End of a Lighting Era Blog Post
22 Aug
Blog Posts, Press | News, Trade

The end of a lighting era

The End of a Lighting Era

incandescent will no longer be sold in CIn 2018 California said goodbye to the incandescent light bulb. Thomas Edison gave the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb in December 1879, we’ve continued to use this technology for almost 140 years. However, as more efficient light bulbs have emerged states are moving toward energy saving options.

Why the change?

Congress passed the Energy Bill of 2007 which was signed into law by George Bush. The law completely phases out the incandescent bulb by 2020 in the United States. California is the only state that phased out incandescent in 2018, two years early.

What happens to all the incandescent bulbs?

Retailers will sell all remaining inventory on the shelves. Incandescent bulbs will not be manufactured. Manufacturers had 11 years to expand their offering to more energy efficient lighting products.

How will this impact consumers?

There are 250 million incandescent light bulbs in use in California according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. When consumers replace the quarter of a million incandescents with LED light bulbs, consumers will save roughly $1 billion on electricity.

What will replace traditional light bulbs?

There are two alternatives are LED and CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs. CFL lights contain Mercury which is a hazardous material and takes time to warm up to full brightness. LED light bulbs contain no mercury, turn on within a second and are shatter resistant. They are safe for your entire family and recyclable. You can learn more about comparing the different lighting options here.

Viribright’s full line of LED light bulbs will make the switch easy. Our light bulbs are UL listed, which have been tested to meet all the safety requirements. We offer a dimmable option on a lot of our LED bulbs. All Viribright products have a 3-year, easy replacement warranty.

If you have questions contact us at support@viribright.us or call (877) 847-4276.

25 Jul
Lighting Projects

MR16 LED Light Bulbs

MR16 LED Light Bulbs – What’s the difference?

1 minute read – MR16 LED Bulbs by VIRIBRIGHT Comparison

Unsure of which MR16 you need? This article will answer any questions you might have about these compact spotlights.

The Multifaceted Reflector (MR) is of the most widely used spotlights used in both commercial and residential applications. The reflector inside the MR controls the beam angle of the lamp and is available in different beam angles.

MR light bulbs are extremely popular because the amount of light they offer compared to the amount of energy consumed. Halogen light bulbs consume less electricity than incandescents, but they still use more energy than LED lamps. Many utility companies are encouraging their subscribers to switch to LED light bulbs to reduce energy consumption. In return, consumers see a reduction in their energy bills and less heat put off from these bulbs.

There are two base types for MR16 light bulbs, the GU10 (twist), and the two pin GU5.3 (push to fit). The GU5.3 base commonly operates using 12 volts while the GU10 operates off 120 volts. Voltages vary greatly across all bulbs types so always check the specifications and ensure your fixture is compatible with both the fitting and voltage.

When replacing your low voltage Halogen MR16 with an LED you might have to change your transformer. Most power supplies require a minimum of a 20 Watt load. Viribright’s MR16s use only 3.2 Watts of energy and the current transformer may not be able to run this low of a wattage. The current transformer should list the maximum and minimum load capabilities. For your safety, we recommend using an electrician to change out any electrical units.

Viribright offers MR16 and GU10 bases in all three major color types including Warm White (2700K), Cool White (4000K), and Daylight 6500K. We have the right color or base type to fit your needs.

Have a question about MR16’s or other Viribright LED light bulbs? Email us at support@viribright.us.

MR16 with GU10 base

MR16 with GU5.3 (2-pin) base

BR PAR MR Light Bulbs - Viribright
18 Aug
Uncategorized

Comparing PAR / BR / MR light bulbs

The Ultimate Guide to PAR and BR light bulbs by VIRIBRIGHT (Charts, Tables, and more)

We get it, not everyone is a light bulb expert. It’s fairly simple, after all. You screw it in and expect it to omit joyous light into the intended room or area. Although PARs and BRs sound fairly similar, they have both many differences and similarities. This guide will help you to understand the primary differences and best applications for each bulb in a respective setting.

Quick Menu – click below

BR PAR MR Light Bulbs - Viribright

What does PAR and BR and MR stand for?

