Bulbs

More than just light: how to set accents with the right light source!

With the right light source , you can conjure up the perfect atmosphere in no time at all - from cosy and warm to atmospheric, fresh and clear. Whether retro, modern, filament, with remote control or even app-controlled: discover countless ways to make your interior design shine.

Variety of lights: Overview of lampholder types

Before you consider the requirements for the desired light source, check which socket your light has. This will help you avoid making the wrong purchase and ensure that the selected light source fits perfectly in your lamp.

There are many different lampholders and bases, here is an overview of the most common ones:

Light in the dark: Important factors when choosing a light source

The luminaire forms the outer frame, while the lamp - the light source inside - provides the radiant light. When selecting the light source, pay attention to light colour, brightness and energy consumption. Depending on the room and the desired atmosphere, you can choose between different light colours and functions. We recommend LEDs as they are particularly long-lasting and energy-efficient. Create balanced lighting that meets your requirements.

Energy efficiency class

All light sources are categorised in energy efficiency classes A to G. Lamps with class A are characterised by the lowest power consumption and a long service life. When buying, look for good energy efficiency to save electricity costs and protect the environment.

Brightness in lumens

The lumen rating refers to the luminous efficacy. The higher the lumen of a light source, the brighter the light. The decisive factor for the number of luminaires and the level of lumen is, for example, the size of a living space or your personal preference. Whether discreet lighting (dim light) for cosy evenings or focused lighting (bright light) to create a concentrated environment.

Colour temperature

By selecting the light colour, you can give your rooms the desired atmosphere. Do you want to create a cosy living room? Then a warm white light colour (2700-3000 Kelvin) is best. If you want to create a bright and concentrated environment instead, neutral white (4000 Kelvin) or cool white (6500 Kelvin) light colours are more suitable due to the higher blue component in the light.

Colour rendering index (CRI)

The colour rendering index (CRI) indicates the extent to which LED light sources reproduce colours faithfully . A value of 80 or higher is ideal for most applications, especially in living rooms and when illuminating works of art to ensure authentic colour reproduction.

Service life

If your light source has a long service life of 20,000 - 30,000 hours, you will need to replace it less frequently. The long service life not only contributes to the responsible use of energy and resources, but also to the protection of the environment - an important aspect in today's world.

Lighting design made easy: How modern light sources change your ambience

Do you know exactly what you are looking for? Or do you need inspiration? Whether you want to furnish a cosy living room, a party room or even an office - we offer you a large selection of light sources. Create the perfect lighting for your living space with our high-quality light sources.

Functions and advantages of light sources:

• Colour change: choose the colour that underlines your mood and give the room the perfect ambience.
• Dimmer: Adjust the brightness of the light to suit your needs.
• Different scene modes: This function allows you to adapt the lighting to different moods or activities.
• CCT switching: Here you have the option of choosing between different light colours (warm white/neutral white/cold white).
• App and voice control: Don't always want to get up to operate the light switch or are you travelling and can't remember whether you've switched off the light? No problem! Among our light sources you will find intelligent lights with app and voice control.
• Remote control: With a remote control, you can easily enjoy the functions of your lamp from the comfort of your sofa.
• Memory function: Save settings you have made and use them again.
• Night light function: Set the brightness of the light to 10% to make it easier for you to fall asleep.
• Timer: Set a timer so that the lamp switches off automatically after a set time.
• Daylight simulation: Use this to adjust the brightness and light colour of the light to suit the time of day.
• Scheduling: Set the light to switch on or off every evening at 7 pm, for example.
• Vintage light sources LED technology: Classic light sources in LED retrofit allow you to illuminate special lights with lower energy consumption than compact halogen light sources.

Buy light sources from ETC Shop

Whether you want to equip your lamps with classic LED light bulbs or give your home a personalised touch with special lighting accents - you will find the right lighting solution with us. Our wide selection of lamps and light sources offers you a variety of options for realising your ideas. Take a look at our range and let yourself be inspired.

Frequently asked questions about light sources

What are light sources?
Light sources generate light. They are either permanently integrated into the lamps or can be replaced. There are different technologies, such as incandescent bulbs, halogen lamps, fluorescent lamps, LEDs and energy-saving lamps.

Are LED lamps more environmentally friendly?
Yes, as they consume less energy, have a longer service life and do not contain harmful substances such as mercury.

What is the difference between LEDs and light bulbs?
The main difference lies in the technology used to produce light. Incandescent bulbs produce light by heating a wire (usually tungsten) that begins to glow, while LEDs (light-emitting diodes) convert electricity directly into light. High-quality light sources with LED technology are characterised by low energy consumption, a long service life and they produce less heat than light bulbs.

Why are LEDs more energy-efficient than conventional light bulbs?
LEDs consume considerably less electricity than incandescent bulbs because they produce more light from the same amount of energy. They convert a large proportion of the energy directly into light instead of losing it in the form of heat. Find the right light sources for your lamps among our LED light sources and create balanced lighting in your home.

What is the difference between halogen lamps and LED lamps?
Halogen lamps are a further development of the incandescent bulb, but offer a higher luminous efficacy and a longer service life. However, they are less energy efficient than LEDs and generate more heat.

Are LED lamps dimmable?
There are special dimmable LED lamps that work with suitable dimmers. When buying, make sure that the lamp is labelled as dimmable if you need this function.

Which lamps are suitable for outdoor use?
Lamps or luminaires with a high protection rating (IP) (at least IP44) are required for outdoor use. This indicates whether the light source is protected against moisture and dust.

How long do LED lamps last?
LED lamps have an average service life of 25,000 to 50,000 hours, which makes them significantly more durable than conventional light bulbs (which last around 1,000 hours) or halogen lamps (around 2,000 hours).

Why do LED lamps sometimes flicker?
Flickering can be caused by several factors, such as incompatible dimmers, poor quality of the LED light source or an unstable power supply. In such cases, it helps to choose a dimmer that is specifically suitable for LEDs or to replace the lamp.

How do I dispose of old light bulbs correctly?
Halogen lamps and conventional light bulbs can be disposed of with residual waste. In contrast, energy-saving lamps must be disposed of at a special collection point due to the harmful substances they contain. LED lamps do not belong in the residual waste either, as they contain valuable materials that can be recycled.