Newer ultra efficient LED bulbs

Raxiel

waqasahmed said:

Raxiel said:

I think a lot of people don't realise how far energy saving lighting has come.

I recently got my parents to switch from their old CFL lamps to the filament LED's and they're much happier with them due to the tone of the light, the way they cast some light upwards like the old incandescents, and the fact there's no warm up period. The fact they use a lot less power is just a bonus.

They aren't like the Dubai lamps that have double the filaments driven half as hard, but it was still impressive how cheap they are now. They got a multipack of 6 for £14 and even swapped the lone LED they already had (an early CoB style) that was a bit less efficient.

I've personally replaced all my filaments with smart lamps (mine were E27 and parents wanted bayonet so I couldn't pass them on).

At full brightness they're not quite as efficient in terms of lumen/Watt, but we rarely need to set them higher than 50% and they are incredibly efficient when dimmed.

I've got those Philips Hue (compatible) bulbs so far. Those are just F rated. I wouldn't ordinarily buy Philips Hue but realistically they're the only brand out there where smart light switches AND smart bulbs just work with each other flawlessly. 

That, and I've got an Ambilight TV so it's quite nice to have Philips Hue compatible stuff 

It'd be nicer still if those bulbs had "ultra efficient" versions 

Ours are TP-Link Tapo L510E 8.7W bulbs and S200B buttons.

A+ on the A-E scale 95 lumen/Watt compared to 115 on the clear filaments at full brightness, but dimmed they only draw about 1-4W

Nice to have the bright white during the day while working and then a very warm light in the evening, and the one in the kids room dims to 1% as a night light.

Works with google voice commands too, but since getting the buttons and setting them up as dimmer switches we don't tend to use it.

Raxiel

[Deleted User] said:

A word to the wise. I have a houseful of LED downlighters installed by my builder. The LEDs are Chip-on-Board and each comes with a voltage adapter. The LEDs may be rated for 40000 hours use but the voltage adapters are not. I have replaced 3 in the past 5 years.

Yeah, I have a half dozen of the GU10 fittings with LED lamps in, and they're definitely the least reliable, I've gone through a dozen in the last few years. The form factor seems to be murder on the driver, at least in lamps with a decent amount of light output.

Scot_39

My parents have 2 light fittings in living dining room - 11 bulbs.

They used to have 60w conventional.

Those were replace with halogen - about 40 Watts  - but had appaling failure rates (2 a week sometimes - popping at switch on).

So went led.

More expensive - think paid around 50% more hhan current prices when new.

So from 660 W per hr to about 70.  Over a winter night - 8.5 hrs - 6kWh to 0.7kWh - £2 @epg, to 24p.

And I've even managed to get them to switch one off regularly.

Well worth the price difference even back then - a "no brainer" now.

As on gas, that would have been a huge chunk of daily use.


The only - and no trivial issue of course - the heating input - valuable in winter - wasted in summer.

So probably around 0.5kW for the two rooms on old filament.  Non trivial.


And they used to have a 40w next to the cold water tank in loft - but I replaced that with a frost tube for safety - and then that went when went combi gas anyway.

FreeBear

bob2302 said: My parents used to have 2x150W table lamps on. That seems more like heating now.

Recently stocked up on 250W (yes, 250W) lamps - Should be enough to last a few years.

waqasahmed

Raxiel said:

[Deleted User] said:

A word to the wise. I have a houseful of LED downlighters installed by my builder. The LEDs are Chip-on-Board and each comes with a voltage adapter. The LEDs may be rated for 40000 hours use but the voltage adapters are not. I have replaced 3 in the past 5 years.

Yeah, I have a half dozen of the GU10 fittings with LED lamps in, and they're definitely the least reliable, I've gone through a dozen in the last few years. The form factor seems to be murder on the driver, at least in lamps with a decent amount of light output.

I've had no issues with the ones I've bought, and I've got them in the bathroom where they don't even have the relevant IP protection either 

They're still fine 

Raxiel

waqasahmed said:

Raxiel said:

[Deleted User] said:

A word to the wise. I have a houseful of LED downlighters installed by my builder. The LEDs are Chip-on-Board and each comes with a voltage adapter. The LEDs may be rated for 40000 hours use but the voltage adapters are not. I have replaced 3 in the past 5 years.

Yeah, I have a half dozen of the GU10 fittings with LED lamps in, and they're definitely the least reliable, I've gone through a dozen in the last few years. The form factor seems to be murder on the driver, at least in lamps with a decent amount of light output.

I've had no issues with the ones I've bought, and I've got them in the bathroom where they don't even have the relevant IP protection either 

They're still fine 

What brand & type?

The current set (Sanlumia 5W 400Lm 100°) seem to be doing ok, I've not had to replace any of them yet, but it's a bit early to say for sure.

waqasahmed

Raxiel said:

waqasahmed said:

Raxiel said:

[Deleted User] said:

A word to the wise. I have a houseful of LED downlighters installed by my builder. The LEDs are Chip-on-Board and each comes with a voltage adapter. The LEDs may be rated for 40000 hours use but the voltage adapters are not. I have replaced 3 in the past 5 years.

Yeah, I have a half dozen of the GU10 fittings with LED lamps in, and they're definitely the least reliable, I've gone through a dozen in the last few years. The form factor seems to be murder on the driver, at least in lamps with a decent amount of light output.

I've had no issues with the ones I've bought, and I've got them in the bathroom where they don't even have the relevant IP protection either 

They're still fine 

What brand & type?

The current set (Sanlumia 5W 400Lm 100°) seem to be doing ok, I've not had to replace any of them yet, but it's a bit early to say for sure.

Lighting ever or something? It's that long ago, I can't even remember the brand name

It must have been a decade already since putting them in my parent's house 

TheElectricCow

I know my Mother has a favourite lamp in her living room that took two 80w bulbs, I can’t recall if I’d ever convinced her to change the bulbs in those but it took some explaining to convey the message that having that single lamp on was drawing more power than all of the other CFLs/LEDs in the house combined.

I recently picked up a pack of 5 GU10 3.6w 345lm LEDs for £8 at screwfix to replace some failed kitchen lights. Maybe not the best lightbulbs you’ll find out there but that’s pretty good value considering the 4 bulb light fixture she wanted them for now takes under 15w rather than 80w and she’s got a spare should one fail. Doubt they’ve been used enough to determine long term reliability yet though.

chris1973

I bought a pack of LED "filament" style light bulbs, (made by a known brand) last Autumn. I'm currently on the last bulb in the pack and one of the internal "filaments" is starting to flicker on and off, so I guess it won't even make it to spring. Replacing three bulbs in less than a year, doesn't sound very green or efficient to me. Certainly they pale in comparison to the incandescent 60 watt filament lamp that I put in about 10 years ago, believed to be a cheap Happy Shopper brand from the local corner shop and cost about 59p and gets the same amount of use as the LED ones as its in the same wall fittings.

I agree It's about time manufacturers started offering their versions of the "Dubai Lamp" made by Philips. It shows what lamp manufacturers can achieve if they really want too, but currently it seems any re-assurance of longevity and the greatest efficiency is only currently available from lamps sold in one Country. I've not seen the Dubai lamp available in the UK, and as far as I know from reading articles on the internet its only sold under an exclusive agreement in Dubai.

From my experience the 'lifetime' printed on the cartons of LED light bulbs on the shelves in our high street are about as reliable as a politician's promise.

Spoonie_Turtle

Funnily enough the two kitchen CFLs have just died today!  Secretly pleased, to finally switch them over, although we only have one LED replacement so I shudder to think what energy guzzling bulb Dad might manage to dig out until we get another LED …