How Can We Help?

Reading Bulbs in a Three Lights Decorative Shade

We have a lamp with three lights and a half-cover decorative shade. The wife sits within three feet of the lamp. It is only used for reading. It is the standard medium base. It isn't used for illumination, only for reading. What lamp do you suggest?

It sounds like our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT A21 LED lamps would be a great fit for your needs! Below is a direct link to the product page:

​The product features 95 CRI (full spectrum) and a daylight color spectrum. While we typically do not recommend this product type for residential lighting installations and illumination due to the whiter color output, you did mention that the primary purpose is for reading, and the crisper color may be preferred for this reason.

Below is an article going over the color temperature option in additional detail:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/should-i-choose-4000k-led-lights-an-in-depth-look

We also have an infographic explaining the various color options, which you may find useful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/which-led-light-color-temperature-should-i-choose

NorthLux A19 vs Centric Daylight A21 Bulbs

I need bulbs to light an art studio. I am considering two of your products:

1. NorthLux A19 LED bulbs (5000K, 800lm)

2. Centric Daylight A21 LED bulbs (5000K, 1600lm)

Number 1 is marketed as being for art studio use whereas number 2 is more general-purpose, however from the specs it seems they are similar (same colour temp, same CRI). Is there a significant difference between these products other than brightness and power consumption?

If the quality of light from NorthLux is significantly higher I will use it, but if not then I prefer the brighter Centric bulbs (so I can use fewer bulbs in total).

We can confirm that the primary difference between the two products is the dimensions and lumen output, where the A21 bulb is slightly larger and has double the lumen output compared to our standard A19 bulbs. 

​That being said, it might be helpful to know that both will offer full spectrum output as well as a high CRI of 95+. As such, the quality of light will be identical though the output of the A21 will be comparatively greater. 

Flicker-free Ceiling LED Lights

I want to replace my existing ceiling lights with Flicker Free. They are mounted on the ceiling. What flicker-free replacement light do you have that would be comparable?

While we would normally recommend our dimmable Ultra High 95 CRI E26 BR30 LED Bulb for Home & Residential, these items are not flicker-free. As an alternative, you might be interested in our 2700K and 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs. 

We also offer the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, which are often installed on cornices or ceiling lines for illuminating residential spaces. These lights can be powered with an in-wall power supply and controlled using wall dimmers or smart home systems. 

Which of your products are flicker-free and how they compare on an oscilloscope to the Phillips product?

Can you tell me which of your products are flicker-free, and how they compare on an oscilloscope to this Phillips product: 

Philips LED Dimmable Warm Glow Effect A19

I liked your oscilloscope comparison at this article and I'm wondering how yours and the Phillips one compare. One of my kids is very sensitive to flicker, so I want to try to figure out what's best for him.

While we do not have oscilloscope readings for all of our products, we can confirm that our standard A19 and A21 bulbs feature flicker-free output. 

Though currently out of stock, our 24V CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip is also able to provide flicker-free output for 24V LED Strip Light products. 

From our review of the Philips product, they appear to provide flicker-free output as well. That being said, it does not appear that the CRI is listed on the product listing. 

Generally speaking, our LED technology uses red phosphor in order to create a high CRI output of 95+. The larger brands often use the far less expensive yellow phosphor, which typically provides a maximum CRI of about 80. 

As a further note, you can tell from our photometric test reports page that our A19 bulbs have a flicker percentage of 0%, and have a flicker index of 0.00. As such, we would not expect them to provide any flicker while operating. 

That aside, if you would like to try and compare our products, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. We will gladly provide prepaid return labels so that items from domestic orders can be returned for a refund. 

We need flicker-free for one of my kids so I'm looking at your CENTRIC HOME Flicker-Free A21 LED bulbs. We're testing them in a 300-square-foot room that has four bulb sockets and no dimmer circuit. Usually with four 60W bulbs we feel like it's a bit dark in the room.

On the other hand, with the Phillips flicker-free product I mentioned below (60W; I believe it's 2700K with no dimmer) my wife says the Phillips bulbs hurt her eyes. I know that's a little vague, but which of your products would you suggest I try first: 2700K or 3000K, and 60W or 100W? 

By room size I'd think 100W, but we don't know what makes the Phillips bulbs hurt my wife's eyes, and she's worried about going brighter if the 60W Phillips bulbs already hurt.) I'm hoping that as an expert you might have a better chance at pinpointing what we need first-try than I would as a non-expert.

