The World's Greatest Light Bulb (LED with a warm yellow glow)

[krispos42]

The World's Greatest Light Bulb

Dump your fluorescents and incandescents for this amazing new LED bulb.

By Farhad Manjoo
Posted Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at 5:10 PM ET

When I drove to the offices of a start-up called Switch Lighting last week, I wasn't expecting much. A company representative had promised to show me something amazing—an alternative light bulb that uses a fraction of the energy of a traditional incandescent bulb and lasts 20 times as long, but that plugs into a standard socket and produces the same warm, yellowish, comforting glow that we're all used to seeing when we flip the switch.

I'd heard that pitch before. Energy-efficient bulbs that shine like incandescents are the holy grail of the lighting industry. The effort has become more urgent in the last few years, as governments around the world have imposed regulations to phase out incandescent bulbs. In the United States, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, whose light bulb-related provisions will go into effect next year, requires greater efficiency from all light bulbs on the market; the act effectively outlaws the traditional incandescent bulb by 2014. The phase-out has created a surprising political outcry, with some people even stocking up on bulbs. That's because today's main alternative, compact-fluorescent bulbs, are awful. They've got three main shortcomings: They're ugly; they contain mercury, which can be extremely hazardous if the bulbs are broken; and most importantly, they put out harsh, white light that many people (myself included) find unbearable.

Switch Lighting claims to have solved all of those problems. When I arrived at Switch, Brett Sharenow, the company's chief strategy officer, showed me two lamps. Inside one was a standard 75-watt incandescent bulb. Switch's 75-watt replacement bulb, which uses only 16 watts of power, was plugged into the other. The lampshades prevented me from seeing the bulbs directly—I couldn't tell which lamp contained which bulb. When Sharenow turned on the lamps, the light from each lamp looked identical. The moment was completely undramatic, and that was the point. Switch has spent years developing bulbs that produce something thoroughly unexceptional—light that looks exactly like what we're used to.

<more>

http://www.slate.com/id/2298444/

Cool!

[MADem]

1. I get my yellowish comforting glow from yellowish comforting lampshades!

But if they come up with a bright, attractive LED, I'd bite.

I was one of the earliest adapters to flourescents in USA, having become accustomed to them in Europe and elsewhere.

[PoliticAverse]

2. So $20 for a 60-watt LED bulb that they guarantee for how long?

Compact fluorescents are about the same efficiency for about $1/bulb these days.

[krispos42]

3. Yeah, but the issue is the color of the light. And the mercury.

If that's an issue for a person, than these are a solution.

:shrug:

I put some 2-watt LED bulbs in my bedroom... $5.97 each. They light the room enough when I'm on the computer or watching TV, and use the same power as an old-fashioned nightlight.

[toddwv]

17. The mercury is only an issue if you either huff or lick the glass shards from a broken CFL.

Also dancing on top of them is not recommended.

[krispos42]

19. The public perception is that it's a health issue.

:shrug:

I'm not sure of the extent of it, and remember the most strident voices against CFLs are the ones that are gung-ho for burning more mercury-filled coal. Nonetheless, it's part of the issue of marketing and acceptance of CFLs, and comparing them to LEDs.

[Tesha]

21. The public, as is so often the case, has been mis-informed. (NT)

[krispos42]

23. Most likely! :D n/t

[DontTreadOnMe]

4. LED light is "brighter" at the same WATTS

WATTS is the AMOUNT of power used by the bulb. So these LED bulbs are more efficient than CFL bulbs.

A 60 WATT LED light bulb is much brighter light than a 60 WATT CFL bulb.

Also these lights can be dimmed, so you can control exactly how bright you want them to be. CFL bulbs cannot be on a dimmer. Not sure if I read it correctly, but they are supposed to last 20 years.
So you buy a $20 LED bulb, and it will last longer than the lamp you put it in.

They also give off very little heat.

FYI.. the photography and video industry is moving towards LED-based lighting systems.

[kysrsoze]

5. Actually, there are dimmable CFL bulbs. I think the LED prices will start dropping soon

They're using them in headlights and taillights on cars. It cost to produce should quickly drop like a stone. I do like the lack of heat, as opposed to incandescents, and I also like the idea of no "startup" period for the bulb to brighten up from a very dim start. That really drives me nuts about our can lights throughout the house.

[Kolesar]

10. Philips sells "dimmable" CFLs

I have several. One burned out rather quickly.

[madokie]

26. Ya they do but the price is way too high for my blood n/t

[PoliticAverse]

7. The LEDs and CFLs are similar in efficiency.

Both produce just about the same # of lumens for the same wattage (and so about the
same amount of heat).

