Welcome to the BulbAmerica Light Bulb Blog

Photographers Choose CFLs for their Studio Lighting

By BulbAmerica Editor

Continuous lighting in a photography studio can make or break the photos being taken there. Therefore, the choice of light the photographer makes is essential to his or her photos, and will strongly influence the way they come out. ‘Hot’ lights, or incandescent or lights using a tungsten filaments and some other high intensity discharge (HID) light sources have long been the industry standard for studio lighting. Though hot lights have their advantages, they can be quite difficult, and even dangerous to use. Hot lights waste a tremendous amount of energy generating heat, thus making the studio rather uncomfortable, and also presenting a fire hazard. Photographers have substituted hot lights with ‘warm lights,’ which are typically compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbbased lighting systems.

CFLs feature many advantages over hot lighting, the most obvious of which is that they remain far cooler. In most studio photography applications, photographers want light that is close to, if not identical to standard daylight, or 5,500˚K. CFLs are popular in studio photography because they naturally emit a diffuse light, thus allowing the photographer to cut down on the number of light diffusers he or she has to use. Studio photographers will also want a CFL with as high a CRI as possible to ensure that the colors being represented in the photo being taken are as accurate as possible.

BulbAmerica has tons of CFLs to choose from including twists, mini-twists, triple-tube, quad-tube, T8, T5, and many, many other styles. We stock CFLs from the best manufacturers including Feit Electric, Osram, GE, Sunlite, Platinum, Philips, and Ushio. Check it out today!

By Victor Lopez | 24 November, 2014 | bulbs, cfl, fluorescent, lights | 0 comments | Read more

The MR16 BAB: A Lighting Industry Favorite

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) codes stipulate and coordinate standards for products across manufacturers in both the United States and abroad. ANSI codes are particularly prevalent in the lighting industry. Lamps that have a certain ANSI code will usually have identical specifications and construction. Some of the most popular types of bulbs are ANSI coded bulbs. The MR16 light bulb family has numerous ANSI coded bulbs including the ESX, BAB, EXT , and many others. These ANSI coded MR16s will have a specified wattage and beam angle depending on the ANSI code. The MR16 BAB is a particularly popular MR16. It has a 20w energy and a 36˚ beam angle. MR16s light beam is distinguished by a highly directional, sharp beamed spot, making it ideal for display. MR16 BABs come with different bases, including GU5.3 bi-pin, GU10, and GY8.

The MR16 BAB is produced by many light bulb manufacturers including Osram, GE, Philips, Platinum, Silver, Sunlite, and Ushio. The MR16 BAB is typically glass covered to help keep the light beam cool in addition to protecting people from burning themselves on the bulb which can get extremely hot due to the single-ended halogen filament capsule providing the light to the reflector. Though the MR16 BAB is standardized the type of reflector, meaning how many facets and what shape they are, varies. Ushio’s ‘Reflekto’ reflector, for example, features a number of hexagonal facets while other bulbs use rectangular facets.

The ANSI codes are an assurance for the lighting industry and its customers that products are constant. The MR16 BAB is an example of this system at work. Still interested in the MR16 BAB and other MR16 products? Check us out!

By Victor Lopez | 20 November, 2014 | bulb, cfl, fluorescent, halogen, lamps, led, lights, mr16 | 0 comments | Read more

The MR16: An Unbeatable Bulb

Look up in any kitchen, hallway, or above any museum display case and the track lighting or recessed lighting above you will likely house multifaceted reflector (MR) 16 bulbs. MR16 bulbs have been around for a long time, originally intended for use in slide projectors. Though MR16s do not have the best luminous efficacy, the largest proportion of lumens over wattage, their infrared coated faceted-reflector sustains light without it being absorbed and directs it in a concentrated beam. This makes the MR16 ideal for illuminating a painting or lighting a specific work space.

Like most other types of lighting, green bulb technologies have been adapted to the MR16. CFL and LED technologies have been developed for the MR16, making the MR16 more environmentally friendly. Feit Electric’s CFL MR 16 uses only 5 watts and has a lifespan of 10,000 hours. A standard incandescent MR16 uses about 20 watts and has a lifespan between 2,000 and 10,000 hours. The MR16 LED, however, is the most environmentally friendly and efficient MR16.Platinum’s LED MR16 uses 5 watts of electricity and has a lifespan of 35,000 hours, that’s 1,458 days! The MR16 LED bulb is a particularly good choice for an MR16 because it does not generate the significant amounts of heat that traditional MR16 bulbs do. Incandescent MR16s can reach temperatures as high as 500°F (260°C), and could easily burn someone if handled while hot. In addition to the bulbs being hot, the light created by MR16 incandescent bulbs with aluminum reflector is often warm and can potentially damage a piece of art or something else delicate that the light may be illuminating. Dichroic, “cool beam” bulbs, however, have been created produce a heatless light.

Though MR16s are used often because of their ability to produce concentrated light, MR16 bulbs come in all standard beam types. MR16s are also available in numerous lamp base types including bi-pin, medium screwbase, intermediate screwbase, turn-and-lock, and bayonet. Though the MR16 does have certain limitation, CFL and LED versions of the MR16 bulb are compensating for these. Furthermore, for accent/display lighting, art galleries, retail lighting, and other applications, the MR16 cannot be beat. The MR16’s ability to be dimmed and its concentrated beam will make everything you put on display appear in a brand new light.