Based on my use of the Lumen Estimation Calculator, it appears that a 300 square foot room would be fully illuminated by 3,188 lumens. As each of our A19 lightbulbs outputs 800 lumens, we would likely recommend using four of our 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs. For reference, 800 lumens is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. 

We like to define glare as the contrast between the darkest point in a room and the brightest. If a light source is considerably brighter than the surrounding area and does not use any type of diffusion covering, the light output can feel stark and relatively intense. If that glare is a persistent issue, we recommend utilizing a fixture that has a covering for diffusion, which should hopefully help to reduce the effect.

While we might recommend our 2700K Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb for Home & Residential as an alternative given the relatively lower lumen output per bulb (450 lumens vs 800), these products are not flicker-free and as such may not be the best option for your installation. 

Do you have the highest-watt and full spectrum lights?

I’m looking at creating the beach in a small 15 ft x 15 ft room with sand, a fake sun, etc. For this, I’m looking at the highest-watt and full-spectrum lights I can find. Do you have products like that? Something probably a few hundred watts?

Based on the details provided we would likely recommend our 100W-equivalent LED A21 Bulbs which provide 1600 lumens per lightbulb, which is the highest lumen output among our standard lightbulbs.

Depending on how warm or cool you would like the artificial sun to be, you might be interested in trying a few options and taking advantage of our 30-day return policy. We will gladly provide a prepaid return label for domestic orders for any unneeded items. 

So it looks like this bulb has the same pretty standard peak at at 450 as most other “full spectrum” bulbs, is there no way to get something more like actual sunlight?

Though not a standard lightbulb as your installation may benefit from, you may alternatively be interested in our 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip or 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules.

These products are designed to provide light output which is virtually indistinguishable from daylight, which might provide the ideal type of illumination for your installation. 

We have attached a link to the 6500K Photometric Reports for the 6500K LED Linear Module below, in the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your purchase and installation planning process. 

Photometric Data for ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Linear Module 6500K

Do you have an A19 95 CRI full-spectrum dimmable 75 to 100-watt equivalent LED bulb?

I need A19 95 CRI full spectrum dimmable 75 to 100-watt equivalent LED bulbs. Do you make any? 

While they are not dimmable, the closest match in our catalog appears to be our newly launched 100W-equivalent LED A21 BULBS. These products provide 1600 lumens per bulb, offer a high CRI of 95+, and have slightly larger dimensions than a standard A19 bulb. 

High CRI 1000 lumens LED bulbs for Art Studio

I am trying to light an art studio. Love the high CRI but need bulbs that are brighter than a 60-watt equivalent. Is anything 1000 lumens or brighter? 

Based on the details provided, you may be interested in our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulbs, which are able to provide 1600 lumens as 100W equivalents. 

These products provide the same high CRI as our standard A19 bulbs, though it might be helpful to know that the dimensions of the A21 are slightly larger. 

High CRI Bulbs for Outfitting House Lighting

I will need a whole bunch of good-quality bulbs. Rather than me poking through your online ordering system and hoping to pick the best options. Can you figure out suitable part numbers with a good 90+ CRI?

Based on our review, it appears that we have two products that directly match the details provided within the lighting table. We have attached links to each product below, in the hopes that it proves to be helpful.

While our A21 lightbulbs are 100W equivalent products that may also be of interest, please note that this standard has slightly larger dimensions than the more common A19 lightbulb. 

4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb 

4000K Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulb

4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb

High CRI >90 LED Lights with 6000K-7000K Color Temperature

Do you have an LED replacement for this: Item# F15T8VLX Verilux 15 Watt 18" T8 Fluorescent 6280K 95 CRI Medium Bipin (G13) Base Happy Light/Full Spectrum Tube

Unfortunately, we do not stock lighting products produced by other companies in our catalog. Further, while we offer T8 LED Tube Lights in the 48” length, we, unfortunately, do not have any products matching the details provided in your email. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning.

What products do you have that have a color temperature in the 6000-7000K range and a CRI > 90 that can be put in a somewhat portable light fixture?

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend either the 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb or the 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb. 

For a portable light source that contains integrated lighting, you may also be interested in our 6500K NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures, which feature a high CRI of 95+ and can be daisy-chained to power larger installations. 

What does a 6% flicker rate mean?

I have a 4 lights rail fixture, currently running on 75W E27 BR reflectors. I'm looking for a flicker-free alternative. If I got it right, E26 bulbs should work, though not a perfect fit. As far as I understand, your only option is the 6% flicker bulb. What does 6% mean? that when it "flickers", it is only 6% less than full power? How is it in comparison to indecent flicker? 