Yes, most CFLs don't work with dimmers (some do).

As these LED bulbs are new we'll have to see how long they last in reality.

CFLs suffer reduced life when they are switched on and off very frequently.

LEDs don't contain mercury like many CFLs.

LEDs are the future of lighting they aren't quite there price wise yet.

[Kolesar]

11. LEDs are barely more efficient than CFLs,...

...and that is only if you buy a premium brand like Cree. There is a lot of weak products out there.

With good CFLs, you get a product that can last 50,000 hours, which is two decades of use. That rules!

[Tesha]

20. You're wrong on all counts.

The efficiency of LED lamps is on par with the
efficiency of fluorescent lamps, compact or not.

And more and more CFLs can be dimmed and not all
LED lamps can be dimmed; in both cases, the ability
to be dimmed depends on designing the control elec-
tronics to accommodate dimming; read the lamp's
packaging to be sure if any given lamp can be
dimmed.

Because their efficiencies are comparable, LED and
fluorescent lamps give off comparable amounts of
heat. Did you think LED lamps have those enormous
heat sinks just to look cool?

And the gold standard for photographers is still
the xenon strobe, not an LED strobe.

Tesha

[NYC_SKP]

6. 25,000 to 50,000 hours, it varies. It would take almost six years to test running 24/7

to prove a 50,000 life, so they're being conservative.

I have dozens of these different models I've been buying over the years.

One that cost $100 at the time has stopped, the rest are all still running.

They are the future, and the future is here.

Even at $20 to $40 each, they outlast others and pay for themselves just in avoided replacement costs compared to unsubsidized incans and CFLs.

:hi:

[ejpoeta]

9. $20 is a lot for a bulb. i almost choked when i saw the price. But then i thought about it

and where we want to put them is in our solar tubes (we just put two in and put a light in there. The idea of having to change the bulb makes me cringe. Also, if it doesn't get as hot, that is a great selling point too, because my husband was very concerned about the light in the solar tube. We probably will end up getting those at least for those two places.

We have CFL bulbs everywhere I could put them. At first just in the bathrooms in the open lights. Then we started leaving the covers off the lights. The LED would let me have something to put in our dining room with the dimmer. But at $20 ea x3.... gulp.... one at a time. gonna have to do one at a time. It would be worth it though. CFLs saved us on our energy usage. The solar tubes saved a lot!! the two most used areas... Kitchen and kids bathroom... and the kids bathroom wasn't more used as much as they just don't know how to turn a light off. I'd put those solar tubes everywhere if I had the money to do it and the time right now. A little at a time. That's how we are improving things around here.

[Kolesar]

12. Electronics companies run products at elevated temperature and use statistical methods...

...to estimate how long a product will last. "mean time between failure" = MTBF

If you have a "can light/led" that you recommend, I would surely like to know.

[NYC_SKP]

13. My personal bias is toward Bridgelux LED fixtures....

...the LEDs are domestically "grown" (epitaxy process) in Livermore California.

Cooper recessed cans, sold at Home Depot, use Bridgelux.

Cans that use Cree LEDs have been around for a while.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202024773&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&srccode=cii_10043468&cpncode=21-134964468-2&cm_mmc=shopping-_-shopzilla-_-D27-_-202024773&locStoreNum=1022

:hi:

[txlibdem]

15. Domestic: Switch Lighting is in Florida

They're homegrown too!
:-)

[aquart]

8. It's pretty!

[txlibdem]

14. You are right that LED is where the future of lighting is heading

CFLs were a half-measure attempt to improve energy usage but they are dim, too yellow, sometimes flicker (some people cannot see it), fail within months if you switch them on and off as you normally would an incandescent bulb, etc. But their biggest failure, IMO, is that they only work in a screw in base. What if you have track lighting that uses an MR16 plug style? Too bad for you.

LED light bulbs are being manufactured by all of the big players in lighting: GE, Sylvania, NEC, Sanyo, Philips... and now Switch comes along and steals the headlines with replacement bulbs for your 40, 60, 75 and 100 watt light bulbs!

Here are some reference links to peruse at your leisure:
How do LED light bulbs stack up against LCD bulbs: http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm
How much will LED light bulbs save you (assuming each costs $35): http://eartheasy.com/live_led_bulbs_comparison.html
Do CFL bulbs really last as long as the package claims: http://robertsrationale.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-much-longer-do-compact-fluorescent.html

Note that, as with any new thing on the market, there are companies out there producing inferior products that cost more and do less than the LED bulbs from the manufacturers I listed above. Be mindful of the Lumens output:
40 watt bulb = 350-450 Lumens
60 watt bulb = 700-800 Lumens
75 watt bulb = 900 Lumens
100 watt bulb = 1100-1350 Lumens

Compare the Lumens with how many watts the bulb needs and the cost. Caveat Emptor is unfortunately true with LED bulbs just as with anything else here.

