CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING THE COLOR TEMPERATURE (KELVIN)

What is color temperature?
Color temperature refers to how warm or cool light appears. It is about the shade of white light emitted. It is about whether a bulb produces a warm visual effect like an incandescent lamp, or a cooler effect like fluorescent tubes. It is not about actual colored light such as RGB or party lights. And it is not about temperature in terms of how much heat the bulb generates.

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) – the lower the number, the warmer the white light appears, while a higher Kelvin will appear cooler. Color temperature for LED light generally ranges from 1800-2400K (extra ambiance), to 2400-2900 (extra warm white), 2900-3500K (warm white), 3500-5000K (white) and  5000-6500K (daylight white).

Choose the correct color temperature based on the application
The color temperature depends on the type of lighting for which the lamp is used. In workplaces, where bright light is required, a higher Kelvin value is often used. 3000K to 4000K are typically used in an office. In a warehouse or workshop you will likely select an higher Kelvin value, between 4000K and 6000K. 6500K is generally used to simulate daylight, especially for situations where good sight is the main priority.

For home lighting, a value below 3000K is usually chosen. The most common color temperature is 2700K, which corresponds to the color of halogen and incandescent lamps. Especially with filament lamps, people wish to experience the warm glow of an incandescent lamp. These are often also available in lower Kelvin values. The Yphix LED filament lamps have an E27 (large fitting) or E14 (small fitting). As a result, old light bulbs can be replaced directly one-to-one. A vast energy cost saving while enjoying the same old-fashioned effect.

The color temperature of each Yphix light source is stated in the product catalogue on our website, as well as on the product packaging.

Lumen may influence color temperature
The number of lumen indicate the light intensity of a lamp. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter a lamp is. A warm white lamp (3000K) with a low number of lumens has a warmer appearance than a warm white lamp with a high number of lumens. To ensure a new bulb will appear the same as existing bulbs in the same space, not only the color temperature should match, but also the lumens. Use a dimmer to control the light intensity and strength.

Conventional and LED light color temperature may differ
There is a color temperature difference between conventional lighting (such as halogen lamps, fluorescent tubes, incandescent lamps, gas discharge lamps and energy-saving lamps) and LED lamps. Where the light output of LED remains stable throughout its lifespan, it decreases over time with conventional lighting. A cool white LED bulb (4000K) may appear brighter than a cool white halogen bulb purchased some years ago. In addition, conventional lighting emits a more yellow color than LED light will do. And LED lighting also has a bigger range of lumens than conventional light sources.

Consider Color Rendering Index (CRI) when matching bulbs
The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is an indicator of how accurately colours can be distinguished under a light source. The higher a CRI is, the better the color reproduction. A CRI of 100 is considered excellent. For general lighting purposes typically a bulb with a CRI around 80 is used. If the light bulb is being used in tasks where the colour is important, such as painting, consider for a bulb with a CRI of 90 or more. With a CRI <70, visible colors differ from natural color. CRI is independent of color temperature. But mixing a very high CRI bulb with a low CRI bulb in the same space will result in a color difference between the bulbs.