What are Bulbs? 6 Types of Light Bulbs and Their Uses [Explained with Images]

What are Bulbs?

What are Bulbs? 6 Types of Light Bulbs and Their Uses [Explained with Images] :- A bulb is an electric device that produces light when the electricity is passed through its terminals. It has two solid connection wires in the center, with a thin wire attached between them. This thin wire is called a filament. The thin wire filament gets broken then the bulb gets fused and a fused bulb does not glow.

Bulb forms are systematized by a letter code and numeric classification. The 19 specification of an A19 bulb the most popular household bulb represents the width is 1/8 inch increments or 19/8 = 2-3/8 inches. The letters themselves hold meaning too, where G representing Globe, C, for a Candelabra, etc. The higher the wattage, the greater the light output for a given bulb type. LED and CFL have replaced incandescent because they consume less energy and also less heat.

Different Types of Light Bulbs

Mainly, 6 types of bulbs are available in the market these days-

1. LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb
2. Incandescent light bulb
3. Compact fluorescent light bulb
4. High-intensity discharge bulb
5. Halogen bulb
6. Linear fluorescent light bulb

1. LED Bulb (Light Emitting Diode Bulb): ( Types of Bulbs )

They are semiconductor devices that produce light when an electrical current is passed through them. They are long-lasting and highly efficient. However, they are not ready to replace the entire lighting system as they provide only directional lighting and not diffused lighting. So, LED bulbs can be utilized for task lighting, accents, and florid decoration.

• LED bulbs are available for outdoor use but before using it outdoors, one must make sure that packaging reads that  the bulb is built for outdoor use.
• Does not provide heat increase, which helps to preserve air conditioning.
• Best for signs and indicators, night lights, flashlights, torches, undercabinet accessories, and some recessed light/down light uses where the principle of color temperature is not important.

2. Incandescent Light Bulb: ( Types of Bulbs )

It is the most common type of lighting found in households and comes in a wide range of sizes and voltage. They light up when the electricity heats the tungsten filament in these bulbs until they give out a glow. Incandescent light bulbs emit steady warm lighting and can be used for most household applications. Incandescent light bulbs give a high level of brightness and can be used for task lights.

• Incandescent light bulbs are generally used in places like desk lamps, table lamps, hallway lighting, closets, accent lighting, and chandeliers.
• Incandescent lights produce a good color rendering and, in fact, work as the color standard by which all other lights are included.
• Incandescent lamps are quickly dimmable lights.

3. CFL Bulb (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb ): ( Types of Bulbs )

The compact fluorescent light works like the normal fluorescent light except that the glass tube is bent and fixed to a base that holds the ballast. This is designed to fit into a normal incandescent bulb socket. Though they are expensive, they are highly efficient in saving energy as they use only a quarter of the energy consumed by incandescent light and lasts almost ten times longer, so supporting you to preserve energy for a long time.

Compact fluorescent light produces a more glowing color corrected tone and it blows a cool, bluish, dull light, CFLs. CFLs bulb give the hue and glow in the light because it uses rare earth phosphors. The compact fluorescent light bulb comes in standard, spiral, globe, candelabra, and triple tube designs.

Compact fluorescent lights care should be taken to avoid damage, especially during distribution, because it contains mercury.

• Compact Fluorescent Lights are good for reading and table work, especially for Students.
  
• Don’t work with dimmer switches and isn’t especially well suited for light fixtures you switch on.

4. High-Intensity Discharge Bulb: ( Types of Bulbs )

A high-intensity discharge bulb is an electrical discharge bulb that lights up light by an electric arc between tungsten electrodes inside a glassy or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. A high-intensity discharge bulb also requires a ballast to control the voltage.

They produce extremely bright light at high productivity and hence are mainly used for outdoor lighting purposes.

• HID lights are used essentially used where the most important factor is producing as much visible light per watt as possible.
• Major uses of HID lights are in streetlights, gymnasiums, warehouses, large retail facilities, and stadiums, and plant nursing rooms.

5. Halogen Bulb: ( Types of Bulbs )

Halogen lights are a new and dynamic form of incandescent lighting. These bulbs come filled with halogen gas. The halogen gas reacts with the tungsten that had been previously evaporated and prevents it from sticking to the glass surface. It also allies some of the tungsten to return to the filament. The halogen cycle chemical reaction process increases the life of the bulb.

The halogen light bulb uses a halogen gas in order to raise both light output and rated life, but they use less energy. It works two to three times longer than regular incandescent bulbs. Halogen bulbs are smaller in size than regular light bulbs. They are proficient in generating brighter light than usual incandescent forms. After about 750 to 1000 hours of use, the filament finally gets so thin and it breaks, which is what happens when we called light bulb are “burns out.” But, with the discovery of the halogen bulb, there is a new solution to illuminate your space without some of the difficulties of incandescent bulbs.

Halogen bulbs are used in automotive headlamps, in under-cabinet lighting, and also in work lights. Halogen reflectors like MR and PAR lamps are usually preferred for focused lightings such as spotlights and floodlights. They are also frequently being used in more efficient alternatives to incandescent reflectors.

6. Linear Fluorescent Light Bulb: ( Types of Bulbs )

The gas-discharge type of lamp is called a linear fluorescent light bulb or lamp. Linear fluorescent bulbs come in a broad variety of lengths, diameters, wattages, and color temperatures.

• The Linear Fluorescent Light bulb Known for its high energy efficiency, relatively low cost, and able to continue working for longer than others.
• Fluorescent tubes will not work without a ballast.

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