Know Your Bulb Bases for the Impending Switch

Know Your Bulb Bases for the Impending Switch

With incandescent light bulbs slowly being phased out by the government in an attempt to cut back on emissions, businesses and households alike are being encouraged to stock up on energy-efficient bulbs to replace them. But one of the aspects of choosing a light bulb which confuses many people, and has led to them putting off the switch from halogen to eco-friendly, is choosing the correct base. Everyone who considers themselves to be an expert at DIY has found themselves with the wrong bulb for a certain fixture before, and with a whole new range of bulbs now on the market, it can be even more difficult to ascertain which the correct ones are for a certain fitting. BLT Direct is a UK supplier of many lighting solutions, and their huge selection of light bulbs ensures that all bases are covered – literally.

The Edison screw is probably one of the more familiar light bulbs to many. Named after its inventor, Thomas Edison, there are actually many different sizes of Edison screw base, so it worth verifying the fixtures for exact measurements before going on the hunt for energy-saving bulbs. As the name might suggest, the Edison base screws into the fixture and are used the world over in many domestic settings. The Energy Saving GLS 11-Watt bulb comes with an Edison screw base, and the standard shape ensures that it fits the vast majority of fittings and fixtures around the home. These environmentally friendly and long-lasting bulbs are available for just £3.99 each from BLT Direct.

Bayonet caps are another very familiar base, with the easy-to-use ‘push then twist’ action used to attach it to the light fixture. Most commonly used for mains voltage lamps, there are occasionally some variants, such as the 3-pin bayonet cap, but for the vast majority, the standard basic bayonet cap, known as a ‘BC’, will serve many purposes. As with the Edison screw, the bulbs with a ‘BC’ base are available in two sizes, 22mm and 15mm, so it is worth checking the measurements of the fixture before purchasing. The GLS 15-Watt Energy Saving Bulb is fitted with the popular bayonet cap, and also available for just £3.99 each.

GU10 bulbs are now considered to be a direct alternative to halogen and incandescent bulbs, which will be completely out of production within months. Generally fitted with a twist-and-lock base which is similar to a bayonet cap, these energy-saving bulbs offer a much longer life span and great savings on electricity in the long run. Desk or ceiling lamps will generally accommodate a GU10 bulb perfectly, and with inviting warm white and daylight shades to choose from, they are a wise investment at just £4.99 each from BLT Direct.

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com

Super-Efficient LED Capsule Lights from BLT Direct

Conventional halogen light bulbs are slowly but surely being forced out of circulation, with EU legislation ensuring that manufacture of 60w bulbs has already been halted in the UK and many other member countries. 40w bulbs and other lower grades will be phased out by degrees this year, meaning that, unless they have been stockpiling the older incandescent bulbs, the public will have to switch to the super-efficient alternatives such as LED bulbs. BLT Direct is an experienced UK supplier of lighting solutions, specialising in providing all sorts of light bulbs to both commercial and domestic customers. They have a huge range of eco-friendly LED bulbs including a fantastic selection of LED Capsule Lights, which are mainly used for down lights, desk lights and accent lighting.

In many cases, BLT can provide direct replacements for the older halogen capsule lights; their LED G4 Capsule Lamps have two pins at the base and can immediately fit into any existing fitting, making the switch from halogen to efficient LED quick and easy. These high intensity light sources are ideal for a wide variety of uses, including boats and caravans where space may be at a premium and bulbs need to brightly illuminate without the fixture taking up too much room. The bulbs are available in two shades: warm white and daylight, both comforting colour temperatures and easy to integrate into the home or workplace without looking too brash or out of place. One G4 Capsule High Power LED is available for just £5.99 from BLT Direct, a saving of 57%.

For those who may have been using G9 halogen lamps, there is also a solution. The LED G9 Capsule Lamps are ideal for similar applications to their G4 sister lamp, including accent lighting, desk lights and undershelf lighting. The extremely high energy efficiency of these bulbs paired with the low running costs makes them a great investment in the long term – where electricity is charged at the average 12p per kWh, a G9 Capsule High Power LED 2.5w bulb can save approximately £63.00 over the course of its life span. The bulb’s life span itself is another advantage of these technologically advanced lighting solutions; the previous halogen bulbs lasted for up to 2,000 hours, but the more modern LED version can withstand up to 30,000 hours of use. The bulbs are available in the popular warm white and daylight temperatures, and at just £6.40 per bulb at BLT Direct, the potential savings are vast.

