Full Spectrum Lamps?

[Chu]

I need one because my dorm room has the most yellow light ever, and it's depressing The problem is the only cheap ones I can find are at qvc.com, and I refuse to give them a penny of my money for personal reasons (hint : has something to do with my mom's obsessive shopping habits). Anyone know another good option? They got desk lamps starting at $15 and floor lampst starting at $30, and the closest I can find to that is more then double the price, but admittedly I haven't looked too hard.

 

[beer]

Use GE Reveal light bulbs.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/products/reveal_main.htm

They're $2 a bulb at WalMart. Worth a shot right?

 

[DurocShark]

Reveals aren't "true" full spectrum, though they may work for your situation.

Check out wallymart for "wide spectrum" or "full spectrum" or "Daylight" bulbs, and then buy lamps to match (most are fluorescent). They're not too expensive, and work nicely.

The Reveals are hot, put out way less light than a normal incandescent. See, incandescent bulbs ARE full spectrum. They're just heavy on the yellow. What GE did with the Reveals is color the bulb glass to pass more blue, making the light much whiter. But they do it by cutting out much of the light the bulb gives off. A fluorescent on the other hand uses fluorescing powders mixed in the right quantities to make the light emitted more "correct". No light loss, good light spectrum, low heat, low energy usage.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Reveals aren't true full spectrum, though they may work for your situation.

Check out wallymart for "wide spectrum" or "full spectrum" or "Daylight" bulbs, and then buy lamps to match (most are fluorescent). They're not too expensive, and work nicely.

The Reveals are hot, put out way less light than a normal incandescent. See, incandescent bulbs ARE full spectrum. They're just heavy on the yellow. What GE did with the Reveals is color the bulb glass to pass more blue, making the light much whiter. But they do it by cutting out much of the light the bulb gives off. A fluorescent on the other hand uses fluorescing powders mixed in the right quantities to make the light emitted more "correct". No light loss, good light spectrum, low heat, low energy usage.

I know exactly what you mean about fewer lumens per watt. However, if you have a mixed room with regular incandescents or CFLs and then a single reveal bulb in an overhead position like from a lamp, the room does take on a new tone. Flourescents aren't really full spectrum either - I don't want to sound as knowledgable as you are because I'm not, but flourescents don't seem to be ideal for making a situation less sterile.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: beer

I know exactly what you mean about fewer lumens per watt. However, if you have a mixed room with regular incandescents or CFLs and then a single reveal bulb in an overhead position like from a lamp, the room does take on a new tone. Flourescents aren't really full spectrum either - I don't want to sound as knowledgable as you are because I'm not, but flourescents don't seem to be ideal for making a situation less sterile.

You're right, and I should have made that clear, but it's 7am here...

Fluorescents are designed with specific markets in mind. Most "full spectrums" aren't. But they're so close that most, umm..., "plants" will do better under them than equal lumens of true daylight. People also. The only thing missing is the UV. (Metal Halides are the way to go if you want the UV component, but expensive!!)

The only reason I know anything at all about lighting is because in a past life I was a hard core reefkeeper. I even had an aquarium maintenance biz for a while called "Don's Wet Dream"

In a dorm or small room with mixed lighting, you're correct that a single Reveal bulb will probably be just what the doctor ordered. But I still stand by my statement that the fluorescents even cheapie ones like "Vita-Lite" would be better. Particularly if done in an indirect way... Like on top of cabinets so the light is reflecting off the wall and ceiling and not pointed straight at the occupants of the room.

I don't have the links anymore since I've been out of it for a while, but there were studies made years ago (before Reveals came out) comparing different lighting types and people's reactions to them. Wide spectrum lights like Vita-Lite came second only to sunlight when it came to people's reactions. They measured blood pressure, respiration, pupil dialation and fluctuations, brain activity, and psychologist interviews. Standard "Cool White" fluorescents were the absolute worst. Incandescent lamps (frosted ideally) were middle of the road, and sunlight was (of course) ideal.

This is why many people are able to study better when sitting in the shade in a park. Even with the distractions of wind and people, the results still beat sitting in an office or classroom.

 

[Chu]

All I have to say is the collective knowledge of this forum is incredible. Thanks for the advice, I'll have to stop by at wally-world!

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Chu
All I have to say is the collective knowledge of this forum is incredible. Thanks for the advice, I'll have to stop by at wally-world!

Eh I worked for GE, so I was brainwashed I did some process integration work between lighting and some other GE business that I worked for so I found their product line a bit interesting.

DurocShark makes some valid points on indirect lighting. But I still contend that a single Reveal bulb in a prominant location, or even in a new torchiere lamp, would do the best. You're in a dorm and all your fixtures are already in there. Furthermore you're not in a position to install new fixtures and money is at a premium. A $3 bulb in a $10 lamp you can find at walmart is a really cheap solution. The lamp will emit light to the ceiling (hence, torchere) - but you're not replacing any existing fixtures with a lower lumen bulb - so you're not actually losing any light output in the room, so the lumens per watt doesn't work against you.