Lovely Lightbulbs

Gavin Scott · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 15.18

Nini wrote:I'm a useless good for nothing, why not let me moderate?

Nini · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 17.57

Yes, it would be a bad idea but I would actually be around to pull my weight unlike Ison, the slacker.

cdd · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 18.01

marksi wrote:There are [...]warm[...] energy efficient bulbs coming along, and I'm guessing that there are huge stockpiles of the older [...]colder bulbs which need shifting.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but why is it an advatange to have light energy converted into heat? One of the advantages I thought of those energy saving bulbs is that they didn't heat up the room you were in.

Gavin Scott · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 18.05

cdd wrote:
marksi wrote:There are [...]warm[...] energy efficient bulbs coming along, and I'm guessing that there are huge stockpiles of the older [...]colder bulbs which need shifting.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but why is it an advatange to have light energy converted into heat? One of the advantages I thought of those energy saving bulbs is that they didn't heat up the room you were in.

"Warm" as in colour temperature - i.e. an amber tone of white as opposed to blue.

cdd · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 18.07

Ahh... *Smacks forehead*!

Sput · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 19.45

Marketing?

nidave · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 20.46

nodnirG kraM wrote:Though quite why the coolest colour temperature is described as "warm", I don't know.

Is it not to do with how much of the spectrum creates light in - the fuller the spectrum the more "sun like" it is supposed to be (and is better for you) but looks whiter than the yellow.

Gavin Scott · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 20.56

nidave wrote:
nodnirG kraM wrote:Though quite why the coolest colour temperature is described as "warm", I don't know.
Is it not to do with how much of the spectrum creates light in - the fuller the spectrum the more "sun like" it is supposed to be (and is better for you) but looks whiter than the yellow.

"Better for you" isn't quite right, but less straining on the eye for long durations, yes.

"Full spectrum" is rather difficult to replicate, but the closest in terms of balanced broad spectrum lamps - especially good at colour rendering - is a CDM-T.

Its engineered to be long lasting, which has a minimal, but significant, effect on its spectral output. But you can't have everything.

Nothing domestic comes close, but you can pick them up for under £150. The lamp (or bulb, if you prefer) is about 25 quid. The rest is in the light fitting.

A couple washing across a painted white surface will give you a very, very pleasing light. They're rather harsh as a direct source though.

Sput · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 21.05

Know what else was engineered to be long-lasting and bright?

THE SUN.

That's not a bad attempt at emulating it though, I have to say!

nidave · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 22.21

Gavin Scott wrote:
"Better for you" isn't quite right, but less straining on the eye for long durations, yes.

Are they not supposed to reduce the effect of S.A.D (Seasonal affective disorder)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_a ... e_disorder

Gavin Scott · Thu 15 Jan, 2009 22.39

nidave wrote:
Gavin Scott wrote:
"Better for you" isn't quite right, but less straining on the eye for long durations, yes.
Are they not supposed to reduce the effect of S.A.D (Seasonal affective disorder)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_a ... e_disorder

Oh I wasn't thinking about SAD. Well then I suppose so, if you've no access to daytime rays.

On that point though, it was horribly dark in Edinburgh all day. Huge, looming dark clouds. Felt like before dawn on the way to work, and didn't get much better all day.

There's a ceiling mounted CDM-T lamp in the office, but it didn't make me feel any better.