Light Bulb Wattage

LadyDee

Hi, I'm currently using round halogen bulbs with the normal size bayonet but a small globe (a larger globe wouldn't fit with my lampshades).

The wattage on the box is 42W=55W and for me this is simply not bright enough, and I really need the equivalent of the 'old' 100W bulbs for sewing etc.

I've done the obligatory 'googling' but I'm quite confused.

matelodave

The brightness, or lumen levels, of the lights in your home may vary widely, so here's a rule of thumb:

• To replace a 100 watt (W) incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1600 lumens. If you want something dimmer, go for less lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens.
• Replace a 75W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 1100 lumens
• Replace a 60W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 800 lumens
• Replace a 40W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 450 lumens.

You need to check the lumen output rather than watts - a 100watt bulb could be anything up to around 2000 lumens but you really need to check it out yourself to see if 1600-2000 is bright enough. You'd probably need to find an LED of about 18-20watts.


The other thing to note is what's called the colour temperature - warm white = 2700K has a yellowish tinge, Coolwhite is a lot starker = 5000K, Daylight is around 6000K. The cool or daylight white bulbs are about 10% brighter than warm white.


It's unlikey that you'll get a 100w incandescent bulb as a small globe - they get too hot. You could look at something like this http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tubes/Halogen-Light-Bulbs/Halogen-GLS-105W-BC-Clear-GE-Lighting?gclid=CPbjleWT5sgCFacewwodg5gA9Q

LadyDee

matelodave wrote: »

The brightness, or lumen levels, of the lights in your home may vary widely, so here's a rule of thumb:

• To replace a 100 watt (W) incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1600 lumens. If you want something dimmer, go for less lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens.
• Replace a 75W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 1100 lumens
• Replace a 60W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 800 lumens
• Replace a 40W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 450 lumens.

You need to check the lumen output rather than watts - a 100watt bulb could be anything up to around 2000 lumens but you really need to check it out yourself to see if 1600-2000 is bright enough. You'd probably need to find an LED of about 18-20watts.


The other thing to note is what's called the colour temperature - warm white = 2700K has a yellowish tinge, Coolwhite is a lot starker = 5000K, Daylight is around 6000K. The cool or daylight white bulbs are about 10% brighter than warm white.


It's unlikey that you'll get a 100w incandescent bulb as a small globe - they get too hot. You could look at something like this http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tubes/Halogen-Light-Bulbs/Halogen-GLS-105W-BC-Clear-GE-Lighting?gclid=CPbjleWT5sgCFacewwodg5gA9Q

Thank you so much - I'd got so confused about watts and lumens! Things were so much simpler in the "old days":)

I've just found on the back of the box that the bulbs I've been using are 629 lumens - no wonder I could hardly see!

[Deleted User]

matelodave wrote: »

The brightness, or lumen levels, of the lights in your home may vary widely, so here's a rule of thumb:

• To replace a 100 watt (W) incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1600 lumens. If you want something dimmer, go for less lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens.
• Replace a 75W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 1100 lumens
• Replace a 60W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 800 lumens
• Replace a 40W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 450 lumens.

You need to check the lumen output rather than watts - a 100watt bulb could be anything up to around 2000 lumens but you really need to check it out yourself to see if 1600-2000 is bright enough. You'd probably need to find an LED of about 18-20watts.


The other thing to note is what's called the colour temperature - warm white = 2700K has a yellowish tinge, Coolwhite is a lot starker = 5000K, Daylight is around 6000K. The cool or daylight white bulbs are about 10% brighter than warm white.


It's unlikey that you'll get a 100w incandescent bulb as a small globe - they get too hot. You could look at something like this http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tubes/Halogen-Light-Bulbs/Halogen-GLS-105W-BC-Clear-GE-Lighting?gclid=CPbjleWT5sgCFacewwodg5gA9Q

Thanks, I was nt aware that there were 23 watt energy saving bulbs around. I ll be getting some of them , then I can maybe see a bit in my rooms. The 8/10 watt bulbs are pathetic. LED s are getting a bit better but some of them blow every bit as fast as the CFL types and they cost the earth at over £10 each for something with some proper brightness.