While the measurements between the E26 and E27 are very similar, we find that the two standards are not always compatible. We have attached a link to a blog post on the topic below, in the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your purchase planning process. 

E26 vs E27 Bulbs - Interchangeable? Not Necessarily!

Generally speaking, a 6% flicker rate means that there will be a 6% relative difference in brightness between the maximum and minimum brightness output by the light source during a flicker cycle. The lower the relative difference, the less noticeable flicker usually is. 

Compared to our flicker-free LED lights (such as the CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb) which offer a 0% flicker rate, traditional incandescent light sources typically have a flicker rate of 15%. 

I know your article about e26/e27, but I still don't understand what might happen. On this page, you wrote that you "recommend exercising caution if used with E27 fixtures." Does it mean that if the bulb work during the day, and not 24/7, it should be fine? And when will you have E27 versions of these?

When E26 and E27 bulbs and fixtures are used interchangeably, the measurement differences in the base may cause arcing to occur at the gap between the electrical connection points. This arcing may cause hazardous electrical hazards to occur, which may damage the products and void the warranty. This is the primary reason why we recommend selecting a bulb that matches the socket used by the fixture. 

In-Home LED Light to Illuminate a Painting

I recently purchased LED tube lights for my art studio. Northlux 95 CRI T8 LED tubes. A collector of mine wants to purchase a similar light for her home to replicate the lighting I used in the studio. Can you recommend a LED bulb that is similar to the tube light above?

Based on the details provided, there are a few options that we might recommend depending on the ideal fixture being utilized. 

Our primary recommendations would be the 5000K NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio for standard fixtures or the 5000K NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulb for Artwork & Studio for canned recessed lighting. 

We also recently launched the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulbs, which can provide double the lumen output of our standard A19 bulbs (1600 vs 800). Please note that these A21 lightbulbs have slightly larger dimensions than the A19 lightbulbs. 

If a dedicated fixture for illuminating artwork is alternatively preferred, you may be interested in our 5000K NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures. These fixtures contain integrated light sources and power supplies, can be easily installed, and only require a DC plug for power. The primary considerations for this option are that it cannot be paired with wall dimmers and features an on-device power switch. 

Bulb Recommendation for Traditional Track Lighting

I'm thinking a more traditional track lighting setup (ie, aluminum track, individual heads) might be a better solution than the LED strip due to the configuration of the ceiling in the space. Specifically, there is a beam that runs the length of the ceiling (serves as an engine hoist). To properly light the space. I fully anticipate the need for a track on either side of the beam.

Depending on your thoughts, perhaps I should more thoroughly explore your A19 bulb options for a solution. I have just about zero experience with track lighting, so would need to know how many heads, the interval on the track, etc etc. What strikes you as a sensible way to go?

Based on our review, we believe that your installation would be uniformly illuminated by 10 units of our BR30 lightbulbs. 

From what we have found on Home Depot’s website, there appear to be several 8-ft and greater track lengths that can be interlinked to accommodate any number of BR30 track light heads. These heads can be adjusted to any location on the tracks, which we believe should help illuminate specific prints and artwork that are on the walls of the space. 

We believe that utilizing five track lighting heads on each side of the ceiling support beam should provide evenly distributed light across the entire space, though you may find benefit in some fine-tuning. Hopefully, this type of installation allows you to illuminate just the portions of the walls that you would like. 

If you wind up preferring our A19 or A21 bulbs instead of the BR30 lights, please let us know and we will gladly provide you with a prepaid return label so that the unneeded items can be returned to us for a refund. 

I will check out Home Depot for the track pieces and see what I can configure. Just to clarify, the lighting in the two parallel tracks (ie using BR30s) will be used to illuminate the vehicle below only. I will have separate, conventional recessed lighting (two units) to light the wall where I have some artwork. So the entire focus of the track lighting is to properly illuminate the red car. 

The garage floor will be roughly 9' below where the bulb on the track will be. For uniform lighting do you recommend a particular interval on the track for the BR30?

As our BR30 lights have a beam angle of 120 degrees, we typically recommend placing them no further apart than the distance between the lights and the floor or illumination target. 

As the track lighting will be 9’ from the garage floor, we would recommend installing the lights upon the track no further than 9’ from each other. 

Focusing on the BR30s, I think I'm pretty well ready to move on this thing. 

-The ceiling is 9'3" and the range from the bulb to the target will be something less as of course it will be mounted in a head suspended from the track.  

-The distance between the two parallel tracks is 142". This dimension may shrink slightly based on where the darned ceiling joists are. 