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com

UK Eco-Town Pioneers Light Bulb Trial

An eco-friendly town in the UK could potentially host the first large-scale trial of a new, affordable LED bulb that is just as bright as traditional bulbs. Zeta, a company based in Oxfordshire, has developed a light bulb made up of 90 LEDs to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb, with experts predicting that the bulb could last for up to 20 years. The bulb, dubbed the ‘LifeBulb’, is the result of a study into smart power distribution, and is without the mercury usually found in traditional light bulbs. This has led Bicester Eco Development and housing provider A2Dominion to put them forward for the pioneering trial.

BLT Direct is a leading provider of lighting solutions all across the UK, and has a wide range of long-lasting, energy-saving light bulbs that can last for many years and reduce energy output, just like those in the Zeta trial. With the manufacturing of traditional incandescent bulbs slowly being halted, Energy Saving GU10 Light Bulbs are now commonly considered to be a direct alternative to high-energy halogen bulbs. There has been speculation that these bulbs are not as bright as their halogen predecessors, but these fears are entirely unfounded; the newest developments in lighting technology ensures that these bulbs are highly luminous. The bulbs have a base which will fit any existing GU10 fitting, and it’s been predicted that these super-efficient bulbs can create energy savings of up to 80%.

The savings in energy translate to a smaller carbon footprint; something which is on everyone’s mind in this eco-conscious time. Unlike halogens or incandescent bulbs, LEDs produce light and no heat, upping their efficiency massively. A standard Energy Saving 11-watt GLS Bulb gives a fantastic 70% reduction in wasteful heat output, an 80% reduction in energy consumption and an incredible 90% decrease in UV output, all for the low price of £4.99 from BLT Direct. Their Bayonet Caps and Edison Screw bases ensure that they will fit a wide range of existing fittings and can be seamlessly integrated into the home.

From a financial perspective, switching to these energy-efficient bulbs is not only helpful to the environment, but also to the budget. A standard energy-saving light bulb can produce electricity bill savings of £50 and above over the course of their life span, with some of the bulbs lasting for 14 years when used for 10 hours a day.

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com

100-year-old light bulb discovered in Cleveland, Ohio

Five century-old light bulbs have been discovered inside a time capsule in Cleveland, Ohio, with at least one of them still in working condition. GE Lighting began a 100^th anniversary celebration of the opening of their Nela Park operation on Monday by digging up the lead time capsule, where they also discovered a book of technical specifications and a journal titled “Developing an Industry” . A special socket was used in order to show that one of the bulbs still worked after all this time, before the relics were whisked off to a laboratory to be the subject of some research into their longevity. The bulbs were buried as part of a representation of the new incandescent technologies which were just starting to break through.

BLT Direct is a UK provider of lighting solutions for all situations, and whilst they cannot pledge that their bulbs have a constant lifespan of 100 years, they certainly have a fantastic range of long-lasting light bulbs that guarantee a lifetime’s worth of illumination. Developments in technology over the past century have meant that bulbs now consume much less energy than the incandescent ones discovered in Ohio, and as such have estimated life spans much longer than the traditional bulbs of old.

GU10 light bulbs are considered to be a direct replacement for the types of bulbs discovered in the time capsule, and their energy-saving credentials are making them ever more popular. The average Energy Saving GU10 Light Bulb can last for up to 14 years, even when being used for 10 hours a day. They are available in a flattering range of temperatures and colours, with ‘warm white’ and ‘daylight’ being amongst the most popular choices for authentic and natural illumination. At just £3.99 each or £34.99 for a box of 10, purchasing just a few of these bulbs can eliminate the need to change bulbs every few years, whilst also saving money with its impressive energy-saving statistics.

Also a popular choice in the search for a long-lasting lighting solution are the GLS bulbs, which have the standard Bayonet Cap and Edison Screw Caps that most lighting fixtures and fittings are compatible with. These bulbs can last for up to 8,000 hours, and are also designed to save money on electricity and be kind to the environment. At just £4.99 each for a standard 11-Watt GLS Light Bulb, the price is so low that customers could potentially purchase more than they require and create their own personal time capsule with what could be seen as some of the best technology of the moment.

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com