Save Money and the Environment – Turbine LED GU10 Bulb

With the rising costs of lighting a home or business, more and more manufacturers are looking for ways to provide consumers with cost efficient, energy saving lighting options. LightRabbit is a company that specialises in providing their customers with only the highest quality products that save money on energy costs and do their part to help save the environment.

Product Information – Turbine LED GU10 Bulb

The Turbine LED GU10 Bulb is cost effective lighting that offers homeowners and business owners with a low cost, high out put option for their lighting needs. This LED bulb uses only 3 watts of electricity, but puts out the same amount of pure white light as a 40 watt halogen bulb. The turbine design on the Turbine LED GU10 Bulb is specially designed to pull the heat away from the LED increasing the lifespan of the LED. The typical lifespan of this bulb is 50,000 hours, or 30 years.

The Turbine LED GU10 Bulb comes in dimmable and non-dimmable options.

The LED lighting specialists at LightRabbit recommend the Turbine LED GU10 Bulb to customers who want to save money on their lighting bills. This LED is also a great option because the bulb is made of high quality materials, which means that they will do what they are guaranteed to do. The Turbine LED GU10 Bulb is one of the most popular cost efficient bulbs available on the market, and LightRabbit offers this bestselling bulb for a reasonable price. With this bulb, consumers can save money, save energy, and help save the environment.

When shopping for the right LED bulb for your lighting needs, color and beam angle should be considered.

LED strip lighting is becoming more and more popular in recent years. This is because of the efficient radiance it produces for homes as well as offices. Aside from that, it also elegantly provides illumination. However, there is no “one size fits all” strip lighting. It is in this light that there are various things that buyers need to ponder. This is usually at times when they are planning to purchase such product for their own homes.

Among the top 5 things that people need to consider before buying an LED strip lighting include its size or type, number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) within a strip, color temperature, as well as its flexibility and even the carrying capacity.

Picking the Right Type and Size of Strip Lighting

The primary consideration of many people, when it comes to buying an LED strip light is its size and type. This is because these aspects directly affect the brightness as well as the performance of this product. For example, if the size of the diodes is small, then its power would most likely be lower too. The reverse is true too. If the diode is bigger, then it would emit brighter lights too.

Number of Diodes within the Strip

The number of diodes in a length is also a hugely crucial aspect to consider. This is because if the buyer wants a brighter strip, then the spacing between the diodes should be smaller. Hence, what this means is that the number of the diodes for every meter of strip, the brighter the illumination would be. However, smaller intervals would require a higher level of technology in order to handle the power and other requirements of such item.

Colour Temperature of the LEDs

Thirdly, there is a wide array of LED colour temperatures available nowadays. As a matter of fact, name it and people may have it. This is because, with this new RGB technique, these diodes can produce a combination of these basic colors to come up with other color temperature. It is extremely valuable, not only for fancy’s sake, but for practicality too. For instance, there are some color temperatures that may look relaxing while there are also some colors that are more vibrant and active-looking. After all, it may depend on the purpose of the buyer for buying such item.

Flexibility of the LED Strip Lighting

Fourthly, there are also some buyers who want a more flexible LED strip lighting. While rigid LED strips are ideal as a replacement for fluorescent bulbs as well as for flat surface installation, buyers can do almost anything to their flexible strip.

The Right LED Lighting Capacity

Fifthly and lastly, the carrying capacity of the LED strip lighting matters too. In a general sense, strips like these have a remarkably low carrying capacity. However, there are some heavy-duty LED strips that can be bought in the market today. Nevertheless, these are not usually available for household or home installations and applications. Instead, these are ideal for commercial and industrial uses.

As the days are getting shorter again, it is time to start thinking of how we can save money with LED lighting. LightRabbit supply LED floodlights that use on 10% of the energy of a traditional floodlight. LED Floodlights are a low energy alternative to traditional security lights.

In place of a conventional filament, LED flood lights utilise a single high power SMD (Surface Mounted Diode). SMDs are small electronic devices that convert energy into light but with very little heat which is the normal by-product of lighting. This allows them to produce the similar high quality illumination to halogen for a fraction of the energy, while remaining at a very cool.

We provide a 10 watt, 20 watt, 30 watt and 50 watt alternative which ranges between 720 and 4050 Lumens, depending on colour temperature. This makes them appropriate replacements for 100, 200, 300 and 500 watt halogen lamps respectively.

All our LED floodlights have an IP65 rating, which makes them weather resistant and come with a grey aluminum finish. They also have an impressive 120 degree beam angle which allows a single LED floodlight to illuminate a large area.

Our LED floodlights are available in a range of colour temperatures which include warm white and cool white (7,000 to 7,500 K)

All the light bulbs do not operate at the same voltage, there should be nothing surprising about that, but unless you are aware of the difference between them you could be in for some shock. LED bulbs come in two primary voltages: mains voltage and low voltage.

Main Voltage Bulbs

The mains electricity supply in the United Kingdom is 230 V AC (Alternating Current). This is used to supply the majority of domestic and commercial lighting.

