Off Topic - LED Lightbulbs - Any experience?

[Mr. Bloom]

I've followed the evolution of LED lights in automotive and now in cycling signals, flash lights, etc.

I'm starting to install compact florescents, but am just not satisfied with the color or brightness of these bulbs to counteract the family's habit of leaving lights on all the time

So, I began wondering if there is actually an LED lightbulb for residential application.

Then, yesterday on Mythbusters, they had a test with lightbulbs that included an LED 'encrusted' bulb that used next to no electricity.

So, despite past unsuccessful efforts, I have now found a website that sells LED bulbs for residential application.

So, before I plop down bucks to experiment, the question is:

• has anybody had experience using these in residential applications (I'm thinking recessed lighting fixtures to start)
• do they provide a diffused light or just spots
• are they too intense or are soft options available.
• are there reading lamp alternatives

Here's one of the sites I found:
http://www.ledlightbulb.net/store/index.php
I've found many others that don't seem to sell retail or that would require foreign shipping...

[OakLeaf]

I don't know anything about the bulbs, but I do know I would be EXTREMELY hesitant to buy online from a company based in China, using PayPal.

[smilingcat]

Dear Mr. Silver,

There are several brands of CFL bulbs. They now come in different color temperature (more yellow, or more blue, or more like daylight). And the brightness do vary on the size/wattage.

One thing to remember is that the base of these CFL bulbs have electronics in them. So its best to keep them where there is enough air circulating or the electronic will burn out. e.g. enclosed light fixture is a big NO NO.

White LED's tend to be rather harsh. Newer ones have color adjusted LED so it gives the familiar incandescent feel but I'm not sure if you can buy those yet.

One of the engineers at the company where I work developed a white LED driver. The thing was so bright it nearly blinded me. You can't plug a white LED into regular outlet without some fireworks.

In terms of conversion efficiency watts of electricity to lumens of light, I'm not sure which is more efficient. LED is definitly more expensive but manufacturers are trying to rate them with 30,000 hr life or more. At the end of life it still gives off 80% of initial light. That was my understanding. 10 years of regular use before having to replace the bulb.

CFL do use toxic mercury. LEDs are far more benign to the environment.

CLF can not be hooked up to a dimmer!! Nor are the first generation of white LED bulbs.

hope this helps,

smilingcat

[LBTC]

Mr. Silver, I'm with you on this one. CFLs suck the big cahuna. I am hoping there will be reasonable standard light options with LEDs very soon. I sure wish the government would be putting money into LEDs not CFLs.

I bought DH an LED worklight that is very cool. To dim it, it just uses half of the LEDs. Maybe they'll do something like that with interior lights.

Keep us posted as to how it goes!

H&B
~T~

[tulip]

I'm starting to install compact florescents, but am just not satisfied with the color or brightness of these bulbs to counteract the family's habit of leaving lights on all the time

Fine them $5 each time they leave a light on. It's amazing how fast people can learn.

[Mr. Bloom]

Fine them $5 each time they leave a light on. It's amazing how fast people can learn.

SILVER doesn't have THAT much money!

[luv'nAustin]

Love those LED lights!

Check out this site for more information.

www.llfinc.com

Looks like LED lights are ready for prime time now!

[emily_in_nc]

One downside of some LED bulbs is radio interference. They are starting to become widely used in marine applications, and we intend to replace all the incandescent cabin lights in our sailboat with LEDs. However, of the two we've replaced so far, one of them causes interference with our TV. Interestingly, it is the more expensive of the two lights. The one that doesn't cause interference is a cheapy I bought on ebay (an automotive light). I think the newer ones are getting better re. interference, but I'd buy and try one of the brand you're considering before changing over an entire home to them.

Neat that you're looking into LED for the home! I imagine they will be the next big wave. We use CFL in our home, and they're okay (better than they used to be), but they aren't as satisfying as incandescent, except for the "green" aspects.

Emily

[smilingcat]

Some of the engineers at my office are "playing" with next generation LEDs. You can't look into them because they are just too bright. They only need 3 or 4 of these LEDs to put out the same amount of light as a 100W incandescent bulbs. Yet, they consume only 10W to 14W of electricity.

The color of the light was really indistinguishable from the incandescent ones. I thought they were nice. The LED "bulb" still got really hot. Hot enought to burn your finger though.

The ones you can buy in stores right now are far cry from the ones the guys are "playing" with at my office.

-----------------
The radio interference is not from the LEDs themselves but the power converter they use. It's a high efficiency converter called switching regulators. They make lots of radio noise. If designed right, they don't make much noise, If poorly designed or made cheaply, they make lots of "noise".

smilingcat

[Brandi]

One downside of some LED bulbs is radio interference. They are starting to become widely used in marine applications, and we intend to replace all the incandescent cabin lights in our sailboat with LEDs. However, of the two we've replaced so far, one of them causes interference with our TV. Interestingly, it is the more expensive of the two lights. The one that doesn't cause interference is a cheapy I bought on ebay (an automotive light). I think the newer ones are getting better re. interference, but I'd buy and try one of the brand you're considering before changing over an entire home to them.

Neat that you're looking into LED for the home! I imagine they will be the next big wave. We use CFL in our home, and they're okay (better than they used to be), but they aren't as satisfying as incandescent, except for the "green" aspects.

Emily

You have a boat with a TV? I wanna ride!

[Brandi]

I say we should be investing in the lightbulb industry. Think about it? there will be a big push for better and more since they are going to stop the sale of reg light bulbs. If I had known I would have invested in the oil industry! just my two cents.
Oh we have switched a lot of our bulbs in our house to the new one's. They are ok. I will miss the warmth of the reg bulbs when we have to switch them all. Can't do it in the bathroom yet. To scary. shows more then I would like to see.

[Trek420]

I don't know about investing in lighbulbs but if I was shopping for investments, mutual funds etc I'd be looking at the companies ecco policy and how "green" they are. I'm sure there's a mutual fund or so that does that.

[Mr. Bloom]

I say we should be investing in the lightbulb industry.

Not quite yet Brandi...new generation bulbs last many times longer and have much higher production costs...

[emily_in_nc]

You have a boat with a TV? I wanna ride!

Yep, we bought the cheapest 15" flat screen that Best Buy had, and a set of rabbit ears. We can pick up the four major networks, two in high-def, which is pretty cool since we don't even have HD at home! We spend nights on the boat when we are down there, so it's nice to have the TV for sports and the occasional show in the evening. We also get a local all-weather channel, which is the most useful one for the boat - shows radar, wind speed, etc. etc.

Believe it or not, a lot of sailors (and power boaters) with larger boats (ours is 30', not huge, but a cruising boat, not a trailerable) have TVs. We also have a microwave! Yep, we're a bit spoiled....

Now, back to your regularly scheduled thread!

Emily

[smilingcat]

with every thing said so far, CFL may not be the best solution, but it is still far better than the old fashioned incandescent bulbs.

SO REPLACE THEM WITH CFL!!!

We are looking into the latest generation of solar water heater using evacuated heat tubes. Total system cost is about $3,000 with installation. Plus the energy credit from the fed/local, I think it will payback in about 3 to 4 years like Mr. Silver's office.

The hot water can be used for baseboard heaters too.

Several companies who sell solar water heater:

www.siliconsolar.com
www.thermotech.com

www.solartoday.org has lots of good information and links.

Shawn