By Victor Lopez | 20 November, 2014 | bulb, cfl, led, lights, mr16 | 0 comments | Read more

Dress Your Home or Office Up With Halogen Candelabra and Globe Light Bulbs

When it comes to decorative light bulbs you have many choices, not only between bulb types but also bulb shapes. By decorative light bulbs I mean bulbs that are fully exposed or partially exposed. Decorative bulbs typically fall within two general families: candelabra and globe shape light bulbs. Though the candelabra family of light bulbs include far more shapes than the globe, the globe shape is very common, especially in bathrooms and theatres. Among the most popular globe shape bulbs is the G25. The G25 is available in halogen and CFL types, allowing you to achieve two very different types of light. Halogen G25s are available in various wattages and come with different types of glass envelopes. Whether you choose a halogen G25 with a crystal or standard glass envelope, your bathroom, theatre, or wherever else you decide to use one will benefit from the bright, elegant light. CFL G25 shapes offer light in 2,700K and 3,000K versions and at a quarter of the wattage of halogen G25 bulbs. Furthermore, CFL G25s will not produce nearly as much heat as a halogen, making them the better choice where you need your space to remain cool. The one downside of CFL G25s is that they do not have the option of the more aesthetically appealing clear glass envelope.

Candelabra bulbs generally refer to a family of shapes including B10, B13, C7, C9, crystallite, flame and more.Candelabras are offered in numerous bulb types including CFLs, LEDs, halogens, and incandescent. As you may or may not know, candelabra bulbs are used in numerous applications from wall sconces, to chandeliers, to electric candelabras, and other applications. Incandescent and halogen candelabras produce similar types of light, though halogens typically last a bit longer. Incandescent and halogen candelabras are still the standard for chandeliers and sconces where an unconventional bulb-shape can be disruptive. Though this may be true, CFL and LED candelabrasfeature outstanding energy savings and produce close to no perceptible heat. Furthermore, Osram’s LED candelabrasfeature color changing which can really liven up any room.

Hopefully this guide to halogen decorative light bulbs has been informative and you now feel confident in choosing the right one for you. In addition to a wide selection of halogen candelabras and globes to choose from, BulbAmerica also has an extensive catalog of LEDs, stage lighting, CFL, medical lighting, MR16s, and automotive lighting products to choose from, so be sure to check them out. As usual, leave us a comment or question on our Facebook or blog, or give us a call at 1-877-622-0897.

By Victor Lopez | 12 November, 2014 | bulbs, candelabra, cfl, g25, globe, halogen, led, lights | 0 comments | Read more

Halogen Bulbs: Burning Bright and White for All Your Needs

Halogen bulbs have long been popular in the home, for outdoor flood lights, automobile headlights, airfields, and many other applications. They are used as alternatives to normal incandescent because they are longer lasting and burn brighter. In a normal incandescent bulb, the filament heats up and produces light as a byproduct of the heating process. As the filament heats up, however, it degrades as its atoms are released into the glass envelope. Halogen bulbs solve this problem. When halogen gas is placed inside the glass envelope, it replenishes the degraded filament. This occurs due to a special property of the halogen gasses. As the halogen gas heats up, it replenishes the filament by depositing the filament’s lost atoms on its surface, thus making the filament’s and the bulb’s life longer lasting through what is called a halogen cycle.

Halogen bulbs are available in a vast range of wattages, from about 5w to 20,000w. Halogens have a correspondingly wide range of lumen output. Halogens come in nearly every socket type available, making them useful in nearly all types of fixtures. The versatility of halogen bulbs is matched by their excellent light quality. Typically, halogen bulbs have a CRI score of 100, meaning their color quality is near identical to that of natural sunlight. Generalizing about halogens is difficult because there are so many different types, brands, wattages, etc. The most common types of halogens out there include the A-line, the halogen PAR, and the bi-pin multifaceted reflector (MR) halogen. A-line halogens look like regular incandescent bulbs and can screw into any socket that an incandescent bulb can. The exterior envelope of the A-line is not actually the bulb; the halogen bulb is actually inside it to ensure protection full the bulb and a cooler bulb exterior. The halogen PAR is a standard PAR can bulb with a tungsten filament, but has its atmosphere filled with a halogen gas. The MR halogen is a small bulb with a concentrated beam perfect for down lighting and track lighting.

Although halogens are more efficient than normal incandescent bulbs, they are not nearly as efficient as CFLs or LEDs. Halogens waste a lot of energy generating heat, and thus get extremely hot and can pose a burn and fire risk.Halogens should always be used with caution and not placed in an area in which a child may touch them or where they could pose a risk of fire. Despite these risks, halogens are safe and effective lights provided they are used carefully. Halogens should be considered if you need bright, white light. We have tons of halogens, check them out today!

By Victor Lopez | 12 November, 2014 | bulbs, cfl, halogen, led, lights | 0 comments | Read more

BulbAmerica.com - News and Press Articles:

By Victor Lopez | 09 October, 2014 | bulb, cfl, lamps, led, lights, news | 0 comments | Read more

The Truth about CFL

How Much Mercury Is In One CFL?

About As Much As A Few Cans Of Tuna

The amount of mercury in a single compact fluorescent light bulb is about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. CFLs these days contain about 2 to 3 mg of mercury, most of which adheres to the inside of the glass coil bulb and cannot be ingested. Think of the old silvery mercury thermometers that used to be in every...