-I've spaced the heads (each with a BR30 bulb) at 4' intervals on the track

I want both tracks to be dimmable in tandem, on a single circuit which I'm thinking should be pretty straightforward.

Please wade in with any thoughts on my plan of lighting the space with 10 heads (ie 5 on each track). Also, I would appreciate your insight on Kelvin. Is there a standard? Given the application (ie illuminating a red car) should I be looking at 4000? 5000? Finally, where can I find the R9 values for your BR 30 bulbs?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend the 5000K color temperature option of our Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulb. 

While 4000K is a common ‘neutral white’ color point for retail and office spaces, the 5000K option can be very beneficial for installations where color accuracy is important.

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

Difference Between 5000K and 6500K Bulbs

Though the 4000K BR30 photometric report is currently available, we do not yet have test data for the 5000K and 6500K BR30 options. 

Does Waveform recommend any one brand of these things over the other? Similarly, what specific dimmer do I want to buy that's most compatible with your Full Spectrum E26 BR30? I see many things out there referring to an R30-shaped bulb....are the BR30 and the R30 the same size?

In the track department, my understanding is I should be looking for the H spec track, which of course will necessitate I have H spec (Halo compatible) heads.  

Unfortunately, we do not have any specific track lighting brands or models that we would recommend, and we do sincerely apologize for any complexity this may add to your purchase planning. 

That being said, we are happy to confirm that our BR30 products are compatible with the dimming technologies used within most products on the market. 

Based on our understanding, the R30 and BR30 lightbulb are largely interchangeable with fixtures as they are the same size. Further, the BR30 has a narrower beam angle due to the more directed reflector within. 

Full Spectrum LED Bulbs for Indoor Lights

We are looking for full spectrum indoor lights for our lamps. We want something as bright as possible. Which would be best for us? CENTRIC DAYLIGHT 100W equiv or Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulb?

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the 100W-equivalent CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulbs, as they can provide greater lumen output than our ​Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulbs (1600 lumens vs 800 lumens).

I see Waveform CRI 99, but I don’t see what products of yours offer that. Where are those products? Also, do you sell any lamps (not a standard bulbs) with full spectrum light and a lot of lumens?

We currently have two products within our line of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI products, which are the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module and the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip. 

We also have several light fixtures available which can output full-spectrum light, such as our LED Shop Light Fixtures, which each have an output of 4200 lumens, and our 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures, which can output 900 and 1800 lumens depending on the length selected (2ft and 4ft). 

Flicker-free with the Whitest Light Color for Kitchen Can Lighting.

I wanted to order some flicker-free bulbs. Which ones are the whitest light color? I was going to put them in my kitchen in can lighting. 

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the 5000K or 6500K versions of our Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulbs. These lights are designed for recessed ceiling lighting and offer full spectrum output and a high CRI of 95+. 

If you would like to try this product in the other available color temperatures, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy if any items are unneeded. Simply reach out, and we will gladly provide a prepaid return label for those products. 

I have to use flicker free ones. Our home person was recommending a flicker free one that you just came out with. Do you know which one that is? 

Based on the details provided, it sounds as though you may be referring to our newly launched CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulbs.

These flicker-free products are available in the 4000K, 5000K, and 6500K color temperatures, and have a greater light output of 1600 lumens compared to our BR30 and A19 bulbs which offer 800 lumens. 

What does the color temperature number mean? What's the difference between them? 

Generally speaking, 'color temperature' is a measurement of how 'cool' or 'warm' the light being output by a source is. 

For example, residential installations such as living areas and kitchens often benefit from ‘warmer’ color temperatures that are lower on the scale, such as 2700K and 3000K. ​

In comparison, higher color temperatures such as 5000K or 6500K are much ‘cooler’ and mimic natural daylight. These options are often very useful for art production and industrial purposes. 

​As can be noted by the below post, the color temperature options benefit different installation areas due to differences in output. 

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

Flicker-free LED Bulbs for Golf Simulation Bay-focused Lighting

I am looking for non-flicking LED Bulbs that we can use to light golf simulation bay-focused lighting that can be combined to get 12,000 lumens.

While we might normally recommend our NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulbs for focused lighting, these items unfortunately are not flicker-free and may not be the ideal product for your golf simulator. 

That being said, we have several alternatives that you might be interested in, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb. As this product outputs 1600 lumens per bulb, 7-8 units should be able to meet the 12,000-lumen target. 

It might be helpful to know that previous customers have utilized our LED Strip Lights for golf simulators which integrated high-framerate video capture, such as our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. These products can offer dimmable flicker-free output, though they would also require dedicated power supplies and additional wiring. 

