energy saving light Bulbs

[husky20]

I switched out all the light bulbs in my house to the energy saving fluorescent ones and i saw a big savings on my electric bill and i like the fact that they use way less energy. I would also love to go solar but it is a little pricey right now but if i can i definitely will some day.

[aussiebob]

Hey first post.


Ive got all energy efficient bulbs too.

I use 5 watt in the dunnys and closets, but brighter 10, 15 watt in bigger rooms.

[Darell]

In all of my most-used rooms, I have gone from incandescent to CFL (starting about 15 years ago) to LED (starting about five years ago).

This means that what used to use 75 W, then used 15W, and now uses 3-4W.

[smokelaw1]

Darell,
What type of LED-based lighting apparatus do you use in your home? I imagine it is not anything readily available that is just “plug and play?”

[greenLED]

We went the CLF route a couple of years ago as well.

My only gripe is that the longevity of CFL bulbs seems to be "touch and go". Some of the CFL's we have are a few years old, and some don't last more than 3-4 months. It seems pretty random, and sort of defeats the purpose of saving energy and materials if you have to replace them so often.

[josey]

The standard for the 10,000-hour life of CFLs was based on the light being left on for three or four hours each time is was flipped on. If the lights get turned on and off a lot, that 10,000-life is shortened.

And a lot of utilities and merchants began offering inexpensive CFLs built in China with low-quality ballasts that burned out even faster.

[Darell]

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

Darell,
What type of LED-based lighting apparatus do you use in your home? I imagine it is not anything readily available that is just “plug and play?”

Sorry. I use absolutely NOTHING that is available to purchase, and nothing that is plug and plug. All custom stuff. Here are a few of the projects that I went through the trouble to document:
http://darelldd.com/light/0_fixed_lighting.htm

[Darell]

Originally Posted by greenLED

We went the CLF route a couple of years ago as well.

My only gripe is that the longevity of CFL bulbs seems to be "touch and go". Some of the CFL's we have are a few years old, and some don't last more than 3-4 months. It seems pretty random, and sort of defeats the purpose of saving energy and materials if you have to replace them so often.

Yes, it sucks that the quality control has been so poor. Reminds me of the Christmas LEDs too. "Foreverbright?" Heck, they didn't even last the first season, and they were billed to be the last light strings you'd ever have to buy! The technology is sound. The mfg process isn't up to the task. Or, more accurately, the cut-throat "build it the cheapest possible way so we can sell it at WalMart" process isn't up to the task.

Hey, Greenie!

[greenLED]

Thanks for the clarification, Josey and DD (good to see y'all here too!).

[smokelaw1]

Originally Posted by Darell

Sorry. I use absolutely NOTHING that is available to purchase, and nothing that is plug and plug. All custom stuff. Here are a few of the projects that I went through the trouble to document:
http://darelldd.com/light/0_fixed_lighting.htm

Figured. Thanks. That page is pretty cool.
I'd love to see my home consumption reduced by the amount that all LED based lighting could bring. We'll see what the future holds.

[Darell]

Lighting isn't the low-hanging fruit, certainly. Lighting typically is a small percentage of a home's energy use. Heating and cooling - those are the biggies. And that includes the fridge/freezer, oven, water heater, clothes dryer. There are tons of ways to save energy for free... with no new appliances or products needed.

My favorite low-hanging fruit is the phantom loads. When you have everything in your home "off" you'd be amazed at what is still drawing current. And that's current that drains away 24/7. Home or not. All those wall warts. The TV, stereo, computer peripherals. Anything with a clock that constantly displays, or a device that awaits a remote signal for on/off. The Energy Star thing has done really well - lowering this phantom load to below 1W per device. Older TVs, for example, could draw 30W just sitting there waiting to be turned on. Same with stereos. Add up all those devices, and you can see that even when off, they add up significantly. THAT is the kind of stuff we need to fix. It doesn't change your life in ANY way, and can save huge amounts of energy.

[Saaby]

That reminds me I have an aincent Darell LED-nightlight board hanging around. I begged for it, but never did anything with it. I've got more resources now to get projects done but now no time ( to linear algebra) but you may have inspired me...

[Darell]

Go get 'em tiger.

Hey, I still use those same boards too! Love 'em!

[N162E]

Originally Posted by greenLED

We went the CLF route a couple of years ago as well.

My only gripe is that the longevity of CFL bulbs seems to be "touch and go". Some of the CFL's we have are a few years old, and some don't last more than 3-4 months. It seems pretty random, and sort of defeats the purpose of saving energy and materials if you have to replace them so often.

