Filament lamps, what they are and what are their main disadvantages and advantages

We have long been accustomed to LED lighting and LED lamps can be found for every taste and wallet. In this material, I want to talk with you about the so-called filament lamps, in which manufacturers tried to combine all the best from the good old "Ilyich bulbs" and modern LED.

I will also tell you about the pros and cons of such lamps. So let's get started.

What are filament lamps

To begin with, I want to briefly tell you what these filament lamps are (suddenly, who else does not know). At first glance, these bulbs do not differ much from ordinary incandescent lamps, but instead of the usual spiral, you can see several "filaments" located in a circle inside the lamp bulb.

It is these filaments that are called filament, which can be translated as "filament" and officially it is called Filament LED. We have adapted the foreign name and got the Filament lamp.

Filament lamp design features

Structurally, the lamp consists of the following elements:

Glass flask.
Filament yarns.
Plinth. It has the types E14 and E27 familiar to us.

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Driver. The most important element of the lamp (and the weakest link, but more on that later), which is neatly hidden in the lamp base.

Of all the constituent parts, the most interesting, of course, are the threads themselves. Here's a little more about them.

What the filament is made of

Structurally, this thread is made of a glass tube (different manufacturers may have round or rectangular), on which small LEDs are fixed using the technology Chip - on - Glass. In this case, from each such "sticks" receive a power equal to 1 watt (with slight deviations in one direction or another).

At the same time, LEDs can be made both in the blue or ultraviolet spectrum of radiation, and some manufacturers add red LEDs to the bulbs.

So, after the desired combination of LEDs is fixed, they are covered with a layer specially selected phosphor, which transforms the outgoing radiation from the LEDs, begins to emit light of the desired temperature.

Naturally, the "sticks" obtained in this way cannot be powered from alternating voltage, so they are connected via a special driver.

And inside the flask space is filled with an inert gas to remove heat and dissipate it through the flask itself.

Now, after we got acquainted with the internal structure of filament lamps, let's move on to the most important thing: their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros and cons of filament lamps

Let's traditionally start with the negative points, and they are as follows:

Price. Despite the already quite long presence on the market of such lamps, really high-quality samples are more expensive than conventional LED lamps.
Complete non-repairability. In case of failure, the lamp cannot be repaired in principle (and this is important for you and me).
Driver. Weak point (Achilles' heel) of the product. Since the dimensions of the base are very limited, it is difficult to place a truly full-fledged driver. Therefore, in cheap samples, a regular rectifier is often used, and this is hello, strong ripple and strain on the eyes. It is also impossible to fit a full-fledged driver into the E14, so in such cases the case is lengthened.
Increased ripple in many samples.

Well, now let's talk about the pros:

The ideal solution for interior design. Also an excellent replacement for incandescent lamps in chandeliers.
Light scattering angle 360 degrees.
The transparent bulb guarantees a high percentage of color rendering.
Relatively long service life. A conditional plus, since in this case almost everything depends on the quality of the purchased lamp.

It is for this reason (relative durability) that I recommend purchasing only from trusted stores that are able to provide you with a guarantee.

Conclusion

Of course, I would not risk using these lamps as the main light in my home. But as decorative lighting and creating an image is quite suitable. Just once again I want to emphasize that you need to purchase only high-quality products in places where you can be provided with a guarantee.

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