Let's smash some light bulbs and look inside
Let's smash some light bulbs and look inside
3:21

Let's smash some light bulbs and look inside

Smart Home
Hey, I'm CNET light bulb guy and today we're gonna be taking an inside look at how different kinds of light bulbs actually operate. What do I mean by inside look. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] up first is this incandescent light bulb that I just obliterated. Its the classic light bulb by Thomas Edison and it works by way of a tungsten filament inside the bulb. Tungsten is a very dense robust chemical element and when electricity passes through it, it gets really hot. Are really bright, putting out the light that you get from a light bulb. The problem there is that a lot of electrical energy get's release as heat, not light. The tungsten filament call handle it because it so robust. But it doesn't make for a terribly efficient process. That brings right to our next bulb, that halogen. Halogens are basically the same thing as incandescent's but they have a Trick inside to help bump the efficiency up. Let's take a look closer look. [NOISE] Now, see the filament? It's enclosed in this little chamber. At least it was before I smashed it. There we go. Enclosed in this little chamber that's filled with gas usually bromine or iodine. That gas helps to recycle the [UNKNOWN] back onto the philiment and then extend the lifespan and help it put out more light using less energy. Now if you want something even more efficient you might consider a compact fluorescent light bulb. Like this one here. Now compact fluorescents are filled with a mix of kind of harmful fluorescent gasses. You don't want to inhale. So forgive me for taking a little bit of extra precautions here. Now they work because the electricity coming in excites mercury vapor inside of the bulb, and that in turn emits light. That process called fluorescence is what makes ESL's more efficient than incandescent's or halogens. But enough talk, lets smash this damn thing. [SOUND] Now, CFL bulbs are never see-through because they come with a special phosphorescent coating on the inside of the bulb. That white powder you see is basically the same stuff. It's a mix of rare earth Metals. It adds in the fluorescent process and helps the bulb emit the right amount of light. When you clean it up, you're gonna wanna sweep everything you can into a sealable container, like this one. And then ideally drop that off at your local recycling or waste management center. And don't use a vacuum. You want to sweep as much up as you can by hand first and then vacuum. If you have to, that way you avoid kicking things up into the air unnecessarily. Now if all this scenes are way too much of a hassle for you, then consider an LED bulb like this one. It's a much more efficient options than that DFL, and it doesn't contain any mercury either. Now LED is usually made of plastic, and that's a little more durable than other kinds of bulbs, but fortunately for us we've got one here that's made out of glass. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. And the diodes in question are these little yellow guys inside the bulb right here. They're actually little junctions of two nodes. When electricity passes through it jumps from one node to the other and that releases light in a process called For [INAUDIBLE]. It's dramatically more efficient than the bulbs of Thomas Edison. And though it costs a lot more up front, it'll save you a lot more over the long run. Thanks for watching us smash some light bulbs. Hope you learned something. For more about light bulbs, including our LED reviews, and even a handy buying guide, check us out at cnet.com/smart-home. [MUSIC]

Up Next

Amazon Introduces New Ring and Blink Devices
every-new-ring-and-blink-device-revealed-september-2022-00-01-04-01-still001

Up Next

Amazon Introduces New Ring and Blink Devices

Find Free Wi-Fi Near You to Stay Connected
220630-yt-how-to-get-free-wifi-on-the-go

Find Free Wi-Fi Near You to Stay Connected

Incandescent Light Bulbs Are About to Be Extinct
led-bulbs-rebrand-00-00-23-13-still088

Incandescent Light Bulbs Are About to Be Extinct

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual Review: Are Two Cameras Really Better?
eufy-doorbell0

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual Review: Are Two Cameras Really Better?

Amazon Smart Thermostat vs. Wyze Thermostat: Comparing Affordable Smarts
thermostat-vs-thumb-main.png

Amazon Smart Thermostat vs. Wyze Thermostat: Comparing Affordable Smarts

Biggest announcements from Amazon's fall event
amazon-event-1

Biggest announcements from Amazon's fall event

MyQ's smart doggy door can open at your pup's command
ces-2021-myq-pet-portal-10

MyQ's smart doggy door can open at your pup's command

Samsung's newest lineup of CES robots includes a butler to pick up your messes
ces-2021-samsung-robots-20

Samsung's newest lineup of CES robots includes a butler to pick up your messes

Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Dot, Dot, Dot...
img-2176

Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Dot, Dot, Dot...

All of the announcements from Amazon's crazy fall event
everything-amazon-announced0

All of the announcements from Amazon's crazy fall event

Tech Shows

The Apple Core
apple-core-w

The Apple Core

Alphabet City
alphabet-city-w

Alphabet City

CNET Top 5
cnet-top-5-w

CNET Top 5

The Daily Charge
dc-site-1color-logo.png

The Daily Charge

What the Future
what-the-future-w

What the Future

Tech Today
tech-today-w

Tech Today

Latest News All latest news

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
pic3

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter

Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories
screenshot-2024-03-22-at-17-41-16.png

Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories

Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies
240321-site-nvidia-project-groot-vs-tesla-optimus-v1

Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies

What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
240321-site-apple-and-gemini-ai

What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like

DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit
240321-site-doj-sues-apple-for-antitrust-on-iphone-v2

DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit

Microsoft Surface Pro 10, Surface Laptop 6 Are Here
240320-site-microsoft-surface-pros-first-look-v2

Microsoft Surface Pro 10, Surface Laptop 6 Are Here

Most Popular All most popular

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
innovation

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
240123-site-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-review-4

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
circlesearchpic

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
asus-preces-00-00-25-11-still003

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
samsung-galaxy-ring-clean

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
240111-site-best-of-ces-2024-1

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024

Latest Products All latest products

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
pic3

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter

Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
240320-site-nuro-r3-first-look-v1

Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
240304-site-nothing-phone-2-first-look-v3

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
240229-site-best-of-show-at-mwc

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display
240225-site-lenovo-translucent-laptop-concept-v3

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist
240225-site-motorola-rollable-concept

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist

Latest How To All how to videos

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
240311-site-windows-11-hidden-tips-and-tricks-v2

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
VisionOS 1.0.3

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
240216-site-galaxy-s24-ultra-tips-and-hidden-features-2

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro
tiktok-on-vision-pro-clean

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips
superbowl-tv-settings-thumb1

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro
240202-site-spatial-computing-on-meta-quest-3

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro