Choosing a LED lightbulb

Many different models and styles of LED bulbs are emerging in today's marketplace. When choosing a bulb, keep in mind the following: • Estimate desired brightness - read the package to choose desired brightness level. You can use wattage to compare bulb illumination, for example, a 9W LED is equivalent in output to a 45 W incandescent. However, the new method for comparing bulbs is lumens. Lumens is the measuse of perceived brightness, and the higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb. The FTC has mandated that all light bulb packages display lumens as the primary measure for comparing bulbs. For more information about lumens, see LED Terminology further down this page. • Choose between warm and cool light - new LED bulbs are available in 'cool' white light, which is ideal for task lighting, and 'warm' light commonly used for accent or small area lighting. • Standard base or pin base - LEDs are available in several types of 'pin' sockets or the standard "screw' (Edison) bases for recessed or track lighting. • Choose between standard and dimmable bulbs - some LED bulbs, such as the Switch, LEDnovation and FEIT LED bulbs, are now available as dimmable bulbs. They will work on your standard dimmer switch. • Choose high quality bulbs or they will die prematurely - do not buy cheap bulbs from eBay or discounters. They are inexpensive because the bulbs use a low-quality chip which fails easily. • Look for certifications - including FCC, Energy Star, ROHS, CE and UL.