Ceiling LED lamps: types, selection criteria, best manufacturers
Have you decided to replace incandescent lamps with more economical diode devices? The prospect of getting well-organized lighting and at the same time saving on utility bills is very tempting. Isn't that right? But you don’t know how to choose LED ceiling lamps and which manufacturer to choose?
We will help you figure out LEDs for ceiling lights. The article discusses the types of devices, their pros and cons. The criteria for choosing the optimal option are given, taking into account the expected effect of the new light bulbs.
The visual illustrations and video recommendations attached to the article will help you make your choice. It will help to list the best manufacturers with a reputation in the lighting market. With our tips in mind, you can make an informed purchase.
The content of the article:
What is an LED device?
The operation of the products is based on the principle of electric luminescence. A current flow passes along the boundary of two different semiconductors. At this moment, electromagnetic radiation is released, which lies in the color spectrum visible to the human eye.
Structurally, the lamp consists of a housing, inside of which there are semiconductor light sources, a diffuser lens, a cooling radiator and power unit (driver).
The first LEDs had a distinctly red glow and were extremely expensive. When blue elements were invented, lamps became significantly cheaper and became available for the widest use in industry and everyday life.
Types of ceiling lamps
Ice lamps for ceiling lighting are produced in the most unusual configurations and differ in the type of base. Screw products have a thread at the bottom for screwing in and are marked with the letter “E”. Next to it are usually numbers showing the base diameter of the threaded connection.
The second type of base is called a pin base and is marked with the letter “G”. Structurally, it consists of two small metal antennae that act as electrical contacts. With their help, the lamp is tightly attached to the lamp socket and held securely there during the entire working period.
The remaining bases, designated by the letters B, R, P, S, K, T, W, have a more narrowly specialized focus and are used much less frequently in everyday life.
What to look for when choosing?
Ceiling lamps based on LEDs differ according to the following important criteria:
- supply voltage;
- operating current level;
- base power;
- light output efficiency;
- shade (temperature) of the supplied light flux;
- radiation angle;
- shape and size;
- period of degradation.
All these nuances must be taken into account when purchasing. Only they will help you make the right choice and purchase a device that exactly meets all the requirements that the client places on a home lighting system.
If you ignore any of the above points, the expenditure of financial resources on the purchase will be in vain, and it will not be possible to create the necessary level of coziness and comfort in the living space. LED light bulbs for general household use they have an operating power of 3 to 15 watts.
Similar indicators for modules intended for industrial use reach up to 100 W. The emitted light flux demonstrates high intensity and, with minimal electrical costs, allows you to illuminate rooms of any size.
The efficiency of products is 90% and in this parameter LED products are significantly ahead of any other light sources.
Criterion #1 - Temperature of Light Produced
The luminescence spectrum of all supply sources is divided into three main groups according to color temperature. The first includes elements that produce warm white light (Warm White), very similar to the effect of a classic incandescent lamp.
They operate in the temperature range from 2700K to 3200K and are recommended for use in residential areas.
The second group includes the spectrum from 3500K to 5000K. This light is called normal or daylight white (Neutral White) and visually resembles the glow of the morning sun of good brightness.
It is perceived by the eye as neutral and is excellent for use in technical rooms of a house or apartment, in offices, classrooms and classrooms, production workshops, etc. Experts indicate that neutral lighting helps increase productivity, helps concentrate attention and does not lead to eye fatigue.
In the range from 5000K to 7000K there are cool white lamps that produce very bright daylight (Cool White). They are practically not used in living rooms.
These modules are mainly used in hospital buildings, laboratories, corridors and technical premises.
Criterion #2 - radiation angle indicator
Such an important parameter as the radiation angle varies from 20 to 360 degrees for lamps from different manufacturers.This means that the LEDs shine brighter in the center, and reduce the illumination level towards the edges of the dispersion angle.
