The author of the article is not a lighting engineer but has tested and reviewed light bulbs for CNET for over five years. They have spent hundreds of hours in a homemade lighting lab equipped with a spectrometer and an integrating sphere to run accurate light bulb tests. The author has also visited major North American lighting manufacturers like Cree and GE to understand their methods and standards. This is one of many LED buying guides and roundups that the author updates regularly. The testing process involves placing each bulb in the integrating sphere to measure brightness, color temperature, and other metrics over a period of time. The author also evaluates factors like light spread, tone, and color quality with the help of photographers and videographers on their team. Ultimately, the author emphasizes that the most important factor is how the bulbs perform in a real-life setting once installed in a home.
The integrating sphere used in the testing process is a hollow ball with reflective paint coating the inside. A spectrometer measures the light emitted by the bulb by peeking through a hole in the sphere, capturing data on brightness and color temperature. The process involves taking measurements every 10 minutes for 90 minutes and then a final reading at the end. The bulbs are also tested on various dimmer switches to assess brightness settings and check for flicker or buzz. The photo and video team plays a crucial role in capturing standardized images of the bulbs to analyze metrics like light spread, color quality, and tone. This helps provide a comprehensive review of the bulbs being tested.
One of the bulbs currently being reviewed is a new floodlight LED from Sylvania, which is not yet available outside of California. This efficient bulb puts out 93.7 lumens per watt, making it one of the next bulbs the author plans to review. By focusing on the performance and efficiency of different LED bulbs, the author aims to provide consumers with valuable information to make informed purchasing decisions. With a wide range of options available in the market, the goal is to help readers find the right bulbs for their homes without compromising on quality. The author’s expertise in testing and reviewing bulbs, combined with the team’s photography and videography skills, ensures a comprehensive evaluation process for each bulb.
The author’s testing process involves evaluating various metrics like brightness, color temperature, light spread, tone, and color quality. This helps provide a detailed assessment of how different LED bulbs perform in a real-world setting. The team at CNET uses specialized equipment like spectrometers and integrating spheres to conduct accurate tests and measurements. By working closely with major lighting manufacturers and regularly updating LED buying guides, the author aims to help consumers make informed decisions when purchasing bulbs for their homes. The focus is not just on technical specifications but also on how the bulbs look and feel once installed, ensuring that consumers are satisfied with their choices in the long run.
