We started this bistro lighting series with a focus on how to build your business with bistro lighting, and then introduced you to some of the opportunities at your disposal for bistro lighting applications. Next, we focused on distribution—and why Ewing is your best choice for bistro lighting and accessories.
In this fourth installment of our bistro lighting series, we’ll explore the differences between incandescent and LED bistro lighting options, and when to select one over the other in a given application.
Choosing a lamp
When choosing to install bistro lighting, one of the first considerations is to choose what type of lamp is desired for the application—incandescent, or LED. While incandescent lamps can have a greater appeal for customers given their warm, inviting glow, LED lamps are brighter, lower wattage and maintenance friendly.
Understanding the features and benefits of each option—incandescent and LED—can help you more quickly and easily select the right lamp for your application.
If you relish the classic, “Edison-style” lamp look, you’ll love the incandescent S14 bistro lamp given it emits a rich, warm and inviting glow to set the mood at an affordable price. Though incandescent, this lamp is rated at 130-volts offering longer life than other incandescent bulbs available.
Incandescent lamps are perfect in residential applications where the allowable use of space is combined with the need to create an intimate environment. This lamp is fully dimmable, allowing the user to fine-tune the ambient light levels to suit any occasion.
Many installers choose incandescent for switched applications, given the system is only on when needed. The warm appearance, full range dimming capability and low lamp cost outweighs the benefits of LED when the lighting will only be switched on for a short period of time while in use.
The 2-Watt LED S14 Warm White Lamp
Our LED offering is one of the brightest lamps on the market, at only around 2-watts per bulb! Our new bulb is a chip-on-board (COB) filamentous-style LED that mimics the classic Edison look. It's fully dimmable, allowing the user to control their lights like they live their life. This lamp will blend the best of both worlds, offering an incandescent looking bulb in a 2-watt long lasting LED lamp. The amber tinted glass gives this lamp the finishing touch—offering customers a truly vintage, antique look for a retro feel.
This lamp is perfect for areas requiring a higher light level with minimal maintenance, such as commercial installations, roadways and streetscapes.
The long life, maintenance-free LED lamp is an excellent choice in applications that are hard to maintain, such as high-traffic areas with limited access, or areas where socket strands are mounted over rough terrain or high off the ground and require the use of ladders or lifts to maintain lamp changes.
The LED 2-watt lamp is also a good choice for automated “set it and forget it” systems operated by timers; these systems are in use a great deal of the time, and the client will benefit from the nightly energy savings, as well as from the lack of regular lamp changes associated with incandescent bulbs as they burn out.
Bars, restaurants, or any installations where the system will be on nightly are great candidates for the brighter, low energy, long life LED bulbs. At 2 watts, even large systems do not typically hinder the design due to circuit or load restrictions.
Amber bulbs are available for special order. In Florida, for example, clients often demand the turtle safe amber LED bulbs, which can be used year-round and are less attractive to insects.
Whichever lamp you choose to install, just remember that at Ewing, we’re continually striving to give you the best options the industry has to offer. The standard E26 lamp base means you can always change out from one to the other should you ultimately change your mind. Whatever you decide, don’t put off installing and owning this must-have product for the Outdoor Living environment.
