Since the beginning of time, a number of items have been discovered by man to aid him in his daily life. Among these inventions, the one that is regarded most important of all times is the light bulb which was invented during the 1800s. With the invention of this item, the masses were given a convenient and safe light source that ultimately changed the dynamics of human life. Throughout the years, with the aid of other inventions, these items were modified to match the needs of the people. Today, a variety of brands of these bulbs-such as Osram light bulbs-are now available in the market. They can also now be purchased in a multitude of types.
The arc light invented by English chemist Humphrey Davy in 1809 is the forerunner of the modern light bulb. In 1840, British astronomer and chemist Warren De la Rue devised a light bulb from a vacuum tube enclosing a platinum coil. Said coil was passed with electric current to produce light. However, De la Rue’s experiment was not commercially produced as the materials involved were too expensive for commercial use. It was in 1879 when American inventor Thomas Alva Edison invented and patented the first commercially viable light bulb.
However, though it was Edison who patented the first commercially practical light bulb, he is not the only person credited for the discovery of said items. It was in 1860 when the first patent for a light bulb was released to English chemist and physicist Joseph Wilson Swan. However, Swan’s incandescent lamp with a filament made from carbonized paper had a very short light span. As such, more scientists at that time took time to improve his invention; among those is Thomas Edison to whom the patent for modern incandescent light bulbs was released to. Today, these bulbs are available in a variety of brands such as Osram light bulbs. They can also be purchased in a multitude of types aside from those incandescent bulbs invented by Swan and Edison.
The market now offers five general types of light bulbs. First among these are the Swan’s and Edison’s incandescent light bulbs. Though legislations in most countries suggest that these bulbs be phased out, consumers still prefers these types for their wide and low-cost availability. With their easy incorporation to electrical system and low voltage operation, they are also still often used in households. Next types of light bulbs are fluorescent lamps. These lamps convert electrical power into useful light more efficiently than an incandescent lamp by using electricity to excite mercury vapor. They employ ballast and are made of phosphor-coated glass tubes
The next three types of light bulbs are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), and Xenon light bulbs. CFLs are among the most energy efficient types of light bulbs. Compared with incandescent light bulbs, CFLs use 67% less energy and can last up to 10,000 hours. However, these bulbs are more expensive. LEDs, on the other hand, are slightly more energy-efficient than CFLs. These bulbs such as those LED Osram light bulbs produce a soft, white light without harsh reflection, glare, or shadow. Lastly are Xenon light bulbs which are commonly used fro smaller lighting needs such as under-cabinet lighting or small lamps. These bulbs are super energy efficient and can often last up to 20,000 hours.
Light bulbs, such as Osram light bulbs, are indeed one of the world’s greatest inventions. With the invention of these light-producing items, man’s way of life has been significantly changed.
Dior Michelin is an electrician from Frankfurt, Germany. Michelin always recommends to his clients looking for energy-efficient bulbs the use of Osram energiesparlampen (the German phrase for Osram Light Bulb).