The little encyclopedia of lamps

Lamps are always present in our lives. They shine for us every day. That's why we at BUYnBLUE have put together a little lexicon of lamps for you. Because we often don't even know what the world of lamps actually encompasses.

When we get up, we switch on table lamps and in the bathroom, wall lights gently open our eyes. In the kitchen, fresh coffee is already waiting on the dining table, which is illuminated by a chic Pendant Lamp .

When we leave the house early in the morning, streetlights and garden lighting show us the way. The headlights on our car get us safely to work. When we return home in the evening, the cozy living room lighting is waiting for us, while a delicious dinner is being prepared on the well-lit work surface in the kitchen. Before we fall tiredly into bed, a pleasant reading lamp provides us with a calming atmosphere for dreaming.

Lamps are enormously versatile and a perfect help when natural daylight is insufficient or disappears. We usually just switch them on and don't give a second thought to the interesting technologies and functions that make up a lamp.

Each lamp has a specific color temperature 

What does a lamp have to do with temperatures, you ask? In fact, you can choose between a warm light and a cold light when lighting a lamp. The color temperature of a lamp determines the atmosphere of the room. For a living room lamp, low color temperatures are recommended to create an atmospheric ambience. At the workplace or in the home office, a higher color temperature makes sense so that you have enough light to concentrate on your work.

The color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). The lower it is, the warmer the light radiates. High color temperatures produce a seemingly brighter light. Depending on the intended use, you can therefore determine whether you want a warm or colder living climate in your home. For a cozy light that provides warmth in winter, it is best to choose a color temperature of 1800-2700 Kelvin (extra warm white). For lighting in the bedroom and for reading, 3000 Kelvin is suitable as a warm white light. In the office or home office, you can work perfectly with 3500-5000 Kelvin (cool white). Natural daylight white is 6000-6500 Kelvin and, like sunlight, is very intense. It tickles us out of bed every morning and wakes us up.

Select the desired color code for your lamp

The color code of a lamp can be used to determine the color rendering and color temperature. This special code consists of three digits. The first digit determines the color rendering and the following digits indicate the individual color temperature. For example, if you have selected a lamp with the color code 930, this means that the digit 9 stands for 90-99 Ra (CRI value) and the digits 30 indicate a color temperature of 3000 Kelvin. This lamp therefore produces a colored warm white light.

In our online lamp store, there are various lamp models such as extravagant pendant lamps, functional wall lights and chic Floor lampswith which you can create your favorite atmosphere. The corresponding light source, such as a modern LED lamp or a light bulb, then emits the appropriate brightness and the desired color using a color code.

What is the CRI of a lamp?

The CRI is the color rendering index of a lamp (Colour Rendering Index). Natural colors are produced by a high CRI. It is given in Ra and 100 Ra roughly corresponds to the color rendering of natural sunlight. Lamps with a pleasant color spectrum should, if possible, have a CRI of at least 80-90 Ra so that the body is not stressed by excessive artificial light. Lamps with a CRI of 90-99 Ra are ideal for everyday use.  

Dimmable lamps

Our mood is not the same every day and we don't always prefer the same flair and brightness. Most modern lamps can be dimmed for different occasions, which means that the light intensity is reduced. The more current flows through a lamp, the brighter it shines. If the lamp is dimmed, less current flows through it. This requires built-in dimmers.

LED lamps can be bought perfectly with a suitable LED dimmer, whereby you can also change the color temperature with a modern "Dim to Warm System". There are now also smart lighting products such as Tuya Smart, which allow you to control all the functions and settings of a lamp cleverly and conveniently via app or remote control.

Dimmers are also a great way to save energy. New energy labels were introduced in the lighting industry in September 2021. These show exactly how efficient a lamp is. The higher the energy class G, the more energy is required to operate it. So pay attention to the label when buying your lamp and use dimmers to save electricity! This not only protects the environment, but also your wallet. 

Clever sensors for lamps

The latest lamp technology has produced clever sensors that allow you to control your lighting individually. There are various sensors, such as motion sensors, which detect movement around the lamp and then switch it on. This means that the lamp only uses energy when it is needed. Sensors are also a smart alternative for security lighting in companies, doctors' surgeries and schools.

Twilight sensors are equipped in such a way that they can program the light intensity of a lamp depending on the available daylight. When it gets darker, the lamp automatically shines brighter. New infrared sensors detect the ambient temperature and shine more brightly when it gets cooler. Sensors are now often built into smart lighting systems and can be controlled by remote control or app.

Watt, lux and lumen

You are probably still familiar with the good old unit "watt". If you want to buy a lamp, you need to know the amount of light required beforehand. Watt is the unit of measurement for the energy of a light source. The higher the wattage, the brighter the light. With the invention of LED lamps, however, a lot has changed here.

Today, the amount of light emitted is mostly specified in lux or lumen. Once again, development is progressing and the unit lumen serves as a guide to the perfect light intensity for the relevant room size, ceiling height, lamp function and location. The lux(lx) value describes the light output in a defined area in lumens per square meter. Depending on where the lamp is to be used, you can see exactly how high the light output of the lamp is on the packaging when you buy it.

Lamps and their service life

The service life of a lamp is measured in hours. Innovative and high-quality light sources such as LED lamps sometimes offer you a maximum operating life of up to 100,000 hours. In years, this corresponds approximately to a value of 32 years.

LED lamps are the absolute front runners when it comes to service life. When you buy such a lamp, you can be sure that it will give you at least 15,000 hours of loyal service, i.e. an average of 5 years. This is because LEDs work differently to halogen lamps or incandescent lamps, for example.

LED means "light-emitting diode". When current flows through these semiconductors in a certain direction, the solid body emits light and begins to glow. LED lamps are still quite expensive to buy, but you can save up to 70% on energy costs with these lights. So they definitely pay for themselves quickly.

When LEDs have to be disposed of after their long service life, they are also more environmentally friendly. They contain no harmful chemical compounds and their valuable components such as rare earths and electronic components such as the diodes and semiconductors can be recycled effectively. You can find out more about how to dispose of old lamps correctly here.

Conclusion

This little encyclopaedia is a valuable aid when buying your next lamp. Technical data and knowledge of the various functions of a lamp will make it easier for you to find the right lighting for your home.

It's not just the design and materials, but also the type of lighting that gives each room its unique character. Light influences our state of mind and you want to feel completely at ease at home. Our online store offers high-quality lamp models that are as versatile as you are. Here you will find the right lamp for every occasion.