LED Bulbs Selection Guide
LED bulbs come in types such as standard, GU10, filament, rustic, torch and RGB; compare them by criteria such as voltage, lamp holder and color temperature.
This guide covers what to look at when choosing products in the LED Bulbs category.
Types of LED bulbs
- Standard LED bulb: A general lighting bulb with an E27 or E14 lamp holder; in most models the same wattage is listed separately in 3000 K, 4000 K and 6500 K options.
- GU10 LED bulb: A spot bulb that directs the light forward and is used with spot housings.
- Filament LED bulb: The LEDs are arranged as thin rods inside a clear glass body. It gives the look of an incandescent bulb; it is preferred in pendant ceiling luminaires and chandeliers where the bulb is left exposed.
- Rustic LED bulb: ACK's decorative bulb group; there are models with E14 and E27 lamp holders and low color temperatures such as 2200 K and 2700 K.
- Torch LED bulb: A high-power bulb with an E27 lamp holder and a large body; used in places such as workshops, warehouses and shops to get strong light from a single lamp holder.
- RGB bulb with remote control: The light color is changed with the remote control.
Candle, capsule, propeller and tube types, and how to read lamp holder codes, are covered in the bulbs category.
What to look at when comparing LED bulbs
- Voltage. The E27 lamp holder alone does not indicate the voltage. E27 models fed with AC-DC 12-48 V are for low-voltage installations such as battery-powered or solar systems and are not fitted to the mains. The voltage may not be written in the product name of these models; look at the voltage row in the technical specifications.
- Luminous flux and efficacy. Two bulbs of the same wattage can have different lumens. Divide the lumens by the watt value to compare luminous efficacy (lm/W).
- Body size. Even if the lamp holder code matches, large or long bodies such as torch and filament may not fit in an enclosed luminaire or lampshade; compare the dimensions with the luminaire cavity.
- Light color. Warm white is the common choice in living and relaxing areas, neutral white in work areas, and cool white in workshops and warehouses. In multi-lamp luminaires, choose bulbs of the same color temperature.
- Rated lifetime. Values of 15000, 25000 and 50000 hours appear in the product data. For LEDs, lifetime does not describe the moment the bulb goes out but the time it takes for the luminous flux to fall to a certain percentage of its initial value. Because this percentage is not written in the product data, the hour values of different brands cannot be compared directly.
- Environment. The luminous flux and lifetime of an LED are sensitive to temperature; in an enclosed luminaire without ventilation the bulb runs hotter. The operating temperature range is stated in the product data. An IP20 bulb has no protection against water.
- Dimming. On a circuit with a dimmer, only a bulb stated to be dimmable should be used.
Brands in this category
- ACK: standard LED bulbs with E27, E14 and GU10 lamp holders, and E14 and E27 rustic bulbs.
- Cata: filament and crystal torch bulbs.
- Dünya LED: standard, stick and torch bulbs, and an RGB bulb with remote control.
Ordering notes
Products are listed per piece; ACK bulbs are sold by the manufacturer's carton, and the minimum order quantity is stated on the product page. Different color temperatures of the same bulb are listed under separate model codes; for example, for the ACK 7 W E14 bulb, AA09-00710 is the 3000 K, AA09-00711 the 4000 K and AA09-00713 the 6500 K model. Before ordering, check the code and the Kelvin value together.
Comparison and selection table
| Selection Criterion | Standard A60 / Candle / Filament LED Bulb | GU10 / MR16 Directional LED Spot Bulb | High-Output (T-Shape / High-Watt) LED Bulb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socket & Bulb Shape | E27 (A60 globe) or E14 (C37 candle / G45 mini globe) | GU10 (230 V mains) or MR16/GU5.3 (12 V low voltage) | E27 or E40 cylindrical aluminum heatsink body |
| Wattage & Lumens | 5 W – 14 W (470 – 1521 lm) | 4.5 W – 7 W (350 – 600 lm directional beam) | 20 W – 65 W (2000 – 6500 lm) |
| Color Temp (CCT) | 2700K/3000K (Warm), 4000K (Neutral), 6500K (Cool) | 3000K, 4000K, 6500K accent & downlight | 6500K cool daylight or 4000K neutral white |
| Dimming Support | Non-dimmable standard or dedicated "Dimmable" models | Standard on/off or Trailing-Edge dimmable | Direct 230 V AC constant-current driver |
Frequently asked questions
How many watts of incandescent bulb does a 9 W LED bulb equal?
Equivalence is established by lumens, not watts, because the luminous flux of LED bulbs of the same wattage varies by model. In the equivalence table of European Commission Regulation No 244/2009, for a non-directional LED bulb, 806 lm is counted as equal to a 60 W incandescent bulb and 1055 lm to a 75 W incandescent bulb. By comparing the luminous flux in the product data with these figures, you can see which incandescent bulb the bulb will replace.
Can an LED bulb be used with a dimmer?
Only LED bulbs stated to be dimmable in the product data are used with a dimmer. A non-dimmable bulb on a dimmer circuit may flicker, hum or fail early. Even with a dimmable bulb, the dimmer must be suitable for an LED load; the minimum load value of old dimmers made for incandescent bulbs can be higher than the wattage of the LED bulb. For compatibility, see the data from the bulb and dimmer manufacturers.
What does the 15000 or 50000 hour lifetime on an LED bulb mean?
For an LED, lifetime is the operating time until the luminous flux falls to a certain percentage of its initial value; it does not mean the bulb will go out at that hour. If the percentage used is not stated, the hour values of two brands may not have been given on the same basis. Because LED lifetime is sensitive to temperature, in a hot luminaire without ventilation the actual lifetime may stay below the rated value.
What is the difference between a filament LED bulb and a regular LED bulb?
The difference is in construction and intended use. In a filament bulb, the LEDs are visible as thin rods inside a clear glass body and the bulb resembles an incandescent bulb; it is preferred in pendants and chandeliers with exposed bulbs. In a regular LED bulb, the light spreads through a translucent cover and the bulb mostly stays inside the luminaire. Both fit the same lamp holders; lumens and color temperature are compared separately when choosing.
Can an LED bulb be used in a bathroom or outdoors?
The bulbs in this category that state an IP class are rated IP20; IP20 provides no protection against water. Protection in a damp or outdoor environment comes from an enclosed luminaire that surrounds the bulb and has an IP class suited to that environment. For the maximum bulb power and ambient temperature limits the luminaire allows, see the data from the luminaire and bulb manufacturers.
Does a GU10 LED bulb need a transformer?
GU10 is the base of spot bulbs that run on mains voltage; because the driver circuit is inside the bulb, a separate transformer is not needed. A transformer is needed for bulbs that run on low voltage. Since the category also includes models with an E27 lamp holder that are fed with 12-48 V, the voltage value in the product data must be matched with the installation, whatever the lamp holder type.