, which replace them with a higher energy efficiency, lower carbon footprint, lower energy consumption, and better quality of light. With an IP65 rating and with an efficacy of almost 100lm per Watt, these are supplied with the LED driver (plug and play mains connection system) and can be surface or chain mounted. Great for both industrial and commercial lighting. LED light bulbs - LED lamps replacing the Halogen or Incandescent lamps Do you want to save energy at home or at the office, even though you have to turn the light ON most of the time? It's time to change your light bulbs with their LED alternative. You can now use an LED light bulb with a GLS E27 lamp cap, with a GU10 lamp cap, and even with an MR16 lamp cap (low voltage LEDs). And they come in all shapes and sizes, offering either warm white or cool white light, and being dimmable or non-dimmable. Your choice. We advise, we present, we give you the best prices, and now it's your turn to consider and purchase. And we made this list of the LED light bulbs we have in stock constantly.LED Light Bulbs and LED Lamps Ceiling Lights, Wall Lights, Indoor and Outdoor Lights, etc - Most can take LED lamps We all need all kinds of light for wall lighting, ceiling lighting, downlighting, exterior lighting, garden lighting, etc. Check with the specifications of these fittings, most of them can now take LED lamps. One of the reason we haven't been too active on the blog is because we realized: our manufacturer updated most of their products to specify which take LED lamps, and guess what: most of them do! So we got the ball rolling, and now you can purchase not only the light fitting with the energy-saving light bulb but also with the LED lamp alternative! To the "wow, that's good news" we will add another "wow", a "word of warning": please check with the manufacturer specifications and / or with a registered electrician before you change the light bulbs / light fittings. As with every new technology and modern alternative, always check before going for it. Local councils, HMO's, and electricians alike would recommend and switch to LED lights in most applications, and we think it's time for YOU also to do this!

As incandescent bulbs are phased out of the domestic market, it's the right time to take a look at what the options are for replacements. It's common knowledge that a modern energy-saving lamp consumes much less energy and so has a lower wattage, but still offers roughly the same amount of light. CFL and LED light fittings are often sold as being "equal" in brightness to a traditional lightbulb: so an 11W CFL bulb emits as much light as a 60W bulb, according to the packaging. How does this work? Well... it gets a little bit complicated. But thankfully, it also gets a little bit interesting. Seeing Brightness Brightness is someone's subjective judgement of the luminance of an object. Without getting too mathematical, it's based on the equation known as the luminosity function - the standardised model of brightness perception. That's an average measurement, not a universal statement. Every person is going to judge brightness ever-so-slightly differently. What the luminosity function describes is the average human sensitivity to small differences: those aptly named "just noticeable differences." To illustrate the idea: one more "just noticeable difference" is that between a 'classic' chocolate bar and a smaller version introduced when the old version becomes too expensive to manufacture. The observer will hardly be able to notice the difference unless they look very closely. How do we know it's noticeably different, then? If test subjects notice the discrepancy in at least 50% of the tests, that's a just noticeable difference. (In this regard, psychophysics is an endlessly fascinating sub-discipline of marketing.)LED Lights and Lamps at SparksThe Lux and the Lumen The Lumen is the measure of the perceived power of light: the "luminous flux." It's affected by the spectral sensitivity of the eye. A lumen is equivalent to one candela per steradian (1 lm = 1 cd·sr). (And a steradian, by the way, is the SI-derived unit of "solid angle" - a radiated cone of light. It's best thought of as a 2D area in a 3D space, like a patch on the surface of a sphere.) The lumen isn't used to measure brightness, as such - that's a subjective measurement that changes with distance. The further away you get from something, the dimmer it gets. But it is useful for comparing the power of energy-saving lamps and light fittings to their halogen and incandescent counterparts. Some manufacturers list this information right on the box. And it gets still more complicated: lamps are rated in initial and mean lumens. The initial lumen rating refers to the light given when the lamp is new, and as the light source sheds the chemicals inside it, or as its bulb walls darken over time, lumen deprecation takes place. So the average rating is the lumens emitted over the useful lifespan of the device. The Lux is related to the lumen but is measures a completely different thing: it's the SI-derived measure of illuminance. Illuminance is what we think of when we think of "visible light." It is the total amount of visible light illuminating (reflecting off) a point on a surface of a thing from all directions above that surface. Visible light, then, is measured in lux: the luminous flux per unit area. Lux measures the intensity of light that reflects off or passes through a surface. One