What exactly has changed?
In the first place, since the technology is more compact, it is feasible to replace a typical GU10 halogen bulb, which is usually found in a spot or downlight fixture.
Increases in the number of lumens generated per watt have resulted in much more light being provided by a lower wattage bulb. It is possible to estimate the light output by looking at the color temperature or Kelvin rating. The higher the 'K' value, the cooler the light and the higher the lumens. Not only does this result in a brighter light, but it also has an impact on your utility costs. For example, if you have four 50-watt halogen lights that are each burning at 200-watts total, those bulbs alone would cost you £3.60 per month at current UK average energy rates, while the identical GU10s in LED at 5-watts will cost you 36 pence.
What kinds of bulbs are available for purchase?
LED bulbs are now available in all of the shapes and sizes you'd anticipate, including GLS, candle, G9, and MR16. LED bulbs are also available in several colors. The most recent LED filament bulbs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, including globes, pygmy, golfballs, and squirrel cages. They are revolutionary in that they have the appearance of a normal bulb but do not have the ugly plastic collar that surrounds a significant part of the bulb as previously existed. This enables light to be dispersed in all directions, similar to that of a standard incandescent lamp. This has a direct impact on the lumen output since the light is not focused in a single direction but is spread out across 360 degrees.
What you pay for is what you get.
Don't be fooled by the lower-cost alternative; it will not pay off in the long run. Consider well-known manufacturers that have established themselves as leaders in quality; they give longer bulb life, more light effectiveness (how effectively a source produces visible light), a higher CRI (color rendering index), and better heat dissipation than lesser-known manufacturers. When used in fire-rated downlights, lower-cost bulbs will fail due to heat buildup and will not provide an accurate reproduction of certain colors. A CRI rating of 80 or above is considered excellent, but the higher the number, the better.
Do you want to dim the lights?
Dimming LEDs is a minefield; just because a bulb is labeled as dimmable does not imply that it will function properly. Flickering and cutting out are two of the most common problems. Less expensive bulb types are less likely to be compatible with conventional dimmers. Until recently, trailing edge dimmers were suggested; however, nowadays, good LED specialized dimmers are easily accessible on the market today. You'll also want to think about minimum loads and the necessity of de-rating dimmers so that you don't go above your maximum load capacity.
If possible, purchase your dimmer and bulbs at the same time, following the recommendations of either the manufacturer or an experienced wholesaler. This will help you prevent the expensive errors that may occur while dimming.
