Thanks to constant advances in technology, modern LED lamps are now the lighting of choice in almost all areas: Really good LEDs consume up to 90% less electricity than conventional light bulbs. But what makes a good LED illuminant? The market is flooded with cheap offers. So why access products that seem more expensive at first glance? High-quality LED lamps may cost a little more to buy, but they usually pay for themselves very quickly, and the usually significant differences in quality have a long-term effect. If you buy cheap LED lamps from dubious manufacturers, you often end up paying significantly more. This not only affects the wallet, but also our health – because the quality of light has a direct effect on our well-being.
LED quality features: The difference between good and cheap
Not everything that shines brightly in the LED market is good. In the end, cheap LED lamps can cost you dearly. It has now been proven how important the quality of light is for our daily well-being, our mood and our health. You should pay attention to these quality features to distinguish good LED lamps from bad ones:
>> Color rendering index (Ra): Lamps for indoor use must have an Ra index of at least 80. The first digit of the number code on the pack provides information about the Ra index
>> Light color (Kelvin): The lower, the warmer
>> Light yield (efficiency): LED drivers, optics and higher operating temperatures can cause losses of up to 40%
>> Luminance: What is important is a light distribution that is as harmonious and homogeneous as possible without sharp-edged light edges or overly bright spots
>> Optimized heat management: Good cooling that is as inconspicuous as possible increases the service life of the LEDs
Pay attention to the quality of LED lamps
Poor quality in LED lamps: how do you recognize them?
Technical quality features
- Inadequate color rendering: This property of a light source describes whether illuminated faces or objects appear natural. Poor color rendering leads to false color perception and often causes a large loss of brightness after a short time.
- No or insufficient cooling: LEDs have to be cooled in order to dissipate the heat produced – otherwise this has a massive impact on the service life. The operating temperature indicates the temperatures at which the LED can be operated and at the same time exploit its full service life.
- Faulty electronics: In order to convert the alternating current from the line into direct current, LEDs require ballast electronics. This is the most expensive component in the LED lamp – inferior materials are often used here. Incorrectly selected parts and poor workmanship are the main reasons for the failure of the LED lamp.
- Flickering: Many cheap LED lamps flicker, sometimes even with the naked eye. This can also be traced back to defective ballast electronics: high-quality ballast electronics can reduce the flickering of dimmable LED lamps to an imperceptible minimum.
