Welcome!

We’re here to answer any and all questions about light bulbs, stage lighting, studio lighting, photography lighting, church lighting, party lights, and much more. We’ve been and authority in the lighting industry for over 12 years. We keep consumers and business insiders alike informed on the latest happenings inside of the lighting world. So, without further ado we’d like to thank you for visiting the page and happy reading.

Light Bulbs - Latest

People throughout the United States are bracing themselves for the impending incandescent light bulb phase out by stock piling incandescent bulbs. As the New York Times recently found (5/26/11), consumers are woefully misinformed regarding the phase out and are likely more concerned than they need be. The 2007 light bulb legislation by President Bush stipulated that beginning in January 2012, light bulb manufacturers would need to increase the efficiency, or luminous efficacy, of their light bulbs by 25%. The light bulbs, beginning with the class 100W A-shape, that are not included in this new generation of incandescent bulbs will be phased-out. This light bulb legislation has many homeowners, designers, and decorators worried, but in reality there may be little need to do so.

Many consumers do not realize that in addition to incandescent light bulbs not really being phased out, halogen bulbs are incandescent bulbs. In other words, people are sometimes reluctant to substitute halogen light bulbs for incandescent ones because they believe that halogens are different. Halogen light bulbs are more efficient than incandescent bulbs and produce crystal clear light with perfect color rendering (100 CRI). Furthermore, many halogen light bulbs can be dimmed and achieve the increasingly warm color temperatures that one sees as an incandescent bulb is dimmed. Great strides have been made in improving the efficiency of halogen bulbs. New halogen MR16s from Osram Sylvania and Ushio last for thousands of hours and operate at lower wattages than standard MR16s do while producing equivalent amounts of light.

Another key piece of misinformation that has been fueling the hysteria regarding the light bulb phase out is that the LED and CFL (compact fluorescent) alternatives to incandescent bulbs are prohibitively expensive and produce bad quality light. Thought LED light bulbs are certainly more expensive than incandescent bulbs, consumers can expect them to come down in price as more manufacturers add them to their product lines. Furthermore, media and consumers do not factor in the amount of money that is saved from reduced energy consumption and maintenance costs. Depending on regional energy prices, LED light bulbs can pay for themselves over a course of months. Many consumers who worry about the poor light quality of compact fluorescent bulbs are mistakenly attributing the light of fluorescent tube lights common shopping malls and supermarkets to them. Furthermore, CFLs are available in a range of color temperatures from warm to cool, so the sterile blue light associated with CFLs can be avoided with knowledge of color temperature.

It is true that incandescent bulbs provide a light that is clean and very ambient, however the alternative light bulb technologies have been unfairly criticized. Furthermore, the reality is that incandescent light bulbs are not being phased out. The larger lesson here, however, is that when it comes to light bulbs consumers are generally very much in the dark regarding the options and performance of different light bulb technologies. Studies such as the Right Light Challenge, conducted in New Zealand, have concluded that consumers are not nearly as good as telling the difference between the light created by incandescent bulbs and CFL bulbs as they think they are. Knowledge, ladies and gentlemen, is power, candlepower.

Party Lights

It’s not always so easy to think up inexpensive but attractive ways to decorate your home or business for a party. To add to your problem, if you are throwing one party it is likely that you will throw another, so if possible, you want choose something that is reusable. If you are pondering over some of these things, then perhaps blacklight and colored light bulbs would interest you. The focus of my article here will be general party lighting ideas that are inexpensive and reusable. Fluorescent blacklights come available with many different bases to fit various sockets. You’ll have to see what type of bases the lights have that you are planning replacing to make this decision. One particularly useful blacklight bulb for parties at your home or any smaller location is the mini-twist compact fluorescent with an E26 medium screwbase that will fit anywhere virtually anywhere you can screw in a bulb. With blacklight mini-twists you can create a great blacklight lighting effect by simply using a table lamp sconce. Another option is incandescent blacklight bulbs. These bulbs come in A19 and T10 shapes and and are inexpensive lighting options for your party or event. If you are planning on reusing your blacklight bulbs or using them for a longer period of time, you may want to consider the CFL blacklight over the incandescent because of CFLs’ superior life hour rating.

For colored light bulbs, you have many options between CFLs, incandescent bulbs, and LEDs. If you are aiming for durability and the ability to use your colored bulbs more than once, LED light bulbs are for you. Osram offers a fantastic line of LED A15 shape, B10 shape, and G30 shape bulbs with a medium screw base that will fit into any screw-in fixture. These bulbs are available in every color of the rainbow and also feature a color changing option if aligned in a series. Of course CFL and incandescent colored do a great job, however they cannot match Osram’s colored bulbs’ energy draw of 1w to 2w. Sunlite also offers a wide range of colored LED bulbs from JDR MR16s to PAR30 and PAR38 floods. Most LED products are extremely durable and will last anywhere from 25,000hrs to 100,000hrs. There are plenty color LED bulbs to choose from, so make sure to check them all out before you make a decision.

BulbAmerica has all of your blacklight and colored LED needs. We also realize that if you are planning for a party you will need more than one bulb, so we sell our blacklights and colored LED in packages to save you money and give you the light coverage you need. Check us out today!

Ushio Bulbs

In the past, cold cathode compact technology has been used in laptop and photocopier displays. Now, the cold cathode compact fluorescent lamp (CCFL) is the latest CFL technology to hit the lighting market. Ushio is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of CCFLs for consumer use and are key innovators in the industry. There are many key differences between CCFLs and regular compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs that make them a promising energy saving lighting technology. With a life hour rating near 25,000 hours, CCFL bulbs last considerably longer than CFLs do and come close to the life hour ratings of metal halide lamps and LEDs. In addition, CCFLs reach peak luminosity as soon they are turned, compared to CFL which can take up to a minute to reach full luminosity. In addition, Ushio CCFLs can be fully dimmed, flash, and cycle, giving consumers who opt to use them added flexibility. In CFLs, continuous turning on and off the bulb can significantly reduce the life of the bulb, CCFLs are immune to this and therefore bring more design options usability for consumers.

