Did you know that the light bulb was made 178 years ago? It’s relatively short time ago if we think about the incredible technological developments that have taken place in recent decades. During this time were created various electric light sources, such as compact fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps or even LED lamps.
Proper interior lighting is a very important thing. It can change the proportions of the rooms, make it bigger or smaller, visually add warmth or bring cool style of the whole design. In addition, it significantly influences into the comfort of the family and what may seem surprising some of you also their mood. Bathroom is the space that requires excellent lighting – usually there is no window so this room can only count on the artificial light of lamps and wall lamps. But what in the bathroom space will be better – halogens or LEDs? In the following text we will describe the advantages and disadvantages of both solutions.
What is characteristic for the halogen bulbs?
Halogens emit up to 70% more light than conventional incandescent bulbs and their lifetime is 2000-5000 hours. Savvy people should lean toward energy-efficient versions that consume as much as 30 to 60% less energy than regular halogens. Halogen lamps are divided into two groups: high-voltage and low-voltage. Models with 12V fit perfectly in the rooms where there is a lot of moisture so therefore to the bathroom.
It is important to pay attention not only to their voltage but also to the angle of the light incidence. The most popular variant is 60 degrees, which makes the light becomes relatively scattered. This is very important in the bathroom, because each part of the room should be evenly lit. The designers emphasize that halogens work great as sublime lights, but they are not suitable for mirror lighting – it cause the appearance of shadows on the face, which can significantly impede toilet activities, such as a make-up or shaving. The great advantage of halogen bulbs is the constant color of light throughout the entire working life. They achieve full brightness immediately after turning on the light. Disadvantages? Very high heat output, which increases the risk of burns.
Everything about the LED bulbs
It is common to claim that LED is the future lighting. More and more often they are replaced by traditional light sources – they are suitable for all types of lamps. LEDs, like compact fluorescent lamps, are energy-saving light sources with extremely low power consumption, from 0.6W to 0.8W (depending on the color), giving up to 50 times less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. LED lighting enthusiasts also are talking about its undeniable longevity – such incandescent bulbs last up to 35 years which gives 35-50,000 hours. Unfortunately, there is nothing for free.
The main disadvantage of LED bulbs is the price, which can be up to seven times higher than the traditional bulbs. In addition to LED bulbs, modern LED strips are becoming increasingly popular. This tape works well in areas that are particularly exposed to moisture so in the bathroom. Coated with a thick layer of silicone, it remains resistant to splash water. The great advantage of LEDs is the ability to change the intensity of light as well as their color. They must then be powered by a transformer and controlled by a special RGB driver.