This principle of operation allows us to ensure high-quality light supply to a specific space, spending significantly less power on the task. If there is a need to increase the useful illuminated area, an additional diffusion lens is built into the lamp.
Criterion #3 - marking of the size range
All manufacturers of LED ceiling products produce lamps of fundamentally different sizes and configurations.
The most common forms are:
- A – corresponds to the type of classic incandescent lamp;
- B – resembles an oval with a blunt end;
- C – looks like a candle flame;
- C.A. – called a “candle in the wind” and has a pointed edge slightly bent to the side;
- CW - looks like a candle twisted in one direction;
- G – is a traditional ball;
- E – is an elongated ellipse;
- R – equipped with a reflector (reflector);
- BR – has a convex reflective surface and a slightly larger size than the R-module;
- M.R. – equipped with a mirror reflector;
- PAR – has a reflector of an unusual parabolic shape;
- T – made in the form of a tube, on the surface of which working LEDs are located.
It is these ice lamps that are most popular and are most often used for arranging household and home comfortable lighting systems.
Criterion #4 - glow degradation time
A decrease in the intensity of a lamp's glow over time is a natural process caused by clouding of the crystals during prolonged use. Professionals call this degradation. When this happens, the efficiency of the lighting element decreases and the light saturation of the flux is noticeably weakened.
For LED products from well-known brands, the light intensity decreases closer to the end of the declared service life. Unnamed Chinese-made modules are more susceptible to this and may begin to fade at the very beginning of their operation.
Advantages and disadvantages of LED lamps
Lamps powered by LED elements have a whole range of unique advantages that allow them to be used not only exclusively for lighting, but also to create an original and unique atmosphere in the premises.
With the help of these progressive tools, you can add bright accents to even the simplest interior and make an ordinary room stylish and exclusive.
Advantages of LED products
The operating temperature is so low that the device can be placed in close proximity to materials that are flammable or prone to melting.
The option to adjust the direction of the light flow makes it possible to create zonal lighting in the room, emphasizing the style and originality of the design solution.
In this option, some places will be illuminated brighter, while others will go into the shadows and acquire some intimacy and intimacy.
Another undeniable advantage is the resistance of LEDs to cyclic load. They easily withstand a huge amount of activation, immediately flare up at full power when turned on, and instantly go out when the user presses the “off” button.
The ability to consume electricity economically also adds points to Led light bulbs. They consume 20 times less electricity than similar classic devices, while producing lighting of the same power.
The service life of LEDs is measured in hundreds of thousands of hours. They burn for a record long time without replacement, without forcing the owner to constantly spend money on buying new lamps. The absence of UV radiation is one of the very attractive features of LEDs.
Working indoors even for a long time, they do not provoke fading of furniture upholstery, do not contribute to the fading of wallpaper and do not cause cracking of paint on paintings. It is these moments that make ice products attractive and encourage users to give them preference.
Disadvantages of LED ceiling products
LED products also have disadvantages, although not as many as their advantages. The main thing that is reproached about LED elements is the initial high cost.Of course, this applies to devices produced under well-known and popular brands.
Unbranded Chinese versions are readily available, but should be purchased with great caution. And you shouldn’t expect that cheap options will meet all the parameters and last a long time. The price reduction here is achieved by saving on components, which, naturally, has a bad effect on the quality of the products.
In addition, LED products cannot work correctly with switches equipped with LED backlighting. They flicker or begin to glow faintly when the device keys are turned off and create inconvenience for people who are in the room at that time.
Top list of the best manufacturers
The market for progressive LED equipment is saturated with offers from various brands. In the segment ceiling lamps leadership positions are occupied by several brands that have proven themselves to be producing reliable, high-quality, durable and environmentally friendly products.
No. 1 - Philips brand products
Company Philips produces a wide range of LED lamps for ceiling lamps. The line includes modules that differ from each other in power, luminous flux intensity, color temperature and energy efficiency.