Human-Centric LED Lighting for Windowless Office

I work in a windowless office and am considering buying lighting from you. Would I buy the long strip bulbs for the ceiling lights? Or would I buy a floor lamp and bulbs? I've been looking at daylight-simulating desk lamps but they look too big for my desk. I have autoimmune and other health issues and already have the diet dialed, hoping to hit from all angles whilst still having to be employed full-time. 

 As far as your question of whether to go with ceiling lights or floor lamps + bulbs, we think both options would work well, and it would ultimately be up to you and your preferences for how and where to install the lights.

Starting with the floor lamp + bulb option, we think this would be the easiest and simplest setup, which wouldn't require any electrical work. Our A19 and A21 lamps are classic screw-in bulbs, so all you would need to do is purchase the floor lamp fixture of your choice and then install our lamps. If your office space is rented, the floor lamp would be portable and you would be able to take the lamp setup with you to any future location as well.

Ceiling lights will be a bit more complicated, as you will need to do some electrical work to get the fixtures wired up. One method would be to purchase our T8 lamps and install them in our T8 fixture. The advantage here would be that the light fixture will be ceiling-mounted, so it won't take up any floor space at all. Additionally, if the fixture is positioned above your workspace, this may allow you to have more direct and evenly distributed lighting (as opposed to a floor lamp in just one corner of the room).

Another option that might be a compromise between the two would be our T5 linear fixtures. These fixtures can be screw-mounted or magnet-mounted onto a variety of surfaces. This might give you both the flexibility of a semi-permanent installation while keeping the fixtures away from the floor.

All of these options offer flicker-free light output and provide full spectrum light, so they should all be a great fit for your needs; as mentioned it will ultimately come down to your personal preferences as far as installation method and location are concerned.

Full Spectrum Lightbulbs with 488 nm Emission

I am looking for a light bulb for a rather niche application and I would like to speak with someone knowledgeable about your products so I could purchase the best one. 

I am ideally looking for the brightest full-spectrum bulb available at a reasonable cost. Ideally, the bulb should also have a reasonable emission of around 488nm and from looking at the spectrum information available it seems like most (all?) lightbulbs have peaks on either side of this wavelength. 

Would it be better to have a bulb with a lower relative intensity around a specific wavelength, but high brightness or higher relative intensity and lower overall brightness? 

As a starting point, it might be helpful to know that LED lighting technology typically features peaks at the 455nm and 520nm points. As such, most products will feature a slight valley between those two points even if they are able to provide plenty of high-quality full spectrum output. 

Further, lumens are defined as a unit of ‘luminous flux’, that being the total amount of light emitted in all directions. Full-spectrum on the other hand refers to the completeness of a light source’s spectral energy, particularly when compared to daylight. As such, these two measurements are not necessarily linked. 

Some installations, such as those using ultraviolet output, benefit from having a precise output centered at 365nm or 395nm while omitting other spectral output. In comparison, the human-centric lightbulbs in our catalog are designed to provide the full spectrum of light output for homes and other installation areas without many peaks. 

As a primary product recommendation, I would likely recommend our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb, which is able to provide twice as many lumens as our A19 bulb (1600 lumens vs 800) and offers full-spectrum light with a high CRI of 95+. 

Recommended LED Bulb for Water Painting

I am a watercolor artist water painting inside. I have been using a lamp with a very good - sunlight /daylight type 300-watt bulb, screw bottom. I wish to purchase a new bulb like this. Or better. This bulb is from the 1970's I can send you pictures of the bulb that I have. 

While we do not sell any products that directly match the lightbulb within the images provided, the closest match in our catalog appears to be the 100W equivalent CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb. This high CRI product is available in several color temperature options and has an output of 1600 lumens. 

Which one would emulate the best painting light to paint watercolor under? Would you suggest 5000? I do not want too warm or too cool I want it just like real daylight. So my watercolors are shown as the true colors they are.

Also my bulb was 300 watts and this bulb is 100 watts. What difference would that cause? 

We have attached a link to a blog from our website below comparing the two options for artwork creation, which we do hope proves to be helpful. In short, the 5000K color point is a great option for neutral white light output, where the 6500K option is more representative of cool, direct north-facing daylight. 

Difference Between 5000K and 6500K Bulbs

As a final note, we can confirm that older incandescent lights measured output by watts, where our LED technology measures output in lumens. As such, you may find that more than one LED bulb may be required to match the output that your single 300W bulb was able to provide. 