One interesting point about LEDs: some of them run on 12 volts so if you have solar panels or a wind turbine and a battery pack you can run your lights off free energy. Example: http://www.maxximastyle.com/maxxima-5-watt-led-mr16-warm-white-flood-bulb-%C3%82%E2%80%93-250-lumens-p-142.html?cPath=32_37

:hi:

[kestrel91316]

16. Am I the only person on the planet who LIKES CFLs??

Even the ones that need to warm up a minute for full light don't disturb me in the least. The lack of heat output, and lower cost of lighting over time, are the bee's knees.

That they contain mercury doesn't disturb me in the least. The energy required by incandescents over the life span of CFLs means a lot more mercury than that gets released into the environment from coal-fired power plants. And I have never in 20 years broken one of them. Not even the fluorescent tubes at my office.

I guess I'm just not gonna be PC on this. The LED lights I have seen don't even last as long as incandescents, and produce no usable illumination.

[kristopher]

18. Nope, I love them.

Touching on that, did you know that the preference for "warm" light such as incandescents offer is culturally determined? The Japanese have preferred fluorescents for decades.

[Tesha]

22. We're pretty happy with fluorescent lighting, both compact and conventional.

We converted many of the lights in our house to CFLs.
We focused on those lights that would have longish
runtimes (so our closet lights, for example, are
still incandescent). We tended to also leave one
conventional lamp in each area for when one wanted
"instant on light" or "halogen white light" or
"on for just a moment" light.

Over time, we've converted many of our early non-
dimmable CFLs to dimmable CFLs and that has noticeably
improved our experience.

We're looking forward to LED lighting, but right now,
LEDs are no panacea. The current designs that use
a yellow scintillator in front of a blue LED really
have fairly poor (and highly variable) color rendering.
They also tend to have color temperatures that vary
wildly across the viewing angle. We're hopeful that
true RGB LED systems become popular.

LEDs also really need to improve their reliability
in high-temperature situations; right now, a single
brief overtemperature excursion can permanently
change the color temperature and efficiency of the
LED lamp.

LEDs will ll get there someday, but today, CFLs and
especially tri-phosphor conventional fluorescent lamps
are the sweet spot for high-efficiency lighting and
halogen lamps are the sweet spot for great-looking
lighting.

Tesha

[txlibdem]

24. Correction on your info about LED lights

You must have been looking at some no-name cheapo LED lights because the high quality LEDs put out exactly the same amount of light as incandescents. My wife is constantly complaining about the lack of light in the kitchen since I put in CFLs. We have 7 ceiling cans and under cabinet lights everywhere in the kitchen and she says the CFL light is too dim to see well enough. I don't blame her; I wouldn't want to be chopping away with sharp knives when I can't tell if a thing is a carrot or my finger... I know she's right but the decreased amount of light is okay for me when I cook.

As for LED light bulbs, you should check out those from Switch Lighting (a company is Florida which has the market all abuzz), and Philips. LED bulbs cost a lot more but last so long (over 20 years) that they pay for themselves in a very short time.

Here's how to figure out how long it will take to reach payback on a $20 Switch LED light bulb:
1. Figure out your cost per kilowatt hour (kWh)
2. Guesstimate how many hours per day that light will be turned on
3. Take the watts used figure from the LED bulb
4. Multiply #1 by #2, then by #3 and then multiply that by 365
5. Now divide that by 1000 to figure out how much it will cost per year to use the LED bulb all year

6. Now repeat 1 thru 4 using the wattage figure (#3) for a regular incandescent bulb
7. Subtract #5 from #6 and you have your annual savings
8. Divide the price of the LED light bulb by #7 and you have the number of years it will take to get back what you paid for the "higher cost" LED

If you have solar panels or a wind turbine then it's a no-brainer that you need to begin the transition to all LED light bulbs.

In my case, I pay 11.9 cents per kWh, would use the bulb for 4 hours per day, and let's use 13 watts.

LED: $0.119 * 4 * 13 * 365 / 1000 = $2.56 in energy costs
60 watt bulb: $0.119 * 4 * 60 * 365 / 1000 = $10.42 in energy costs
... $10.42 - $2.56 = $7.86 annual savings by using an LED light bulb

$20 / $7.86 = 2.54 years

But some LED bulbs cost $40, how many years would it take to pay that off in energy savings: $40 / $7.86 = 5.09 years.