Products from Philips are considered one of the most reliable and environmentally friendly, almost always fully exceed the service life declared by the manufacturer, and are sold for very reasonable money.
The manufacturer has official representative offices all over the world, so buying a real original product from Philipps, and not a Chinese fake, is not difficult.
No. 2 - Osram LED modules
Products from a German company are no less popular. Osram. This is one of the oldest brands operating in the manufacturing of lighting equipment. It first entered the market in the spring of 1906 and since then has been increasing production and providing customers with high-quality elements for comfortable, economical lighting.
Today Osram is part of the industrial sector of the international concern Siemens and is considered one of the leading manufacturers of innovative high-level lighting products.
The company's annual turnover exceeds 5 billion euros. Lamps of the German brand are produced at 48 modern factories located in 17 countries. The brand spends 5% of all profits on progressive research that helps improve LED products.
No. 3 - lamps from Foton Lighting
Foton Ligting Ltd is located in London.It produces and sells various types of elements necessary for modern lighting systems. The brand's priority is the production of advanced, innovative and high-tech products.
The product range is very wide and includes both basic standard models and creative products that satisfy the most extraordinary customer requirements for lighting systems.
No. 4 - Gauss products from the Vatron company
Trademark Gauss is owned by the young but very promising Russian company Vatron, founded in 2009 by the former development director of the Wimm-Bill-dan corporation Denis Frolov. At the dawn of its founding, the company sold compact Chinese fluorescent lamps under the personal brand Gauss.
In 2010, Vatron acquired a co-owner, Ilya Sivtsev. A little later, both managers decided to refocus on the implementation of elements for LED lighting.
This thoughtful move brought the entrepreneurs a solid profit and allowed them to buy an abandoned plant in the Tula region to organize the production of their own LED products.
Effective investment in development, the creation of an advanced research laboratory and the organization of a research and production center allowed the company to begin producing progressive LED products.
By 2015, Vatron took control of about 18% of the domestic Russian market for lighting devices and related elements. Today the company produces modules of various shapes and designs and does not give up its leadership position in the budget segment of LED products.
No. 5 - Kreonix brand LEDs
The Russian manufacturer of LED equipment and related elements KREONIX Ltd offers customers about 400 types of progressive products manufactured according to the basic needs of consumers.
Modules are made in our own factory or purchased from popular and reliable Chinese factories, branded and sold on the domestic market under our own brand.
Among the advantages of the products are record-breaking economical electrical consumption, the absence of flicker visible to the eye, and an impressive service life. As well as a modern, attractive and functional design, which allows Kreonix lamps to be built into ceiling lamps of any design, even the most complex.
Will familiarize you with guidelines for choosing all types of light bulbs for spotlights next article, which we highly recommend reading.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
A detailed and accessible description of the LED lamp for ceiling lights. Recommendations for use.
Complete review of LED bulbs for ceiling lighting system. Pros and cons of the models, differences in the material from which the base is made.
What is the advantage of an aluminum case over glass, plastic and ceramic.
Practical advice on choosing LED lamps for home use. What you need to pay attention to when purchasing. Which lamps are more suitable for ceiling lighting?
LED lamps, designed to create comfortable ceiling lighting that is safe and does not strain your eyesight, can be purchased in company stores.
The high cost is compensated by the long service life and minimal electrical consumption. By purchasing LED modules, you will provide your home with high-quality light and will forget for a long time what a burnt out light bulb is like..
Please write comments, ask questions, and post photos in the block below. Tell us about how you chose LED light bulbs for your suspended ceiling. Share useful information on a topic that may be useful to site visitors.
When we replaced the old kitchen, we installed a suspended ceiling at the same time as the new one. To highlight all the advantages of the color scheme of the new interior, we decided to use LED lamps for lighting. First, we saved money, bought Chinese-made lamps and really regretted it. As they say, the miser pays twice, or even three times. Ceiling LED lamps can be a great way to decorate your interior.