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) run at low voltage DC (Direct Current). As such, LED bulbs that are designed to run straight off the mains, like GU10, B22 or E27, need a ‘driver’ to alter the voltage from 230V AC.

What you will observe about GU10 LED Bulbs (230V) is that they are slightly longer than low voltage MR16 LED bulbs (12V). This is due to the reason that the ‘driver’ unit is incorporated into the GU10 fitting itself, whereas in the case of an MR16’s it is there somewhere else.

Low Voltage Bulbs

Low Voltage bulbs are simply lights that run at a lower voltage than provided by the mains electricity supply. They used to exist in the cars where connecting to a main electricity supply was not viable and the lights would have to operate either on 12V or 24 V engine batteries.

Low voltage lighting in the house is a recent innovation. It is primarily designed for fittings in bathrooms and kitchens. Instead of being connected to the mains supply, an intervening transformer ‘steps down’ the mains voltage.

When you do the exchanging of your old halogen bulb for MR16 LED, there is no guarantee that they will be compatible with your existing 12 V transformer.

The MR16 is a usual type of MR Lamp created to operate on a low voltage (12V) electricity supply.

The phrase “MR16” is a simple code denoting the type and size of the bulb. “MR” stands for multifaceted reflector, while the number “16” refers to the diameter which is measured in eighths of an inch, across the front face of the bulb. So, for example, an MR16 measures sixteen-eighths of an inch, or 51 mm, across its front face.

Like most MR Lamps, MR16’s are typified by their use of small internal mirrors, also known as reflectors, which are designed to control the angle and direction of the light source.

Most MR Lamps possess very narrow beam angles (45 degrees or less), which makes them appropriate for certain aspects of interior design, like feature lighting and task lighting.

All MR16 lamps utilise an ANSI standard GU5.3 two-pin base configuration, which has two straight metal pins that slot directly into a holder without the requirement to twist.

 MR16 lamps have a very low, 12-volt, operating voltage, which is lower than the UK standard mains voltage, 230-volt. MR 16 Lamps therefore depend on a transformer, either ferromagnetic or electronic, which is designed to ‘step down’ the mains voltage. This transformer is generally housed separately, residing somewhere in the space above your ceiling, but integrated transformers are also available.

A famous derivative of the MR16 is the GU10, which is importantly an MR16 lamp designed to operate at mains voltage. The GU10 format was developed by Havells Sylvania in 1997 and utilised a distinct turn and lock base to prevent them being accidentally interchanged with their low voltage counterparts.

MR16 Lamps traditionally employ halogen based technology, but in recent years there has been a marked rise in the type and number of MR16-compatible LED Lights available on the market. These are a similar size and shape to existing MR16’s and work in the same fittings.

MR16 LED lights provide a number of advantages over traditional MR16’s, which include low energy consumption, a longer operational lifespan, lower heat generation and better colour rendering.

If you want to purchase MR16 LED lights you may require changing your existing transformers. The reason for this is that while regular MR16 Lamps run on an AC (Alternating Current) Voltage, MR16 LEDs need a DC(Direct Current).

In order to change the main voltage from AC to DC a transformer with a rectifier and current driver are required. These generally known ‘drivers’ to help customers distinguish between LED compatible and non LED-compatible transformers.

What is the meaning of GU10?

The GU10 is a variety of MR Lamp. MR stands for Multifaceted Reflector and refers to the segmented reflective surface that is integrated onto the inside face of the bulb. This reflective surface is what concentrated the light source helping it to get a narrow bean angle. Unlike normal MR lamps, which run at a low voltage, GU10 runs directly at mains voltage (sometimes called as standard voltage), so do not depend on a transformer.

The term GU10 refers to the type of mount the bulbs uses. The mount has two pins that are connected and released from a coupling with a push and twist action, called a bi-pin lock mount. The bi-pin mount was developed by Westinghouse electric to be used in the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. The fair is notable for being the first ever to be illuminated by electric lighting.

Advantages of GU10

GU10 bulbs hold a number of practical and aesthetic advantages over other types of lighting. The reflective material on the inner surface of a GU10 bulb allows it to provide a very narrow beam of light. This means that, unlike bulbs designed for general illumination, they provide a more directional form of light and allow a user to take control over the light they use and where they put it.

This makes them useful in kitchens and bathrooms where directional lighting helps aid concentrated tasks like food preparation and shaving, but their application is not restricted to these rooms alone. Sometime GU10 bulbs are utilised as part of a larger lighting system that depend on many bulbs to achieve a sort after atmosphere.

There is no secret that a house which makes nice use of light is going to look better also. GU10 open up a lot of chances for experimenting with the use of light in any room of the house. Lighting schemes that depend on a single light source for illumination can end up looking a little lackluster, but the directional light from GU10’s will increase the ambience of a room with an exciting range of effects that play on the contrast between light and shadow.

Why opt for GU10 LED?

