Caravan Light Bulbs Explained
Incandescent:
These are the traditional light bulb shape light bulbs that have been commonly used in households for decades. They produce a warm light (approx 2700K), have a short lifespan and are not very energy efficient.
Halogen:
Have the traditional light bulb shape but are much smaller than the traditional incandescent. They are often used in bathroom lighting as they can get very hot, last up to 2000hrs (about 2 times longer than incandescent), and consume about 10% less energy.
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs):
Resembling twisted white tubing, these are the most commonly used energy efficient globe style light bulbs in modern day homes. Traditionally they could flicker and often took a while to reach full brightness, however these problems continue to improve with constant technological developments. They produce a soft white light, can last up to 10,000hrs (10 times longer than incandescents), and consume about 75% less energy than incandescents.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs):
Feature either a half globe or flat surface with many tiny bulbs backed by a tapered cage that houses the diodes. They produce a direct white light (more like a spotlight, making them a popular selection for downlights), last up to 20,000hrs (about 10yrs - making them a popular selection for hard to get to locations), and consume about 80% less energy than incandescents.
Watts, Lumens & Kelvin
Watts (W) = Energy Used
Lumens (lm) = Brightness of Light
Kelvin (K) = Light Bulb Colour Temperature
Wattage Comparison For Equivalent Bulb Brightness
450lm = 40W Incandescent = 29W Halogen = 9-13W CFLs = 4-5W LEDs
800lm = 60W Incandescent = 43W Halogen = 13-16W CFLs = 6-8W LEDs
1100lm = 75W Incandescent = 53W Halogen = 17-23W CFLs = 9-11W LEDs
1600lm = 100W Incandescent = 72W Halogen = 23-30W CFLs = 11-15W LEDs
Typical Kelvin Light Bulb Colour Temperatures
2700-3000K: Warm White - traditionally used in the home
3500-4100K: Cool White - traditionally used in work spaces
5000-6500K: Daylight - traditionally used outdoors or for reading
DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.