Pure White LED Bulb for Residential Lighting

I found that most residential LED bulbs look somewhat orange in color. Especially at night. I find them hard to read. I want a pure white bulb but find them difficult to attain. What do you recommend, please? I would also like a high-wattage bulb 150-watt equivalent.

For a neutral white color temperature, we usually recommend the 4000K option. If it proves to be helpful, we have attached a color temperature guide from our website below. 

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

While we do not have a 150W equivalent currently available, you may alternatively be interested in our new 100W-equivalent 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb. 

Can you please explain what 4000K, 5000K, and 6500K means? I appreciate your willingness to help me understand LED technology, which is somewhat difficult to understand.

Generally speaking, color temperatures (4000K, 5000K, 6500K) are measurements for the color of light being produced by a light source, measured in degrees Kelvin. 

​For example, the ‘warm orange’ tones that you referenced earlier were likely the output of ‘warm' color temperature lightbulbs, such as 2700K or 3000K. These warmer color temperatures are usually recommended for homes and residential properties.

Comparatively, the 'cool white' lights that you have likely seen in factories, large stores such as Costco, or hospitals are usually 5000K or 6500K. Offices usually use the more 'neutral' 4000K color temperature. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached an image from a blog post on our website below, which displays the visible difference that the most common color temperatures would have on the same kitchen installation. As you can tell from the image, the higher degrees Kelvin, the cooler the light output becomes. 

Blog post link: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/what-led-strip-light-color-temperature-should-i-choose?src=pse

Full Spectrum Lighting that Mimics Natural Sunlight

I am essentially a shut-in right now with limited exposure to natural sunlight due to small windows in my mobile home. I am also sensitive to strobe lights. My pets and I all need the health benefits of natural sunlight. Can you recommend a bulb that I can use throughout my house that will provide a lot of light that will help our bodies, but not risk triggering seizures? 

We are proud to offer many human-centric lightbulb products that offer full-spectrum, flicker-free light which is designed to reduce eye strain.

Based on the details you provided, we would likely recommend our CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free LED Bulbs in A19 or A21 versions, which are available in the 2700K and 3000K color temperatures most commonly used for residential installations. 

Further, it might be helpful to know that the primary difference between the A19 and A21 versions is the light output (800 vs 1600 lumens) and size, where the A21 is slightly larger.

LED Lights for Daycare Settings in the Subarctic

I am looking for a recommendation for a daycare setting in the subarctic. In the depths of winter, it can be light from 10 am until 2 pm and dark the rest of the time. The children nap after lunch. I would love to hear your thoughts on replacing the bulbs with something healthier for our little ones.

Based on the details provided, we would recommend our 95 CRI products, which are designed to output a high CRI rating to accurately mimic the spectrum of natural daylight. 

We can also confirm that we typically recommend the 2700K and 3000K color temperatures for living areas and residential installations, as they offer warmer light output than those designed for offices or commercial spaces. 

As such, we would likely recommend either our CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb or the newly launched CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb, which are available in both color point options. 

As both offer a high CRI of 95+, the primary difference can be found in the product measurements, where the A21 is slightly larger, and the lumen output (800 lumens for the A19, and 1600 for the A21).

​Your daycare installation may alternatively benefit from a slightly cooler 4000K color temperature, and you may decide to match the color temperature currently being used. If so, we can confirm that both of the above bulb sizes are available in 4000K. 

Health LED Lighting Fixtures

What products do you have so I can evaluate their application in my remodeling? I have an electrician who can follow up to address specs/tech matters.

Our Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulbs are a great option for recessed lighting, though they are not flicker-free as our A19 and A21 LED bulbs are. 

While we do not sell integrated recessed light fixtures, you might alternatively be interested in our ceiling-mounted LED-Ready T8 Tube Light Fixtures, which are designed to be compatible with our flicker-free CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. 

Do you have a BR30 bulbs in 2700K?

I'd like to purchase the BR30 Bulbs in 2700K. It doesn't look like you offer this product in that color temperature. Could you please advise me of a similar product or if you plan to stock 2700K?

We can confirm that we do not sell the BR30 bulbs in the 2700K color temperature. We apologize!

As alternatives, we might recommend our 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb or the 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb. 

Why you can't ship the A21 bulbs to California?

I'm trying to order a CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb to test out but your website says these cannot ship to California. What is the specific reason for this and are there any ways around this? 

While our A19 bulbs have been recently updated to align with California-specific voltage standards (California Energy Commission Title 20), our new A21 bulbs have not yet received the same update. 

