LED bulbs hit 100 watts as federal ban looms

Yahoo ^ | 5/16/2011 | Peter Svensson

[scooby321]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Two leading makers of lighting products are showcasing LED bulbs that are bright enough to replace energy-guzzling 100-watt light bulbs set to disappear from stores in January.

Their demonstrations at the LightFair trade show in Philadelphia this week mean that brighter LED bulbs will likely go on sale next year, but after a government ban takes effect.

[verum ago]

Don't (un)screw me

[DownInFlames]

Saw the LED flood lights at Lowes yesterday going for 49.00.

[rex regnum insanit]

I believe you can still get real toilets in Canada. They apparently realize that they (like 90% of the US) have no water shortage.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Those things throw out a bunch of unwanted radiation in addition to heat and light."

So do CRT based TV sets (and computer monitors). I haven't noticed anybody growing green antlers from exposure to those.

Stop scaremongering.

[ConservativeWarrior]

LED bulbs will likely go on sale next year, but after a government ban takes effect

Of course, because the free market won't support them without massive government interference.

See also: hybrid card, solar power, wind power, grain production, affirmative action, etc, etc, etc...

[cableguymn]

If the ban takes effect, can we buy them from other countries?
Oh, I also need a 3 or 5 gallon flush toilet. Where do I get one of those “illegally”

---

Yes, but customs will stop them if they find them.

5 gallon toilet? Canada, or craigslist.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I don't see how the light quality could be 'better' than CFLs, since both use phosphor stimulation to generate visible light. It all depends on the phosphor mix used."

Phosphor spread out over a larger area yields a more "diffuse" multipoint source, thus less "glare". VERY high output LED's are worse than CFL's about "glare". The more closely the source approximates a "single point source" the worse the glare.

But you're right that the overall spectral output should be the same.

[AnnGora]

I have been stockpiling incandescent bulbs for a while now. Got enough to last me for another 30 years.

[Wonder Warthog]

"As LEDs are available in many colors, a simple mixing of colors could easily be made to reproduce the color temperature to which we have grown accustomed."

Already being done. Currently available is a "bulb" with "white" LED's combined with yellow LED's to yield a "warm white" output.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The piece said these bulbs don’t.

Then they are the first cathode ray tubes in history to not produce extraneous radiation. How convenient!

[sickoflibs]

Stock up on light bulbs NOW while they are 40 cents per, our climate change masters of both parties will leave us with this $40 per bulb option. That's only X100 the cost, who can complain?

Thanks Bush/Pelosi for the help!

[loungitude]

The claims are that there are no X-Rays or EM interference generated.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It’s a safe bet that “no x-rays or EM interference” really means “it passed the regulatory test for radiated emissions” NOT “there are no EM emissions”.

[Two Kids' Dad]

LED bulbs put out an ugly glare at higher wattages. I’ll stick with the regular incandescents for as long as I can. Last I checked, Arizona Home Depot stores still sell them. Will need to stock up next time I’m there.

[riverdawg]

We installed LED lights under our kitchen cabinets during a recent mini-renovation. They give off a ‘warm white” light, much better than fluorescent bulbs.

[muawiyah]

They are not cathod ray tubes. They are not using X-ray to stimulate the phosphors.

[bohica1]

I’m running out of room to put my “stockpiles”! lol I might have to build a bigger storage building...........

[Wurlitzer]

Interesting product the ESL. I did note that the initial claims for 6000 hours while better than current bulbs is much lower than the 40,000 to 50,000 hours claimed by the LED mfgs. CNET had an article showing ESLs at half the price of LEDs but they would need a 20,000 hour lifespan to break even.

Vu1’s web site played a little fast and loose with their comparison chart claiming LEDs could not be dimmed (they can, I have one) and also claimed LEDs were not as recyclable as the ESLs. Hmmm, seems the ESL will require, to produce the high voltage needed, quite a bit of silicon based products encased in plastic as would the LEDs.

Also, the color temp comparison of the ESL vs LEDs were slanted by Vu1 and that may be true for CURRENT LED bulbs but both products could easily be produced in a wide range of color temperatures. If that were not the case LED TVs could not work. A bulb constructed with multiple LEDs of mixed colors could easily mimic any color temperature required.

There was also another claim that LEDs were susceptible to high temperatures (actual temp not defined) while the ESLs were not. Given the requirement to have a High Voltage power supply built in I would suspect the silicon based products in the ESL would also have an issue with higher temperatures. In any event it is good to have competing technologies as the CFL is a horrendous choice forced upon us by lawyers (congress) acting as our energy guardians.

[Wurlitzer]

“Already being done. Currently available is a “bulb” with “white” LED’s combined with yellow LED’s to yield a “warm white” output. “

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Great! Have you seen them yet? I have not but that only means they have not come to a store near me.

[Vor Lady]

I’ve been stockpiling them for years. I currently have enough incandescants to light my house for the next five years. I’d have more but my husband wouldn’t let me rent a storage room to keep the others in.

[Vor Lady]

After all, how many people who compare engines' displacement (in cubic inches or cubic centimeters or liters) actually know how big that volume is, or even what "displacement" is, for that matter?

All I need to know is does it go fast? And how quickly can I get to cruising speed?