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Explain to me the (de?)-evolution of LED lightbulb technology

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Zero999:

--- Quote from: Red Squirrel on March 25, 2021, 10:14:29 pm ---Even CFLs were better for life time.
--- End quote ---
I don't see the point in replacing CFLs with LEDs, unless it's in an application where it's going to be turned on and off lots, such as a toilet. The power saving is minimal and the quality of thelight isn't that much better. I only replace my CFLs with LEDs, when the lamp goes and it's easier to replace it with an LED. A friend to mine replaced all of his CFLs with LEDs around 8 years ago and gave the old lamps to me. One of them was a high powered one, around 30W I think, so I gave it to an elerly friend of my mum's, who's virtually blind and she's been using it ever since. It wouldn't surprise me if it outlasts her, as she's in her late 90s. If it goes before then, I might have to make her a replacement LED lamp, if I can't find a suitable replacement.

madires:
CFLs need some time to achieve full brightness after powering on. Some are quite fast, some need a minute or so, especially the long lasting ones. LEDs start with full brightness.

Siwastaja:

--- Quote from: Red Squirrel on March 25, 2021, 10:14:29 pm ---The failure mode I seem to often get is lights that just turn on and off.  Like a cold solder joint somewhere.

--- End quote ---

I had one LED bulb fail in such way that when power is applied, it blinks very briefly, then stays off for approx two seconds, then randomly may or may not flicker a few times, then potentially turn on, or not.

The LED bulb decided to time the approx two second delay to exactly match the time it takes to go through thought process: "hmm, the light switch seems faulty, let's try to push the switch further" then reach the switch and give it a firm press. Exactly at that time, the LED bulb usually decided to turn on, confirming the assumption that the light switch is faulty. Every day it worked worse and worse, so finally I replaced the light switch. Guess the reaction when the behavior was just like before and it was just the bulb that required swapping.

To its defence, the previous owner of the house did use said LED bulb for however long time in a sauna near the ceiling which is a colossally bad idea. I do have a few incandescents left for exactly that purpose.

Siwastaja:

--- Quote from: Zero999 on March 29, 2021, 12:21:39 pm ---I don't see the point in replacing CFLs with LEDs, unless it's in an application where it's going to be turned on and off lots, such as a toilet.

--- End quote ---

Depends, if the CFL has already seen a few thousand hours of operation, many are so dim that the 11W bulb produces hardly any light during first minute, and even then too little; especially if installed in a cold place like uninsulated attic or basement. Can be replaced with a modern 5W LED bulb with the additional benefit that you will be able to see something without first waiting for half a day (which a minute feels like when you want to do something instead of waiting for the light).

I hate waiting for technology to start operate; such as Windows taking anything from 30 seconds to 3 hours to "install updates" before it allows me to use my computer. Even the varying 1 to 5 second delay of traditional fluorescents with mechanical starters sucks, and the 1-2 minutes of CFLs is beyond acceptable.

Color rendition tends to be equally sucky with CFLs and LEDs. Both have better options available, but hard to find.

Generally, I'm quite happy with how things are with LEDs. Incandescent bulbs were often crappy quality as well, very typical failure mode was cost-optimized fuse (proper bulbs have internal fuse) causing the bulb to fail explosively, bringing out the main breaker or blowing even a 16A gG fuse. Good riddance.

And CFLs, pfft. Salesmen and packaging say "get 11W", but have to buy a massive 20W bulb to replace a 60W incandescent to get any actual light out right from start, then it's too bright after some time, until it's too dim after 2000 hours. And it weights so much and doesn't fit in half of the lighting fixtures. And most of the light goes the wrong way because of the stupid emission pattern. Add to that ALL the same roasty electronics problems we have now with LEDs.

themadhippy:

--- Quote ---  One of them was a high powered one, around 30W I think, so I gave it to an elerly friend of my mum's, who's virtually blind and she's been using it ever since. It wouldn't surprise me if it outlasts her, as she's in her late 90s. If it goes before then, I might have to make her a replacement LED lamp
--- End quote ---
Try your local specialist indoor gardening shop.

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