The specific issue which makes those bulbs non-compliant is the power factor requirement of 0.7 according to the CEC Title 20 ordinance. Unfortunately, these bulbs have a power factor of 0.6.

D50 vs Centric Daylight for Basement Home Office Lighting

Your company appears to be one of the best for high CRI lightbulbs. I am working on a basement-level home office with no natural light. I will be working out of this office most of the time (40+ hours a week). Your D50 5000k bulb initially caught my attention for the high CRI and R9>80. Your Centric Daylight 4000k bulbs are also appealing for a touch warmer tint. Does the Centric Daylight have a lower R9? What would you recommend for a home office? 

Generally speaking, we like to recommend the 4000K color temperature for offices and workspaces. Further, we can confirm that the 4000K Centric Daylight A19 bulb offers an R9 value of 95, whereas the D50 A19 bulb offers an R9 value of 92. 

As such, we would likely recommend the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb for your basement office. For greater output per bulb (800 vs 1600 lumens), you might also be interested in our newly launched 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulbs. 

Do you recommend using your A21 E26 bulbs in the EU?

I'm looking to purchase your products and have them shipped to Europe. I would very much like to purchase the A21 bulbs. However, they only come as E26 even though they have a compatible voltage listed on their product pages. Given your company's article explaining the increased fire hazard of using an E26 bulb in E27 sockets, please advise whether I specifically can use your company's A21 E26 bulbs in our E27 sockets. 

We can confirm that while our new A21 bulbs are compatible with global voltage standards, they are designed to be compatible exclusively with the E26 base. While utilizing an E27 base is possible, please note that this may cause adverse product effects and will void the product warranty. 

We do sincerely apologize for any confusion that the product page may have caused.

LED Bulb for Desk Lamp Used for Reading

I'm looking for an eye-healthy bulb for desk lamps used for reading and over computer desks. Most important to us is a bulb good for the eyes in this usage. 

We have attached two 3000K lightbulb product links below that might be a good fit for your desk. Though both products below have the same CRI and color temperatures available, the A21 bulb can produce more light than the A19 (800 vs 1600 lumens), which could be useful if your desk lamp utilizes a single bulb. Anecdotally, the 3000K A21 is also my lightbulb of choice for computer work and reading. 

​

We have also provided a link to a guide for selecting the right color temperature below, which could be useful for your purchase planning.

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose? 

3000K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb 

3000K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb

What is the difference between the Centric Daylight 5000K and Northlux 5000k bulbs?

What is the difference between the Centric Daylight 5000K and Northlux 5000k bulbs? What is the R9 rating for the Centric Daylight 5000k bulb? Also, do the 5000k bulbs give off a blue hue to them? 

The difference between the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT and NorthLux bulbs is that the NorthLux bulbs are calibrated to the D50 and D65 color standards which may be crucial for certain visual tasks. Both feature 95+ CRI and R9 values of 80+.

The 5000K lamps could certainly be perceived as being blue, especially during evening hours, and compared to incandescent and other warm white LED lamps. 

Here is an article going over some aspects of 6500K lamps, many of which would also apply to 5000K lamps:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/color-matching/top-4-things-to-consider-before-buying-6500k-daylight-led-bulbs

Are your NorthLux A19 bulbs flicker-free?

Are your NorthLux bulbs flicker-free, like your Centric bulbs? Also, do you offer a watt equivalence higher than 60, please?

We are happy to confirm that the NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio product features the same flicker-free operation as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs.

Unfortunately, we do not have a higher-wattage A19 bulb available at the moment. You may want to consider our A21 Bulbs, which are equivalent to a 100W incandescent bulb. 

Do you have 220V-rated bulbs?

I see that all your bulbs are rated 120V, although the tubes are 110-277V. Is it possible to get 220V-rated bulbs? 

We do offer several 220-volt compatible A19 lamps. For example, please see below:

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LED Lighting Suggestion for Small Townhome of 1200 sq ft

Could you suggest a type of LED lighting for a small townhome ~ 1200 sq ft? I have 9 led lights in my downstairs and the room takes a pink/peach hue. I have white walls and want everything crisp, but cannot find a good brand or light.

Our high CRI LED lights should be a great fit for your home.

The first step in determining your lighting needs would be to understand the amount of brightness and the number of lights needed. Based on the square footage provided, we ran some quick calculations using our lumen estimation calculator (https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator) which suggests approximately 26,000 lumens as your target brightness level.

​We would further recommend a 3000K color temperature which will provide your residential space with a comfortable but crisp white, light.

Why can you not ship to California?

