BR30 vs BR40: What Are the Differences?
Why Do We Switch to BR30 vs BR40 LED Light bulbs?
So, you've made the switch to LED lighting, but now you're left with a dilemma. What kind of LED light bulb do you buy? If you've been to the store looking for LED lights, you've no doubt come across two specific types - BR30 and BR40. But what exactly are they?
BR30 vs BR40 In a Nutshell
Shape & Size Differences Between BR30 & BR40
First thing's first: what's the difference between a BR30 and a BR40? It's pretty simple. The numbers 30 and 40 refer to the size of the bulb, which are measured in 1/8 of an inch. So a BR30 bulb measures 3.75 inches, and a BR40 is 5 inches. If you're using recessed lighting, the type of bulb you're going to choose will largely depend on the size of the outlet the bulb is being screwed into, or rather the "can." If you have a 5 inch can, a BR30 is perfect, but if you have a 6 inch can, you'll leave way too much space.
How Are They Used?
However, the difference between a BR30 and a BR40 can't just be explained away in sizes. The two types of bulbs serve different purposes and depend on certain factors, such as:
- The brightness
- The height of the ceiling
- The purpose of the lighting
Brightness
The good news is that the difference between a BR30 and BR40 isn't especially significant if you're using recessed lighting and your ceilings aren't too low. Depending on the size of your lighting can, you can probably get away with using either, even though each bulb has different advantages. For a higher ceiling with better light coverage, you might want to opt for a BR40. They have a wider lens and can spread light across more considerable distances. The BR30 is more specialized and meant more for directional, focused light. They also work well on dimmer switches but will not be as effective if your room has high ceilings.
Color Temperature Differences
One thing worth noting is the BR40 is significantly brighter than the BR30. In fact, at 1100 lumens, they are 40 to 70% brighter and are more suitable for floodlights, as they wash the room in light. On the other hand, a BR30 is more directional, and is what you would most likely find in household lighting, and is known to work better with dimmer switches.
What do BR30 and BR40 Have in Common?
They are all LEDs
Despite the technical differences, BR30's and BR40's are alike in several fundamental ways. Chief among them are both LED lights. That means they significantly cut down on your energy costs, as they use a lot less power and are certainly more effective in both the short and long term than incandescent lights.
Dimming and Color Rendering
While both BR30's and BR40's can be used with dimmers, the BR30 is noted as being superior in this regard. However, you should note that in order for an LED light to dim, it has to be used with a compatible dimmer switch. Notably, incandescent lights can get really hot if you dim them, but an LED light will stay cool to the touch. As a result, they're much less of a fire hazard.
Both BR30 and BR40 bulbs are terrific at color rendering; plus, if you have a smart home dimmer, you can even download any color you want to really shake things up! In addition, BAZZ has a great lineup of smart lighting options that can customize your home lighting setup however you want.
Lifespan & Durability
One thing that's great about LED lights, regardless of whether they're BR30's or BR40's, is that the lifespan of a light is many times that of an incandescent bulb. For example, LED's can last 5000 to 25,000 hours. By comparison, an incandescent light only lasts 1000.
LED light bulbs are also made of plastic and have no filament that can burn out. So you can drop an LED light without worrying about it shattering into a million pieces.
Heat
LED light bulbs will always stay cool to the touch. So while the place you screw in the light can get hot, you could literally unscrew an LED light while it's still on without worrying about getting burned. By contrast, you wouldn't dare do this with incandescent light.
LED vs. Incandescent
It's simple: LED lights are superior to incandescent lights in every way. You can choose a BR30 or a BR40 and be assured that you'll have a long-lasting, safe light bulb that's energy-efficient. It may cost you slightly more upfront, but the lifespan and durability of the light will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Plus, they look a lot better, too and are more versatile.
Why choose BAZZ Smart Home's BR30?
BAZZ has a great selection of BR30 smart bulbs that are plug-and-play. That means that all you have to do is screw them into your recessed fixture, download the BAZZ smart home app, and use your wifi to control your brand new smart light. You can do a lot with a BAZZ Smart bulb. You can download colors, dim your lighting and set light schedules - all at the touch of a button from your smart home app. Save money by buying a 2 pack or a 4 pack! Still not convinced? Check out BAZZ's fantastic lineup of smart home products and see how simple it would be to convert your home into a state-of-the-art home; no expensive hubs are needed. Everything works on your wifi! Find out everything you need to know about BAZZ Smart Home products here!