PAR stands for “parabolic aluminized reflector” and is best used in settings that require a focused, narrow beam of light. Most PARs do not exceed a beam angle of 45 degrees in most cases. BR stands for “bulged reflector” and is considered a wide-angle floodlight often exceeding 100-degree beam angles. MR means “multi-faceted reflector” and the most narrow of the bulb types mostly used as a spotlight.

What’s the main difference?

The primary difference between the three bulbs aside from the internal engineering is really just the angle of the beam. See the example below:

BR PAR MR Comparison Illustration Diagram Image

Size comparison of PAR vs BR floodlights

It’s actually even easier grasp than you might think. The difference between a BR20, BR30, and BR40 is actually the size or diameter of the light bulb. The number represents increments of an 8th of an inch. For example, a BR30 is 30/8ths of an inch or 30 divided by 8 which equals 3.75″ in diameter. The same example applies to a PAR38. Divide 38/8ths of an inch or 38 divided by 8 which equals 4.75″ in diameter. Check out the comparison chart below. Don’t worry… we’re visual learners too.

PAR comparison chart

PAR38 PAR30 PAR20 PAR16
Image Par38 E26 LED Light Bulb - Viribright PAR30 LED Light Bulb - Viribright PAR20 LED Light Bulb - Viribright PAR E26 LED Light Bulb
Size Par38 E26 LED Light Bulb - Viribright PAR30 GRAPHIC PAR30 LED Light Bulb Graphic- Viribright PAR16-E26 Graphic Drawing LED Light Bulb
Brightness 1200 – 1400lm 800 – 1100lm 500 – 700lm 300 – 400lm
Watts Incandescent – 75W
CFL – 35W
LED – 15W		 Incandescent – 65W
CFL – 22W
LED – 9W		 Incandescent -40W
CFL – 15W
LED – 7W		 Incandescent -35W
CFL – 8W
LED – 4W

BR comparison chart

BR40 BR30 BR20
Image BR40 E26 LED Light Bulb BR30 LED Light Bulb PAR20 LED Light Bulb - Viribright
Size BR40 E26 LED Light Bulb BR30 LED Light Bulb PAR30 LED Light Bulb Graphic- Viribright
Brightness 1200 – 1400lm 800 – 1100lm 500 – 700lm
Useage Incandescent – 75W
CFL – 35W
LED – 15W		 Incandescent – 65W
CFL – 22W
LED – 9W		 Incandescent -40W
CFL – 15W
LED – 7W

Are there color differences between PAR and BR bulbs?

No, there are no intrinsic color differences between PAR and BR bulbs other than the actual color you’re purchasing. Think of it like clothes… the same clothes might be available in an array of different colors. Light bulbs are no different. All PARs and BRs can be manufactured in any color. The most common colors are soft white and daylight. Warm or soft white (2700K – 3000K) is typically more suitable for home use in the family and bedrooms. Daylight (5000 – 6500K) is more often used to light kitchen areas. See below the Kelvin scale that illustrates the range of colors available. Learn more about color from Energy Star.

Color Temperature 4000K

Lighting and Application

Par vs BR vs MR Ceiling Light Bulbs LED Lights

PAR bulbs are used in a wide variety of applications due to their more narrow beam angle. Common uses include (indoor/outdoor) security lighting, theatre, performance sets, spot-lighting signs and can be used in some restaurant applications as well. BR lights are most commonly used indoors in household ceilings with recessed cans. These can be seen most often in kitchens, family rooms, and stair lighting with high ceilings. The broad beam angle allows for a less concentrated light offering better coverage and eliminating shadows in the intended area.

BR / PAR (LED VS CFL and Incandescent)

Light bulbs have come a long way in recent years and the majority of the growth has been in the LED sector. In terms of overall value, LEDs take the cake in providing good looking, energy saving, long life bulbs. For a complete look at BR and PAR LEDs vs CFL and Incandescent, take a look at our light bulb comparison guide

05 Apr
Press | News

Comparing LED vs CFL vs Incandescent Light Bulbs

3 minute read – The Ultimate Guide by VIRIBRIGHT (Charts, Tables, and more)

Over the years, advances in technology have brought about innovations in how to light our homes and commercial buildings. In the beginning, all we had was the standard, incandescent light bulb. Now we have compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and light emitting diodes or LED for short. We are going to tackle the question… which light bulb type reigns supreme? There are many variables, so let’s dig in!

Quick Menu – click below

Viribright comparison between candle light, incandescent bulbs, CLF and LED light bulbs. Shows the lifespan difference as well as efficiency and color rendering

LED VS CFL Brightness

Are LED lights brighter than or equal to Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs? The trick is to understand the technology. In short, LED and CFL as technologies do not have a difference in brightness intrinsically. Brightness is determined by lumens. Lumens is best described as the measurement of light. A single CFL and LED bulb might have the same lumen (brightness) output but vary greatly in the amount energy needed to generate that level of brightness.

Many LED bulbs in the past were not omnidirectional which gave the upper hand to CFL in various scenarios. For example, in a floor lamp, a CFL would perform better because of the light coverage was, at the time, much broader. In most recessed lighting (ceiling), however, the LED would have greater efficacy. Fast forward to new LED generations, and we see the little light-emitting diodes surpassing CFLs in overall energy consumption, color and even becoming more competitively priced in the marketplace.

Lumen & Wattage Comparison

The chart below illustrates the amount of brightness in lumens you can expect from different wattages of light bulbs. LED bulbs require much less wattage than CFL or Incandescent light bulbs, which is why LEDs are more energy-efficient and longer lasting than their competitors.

How to understand this table – look at the lumens (brightness) in the far left column, then compare how many watts of power each light bulb type requires to produce that level of brightness. The lower the wattage needed, the better.

Lumens (Brightness) LED Watts (Viribright)  CFL Watts Incandescent Watts 
400 – 500 6 – 7W 8 – 12W 40W
650 – 850 7 – 10W 13 – 18W 60W
1000 – 1400 12 – 13W 18 – 22W 75W
1450-1700+ 14 – 20W 23 – 30W 100W
2700+ 25 – 28W 30 – 55W 150W

Power consumption Image

To compare different light bulbs, you need to know about lumens. Lumens, not watts, tell you how bright a light bulb is, no matter the type of bulb. The more lumens, the brighter the light. Labels on the front of light bulb packages now state a bulb’s brightness in lumens, instead of the bulb’s energy usage in watts. When shopping for your next light bulb, simply find the lumen output you’re looking for (the bigger the brighter) and choose the bulb with the lowest wattage (the lower the better).

Are CFL or LEDs more cost-effective?

To examine the cost comparison, let’s take a look at a standard 60-watt replacement incandescent bulb in this example. The energy consumption to use a bulb like this would cost about $90 over the course of 10 years. For an LED, running over the course of 10 years the actual cost would be only $18 to operate. Take a look at the table below for a breakdown.

LED vs CFL vs Incandescent Cost Incandescent CFL LED (Viribright)
Watts used 60W 14W 7W
Average cost per bulb $1 $2 $4 or less
Average lifespan 1,200 hours 8,000 hours 25,000 hours
Bulbs needed for 25,000 hours 21 3 1
Total purchase price of bulbs over 20 years $21 $6 $4
Cost of electricity (25,000 hours at $0.15 per kWh) $169 $52 $30
Total estimated cost over 20 years $211 $54 $34

Winner: LED (in the long run)

The above chart shows a clear-cut winner when considering the price over time with energy consumption factored in. In addition to LED’s cost savings, there are also government-backed rebates in some scenarios for Energy Star products.

Do CFL or LED bulbs last longer?

Quick Answer: LEDcomparing cfl, incandescent, and cfl light bulbs

Although LED technology for use in bulbs has not been on the market for long, the lifespan estimates for the new technology are astounding and leave CFL and incandescents with little to show for in comparison. With an astonishing lifespan of 25,000 hours, LED light bulbs are the undisputed, heavyweight champion in longevity. The next best are CFL bulbs which bring in a respectable 8,000 hours of average life expectancy. Keep in mind, most tests are based on a running time of 3 hours per day.

Life Span Challenge Incandescent CFL LED
Average Life Span 1,200 Hours 8,000 Hours 25,000 Hours

LED Savings Calculator

How much can you save? – Click Below to Find Out

LED Savings Calculator