lux is equal to one lumen per square metre (1 lx = 1 lm/m^2). Home lighting is about 50 lx, while TV studio lighting is usually about 1,000 lx. Daylight tends to hover around the 10 to 25,000 lx mark. So a measurement of lux will tell you how many lumens you need to illuminate an area. 1000 lm concentrated over a square metre will illuminate that spot for an illuminance of 1000 lx, and spreading that same lm value over 10 metres will illuminate that area for 100 lx. The Relationship Between Wattage and Luminance The watt (W) is the measure of power, defined as 1 Joule (unit of energy) per second (1 W = 1 J/s), and the power a bulb consumes has a lot to do with its electrical resistance. The resistance of a traditional incandescent bulb is affected by its filament, depending on its length, thickness, material, and so on. That metallic filament needs to be heated to a high temperature until it glows, and a filament with higher resistance glows brighter - but needs more power. So if a bulb has a brighter-burning filament, it is constructed at a higher wattage. A filament fitted within a 100W bulb has a higher resistance than a 60W bulb and so emits a brighter light. Sadly, a lot of that electrical energy is converted into heat when a lightbulb's sole purpose is to provide light. This is considered to be wasted energy. The rate at which a light source converts electrical power into light is known as luminous efficacy and is expressed as lumens per watt (LPW). The higher the LPW, the more efficient the light source. So while an incandescent light source has a low LPW, an energy-saving bulb has a much higher LPW: more of the electrical input is converted to luminous output. Wattage Equivalence When a manufacturer claims that a CFL or LED lightbulb is "equivalent" to a 40, 60 or 100-watt lamp, what they mean is that the light output is roughly the same, as measured in lumens. That said, it's rarely (if ever) a straight relationship; most of the time wattage equivalency is a rough figure, somewhere in the same "ball park." But in everyday use, that difference is barely noticeable - particularly with the current range of energy-saving lamps. If you'd like to take some of your own measurements and correct us on our science, you are more than welcome to do so in the comments. We stock both incandescent and energy-saving lightbulbs and lamps to aid the research.Energy Saving Lights at Sparks

The LEDs are a fast evolving technology, from small lamps to higher wattage lamps. They will eventually get to the point where they will replace the high incandescent lamps and even the fluorescent lamps. But not yet. Not this year, but most likely soon, the LED lights will be THE LIGHTS people will use (unless someone develops a better technology for lighting). There is a continual need for innovation in this domain, and it is foreseen that the LED lights are to be the new technology as far as illumination is concerned. LED Lighting Continues to Improve We wrote an article a while ago introducing some of the advantages and disadvantages of LED lights, and someone recently commented rightly on it saying that CFLs and T5 fluorescent lamps can offer a better CRI (color rendering) illumination output. In the beginning, people loved LED lights because of the light effect they offer, and not the color rendering, the illumination effect. Especially the small, tiny LED lights, offer more lighting effect, giving out the light but not yet matching what we used to have with a dichroic lamp, a CFL, or a fluorescent fitting. The light output is not as crisp, as good, and as useful for general lighting as the lighting solutions we are used to have. But now with the latest LED technologies out there, you can have COB LED lights (Chips on Board). This technology allows multi-LED chips to be packaged together as one lighting module, and when it lights up, it looks like a lighting panel (see more here).COB LED Lights at Sparks The Latest LED Technology - COB Halers LED lighting were the market leader in affordable LED lights approx. 6 months ago, but now it is the COB technology for the LED lighting. The CREE Chip is also good, the "Rolls Royce of LED Chips", offering brightness and reliability for power LEDs (plus efficient, environmentally friendly LED lights) - read more via cree.com. Note: the Halers LED lamps are no longer available at Sparks. The COB technology will allow the LED lights using it to be dimmable to almost 0 (not 25-30%, as many LED lights do today), and they offer an improved lighting output quality, bringing it more to the color rendering we are used to in the older light bulbs (CFLs, compact fluorescent, etc). Here are some of their advantages: Higher quality. Since the entire PCB (including the LED portion) is all machine-produced at the same time, the end result will be more uniform in construction. Increased thermal dissipation. Better thermal management, because the LED is directly attached to the PCB, giving it more surface area to pass heat away from the LED die. Fewer solder joints. Less soldering means a lower risk of a loss in performance due to a bad solder joint. Larger LED surface area. The better control of the cooling, the larger LED emitters can be built. What's Next for LED Lights? The LED technologies are in continual development, and we don't know what the future holds for the space of lighting in general. Would we use LED lights in all the lighting applications? Not yet, maybe not in all general lighting applications, because they are still expensive and the light they offer is not refined to be what we need... But as time gos on, as the LED technologies evolve, the LED lights become better and their price is not that high. For now we can recommend you the latest technology of LEDs incorporated in the ELAN range of IP65 fire-rated LED downlights available at Sparks for as low as £39 + VAT. Very affordable. They include many of the latest technologies like COB, fire protection, IP rating, energy saving, etc. Also, they come in the Fixed or Adjustable version (fixed or tilting), and each range offers you either Neutral White or Warm White light, in a White or Brushed Nickel finish. Check these out for yourself!The latest LED lights at Sparks

