When Did Lightbulbs Become So Complicated?

Years ago when you wanted to change a Lightbulb in one of your fixtures, you would go by the sticker that tells you the maximum wattage Lightbulb that can be used or just replaced it with the same wattage Lightbulb that was in there before. These days when we purchase an LED replacement, we are faced with different choices such as Lumens or Color Temperature and that can be confusing. Here are some things that might make things easier when replacing that Lightbulb or deciding on a new fixture.

Lumens: A “new” way of knowing how bright the LED bulb is. The higher the Lumens, the brighter the light. The equivalent wattage to a Conventional Lightbulb is usually shown on the packaging but sometimes not shown if you are purchasing an LED fixture. Here are some general guidelines:

• Conventional 40w Lightbulb = 450 Lumens LED

• Conventional 60w Lightbulb = 800 Lumens LED

• Conventional 75w Lightbulb = 1,100 Lumens LED

• Conventional 100w Lightbulb = 1,600 Lumens LED

Color Temperature: Measured in Kelvin (Example 2700K) is the measure of the lights color. Here are some examples:

• 2700K is a warm type of light and is most like a Conventional Lightbulb

• 3000K is a bright white type of light that is similar to the light you would see outside on a bright, sunny day

• 5000K is a cool type of light that is more blueish in color

CRI: Often overlooked, the Color Rendering Index measures the ability of the light to accurately reproduce the colors of the object it illuminates. The higher the CRI the better the light reflects the colors accurately, the lower the CRI the more unnatural the colors appear. Did you ever look at something such as a paint swatch in a store and when you took it home it looked different? This might be why. Here are some general guidelines:

• A CRI of 80 is the general baseline of acceptable color rendering and is considered mid-range to low on the scale

• A CRI of 90 and above are considered high CRI lights and work great for places such as Hospitals, Printing Facilities, Photography Studios and Retail where color appearance may be important

At NextWave Electric we hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy – especially during these challenging times due to the coronavirus. Do you have any questions or possibly a project in mind? Contact us and we’ll be happy to answer them or come to your home when it’s safe to do so.

We are proud to call Stratford home and to service the Fairfield county and New Haven county communities since 2003.

Transform your Recessed Lighting

With people spending more times in their homes due to social distancing, they may want to undertake small projects inside the house such as painting to give rooms a given room a nice update. There are a large number of homes that have recessed lighting in them. Typically this lighting was installed 10+ years ago. Over the years styles may change or that trim that was shining nice and bright when it was new, has slowly yellowed over time and this may stand out when you put a fresh coat of paint on your ceiling. An upgrade to these recessed lights can easily be made by a licensed electrician.

Why Should I Upgrade?

• To provide a more updated look - replacing the yellowing trim with something bright and clean or getting rid of a black baffle trim that may seem dated.

• No modifications to existing fixtures or the ceiling is required.

• To save money - Most recessed lights with conventional bulbs utilize 65 watts vs an LED retrofit kit which for the same amount of light, utilizes only 7.6 watts.

• How much can I save? - If on the average you use the existing fixture for 6 hours per day, you will save around $13 / year just on this fixture alone with an LED retrofit! Think about how much you can save switching out a whole room!

We Are Here to Help!

At NextWave Electric we hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy – especially during these challenging times due to the coronavirus. Do you have a project in mind? Contact us and we’ll be happy to come to your home when it’s safe to do so. If you need immediate help, we can perform our work with the appropriate protection for both you, your family and ourselves.

We are proud to call Stratford home and to service the Fairfield county and New Haven county communities since 2003.