That is not counting the cost of replacing the incandescent bulbs, only the energy savings. So, in my case, even the most expensive LED light bulbs from the reputable manufacturers pay me back in just a few short years.

I am starting to put a little money away now and then to replace the lights room by room. In some places I'll do it one bulb at a time, as the old one burns out (whether it be CFL or regular incandescent) --LED is the future of lighting.

PS, prices are dropping fast for the LED bulbs: analysts claim they will cost no more than a CFL by 2015. I'm not waiting, though. My bulbs will be paid off in full by that time!

[BestBrightLED]

28. LED Vs. Fluorescent

LED TUBES VS FLUORESCENT TUBES
"LED fluorescent tube" is a misnomer. LED lights and fluorescent lights are completely different technologies. LEDs are very small bulbs illuminated by movement of electrons in a diode. Fluorescent bulbs use electrodes and a gas combination of argon and mercury to produce light. So the name "LED fluorescent tube" really refers to an LED tube that reminds us of traditional fluorescent tubes (likely above your head as you read this).

LED lights should also not be confused with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use the same technology as fluorescent tubes to produce light, but on a smaller scale. They are a replacement for the incandescent bulbs commonly found in most home light fixtures. CFLs have garnered a lot of press because of their energy efficiency and environmental benefits (i.e. they use less power).

An LED tube is made up of hundreds of individual LEDs. They come in a variety of sizes (2, 4, 6, and 8ft), different temperatures (i.e. different colors of light) and varying arrays of LEDs. They can be purchased with new fixtures, or used for retrofitting existing fixtures. Replacement LED tubes do not require the use of ballast, thus allowing you to save even more energy, and if you’re used to hearing the ‘buzz’ or hum of your fluorescent lights, that will be eliminated when the ballast is no longer used.


To give recognition where it’s due, fluorescent tubes are a great invention. They have been lighting most of America ever since GE brought them to market back in 1938. They are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and are said to last 10 times longer. Of course there are disadvantages too.
Fluorescent tubes contain mercury and phosphor which present health and environmental risks. Lights require ballasts which adds to the cost of the lamp and can cause a buzzing noise. Finally, they flicker and the light is often drab.

When comparing LEDs to fluorescent tubes, here are four key specifications you should review:

**Lumens – This is the unit of measurement for strength of light. Look for tubes with 1500 lumens or more.

**Watts – This is a unit of measurement for power consumption. Four foot LED tubes typically use 15 to 25 watts, while fluorescent tubes use more than 30 watts.

**Lifespan – This is how long the bulb will last. It’s measured in hours. 50,000 hours is common for LED tubes.

**Color temperature – The temperature of the light is the color of the light. It is measured in units of absolute temperature, or Kelvin (K). 3000K is considered warm (yellowish), 4100K is considered neutral, and 5800 K is cool (bluish).
Replacement Benefits:

**Long Life: 50,000 + hour lifespan exceeds even the highest quality fluorescents tubes
**Extreme Efficiency: Over 80% more efficient than traditional fluorescents tubes
**Flicker-Free Lighting: Eliminate eye strain and headaches associated with fluorescents lighting
**No buzzing/hum: the ballasts on some fluorescent lights cause an irritating hum, but since the ballast is not needed with LED bulbs, you’ll never hear that again.
**More Energy Savings: Tubes require no ballast saving even more energy
**Shatter-Proof Design: Will not break even if dropped.
**No ballast required: saving you even more money on new installs.
**No Mercury Inside: Allows the use of tube lighting when mercury contamination is not an option
**Flexible Voltage: Use tube lighting in AC 110~277V
**No Interference: Perfect for settings where precise instruments can be disturbed by fluorescent tubes
**Instant Starting: Starts right away no matter the temperature or conditions


One - 100 Watt Incandescent bulb costs approximately $42 dollars to run per year at 12 hours per day. But don't forget that since an incandescent bulb only lasts 1000 hours, chances are you would have bought at least 4 replacement bulbs over the course of the year, bringing your total cost for just one light fixture to $50.

Compare this to…

One - 10 Watt Replacement LED Bulb costs approximately $4.05 to run per year at 12 hours per day. Since it was on for approximately 4000 hours it still has nearly 10 years of life! Even throughout its entire 11 year life a Replacement LED Bulb will cost approximately $120 while a traditional fixture using an incandescent bulb will cost nearly $550!