When we talk about LEDs we talk a lot about about "lifespan" and "cost-over-time returns" but what does that actually mean? If you're paying £20 on an LED lightbulb, you'll want to know how long it's going to last.Note: the new LED Lamps are much cheaper, a full range can be found here. The Truth Behind LED Lifespan Estimates  LEDs are quite a new technology (despite being around for over fifty years), and there's not much of a consensus on what happens past the advertised 25-50,000 hour lifespans - if that's even ever happened "naturally." The lifespan of a lightbulb is an average: it means that during the product testing phase, about half the bulbs failed at 25,000-50,000 hours. Product testing can't always replicate real-life conditions, however. Streetlights and other outdoor lighting applications might have lifespan requirements higher than that, but otherwise we haven't really reached them. So all we know is what the manufacturer knows. But here's the thing: we're actually not all that sure what these estimates mean. At the end of that advertised lifespan, the LED isn't dead; the bulb is giving off about 70% of the light it gave off in the first place. At 70% brightness, the average person is going to notice that their LED lightbulb less bright. Theoretically, that LED lightbulb you splurged on will continue to shine until it becomes incredibly dim - even to the point of uselessness. That is, of course, if it doesn't break first...Full range of LED Lamps LED Failure, Stress Testing, and Where Warranties Come From There are a lot of electronics inside an LED light bulb. Generally, it's not usually the diode itself that fails - it's components like the heat sink, the transformers, the circuit board, and so on. The product testing phase attempts to replicate the real-world applications for which the bulb will be used, but much more quickly. For example, the transistors in LEDs can be destroyed by high temperatures, reducing their lifespan even as they are adopted by third-world lighting projects. So products are tested for extreme temperatures as well as thermal shock (by transferring from very hot to very cold environments), which will mostly affect the electronic components. Mechanical stress testing checks for failure when the luminaire is subjected to intense vibration or shock, which is useful for automotive applications. Since these vibrations amount to repeated shocks and jolts to the light, like being dropped over and over again, it's important to know. And if the product fails too quickly, it's sent back to the drawing board. Manufacturers will define "too quickly" differently - this is how warranties are set. Thanks to extreme stress testing, a manufacturer can canadian online pharmacy say that their product can be reasonably expected to last five or seven or however many years. So, there we have it: LEDs will last a long time unless something goes wrong, and we don't really know how long they'll last. We're sorry that's not a more conclusive answer, but it's what we have.

Although it would seem to any commentator that energy-efficient lighting is "the future," or at least a component of that future, we at Sparks keep getting requests for high-wattage light bulbs. This is even after the EU have banned the sale of 100W+ lightbulbs for domestic use. High-watt lamps are intended for "rough use" alone (that is, for industrial use on construction sites and the like) but even though there's a grand drive towards energy efficiency, it's more likely that homeowners are also buying these bulbs. We have no way of telling, of course. We can't tell what these lamps are used for once a customer leaves the shop - we shouldn't be doing that - but clearly they are still being bought and used in the home. Advantages of Incandescent Lightbulbs  We can think of a couple of advantages of incandescent bulbs over CFL alternatives - firstly, they are "instant-on." They don't have to "warm up" and they work fine in cold weather, unlike CFLs. It has also been shown that General Lighting Service (GLS) lightbulbs do not dim over time in a payday loan process known as lumen deprecation, or at least not to the same degree as CFLs. Meanwhile, the current generation of LEDs are still too new to accurately measure their lumen deprecation. But perhaps most obvious is the fact that many energy-saving bulbs cast a 'colder' light than the incandescent bulbs many of our customers are used to. The Comfort Factor We think that is mostly comfort that drives people to traditional incandescent bulbs: most of us are used to buying a GLS lightbulb. Aside from that factor, however, they are much cheaper at purchase than CFL or LED lamps. Despite advances in technology, we are still some time away from LEDs being an affordable true alternative to GLS bulbs (although the Apple-endorsed Hue smart lights might do something for that). Energy-saving lights do save money over time, however, and many of our customers are pleasantly surprised by the quality of these lights. Photo by Joey Gannon on Flickr (Creative Commons)Buy Energy Saving Lamps at Sparks