Unfortunately, the A21 flicker-free products cannot ship to California at this time due to government regulations in the state (California Energy Commission Title 20). The specific issue that makes our bulbs non-compliant is the power factor requirement of 0.7 according to the CEC Title 20 ordinance. Unfortunately, our bulbs have a power factor of 0.6.

We are investigating improvements to our product to make our A21 lamps compliant, and are evaluating the cost-benefit analysis from a production perspective.

Reason for enclosed fixture ratings

What is the reason your A19 bulbs can not be used in enclosed fixtures? Why am I able to use a 60W incandescent bulb, but not your bulbs which are only rated at 10W?

Our 10W A19 lamps may not be used in an enclosed fixture. The reason is that enclosed fixtures do not provide sufficient free airflow to keep the bulbs cool, and may lead to premature failure.

Although LED bulbs emit less heat than incandescent bulbs, they are much more sensitive to heat due to the internal electronics in the LED bulb. An incandescent bulb is essentially made just of glass and a wire element coil (filament). Therefore, although a 60W incandescent bulb may work fine in an enclosed fixture and emit lots of heat, a 10W LED bulb emitting only a fraction of the heat may still be detrimental to the LED bulb because its components are much more sensitive to heat.

Best A19 bulbs for digitizing and photographing paintings and artwork?

I am a painter, and am considering using your NorthLux™ A19 bulbs to take photos of my artwork pieces to showcase on my website and other platforms. I am hopeful that these bulbs will reduce the amount of color correction needed post-capture. Are these the best bulbs for my needs?

Our NorthLux™ A19 lamps do indeed sound like a great option for your painting photography. These bulbs feature 95 CRI and daylight calibrated light output, which means they are perfect for image capture without any loss of color accuracy. Because the light source is fundamentally calibrated to full-spectrum daylight, there should not be any need for white balance or color correction adjustments.

The NorthLux™ A19 lamps are offered in 5000K and 6500K. Although both color temperatures can be considered to be daylight calibrated, 6500K will have a slightly blue hue in line with what you would see from a north-facing window, while 5000K will be more neutral, closer to direct sun. Here is an article going over some additional differences between the two color temperatures. Most camera systems will have a color balance calibration setting that allows for the subtle adjustments that may be needed between these two color points.

Alternatively, our FilmGrade™ 5600K A19 lamps may also be of interest. These lamps are calibrated to 5600K (and 95 CRI, of course), which is a mid-point color temperature between 5000K and 6500K. The 5600K color temperature is calibrated for use in photography, film and TV studios, but can be an equally effective and accurate light source for the purposes of digitizing artwork.

​The A19 / E26 form factor ensures that these lamps will fit in virtually all standard bulb fixtures, so this will give you lots of flexibility and room to try out different positions and orientations to get the optimal set up!

Best bulb for viewing prints and color accuracy?

I am looking for a daylight-calibrated LED bulb that fits into a regular table lamp to view prints. Color accuracy and D50 white balance is crucial. What do you recommend?

Our D50 calibrated, 95 CRI LED lamps sound like a great fit for your needs!

For a basic table lamp with a medium-size (E26) screw base, our D50 5000K A19 LED Bulb for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) product would be the best fit. This bulb is calibrated to the D50 standard, which would be perfect for print viewing and color accuracy.

[Archived] What is the difference between CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ 5000K/6500K and D50/NorthLux™?

[ARCHIVED ARTICLE] This article has been archived as of November 2021 due to recent changes in our product specifications. Please see this article for the most up-to-date information on our current offerings. Customers who purchased our lamps prior to 2021 (lamps marked with PN 4005.XX rather than PN 4005C.XX) can continue to reference the archived information below.

Several of our products are listed on multiple product pages for marketing purposes. One major exception is our 10 watt A19 bulb product line, for which we offer the two part number variants for each of the 5000K and 6500K color points:

5000K:

6500K:

You will notice that the D50 and NorthLux™ product lines have a "D" prefix in the color temperature designation inside the part number. This signifies that these products are calibrated to the D50 and D65 color standards for color viewing and other vision-critical applications at 5000K and 6500K, respectively.

The CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ products are also available in 5000K and 6500K, but they are not designed for color viewing applications. Specifically, they have a slightly greener tint (elevated Duv values), which is a closer approximation of the ANSI chromaticity targets for daylight color points.

In short, if you're looking for a lighting solution for a professional or color-critical application, we recommend the D50 / D65 designated NorthLux™ lamps. On the other hand, if you're using the lamps for indoor lighting such as light therapy, the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ lamps will be a great option.

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