I have a LED company have been doing this for years.. if your guys have any questions shoot me an email..
Dan

[BrightKnight]

25. High intensity LED light looks better than incandescent or CFL.

The 3000 Kelvin bulbs look like 3200 K photo lights. I have replaced all of my non-enclosed bulbs with LED. It was expensive but my home is a lot more pleasant.

LEDs are more efficient than CFL. Unlike CFL a lot energy is lost in heat from LED bulbs. As LEDs become more efficient it will be possible to replace a 60 watt bulb with literally a few watts. 16 watts is good but it will get better.

[BestBrightLED]

29. LED Vs. Fluorescent

LED TUBES VS FLUORESCENT TUBES
"LED fluorescent tube" is a misnomer. LED lights and fluorescent lights are completely different technologies. LEDs are very small bulbs illuminated by movement of electrons in a diode. Fluorescent bulbs use electrodes and a gas combination of argon and mercury to produce light. So the name "LED fluorescent tube" really refers to an LED tube that reminds us of traditional fluorescent tubes (likely above your head as you read this).

LED lights should also not be confused with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use the same technology as fluorescent tubes to produce light, but on a smaller scale. They are a replacement for the incandescent bulbs commonly found in most home light fixtures. CFLs have garnered a lot of press because of their energy efficiency and environmental benefits (i.e. they use less power).

An LED tube is made up of hundreds of individual LEDs. They come in a variety of sizes (2, 4, 6, and 8ft), different temperatures (i.e. different colors of light) and varying arrays of LEDs. They can be purchased with new fixtures, or used for retrofitting existing fixtures. Replacement LED tubes do not require the use of ballast, thus allowing you to save even more energy, and if you’re used to hearing the ‘buzz’ or hum of your fluorescent lights, that will be eliminated when the ballast is no longer used.


To give recognition where it’s due, fluorescent tubes are a great invention. They have been lighting most of America ever since GE brought them to market back in 1938. They are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and are said to last 10 times longer. Of course there are disadvantages too.
Fluorescent tubes contain mercury and phosphor which present health and environmental risks. Lights require ballasts which adds to the cost of the lamp and can cause a buzzing noise. Finally, they flicker and the light is often drab.

When comparing LEDs to fluorescent tubes, here are four key specifications you should review:

**Lumens – This is the unit of measurement for strength of light. Look for tubes with 1500 lumens or more.

**Watts – This is a unit of measurement for power consumption. Four foot LED tubes typically use 15 to 25 watts, while fluorescent tubes use more than 30 watts.

**Lifespan – This is how long the bulb will last. It’s measured in hours. 50,000 hours is common for LED tubes.

**Color temperature – The temperature of the light is the color of the light. It is measured in units of absolute temperature, or Kelvin (K). 3000K is considered warm (yellowish), 4100K is considered neutral, and 5800 K is cool (bluish).
Replacement Benefits:

**Long Life: 50,000 + hour lifespan exceeds even the highest quality fluorescents tubes
**Extreme Efficiency: Over 80% more efficient than traditional fluorescents tubes
**Flicker-Free Lighting: Eliminate eye strain and headaches associated with fluorescents lighting
**No buzzing/hum: the ballasts on some fluorescent lights cause an irritating hum, but since the ballast is not needed with LED bulbs, you’ll never hear that again.
**More Energy Savings: Tubes require no ballast saving even more energy
**Shatter-Proof Design: Will not break even if dropped.
**No ballast required: saving you even more money on new installs.
**No Mercury Inside: Allows the use of tube lighting when mercury contamination is not an option
**Flexible Voltage: Use tube lighting in AC 110~277V
**No Interference: Perfect for settings where precise instruments can be disturbed by fluorescent tubes
**Instant Starting: Starts right away no matter the temperature or conditions


One - 100 Watt Incandescent bulb costs approximately $42 dollars to run per year at 12 hours per day. But don't forget that since an incandescent bulb only lasts 1000 hours, chances are you would have bought at least 4 replacement bulbs over the course of the year, bringing your total cost for just one light fixture to $50.

Compare this to…

One - 10 Watt Replacement LED Bulb costs approximately $4.05 to run per year at 12 hours per day. Since it was on for approximately 4000 hours it still has nearly 10 years of life! Even throughout its entire 11 year life a Replacement LED Bulb will cost approximately $120 while a traditional fixture using an incandescent bulb will cost nearly $550!

I have a LED company have been doing this for years.. if your guys have any questions shoot me an email..
Dan

[BestBrightLED]

27. Nice But check out the selection i have

I am new to the site .. you guys have alot of info.. I run a LED compnay/wesbite.. But me being new if there is anything i can help with let me know