One of our favourite blogs - Gizmodo - listed 17 common heating and lighting mistakes, as well as some quick fixes and general tips - some of which are of interest to our readers. The article as a whole has some great advice for saving money, including some tricks about heating and lighting systems specifically: Overlooking LEDs. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are sometimes a better choice than CFLs. They don't contain mercury, aren't affected by frequency of use, and use less energy than CFLs. Plus, some pretty appealing products are hitting the market. Using incandescent bulbs without a dimmer. Dimming incandescents reduces the amount of electricity they use. "The bulbs last longer and use less energy," Winters says. Under utilizing your ceiling fan. A ceiling fan keeps air circulating. In the winter, the fan pushes the warm air down from the ceiling to help keep your warm. Most ceiling fans have the option to change the direction of the fan's rotation. Clockwise-rotating blades create an updraft that pushes all the hot air trapped at the ceiling downwards, into the actual living space. Not adjusting the thermostat at night. When you're away from home for more than four hours, or tucked in at night, turn down the heat to save a few bucks. Programmable thermostats can do this for you. Some can even think of this on their own. But one of their tips set off a few alarm bells among the staff at Sparks Electrical. Gizmodo offers the following advice payday loan lenders on whether leaving a CFL bulb on uses less energy than turning it on or off. "They're really not made to be turned on and off repeatedly," says Brian Winters, co-owner of Winters Electric, Inc., in Colorado Springs, Colo. "They are designed to be turned on and left on." We would like to point out that Mythbusters debunked this old wives' tale a few years ago. They found that a standard CFL bulb would need to be turned off for just 0.015 seconds in order to save energy. Thanks to the 21st Century's finest minds we can safely say that it is always worth turning off the bulb. Thanks to Gizmodo for an excuse to watch Mythbusters in the office. It's true that turning a CFL lightbulb off and on repeatedly might shorten its lifespan. But the cost of replacing the bulb is far less than the cost of the energy bills you will receive should you leave them on from now until April. Read the whole article over at the Gizmodo UK site for more tips and tricks to save money this winter, and let us know about any more in the comments. It's getting cold over here and we have spent all of our money on chocolate.LED Lamps at Best Prices

Please note: these LED strip lights, LED modules, and LED dimmers may no longer be available at Sparks - all our LED Lights and LED dimming modules can be found online.The LEDs, based on supply current and power, can be classified into two main families: The POWERLED - can be supplied with a current more than 100mA with typical values of 350mA, 700mA, 1A e 1,5A. Referring to white, blue and green LEDS with a maximum forward voltage of 4V, the above current values correspond approximately to 1W, 3W, 4W, 6W power. These type of LEDs must be controlled precisely in current, therefore must be connected in series. The SIGNAL LED (“MINILED”) - whose supply current is about 20-70mA and therefore corresponding power is of 0,1-0,3 watt. Also coming in white, blue, green signal, these leds have a typical forward voltage of 4V (only 2V for red and yellow leds). The strip and LED modules with signal leds are designed for constant voltage supplying, 12V-24V typically and for parallel connection. Power supply and dimmers for LED modules Based on above considerations there have been two power supplies families that have been developed: The power supplies for POWERLED for constant current driving (CDT “Current Drive Technology) and serial module connection. The typical driving currents are 350mA, 500mA, 700mA, 1A with an output voltage depending on number of modules and power supply chosen with a maximum of 48V. The power supplies for Signal LED “ MINILED” for constant voltage driving (or VDT ”Voltage drive Technology). The typical voltage values are 12V and 24V and the needed output power of drivers depends on number of modules. Within the range of of POWERLED and MINILED power supplies there are specific "dimmable LED" types. The dimming can be of 0-10V signal type or potentiometer and “push” by push button. Besides, both for standard and dimmable types, multipurpose models are provided with constant current and voltage output selectable by means of jumper connection or dip-switch. To control the RGB (red-green-blue) modules, suitable 3 channels power supplies and regulators are designed. The control signal may be “push” by button, by potentiometer or remote control and with special protocol like DMX. Also here for RGB POWERLED is provided current driving and for MINILED voltage driving. Standard references for LEDs Safety reference standard: EN61347 and related annexes. Electromagnetic Compatibility requirements the reference is for Radio interferences with the EN55015 standard, Harmonics: the EN61000-3-2, Immunity: the EN61547. General warnings related to LEDs The LED power supplies must be installed in suitable situations according to the maximum ambient operating temperature ta indicated on the catalog. The number of LED modules connected to a driver must not exceed the provided power and voltage limits.Latest LED Lamps at Sparks

