Thoughts on Light | Pegasus Lighting Blog

The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Instant On

Apr 082013

LEDs and CFLs are both popular energy-saving light bulbs. But, we consider CFLs the light source of the present and LEDs the light source of the future. In fact, we’ve devoted an entire blog series to explaining that concept, comparing everything from rated-lives, to how each light holds up in cold weather…

They say the good things in life are worth waiting for. But, that’s not the case when it comes to your light bulbs’ start time. When you flip a light switch, you want immediate results. If you’ve been using incandescent lights all these years, you’re probably used to that luxury.

So, you might not expect a CFL (a light bulb more technologically advanced than an incandescent) to take longer to reach its complete light output. CFLs, even the best CFLs, can take anywhere from 1 to 60 seconds to reach their full brightness.

Why do CFLs have this delayed start?

Well, an incandescent light bulb produces light when an electrical current flows through its filament. The filament heats up and glows. CFLs, on the other hand, use a more complex system to produce light. Cathodes within the lamp heat up to about 900 degrees Fahrenheit and pass electrodes from one end of the lamp to another. This excites the mercury vapor inside the lamp, creating UV light. The UV light must then pass through the white coating on the inside of the glass envelope to produce visible light.

So, what about LEDs? Do they have a delayed start? Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: On/Off Cycling

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Apr 012013

PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: On/Off Cycling

Here’s another post in our series about the differences between LEDs and CFLs. So far we’ve covered everything from efficiency to safety. Click here to see the whole series.

Turns out, if you use CFLs and LEDs in the exact same way, they’ll react differently. Sometimes, the results can be damaging.

It’s a common myth that turning your fluorescent lights on and off frequently will increase your energy bill. While CFLs do use more energy to start up, it’s only equivalent to lighting the same lamp for a few extra seconds.

What you’ll need to watch out for is the price of replacing that CFL.

The rated life of a CFL, like all fluorescent lamps, can be dramatically reduced if the lamp is cycled on and off frequently.

The rated lives of LEDs, on the other hand, aren’t affected if you turn the lights on and off on a regular basis. Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Rated Life

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Mar 262013

PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Rated Life

This post is the third in a series focused on identifying important differences between light emitting diodes (LEDs), the light source of the future, and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), the light source of the present. To check out the rest of the series, click here.

When deciding which light source to choose, one of the most important factors you should consider is how long the light will last.

A longer-lasting light bulb means you won’t have to spend as much money on replacement light bulbs, and you won’t have to waste time and energy on maintenance and upkeep.

In general, LEDs last about 10 times as long as CFLs. An LED’s rated life can vary between 25,000 and 60,000 hours. The rated life of most CFLs varies between 6,000 and 15,000 hours. Continue reading »

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The Consequences Of Light Pollution

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Mar 192013

PinExt The Consequences Of Light Pollution

Did you know light pollution is one of the reasons why women in developed nations are 5 times more likely to get breast cancer? That’s only one of the many issues caused by the bright lights in today’s cities and towns.

This short video explores the hidden costs of light pollution:

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Mercury

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Mar 182013

PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Mercury

Mercury The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Mercury

Image via PeriodicTable.com

This post is the second in a series on important differences between LEDs and CFLs, two of the most popular energy-saving light sources on the market today. You can read the first post about efficiency here.

Mercury is a toxic substance that can attack the brains and nervous systems of humans. CFLs (and all fluorescent lights) contain small amounts of mercury, LEDs do not. In the long run, this makes the LED a much safer, low maintenance light source.

Why do CFLs contain mercury?

The mercury, when excited by an electric current, helps the CFL generate light. This small amount of mercury, barely enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen, poses no threat to your health as long as it remains contained within the light bulb’s glass envelope. You only need to worry about it if the light bulb should break.

To safely deal with your CFLs, take them to an EPA approved recycling center. You can learn more about the importance of recycling CFLs in this blog post: Don’t Toss That CFL In The Trash.

What to do if your CFL breaks…

If you wind up with a broken CFL in your home, follow these steps for safe cleanup and disposal: Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Efficiency

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Mar 112013

PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Efficiency

This is the first post in a brand new series about the key differences between compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), the light source of the present, and light emitting diodes (LEDs), the light source of the future. We’ll touch on things like structure, function, and quality, so you can keep up with all the innovations currently happening in the lighting world…

One of the most obvious differences between LED light bulbs and CFLs is energy-efficiency. Yes, we consider both sources to be energy-saving, and both fall well within new government efficiency standards, but it’s a simple fact that LEDs use less power to generate more light.