I started out with CFL about 17 years ago. The first one I ever saw was in the lobby of the "Beverly Garland hotel" in CA. I think I still have it around somewhere, sorry Beverly. Up until a few years ago I have found them to be inconsistant quality and kelvin temp wise. Now up to about my fifth gen I use a higher quality CFL with a CRI of 94. They are more expensive but, they seem to last, color rendition is good and easy to get used to and they all match colorwise.

I can really go on and on about using CFLs. I am really looking forward to much discussion on this subject.

[JWP]

I now use CFL everywhere in the house except where the lights are turned on and off often - like the bathroom.

I am waiting for the cold cathode bulbs to make it up to 60W and then I will use them since they are not effected by turning them on and off and are instant on. I have a 3W one in the refrigerator.

[husky20]

I found the 45 dollar light bulb http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2849

[husky20]

and the 80 dollar light bulb http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/S...AIL_COMPARISON

[drmaxx]

Originally Posted by josey

And a lot of utilities and merchants began offering inexpensive CFLs built in China with low-quality ballasts that burned out even faster.

Had to make that experience. It's really a bummer, if the CFL you buy don't last as long as a normal light bulb. Since then I am only using brand name CFLs.

[Vert I Go]

UK
Morrisons Supermarkets
Large promotional box, 3ft high, 2ft square, on end of aisles
Philips CFL's 50p for 5
BC & ES 10w (60w equiv.)
Some 14w (75w equiv) ES too
Just bought 30 (£3 !)

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/24676...-light-bulbs-1

http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/...r/energysaver/

[Darell]

Originally Posted by JWP

I now use CFL everywhere in the house except where the lights are turned on and off often - like the bathroom.

Amazingly, I have had no problem with power cycling CFL's. I used them in my garage door opener for YEARS. They never failed, but I replaced them with LED recently.
http://darelldd.com/light/garage_opener.html

I know several folks who use them with motion-sensors as well. They go on/off about 25x per day, and they haven't failed in years.

I have a 3W one in the refrigerator.

I have 6W of LED in the fridge (to replace 50W incandescent).
http://darelldd.com/light/refrigerator_led.htm

[JWP]

The reason I don't use them where they are frequently cycled on and off is I read it reduces the life.

A quote from a CFL faq:

Compact fluorescent light bulbs work best if they are left on for over 15 minutes each time they are turned on. These types of lamps can take up to 3 minutes to warm-up. Warm-up will probably not be noticeable from a user stand point, but the lamp needs to warm-up in order to reach the point of most efficient operation. Frequently switching them on and off will shorten the life of the product. If the life of the lamp is shortened significantly, you will not reap the financial benefits (includes energy & life of lamp), that are common to CFL lamps.

EDIT: BTW love the LED fridge light. I guess there is no need for a large heatsink.

[Darell]

Originally Posted by JWP

The reason I don't use them where they are frequently cycled on and off is I read it reduces the life.

Yeah well... I've read hundreds of times that EVs won't work, and that nobody wants them. But I discovered the opposite in my last eight years of personal experience with them. Just like with CFLs. Yes, I've read the same thing about how you shouldn't power cycle them. The ones that I cycle often seem to take the abuse and keep coming back for more. I can't explain why. It just is. The first CFL that I ever used was installed in the kitch overhead light in my last house. That was 17 years ago now. And that is the most-used light in the house. On and off more times than any other. Last week I was visiting the current owners of that house, and they still have not replaced that CFL. Of course I've had others that fail just hours after installation.

BTW love the LED fridge light. I guess there is no need for a large heatsink.

Surprising how hot 750 mA can still become! I switched them all down to 350, and now there's certainly no heat issue. I LOVE that light.

[PhantomPhoton]

I've been using CFL's for 6+ years now (I think, been a long while since I've even had to buy one). Personally I haven't had a problem with one yet. No problems with CRI or tint on mine. The very first ones I bought take a couple minutes to warm up all the way. So I just put those ones in appropriate places... like the lamp in my bedroom where a sudden bright light source is usually hard on the eyes in the middle of the night.
Thus far not one of them has failed yet. The only place I have incan bulbs now are the bathroom. At the rate I'm going when I finally do need to replace some of my CFL's even more efficient and reliable LED solutions will be coming to the mainstream.

[JWP]

I was reading my October issue of EDN at work the other day (at lunch time - honestly), and came across this article.

http://www.edn.com/article/CA6607201.html

The thing that was news to me was that orientation can have an effect on the longevity of the bulb. I didn't think of the effects of heating of the electronics in the downward-facing orientation.

Just thought I would pass this along.

[Darell]

Great little article. I definitely see the logic there!