What type of bulb should I put in my double insulated light?

What type of bulb should I put in my double insulated light?

Currently there are several types of lightbulb technology that provide adequate light for not just double insulated lights but also traditional lights. Traditional bulbs which are incandescent were traditionally always put in to double insulated lights. These types of bulbs are very inefficient and slowly being phased out by government regulations. Though still available, there are issues that traditionally mean they are not perfect for double insulated lights, which we will discuss in a moment.

Incandescent bulbs are very inefficient and waste a lot of energy through heat which is damaging

The second type of bulb technology is halogen. This can either be in the form of halogen spot bulbs or halogen fitted in to traditional incandescent looking lightbulbs which, although still inefficient, uses slightly less power than incandescent. Halogen spot bulbs such as GU10s have always been fitted in to class 2 double insulated lights. In an effort to make halogen GU10s more efficient, CFL (compact fluorescent) versions were introduced, however these versions were slow to warm up to full brightness, had safety issues regarding mercury & were often larger than the other versions which meant they couldn’t be fitted in to many double insulated lighting products.

Halogen energy saving bulbs use a halogen filament placed inside a traditional glass which, although more efficient, still emits a lot of heat

In recent years LED technology has been introduced across all styles and types of lightbulb which has improved efficiency massively. Saving energy & therefore money is obviously very handy however LED offers a difference that is perfect for double insulated lighting. Discounting CFL, as it was never really fully accepted by the public, all the other technologies give off heat as a side effect of how they work. I’m sure at some point in your life you have felt the heat emitting from a traditional household bulb or a halogen spotlight. They can become that hot that they would actually burn you badly if you touched them. LED versions of these bulbs are literally cold to touch. They do not emit any heat. Obviously this is much better from a safety point of view with your hands and fingers, but it is also much better for the light fittings. As a lighting retailer it is not uncommon for us to see baked lampholders on light fittings, both normal & double insulated. Heat emitting lightbulbs can often damage a light over time, creating burnt cables and cracked parts.

Incandescents & halogens can, over time, damage and weaken light fittings, such as this baked lamp holder

The nature of a double insulated light is to protect the wiring inside the unit. The lack of an earth connection means the safety aspect of a standard light is missing should an issue occur inside the light. With this in mind if you had a choice of putting a bulb in your double insulated light would you rather put in a bulb that could reach temperatures in excess of 100 degrees or would you rather put in a bulb that reaches temperatures of less than 10 degrees?

LED bulbs give off virtually zero heat which is important when the integrity of the light, such as double insulated, is vital

Keeping your class 2 light working perfectly is important. You don’t necessarily have to replace your existing bulb if all seems ok inside your light but if its time to replace a bulb or you are putting up a double insulated light for the first time I would recommend choosing an LED version. As time goes by LED versions are getting cheaper & brighter & eventually it will be the only technology available so why not start now?

Lightahome has specialised in double insulated lighting for as long as it has been available in the UK lighting industry. We also stock LED bulbs. For advice or for more information then visit our website, our Facebook page or give us a call on 024 7671 7043.