Best Dimmable Light Bulbs of 2023 | VentureBeat

What is a dimmable LED bulb?

A dimmable LED bulb is a lightbulb that can be adjusted to different levels of brightness. This allows you to control the amount of light in your home, which helps save energy and money on electricity bills.

How does it work?

A dimmable LED bulb works by using a special electronic circuit that allows the user to adjust the brightness of their light. This is done through an external switch or remote control, which sends signals to the dimmer inside your lamp. The dimmer then adjusts how much power goes into each individual LED in order to change its brightness level.

What are the types of dimmable LED bulbs?

Generally, the two most common types of bulb are:

• Converted incandescent bulbs – These are standard incandescent bulbs with the filament removed and replaced with LED lights and electronic circuitry.
• LED lights with built-in electronics – These lights are specifically designed with dimmable functionality in mind. Using pulse-width modulation (PWM) digital signals, these bulbs allow you to dim much more smoothly.

Who are dimmable LED bulbs suitable for and what benefits do they bring?

Dimmable LED bulbs are perfect for anyone who wants to save money on their electric bill. Due to LED bulbs using electronic circuits, the dimmable LED bulb is a great way to reduce your energy consumption and lower the amount of electricity you use in your home or business.

For example, compared to similar incandescent bulbs, dimmable LED bulbs have a number of different features, including:

• Energy-efficient, save up to 80% energy than incandescent bulbs
• Long lifespan of 25000 hours or more
• No UV and IR radiation, no harm to your eyesight and skin
• Instant full brightness when turned on (no warm-up time)
• Dimmable with most dimmers

Advantages And Disadvantages Of  Dimmable LED Bulbs Based On Customer Reviews

Advantages

Disadvantages

For what do I need to look out for when comparing dimmable LED bulbs?

Brightness

Brightness is measured in lumens, which, in simple terms, looks at the light output of the dimmable LED bulb.  A higher lumen count typically means a brighter bulb, so you should be looking at bulbs with a minimum of 600 lumens for that vibrant lighting.

Lifetime

LED bulbs are renowned for their long life expectancy, and many manufacturers will pride themselves on said longevity. Generally speaking, if you use your bulbs for 3 hours per day on average, most dimmable LED bulbs will last for at least 10 years.

Shape

Dimmable LED bulbs come in many different kind of shapes and sizes. The most common shape is the A bulb, which has a classic round light bulb shape. However, you also have shapes like the ST bulb, and the BR bulb, which is shaped like a little flashlight with a flattened top.

Temperature

Temperature is a way to describe the color, or warmth of the dimmable LED bulb. Typically measured in kelvin (k), higher numbers like 9000k means a bulb with more blue, while lower numbers like 2600k means a bulb with more orange.

Energy used

Measured in watts (w), energy consumption is the most important part of any dimmable LED bulb for money-conscious customers. The lower the wattage, the less energy your bulb will consume, and because LED bulbs are quite low already, you should be looking at wattages close to 10w or under.

Alternatives To Dimmable LED Bulbs

There are many alternatives to dimmable LED bulbs. The most common alternative is the halogen light bulbs, which have been used for decades and still remain popular today. Halogen lights produce a bright white light that can be adjusted by turning up or down on the wattage of your lamp.

Another option is compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which produce an even brighter white light than halogens but require special fixtures in order to work properly (fluorescent lamps do not fit into standard sockets). Finally, there are incandescent bulbs, which provide a warm yellowish glow similar to candlelight. However, these types of bulbs use more energy than any other type of bulb available and should only be used when absolutely necessary due to their high cost per hour usage rate.

Further Links and Sources

• https://blurayhunt.com/en-uk/movie/i-saw-the-light
• https://latenightstreaming.com/en-uk/serie/enlightened
• https://metalecture.com/en/photography-courses
• https://www.monederosmart.com/en-uk/best-light-bulb/
• https://ledhut.co.uk/blogs/news/five-things-need-know-dimmable-led-lights
• https://blog.arcadia.com/led-vs-regular-lightbulbs-do-they-really-make-a-difference/

FAQ

What makes a good dimmable LED bulb?

A good dimmable LED bulb should be able to maintain the same color temperature when dimmed. It is also important that it does not flicker or change colors at different levels of brightness. The best way to test this is by using a light meter and measuring the lumen output as you turn down the lights in your room. If there are any changes, then you may want to consider another option for your home lighting needs.

Can I use a dimmer with regular LED bulbs?

No, you need to buy LED bulbs that are specifically dimmable. Regular LED bulbs don't have the circuitry needed to properly dim and instead could end up damaging your fittings.

Are LED bulbs more expensive than incandescent or halogen bulbs?

These days, dimmable LED bulbs are comparable in price to alternative kinds of dimmable bulbs. What's more, they are generally cheaper in the long term due to their impeccable low energy consumption compared to incandescent bulbs. For instance, an 11w bulb could produce the same level of light output as a 65w incandescent, which is incredibly efficient!

Do I need to buy any special accessories to attach my dimmable LED bulbs to my existing fixtures?

No, it's incredibly easy! All dimmable LED bulbs will have the same fittings as regular incandescent or halogen bulbs. All you have to do is check your existing bulb fitting and make sure that the Edison Screw (ES) number is the right one when you buy your new one.