You may have seen in the news recently that there are only a couple more weeks before standard 60-watt light bulbs are pulled out of production, and will no longer be on sale to the public from electrical wholesalers. The reason behind this is the European Union’s initiative to reduce our carbon footprint, as they want to push homeowners towards using energy-saving light bulbs to help us reduce our electricity bills and therefore the amount of carbon emissions emitted. As a result of this, demand for energy-saving light bulbs is surging now after the 1st of September (when 60-watt light bulbs cease production) as electrical consumers look to the best or cheapest alternative. However, this cheap alternative just got a bit more expensive and we wanted to uncover the reasons behind this price increase. In a recent Daily Mail news article, Sparks Direct were on hand to show how the price charged by one of our suppliers for an 11-watt CFL had risen from £1.39 in June to £1.67 today, an increase of 20 percent. So what are the reasons behind such a sharp increase in a short amount of time? Manufacturers making the most of high demand – It would seem that the impending high demand for these energy-saving alternatives has given suppliers the authority to increase their prices and exploit a market opportunity as they look to make as big a profit as possible. Increase in the price of raw materials - Suppliers have stated that the reason behind this increase is the fact that the cost of raw materials is increasing and therefore they have had to follow suit in order to remain competitive. It has been claimed that demand for substances contained in energy-saving light bulbs has increased, which has forced prices to increase. On top of that, the Chinese government has raised prices of phosphorus to protect its domestic supply. China is one of the biggest suppliers of raw materials for light bulbs, and as a result, they have also predicted that further increases in price will follow in the coming months. Marketed as the equivalent of traditional 60-watt light bulbs – This appears to be more of a marketing ploy, but many wholesalers are claiming 11-watt CFL bulbs produce the same illumination as a standard 60-watt light bulb, yet they carry all the energy-saving incentives. Independent research has suggested that this is not the case and that they produce less than 60 percent of the illumination produced by standard 60-watt light bulbs. Green Incentives – There are so many green incentives that come with energy-efficient light bulbs that suppliers can use this as a way of justifying any price increase. As previously mentioned, these include cutting carbon emissions which ministers claim will save 5m tons of carbon a year when the change comes into force. On top of that it can greatly reduce electricity bills. What are your thoughts on this news and will this price increase affect you or your business in any way? We would love to hear from you.Buy Energy Saving Lamps at Sparks

If you follow us on twitter this would be "old news" to you (see the picture we took of the camera crew yesterday in our showroom). Yes, Sparks Electrical was visited by BBC News and one of our consultants, Nick Cohen, was interviewed on the topic, What happens now since the European Union Bans the Production of the 60W Light Bulbs? A short clip with part of the interview was placed on the BBC website via, EU bans production of 60-watt bulbs. Nicola Pearson concludes, The days of the traditional electric light bulb are drawing to an end. Under EU regulation the production of 60 watt bulbs will cease, in an effort to encourage the use of more energy efficient lighting. It is true - the European Union continues its phase-out of incandescent light bulbs - the next in line being the 60-watt light bulb. The 60W bulbs are still in stock / available for sale for the moment, but soon the stock will run out and they will no longer be manufactured. People will need to look at other solutions - many of which are not cost-effective(since the energy-saving bulbs are a bit more expensive) BUT they definitely are more energy-saving! European Union Phase-Out 60W Incandescent BulbsWith the phase-out of the 60W light bulb starting from the first of September 2011 - that is, starting from today - both the electricians and the lighting wholesalers need to educate the homeowners on the benefits of switching to more energy-efficient lighting! Yes, the new solutions - like the LED light bulbs- are considerably more expensive, but they will stop the waste of energy in your home! The most effective way to stop wasting the energy and reduce the carbon footprint is to use energy saving light bulbs at home, at the office, and anywhere you need lights! Start saving money on your electricity bill - pay less for your energy bills - by using Energy Efficient / Energy Saving light bulbs! Watch the entire clip on the BBC website at EU bans production of 60-watt bulbs, and read more about the European Union's plan of the Phase-out Of Incandescent Bulbs.Buy Energy Saving Lamps at Sparks