We measure the efficiency of a light source (sometimes called efficacy) in lumens per watt (lm/W). If you’re unfamiliar with this measurement, we’re just talking about the amount of light produced by one unit of electrical power – similar to miles per gallon for a car.

In general, a good LED on the market today can produce 60-100+ lm/W, which is about twice as many as a CFL, which only produces about 30-50 lm/W. Continue reading »

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How To Light A Romantic Film Scene

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Feb 122013

PinExt How To Light A Romantic Film Scene

Love is in the air, which has gotten me to thinking about lighting. (Come to think of it, what time of year doesn’t do that?) If Valentine’s Day always gives you a hankering to pop Gone With the Wind or your favorite rom-com into the DVD player, have you ever thought about what goes into making those romantic films?

Gone With The Wind via Amazon How To Light A Romantic Film Scene

Image via Amazon.com

I’d say lighting plays a big part in inspiring emotional reactions from film viewers, and is especially important in romantic movies.

Imagine a scene. A man and a woman are sitting at a table. In the first take, the lights are bright, and the whole room looks cheery. In the second, the lights are dim and the couple is ensconced in shadow. The entire feel of the scene is altered by one simple lighting change.

So, how do you create the right lighting for a romantic scene? Here are some guidelines:

1. Color Temperature.

Titanic How To Light A Romantic Film Scene

Image via IMDB.com

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Sunshine And Your Health: An Infographic

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Jan 292013

PinExt Sunshine And Your Health: An Infographic

We consider light pretty important over here at Pegasus. For hours, we could talk your ear off about LED innovations and fluorescent installations. Although choosing the right under cabinet light is important, and knowing how to place your recessed cans is essential, there is no light as vital to the human body as a little sunshine.

Especially in these winter months, it can be hard for us to get enough sun exposure. This can have a poor influence on your mood and immune system, plus it deprives you of vitamin D, which helps prevent serious diseases light arthritis, diabetes, and cancer. Check out this infographic for the details:

This Infographic Was Provided By Carrington College’s Medical Assistant Training Program.

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Views From Above: City Lights As Seen From Miles High

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Jan 252013

PinExt Views From Above: City Lights As Seen From Miles High

Around the world, every city offers something different. Though they all have hustle and bustle, lots of buildings, and usually traffic, when you’re on their streets you would never mistake San Francisco for Cairo, Toronto for Tokyo, or Berlin for Rio de Janeiro. But what about from space? During the day, these cities tend to blend in with their surrounding countryside. However, when lit up at night, it’s easy to see how varied these cities can be.

Is it possible to tell anything about the life and culture of our cities when viewing their lights from above? You might be surprised at how much.

Landmarks

Can you guess which cultural icon jumps out of this landscape?

Vegas Strip EarthObservatory NASA gov Views From Above: City Lights As Seen From Miles High

Image via EarthObservatory.NASA.gov

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Myth: LEDs Are Too Expensive

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Jan 182013

This is the fourth post in a series on explaining common misunderstandings about LEDs. The previous installments include, Myth: LEDs Don’t Save Power, Myth: LEDs Don’t Work, and Myth: LEDs Are Light Bulbs.

$50 for a light bulb? Eesh. Who would want to pay that when you could buy an incandescent light bulb for $2.50, and use the extra cash on a new outfit or a tank of gas? Why pay more when you can pay less?

Is The Price Right?

It’s no secret that LED light bulbs cost more than other light sources – incandescent, halogen, and even fluorescent – but those price tags don’t tell you the whole truth. They leave out the fact that you’re saving money by spending a little more for a quality light bulb.

Let me break it down for you:

LEDs last much longer than older kinds of light bulbs. If you pay $29.90 for this LED A lamp, and it lasts 23 years (give or take), that price evens out to cost you just over one dollar per year!

If you buy a cheaper light bulb, like a halogen A19 for $3.25, and it burns out after a year or so, over those same 23 years you’ll have spent about $75 on replacements. Ouch! Continue reading »

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