GU10 has long been a phrase associated with wasteful halogen bulbs, but now they are available in an energy efficient LED format also. GU10 LED bulbs lose much less energy as wasted heat than halogen bulbs. LED bulbs run at a fraction of the cost as they convert 90 % of their energy into useful light. They also last longer than incandescent and halogen bulbs because they do not depend on filaments that perish overtime. As such you can expect an LED bulb to quickly pay for itself.

Due to their retrofit design you can make switch over to GU10 LED bulbs today. 

In late January the streets of a historic city in Belgium undergo a total change as they are host to a famous festival of lights. The Lichtfestival (Light Festival), is held in the Flemish town of Ghent. For about a week the streets and architecture are occupied by the creative illuminations of artists that take light as their medium of inspiration.

This year’s festival, which took ‘happiness’ as its theme, had thirty exhibits, which included 3D projection mapping, a field of luminous flowers and a phone booth aquarium. The talking point of the 2012 festival, by unanimous consent, was the Luminaire Cagna (Cagna Illuminations), a 28 metre tall cathedral like arrangement which has the LED lights.

The LED Cathedral, was designed and built by Italian lighting company Luminaire De Cagna. The business run by the family has been doing the experiment with lighting and illumination in its public displays for almost eighty years. They used oil and carbide lamps, but later moved to electric lighting. Since the year 2006, they have been working with energy efficient and eco-friendly LED lights.

For the duration of the festival the Cathedral occupied the Belforstraat (Belford Street) and formed the symbolic gateway to the festival. Its design was inspired by both Renaissance and Romanesque architecture. As visitors arrived they passed beneath the sculpture which consisted of 55,000 LED lights sewn together in a curtain and draped across the wooden colonnade.

Despite its imposing size and its truly opulent looks, the entire installation only utilized a tiny 20 kWh. That is less than most kitchen appliances. This is another great example of how the everyday LED can do unique things.

You do not require to be imaginatively inclined to lessen your home energy bills. All you require is a small initiative and the practical functionality of an LED GU10. These swaps straight over for your existing halogen GU10s and before you are aware of it you will be enjoying great quality lighting at some cost.

This is a query several customers find themselves asking and the truth is, regardless of what a retailer may promise, you will find some variation in size between traditional GU10 halogens and low energy GU10 LED. The difference may not be much, even a longer bulb can pose problems for people who are utilising recessed ceiling lights, so it is essential to make sure a bulb fits before you purchase.

There is not standard to GU10 design, but you will find that most conventional halogen bulbs measure about 53 mm in height and 50 mm in diameter across their circular front face.

Usually speaking the diameter of a GU10 LED is the same, but the length can differ considerably. Some can measure 65 or 67 mm in length. The reason for this is that they need the addition of an LED driver which is housed inside their base and makes them slightly longer.

If you are working with an exposed lighting system, like suspended spotlights or track lights, then you should not have any issues regardless of the length. However, if you have recessed ceiling fittings you will be required to confirm whether or not there is ample space inside the fitting to accommodate the bulb.

The simple and easy method to do this is to check the product specifications. The height and diameter of a bulb should always be clearly stated on the product page and if it is not we suggest getting in contact with the retailer. You can compare these sizes with those of your fitting, which can either be obtained from the maker or by physically measuring it yourself with a tape measure.

What you will find with most recessed fittings is that there is sometimes enough excess space to accommodate a slightly larger bulb, but it always best to be absolutely sure.

By following these steps before making a purchase you will avoid the problem of having to return and substitute your bulbs. You will make sure that you are running your lighting at a minimal expense with maximum effect as quickly as possible.

You should remember, that if you are making use of recessed ceiling fittings to ensure they are fine rated. In the event of a fire they will prevent smoke, heat and flame from entering into your ceiling cavities and spreading to other areas of your home.

In the year 2000, mobile phones changed forever; the first camera phone appeared.

Within three years, more people had camera phones than standard digital cameras. And the bulbs behind the flash units in these camera phones were mostly LEDs.

LEDs Vs Xenon

In the early years of the century, camera phone makers could have chosen Xenon bulbs to power their flash units. Xenon flash units were by far the most common light source for digital cameras. Most makers felt that LEDs have qualities suited to phones.

LED flash units utilize less power: Xenon flashes need more battery power than LEDs to work properly.

LEDs are robust thanks to an epoxy resin over the chips: Xenon flashes have delicate glass tubes.

LED circuitry fits into a small space: Xenon flashes occupy more room than LEDs.

LEDs can flash instantly: Xenon flashes need time to charge.

Phone makers pack as much technology into as small an area as they can. They want to conserve battery power and they require a durable product.

The low energy consumption, small size, sturdiness and reliability of LEDs make them the perfect choice for camera phones.

LEDs and developing technology

Light manufacturers may sell millions of LEDs for camera phones but they continue striving to improve quality.

White light technology, for example, helps create brighter, sharper pictures. And developments like ‘off state white make sure LEDs have  a white or neutral colour when not in use. This combines with the overall design of a mobile phone.

When it comes to giving a light source for the latest devices, LEDs are leading the way.