LED Lighting

[grsthegreat]

The biggest factor in the price of LED fixtures and lamps right now is the research and development costs that the manufacturers are trying to recoup on our backs. Theres no way w piece of circuit board needed to create a led can make an led light bulb worth $30.00. Its probably a $0.10 piece.

 

[zmjc]

The biggest factor in the price of LED fixtures and lamps right now is the research and development costs that the manufacturers are trying to recoup on our backs. Theres no way w piece of circuit board needed to create a led can make an led light bulb worth $30.00. Its probably a $0.10 piece.

It's more complicated than that.

LED light bulbs have complex electronic circuitry in them, unlike a filament lamp. Underwriters Labs will not certify mass-market electronic circuits that operate above 100C / 212F (maybe a bit less, I forget). As a result, LED bulbs require fairly massive heatsinks to dissipate the heat, to stay under that limit. The 60W-equivalent bulbs are usually pretty heavy.

Big heatsink = lots of metal = lots of cost.

The LEDs themselves can actually tolerate higher operating temperatures.

There's lots of research going on to reduce the waste heat and temperatures...

On a side note, I've found the Home Depot LED bulbs (by Philips, IIRC) to be very reliable - more reliable that CFLs, for sure. Researchers have found the CFLs simply are not living up to the expected lifespans.

Another nice thing is that LED bulbs turn on reliably in the freezing cold, unlike CFLs. That's a huge bonus for hunting cabins / winter cottages / barns. I've have CFLs that simply wouldn't turn on below freezing. Very annoying.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

... Researchers have found the CFLs simply are not living up to the expected lifespans...

What?!! (he said in mock surprise) You mean these CFL's are not the panacea they are hyped up to be? That means that our noble congress has issued environmentally motivated mandates based on incomplete or unsound science.

Has that ever happened before?? (more mock surprise)

 

[zmjc]

What?!! (he said in mock surprise) You mean these CFL's are not the panacea they are hyped up to be? That means that our noble congress has issued environmentally motivated mandates based on incomplete or unsound science.

Mandating efficient lighting is a whole lot easier than building more generating stations and a reliable grid. I'm not even sure it is even possible to build a reliable grid, with the degree of interconnectedness we have today...

 

[grsthegreat]

if they could actually make ones that are both affordable and efficient, id agree. So far im still in the middle of seeing if its possible. Ive seen some LED's that seem like a good alternative, like some wallpacks that i just saw at the supply house that can replace a 100 watt metal halide and operate on 20 watts, but at $400 each, it would be a hard sell to get a storage yard with 24 light fixtures to pony up to the change. Why i mention this, is cause thats exactly what i tried to do last week, they just about laughed me out of the meeting, i had all the cost savings shown ....but its always the bottom line.

 

[California]

This is still bleeding edge stuff.

LED's now are at the same stage as those cell phones that had a coiled cable into a suitcase. They have proven that the technology works, in theory. But the manufactured LEDs on the market now are variable in quality (light color) and longevity. I don't think any of mine have a UL tag; only a few have any label whatsoever. One of eight died prematurely.

But I predict it won't take long for LEDs become mainstream. Like zmjc said "Mandating efficient lighting is a whole lot easier than building more generating stations and a reliable grid." There's a certain elegance in doing with seven watts, what took our great-great-grandparents 60 watts.

 

[reb]

I don't know if the advertising or public relations agency for LED lights could have said it any better.

I'm still not sold. The cost of the LED's is prohibitive for my budget.

I suspect Diane21 is an advertising or public relations rep for a lighting manufacturer. To date she has three posts, one an introduction and another similar to this one.

 

[zmjc]

This is still bleeding edge stuff.

I've seen some of the LEDs that Philips Lumileds has in development. You would not believe how much light some of these R&D-stage devices put out in response to 2 mA of current. Amazing.

It'll hit the stores someday... We can all dance in the streets when the CFLs are gone.

BTW, pay attention to the "color temperature" specifications when buying LEDs/CFLs. They all have them. 2700 and 3000K look really nice (warm yellow). Anything higher feels 'orrible, just 'orrible, to me.

 

[MicroPilot]

I suspect Diane21 is an advertising or public relations rep for a lighting manufacturer. To date she has three posts, one an introduction and another similar to this one.

I agree. I'm starting to see this more and more on forums....another more blatant example here on TBN is in the SkyBeam thread.

 

[zmjc]

great-great-grandparents 60 watts.

Eh? I doubt my great-great-grandparents ever saw a 60 Watt lightbulb.

My father didn't have electric lighting, until he left home for university to study ... drum roll ... electrical engineering.