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Posts in the fluorescent category

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

Sterilization Bulbs Eliminate Bacteria With the Flip of a Switch

Germicidal lamps are an essential lighting tool for environments that are required to be bacteria free. Germicidal, or sterilization, lamps are used in many environments including hospitals, aquariums, water treatment facilities, laboratories, and in food-service areas. Sterilization lamps produce non-visible short-wave ultra-violet (UV) light which breaks up bacteria and disinfects the air, water, or food being treated. Sterilization lamps typically come in either fluorescent or HID bulb types and are typically found in T5, T8, T10, or single-tube bi-pin shapes.

GE and Ushio offer numerous options for sterilization lamps. These two manufacturers offer an exceptional line of low pressure mercury HID germicidal lamps. These lamps are ideal for eradicating bacteria, yeast, and mold. GE and Ushio’s low pressure mercury lamps produce light in the 200 to 300 nanometers (nM) range, typically hovering around 253.7nM. GE and Ushio HID germicidal lamps come in many bases including E17 medium base, Fa8 single pin, G13 medium two-pin, and others to ensure flexibility in your fixture choice. These HID lamps come with energy draws of under 10w to 65w. Sterilization lamps are also commonly found as fluorescent tube lamps. Germicidal fluorescent bulbsare available in versions featuring a clear quartz tube without a phosphor coating or in UV black light versions.

Fluorescent germicidal lamps eliminate bacteria and other agents, like HID lamps, by generating UV-C light that destroys bacteria’s’ ability to form. You have options when it comes to selecting the sterilization lamp right for you. Luckily, BulbAmerica stocks every type you could need. Check it out now!

By Victor Lopez | 20 November, 2014 | bulb, fluorescent, germicidal, lamps, lights | 0 comments | Read more

New Labeling for Light Bulb Packaging in 2011

By mid-year 2011, the Federal Trade Commission will institute new packaging for light bulbs. The new packaging is modeled after the nutritional information tables found today on the back of food packaging. Light bulb packaging information will be divided among two panels. The front panel will feature information regarding energy cost and brightness while the back panel features the same information plus more technical information on color and toxic elements. The new light bulb packaging will clearly indicate light bulb brightness, energy cost, life hours, color temperature, wattage, and whether the bulb contains mercury or not. The Federal Trade commission is putting the new packaging in place to make light bulb purchasing a less confusing process, and to make the industry overall more consumer friendly. Traditional light bulb packaging has emphasized wattage. Wattage does not, however tell you anything about the color of the bulb, whether it contains toxic elements, or how many life hours the bulb has.
More importantly, the FTC’s revision of light bulb packaging will highlight the information most relevant to energy expenditure and factors concerning environmentally friendly light sources. The new packaging has producers of energy efficient light bulbs particularly excited because the new packaging will openly display the benefits of energy efficient bulbs. The long life and small energy draw of LEDs, for example, will be made clear to all consumers. The lighting costs feature will allow consumers to calculate how much money they will spend illuminating their homes. In general, the push to include more information on light bulb packaging is advantageous because it encourages consumers to further educate themselves about how light bulbs work, how they can work better, and what their options are.

Keep your eyes peeled for the new labels in the coming year and we’ll keep you posted!
By Victor Lopez | 20 November, 2014 | bulbs, fluorescent, halogen, incandescent, lamps, led, lights, outdoor | 0 comments | Read more

How much can You Save with Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs?

How much can You Save with Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs?

You know that a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb saves you much more in electricity costs than the incandescent bulb. But do you know how much? Take a look at some amazing pieces of statistics on energy-efficient light bulbs to feel good about the choices you have made or be inspired to make the switch.

Lighter on Your Check Book

CFL bulbs...
By Victor | 09 September, 2013 | Bulbs, cfl, compact, energy, fluorescent, household, incandescent, lamps, Light, Lighting, mini spiral, money, saving | 0 comments | Read more
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