I had switched out my compact florescent lights 5 or 6 years ago to led lights, They were pricey then but I saved a few watts per bulb and got the same light output, every bit helps. I had been using the best I could get, 800 lumens 9.5 watts at a light spectrum of 2700k (the soft white spectrum I like). They were roughly the equivalent to the old 60 watt bulbs, Philips brand and rated for 24000 hrs from HD.
I had selected these by calculating out the highest lumens per watt of consumption. These came out to 84 Lumens per watt, and the best I could find 6 years ago.
They have been working perfect, not a single failure....but my eyes are now 6 years older.
I thought I should check out if things had improved since then. I bought some newer 100 watt equivlant led bulbs rated at 1500 lumens and consuming 14.5 watts of power. They to are Philips Brand, two to a box for I think 14 dollars, yes these are not cheap, but I have been running a couple for a few days and I am measuring 14 watts even for consumption, and the extra brightness is unbelevable. These work out to 103 lumens per watt, so thats a improvment of roughly 20 percent in light output per watt. The best way to figure out if you are getting good led bulbs would be to calculate out the lumins per watt..103 Lumens per watt is my new bench mark that I will look for in the future.I expect it reasonable that a equal improvement of another 20 % should be expected within another 5 years time. Anyone running better than these??? 103 L per watt, on 2700k spectrum led bulbs?
Since I am doing this post about power consumption, I also bought a new computer, something like a 23.8 or 24 inch screen, its one of the ones carried by Costco, they had two models one white, one silver in case color. its the models with the computer built into the back of the screen. I walked in to Costco with test equipment to see what power these things used, cause I don't trust manufacturers specs, anyway I left with their, I think it was 700 dollar model (all white case) The thing uses as little power as my 2015 lap top...right around 28 watts...the other model...same specs silver in colour but some fluff features, same sized screen as the one I bought, used nearly 140 watts of power, running the same windows 10 and same programs, with identical screen size..It pays to check!!! also since I was there, the guy let me test a couple of their 40 and 50 inch TV's for funzzies. I wasn't buying, I was just curious, and so was he, 40- 50 inch TV's can now be had for 75 watts ( and less) in power consumption, you can also find models using 400 watts as well...It pays to check! This means nothing to those on the grid, but if your off, things like this are very important!!
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
I miss my 50 inch plasma tv. In the winter it was like having a space heater in the room. 😆
update on led bulbs.....I had been so happy with the brightness of my new leds I loaned one out to another guy. He tried it for a few days and brought it back, and when I asked what he thought I expected a positive comment....that wasn't what I got, he didn't like it one bit and said the light was crap, at first I was shocked, I couldn't understand how anyone would be unhappy with that led. He said it made everything look yellow. It was a soft white bulb 2700K spectrum and that is a soft white bulb that in my place makes a gental white light that's perfect for my eyes and for everyone who has come over.
In figuring out the problem I realised my place has mostly white walls and ceiling, his place is a trailer with the yellowish/tan wood paneling that they used to put in them back in the day. He was telling me he has to use 5600k spectrum bulbs (I think that's what he said). I think those are called a cool white bulb, a type I cant use in my place as the light becomes to harsh for my eyes.
So just something to be aware of with leds, the room colour they go into will have a effect on the quality of room light! I never knew!.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
I switched everything in the house to LED or CFL with the exception of a few small lamps that have 7 watt bulbs used for "mood" lighting. I much prefer the LED. CFL bulbs take some time to get to full output. I also noticed that they tend to burn out MUCH faster than they claim, but that could be just a quality issue as many were of the dollar store variety. I found the LED bulbs really bright. They are Noma soft white 3000K. 5.5 watts being a 40 watt equiv.
Odd that your friend needs that kind of Kelvin rating...When I was proofing print jobs, we always looked at press sheets under a 5000 Kelvin light. That in combination with a viewing box being a specific color of grey, colors could be compared with a really high degree of acuracy. The 5000 kelvin spectrum is a professional grade of lighting required by print shops and photography.
update on led bulbs.....I had been so happy with the brightness of my new leds I loaned one out to another guy. He tried it for a few days and brought it back, and when I asked what he thought I expected a positive comment....that wasn't what I got, he didn't like it one bit and said the light was crap, at first I was shocked, I couldn't understand how anyone would be unhappy with that led. He said it made everything look yellow. It was a soft white bulb 2700K spectrum and that is a soft white bulb that in my place makes a gental white light that's perfect for my eyes and for everyone who has come over.
In figuring out the problem I realized my place has mostly white walls and ceiling, his place is a trailer with the yellowish/tan wood paneling that they used to put in them back in the day. He was telling me he has to use 5600k spectrum bulbs (I think that's what he said). I think those are called a cool white bulb, a type I cant use in my place as the light becomes to harsh for my eyes.
So just something to be aware of with LED's, the room color they go into will have a effect on the quality of room light! I never knew!.
Thanks for wood panel feedback because i have a log home with a honey colored stain. I am using CFL and happy with things, but was considering LED. We use them elsewhere in painted interior rooms and we are fine. Going to swap out all the cfl's in the garages for LEDs as they fail.
Perimeter flood lights are all still halogen. What are your thoughts for LED and cost effective lighting up of larger areas?
What are your thoughts for LED and cost effective lighting up of larger areas?
Well it does matter what you consider a large area. lets just say residential lot size rather than commercial and for that certainly led, I haven't seen the type I have in the usual stores, I think I ordered them out of Vietnam or some such place 8-10 years back. Very directional, the full wattage being directed in one general direction. I think I got them off e bay.
All my out door lights are led an no problems right down to -40. Though I have found if you use low wattage leds 3 to 8 watts with some brands of outdoor motion sensor lights, the sensor module detects movement and tries to turn on but the power draw is so low that the light does not latch on.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
Thanks peppercorn. It’s for around the home and I do have some parking spaces around the garages and home that are forty feet out, so lumins is key and they are all motion activated. I will maybe try one and see how it works like you say in the cold.
Thanks
It looks like if your the ruler of Dubai you can specify the efficiency of the bulbs sold in your country. Like twice as efficient and twice the life span. Now I want the same.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
I have seen the light, literally. I was at a friends place who was having electrical work done and in the suspended ceiling were placed led panels, fully configurable with user settable switches for the power consumption and the wave length, from memory 3000, 3500, 4000 and 5000k. These flat panels gave off a very even bright light. Apparently these lights are being sold through electrical suppliers, not a off the shelf light from Home Despot. I have one on order, will be a week or two before I get my hands on it and can test it.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
