Anyone else hate the new light bulbs?

[Sodo]

I can fully understand the public frustration... if something isn't broken... it does not need fixing!

…..like 2,000 hour incandescents have been 'fixed' to last 1,000 hours and nobody really noticed. Most lightbulbs are produced by a couple huge corporations who have reduced the product life expectancy from 2,000 to 1,000 in a manner such that nobody noticed. Does anyone remember when normal bulbs were 2,000 hour? I think as late as the early 90s they were 2,000 hrs.

I am looking forward to LEDs but I wonder what the plan is to dial back the 25,000 hour lifetime. If done right nobody will notice, and if they seed the forums right maybe people will even defend the "new" reduced-life LEDs.

I haven't found internet evidence of the 2,000 hour life (that I seem to recall) but that's not a big surprise (either way!). Found a some info on the Pheobus Cartel, an organization that operated from 1924-1939 to reduce bulb life expectancy of all the major producers and thus increase the sales quantities of lightbulbs. It fell apart during WWI and also because some companies decided to compete with the cartel. You can bet they have not forgotten to organize on the LED project, probably why it took so long to offer them on the market.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Note that the 110 year lightbulb is about as bright as a candle. No surprise it lasted, it's not burning very hot.

Ways to make a bulb last long:

1) Reduce the voltage. If you run a 120v lightbulb at 100v it will last very long. I remember when you could buy little resistors that you put under the bulb and the bulb lasts 10 years. I suppose a lightbulb company buys out every resistor company and scuttles the product.
2) Design the bulb for 130v and sell it into a market where line voltage is 120v.
3) Or never turn it off, it will last longer, but not forever. But if you reduce the voltage...

I wonder if a guy could start a company to make those and sell the again, do you get bought out or forced out? Well incandescents are out?

IOW - run the bulb inefficiently. ...More waste heat, less light for a longer time. Shoot that foot right off. ... The halogen incandescents are a way around this. They can run the filaments hot because they are made to replate the tungsten that "boils" off back onto the filament as they operate. They can give a higher light/heat proportion and hang in there longer.
larry

?.like 2,000 hour incandescents have been 'fixed' to last 1,000 hours and nobody really noticed. Most lightbulbs are produced by a couple huge corporations who have reduced the product life expectancy from 2,000 to 1,000 in a manner such that nobody noticed. Does anyone remember when normal bulbs were 2,00 hour? I think as late as the early 90s they were 2,000 hrs.

I addressed this earlier. Hotter burning filaments are more light efficient. They do burn out more quickly. Those 2000 hr bulbs put out less light.

 

[Sodo]

I addressed this earlier. Hotter burning filaments are more light efficient. They do burn out more quickly. Those 2000 hr bulbs put out less light.

How much less light?

2% less light but 2 times up the ladder, and 2x the cost to consumers? Maybe 10x the cost for a business who has to pay someone to go up a ladder or change out bulbs just to make sure they don't go down during the day. Don't kid yourself this only works for lightbulb sellers.

 

[k0ua]

I remember when they were 2000 hours.

 

[ultrarunner]

?.like 2,000 hour incandescents have been 'fixed' to last 1,000 hours and nobody really noticed. Most lightbulbs are produced by a couple huge corporations who have reduced the product life expectancy from 2,000 to 1,000 in a manner such that nobody noticed. Does anyone remember when normal bulbs were 2,000 hour? I think as late as the early 90s they were 2,000 hrs.

I am looking forward to LEDs but I wonder what the plan is to dial back the 25,000 hour lifetime. If done right nobody will notice, and if they seed the forums right maybe people will even defend the "new" reduced-life LEDs.

I haven't found internet evidence of the 2,000 hour life (that I seem to recall) but that's not a big surprise (either way!). Found a some info on the Pheobus Cartel, an organizion created long ago to reduce bulb life expectancy of all the major producers and thus increase the sales quantities of lightbulbs. You can bet they have not forgotten to organize on the LED project.

The standard incandescents I buy are 1500 hour rated.

I also have long life rated for 3000 hour I would source through Grainger.

Anyone remember the advertisements for long life bulbs in Alaska... they were on all winter and anyone could buy them and they really did last.

They have always been available... had an application where changing out the bulb required the expense of a bucket truck... bought traffic signal lamps and have not had to change one yet.

As always... consumers have (Had) choices.

I would also buy off the shelf 16 packs for the rentals... been there done that with more expensive bulbs and they would disappear.

 

[Sodo]

If it was a gov't requirement to print the life expectancy directly on the bulb (alongside the wattage and voltage) they would all last 3,000 hours or better. And 3,000 hour bulbs would not cost 5-10x as much they would compete on price.

 

[ultrarunner]

If it was a gov't requirement to print the life expectancy directly on the bulb (alongside the wattage and voltage) they would all last 3,000 hours or better. And 3,000 hour bulbs would not cost 5-10x as much they would compete on price.

I believe it is a reqirement to include average life on packaging for retail sale.

 

[Inspector507]

They have always been available... had an application where changing out the bulb required the expense of a bucket truck... bought traffic signal lamps and have not had to change one yet.

I was going to also suggest the 69W Traffic Signal bulbs. Rated for 8,000 hours. I used them all the time when I was working for an electrical contractor. They are pricey, I found them on the net from $1.72-$10.00 each. They are a little different shape being an A21 bulb instead of A19. They also have a brass base which last longer too.

 

[ultrarunner]

Real quality bulb... have not sourced any recently.

Worth every penny for the right application.

 

[grsthegreat]

the hour rating on incandescent arnt correct. I have 24 or so recessed lights in basement, each with 65 watt , 130 volt incadescent. None have burnt out yet, and according to the photographs i took during the construction, i instal;led them in May, 2007 (dang...has it been that long ago,.,..). I use them a few hours a day, sometimes up to 8 hours. Ive never replaced any of them.

There all on meistro dimmers, so maybe the automatic slow increase up to full brightness helps. who knows. but they have way more than 1,000 hours on them.

My exterior porch lights use compact florescent, all with base up applications. and they run dusk to 11pm every day (timer) and i havnt replaced any of them in many years either. All home depot brands.

They do take a bit to come full bright in winter though....but im in no hurry to swap these for LED's.