Though CCFLs are very promising with respect to how long they last and their dimmability, they do not produce as much light as standard CFLs. Ushio CCFLs create light in the range of 200lm to 1050lm at wattages between 3w and18w. CCFLs do not produce as many lumens as traditional CFLs and for this reason are not typically used in the home unless they are used in groups or are using them in a space that is small or that does not require bright light. This shortcoming of CCFLs is balanced by the fact they feature remarkable durability and be used at colder temperatures than typical CFLs can. This makes CCFLs a good choice for outdoor and garden lighting. CFLs can also be used with photocells, meaning that they can be integrated into solar power systems, giving consumers the option of using CCFLs for truly sustainable lighting.

Ushio CCFLs show that not all product innovation needs to be focused with LED lighting. Ushio’s CCFLs signal that fluorescent technology still presents occasion to develop new technology for increasingly efficient and environmentally friendly lighting products.

Philips Bulbs

Philips bulbs are the industry standard in stage & studio and entertainment lighting. When it comes to studio lighting, lamps are needed that can transform ambient light conditions into the light conditions of another time of day entirely. Bright, uniform light is needed for these applications and Philips bulbs are the light sources that film and broadcast studios need. Philips’ stage and studio lamps feature numerous innovations that make them higher performing and give them optimal light characteristics. Philips’ MSR lamps feature optimal discharge tube geometry and a hot restrike capability makes these lamps more user friendly and efficient. The performance qualities of MSR Philips bulbs are exceptional, with perfect daylight color temperatures (6,000K), longer lifetime, and high lumen output.

Lighting for entertainment applications is among Philips’ largest markets. Like their stage & studio lamps, Philips bulbs for entertainment applications feature significant innovations. Among these lamps is Philips FastFit family of lamps. The FastFit base is designed with lighting techs in mind, making replacement much easier by allowing for easily handling, quick replacement, and also reducing lamp holder failure. In short, these Philips bulbs reduced the headaches that come with maintaining DJ, club, or theater lighting. As a result of their ease of use, installation, and replacement, these lamps are becoming a staple in moving head intelligent lighting fixtures. Philips’ MSD series of lamp is also among one of the most widely used in entertainment lighting. The lamps in this family have crisp daylight color temperature and exceptional brightness, making them ideal for any lighting application on stage.

Philips bulbs are second to none in stage & studio and entertainment lighting and are among the most widely used lamps in movie studios, TV studios, and in DJ lighting. Consumers should be aware that Philips lamps for stage & studio and entertainment lighting are powerful, operating under considerable pressure and some lamps producing considerable UV light. Consumers should be aware that many of these lamps require enclosed fixtures with lenses that filter out UV light that is harmful to the skin and eyes. Philips bulbs are only effective when they are safely used!

Osram Sylvania Bulbs

Most of people are not seasoned lighting designers or architects and therefore lack the confidence and knowhow when it comes to lighting their homes. The bedroom in particular is a difficult space to light; the bedroom needs to have ambient lighting so it is relaxing but also well enough lit so you can read, sew, or do anything else that requires large amounts of lights. In addition, many consumers want lighting that is energy efficient so that the bedroom can be more about resting and relaxing than about changing out burned out bulbs. Using light bulbs by Osram, this article will supply you with a number of ideas to get you started, so let’s begin.

The light source that accomplishes the general illumination will throw even light in every direction. This light will likely be housed in a pendant or hanging light fixture. Many Osram bulbs can be used for general illumination in the bedroom and the type you will want to use will depend largely on the dimensions of the fixture. General illumination fixtures are always mounted on the ceiling, come in a variety of shapes and styles, and are sometimes integrated into a ceiling fan. If you are using a chandelier in your bedroom, you will likely want to opt for candelabra or flame Osram bulbs. Osram offers CFL candelabra bulbs for energy efficient lighting options. Most consumers’ bedrooms have flushmount or semi-flushmount fixtures; depending on their dimensions these bulbs will accept twist, mini-twist, or a-shape Osram Sylvania bulbs. Recessed light can be used in bedrooms as either a source of general illumination or accent lighting. For general illumination, you’ll want to use a PAR 30, PAR 30L, PAR 38, or MR 16 bulb. The Osram Sylvania bulb you will want to use will depend on the dimensions of the can and electrical specifications of the fixture. For general lighting wider beam angles and beam spreads are used: consumers wanting to use recessed cans in this application should opt for flood or wide flood beam spreads. For more of an accent effect, consumers should use an Osram bulb with a narrower beam spread like a spot.

Accent lighting is used in bedrooms to emphasize features of the room such as photographs, artwork, and architectural details. Track lighting is a popular fixture for accent lighting and often utilize MR 16s and small size R, BR, PAR, or MR 16 bulbs. Osram bulbs offers high performing halogen bulbs for all of these bulb shapes in addition to CFL and LED PAR and MR 16 replacement bulbs for energy efficient lighting. Task lighting is the last category of light fixtures that are typically found in the bedroom. Task lighting refers to lamps. Most lamps found in bedrooms accept A-shape bulbs that can be replaced my twist and mini twist Osram bulbs. Consumers wanting to keep the A-shape but save energy should consider Osram Sylvania’s LED a-shape replacements.

Lighting the bedroom shouldn’t keep you up at night and neither should your electricity bill. That is why you should go with energy saving Osram bulbs for the bedroom.