Posted on 05/30/2007 10:11:32 PM PDT by goldstategop
Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I think the super bright LED’s are going to be the future of lighting. Not sure how far off that is though.
Some big airports are already using them in applications like runway marker lights.
Is this the same IKEA that was merged with CANON copiers back in the 80s and 90s? I recall commercials for copiers on Sunday afternoons watching the NFL touting “The best innovative minds come together CANON/IKEA”or something to that effect. At the time, it had about the ame impact on me as WANG computers, nd look at them now.
Strange if it’s he same company. Never knew they were ever trying to be all green like this.
Wherever there is a positive action there is a negative reaction. Too bad the loonies didn’t learn this and now they are out to save the world. Barf.
I love the pop sound that CFLs make when you break them inside the garbage can and in the dumpsters.
Recycling CFLs is for losers.
No, they run much cooler than incandescents, that's why they are more efficient, less of the power is wasted as heat. They work just fine in recessed lighting enclosures. I have over 50 in my home and many are in recessed enclosures. They are the only bulbs that work in my recessed lights on my top floor because they are covered by 22 inches of fiberglass insulation and only CFL's run cool enough so that the thermistor doesn't trip.
Apparently, they are not bright enough yet to use as a primary light-source - and there are reliability problems. Noone wants to spend an exorbitant amount for a bulb that fails after only one year - right after the warranty expires.
These were the cheapies as well. Lots of ways to tinker and improve them.
Last year I mounted solar powered LED spotlights on my flagpole. They work quite nicely as well. The only improvement I'm making on them is better drainage since they point near straight up.
Inside we've been using several LED desk lamps, switchable from 10 to 20 LEDs. One in the bedroom has been a real marriage saver! I work overnights and leave just before midnight. I had two chouces before the LED lamps...get fressed in the dark or turn on the lights and irritate Wife.
Now we have an LED lamp over our headboard ponted up and agaisnt a white wall. I can turn it on and get plenty of light to get around without waking wife. Plus the soft glow is a lot easier on my eyes that are VERY sensitive to light - one of the reasons I like the night shift, hehehe.
You can now get LED string lights that operate on low voltage. They come in colors - some rotate between colors - as well as white and the older blue/white. Look great on Christmas trees as well as in the garden. Right now they're a little pricey but that is changing big time!
I worked in the lighting industry for 20 years and I was never as excited about any development as much as I have the LED lamp. They save power and hence money...personally because of my sesitive eyes I prefer the softer light...and I like the tech point as well.
There's one guy on the net who lights his stairs with LEDS. At the top and bottom he's mounted IR sensors that trip the LEDs to sequence on top to bottom or bottom to top and then sequence off. Later this summer I plan on a similar install in my house with some mods I want to try.
In fact right now I'm planning lighting several rooms with LEDS powered by a battery source and recharged with solar panels from Northern Tool. I don't expect it to make much difference on the electric bill, that's not the point of the project. It's the tinkering, the having a goal and figuring how to achive it thing that makes the project worthwhile.
This nation used to be filled with folks like that...people who used what they had to come up with creative ways around a problem or need. Now it seems we just sit back and whine and wait for someone else to do it.
prisoner6
They are extremely bright and the bulbs last longer than any other bulb. The US militaty uses these:
http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/pgrfnbr/16/sesent/00
Every time I hear this story, I’m amazed all over again!! And these people call themselves “environmentalists”? I’m just speechless!
LEDS work on 3.5 volts and low amperage so they are not power hogs. You can run 'em on just about any power source. What you DON'T want to do is run them from a transformer from 120v. You're bleeding off the excess in waste heat. That's why I'm designing a battery powered/solar charged system for a couple of rooms.
You are correct - sort of - about the brightness. LEDs can be VERY bright. Some are now used at the tops of towers because of their brightness and reliability. Radio stations LOVE them! Less need for Tower Monkeys.
LEDS are even being used as tail lights in cars...maybe even headlights by now, I haven't been able to keep up because the tech has been changing so fast.
The problem is LEDs emit light in a very narrow band...IIRC around 20 degrees as opposed to the (nearly) 360 degrees of other sources.
But that's not really as big a problem as it sounds. You can always use more LEDS spread in a pattern that coverse a given area.
There was supposed to be a big development in LED tech this summer. Rumor was HUGE price drops one top of the line LEDs as well as better "whiteness". The desk lamps I use - ten bucks apiece at a dollar store a couple of years ago BTW - Are too bluish for most people. The newer LEDs are producing an acceptable white now...I have a few of those.
Really if I put my mind an dresources to it I could operate my house with solar lighting, a battery bank and small generator for TV, radios, computers etcetera. The only thing I would need Electric power for would be a big refigerator - something Wife and I really don't need now, powering the washer and dryer and electric motors in fans, furnace and such, and of course anything that uses resistance for heat like a hair dryer. There ARE ways around that though, they're just expnsive at the moment.
I'd like to do that not because I'm an enviromentalist - which I am DEFINATELY NOT - or some back to simplicity whacko. It's because the tech is there> It just needs a bit more tinkering.
And the most important reason for using the hi tech lighting and power system is because I CAN.
Plus... then I can tell the high priced, utilities and their whacko unions to go Fark off, hehehehe.
prisoner6
It’s funny, the sun is incandescent. Old technology indeed.
I wonder if some of the premature failures reported with LED bulbs could be due to power surges?
Probably...They need 3.5 volts. Some of the better ones are more tolerant but I would think any variance would not be a good thing.
I think most of the failures...I have had a couple of LED camp lanterns that had several LEDs fail. My take on it was htat it was contaimnation in the manufacturing process.
The other thing I failed to mention is that LEDs that use silicon are getting kinda old in the tooth. There are now several alternatives that are cheaper and easier to make.
And then there are OLDs - Organic Light-emitting Diodes - which are are whole new kettle of fish!
prisoenr6
Dear World Nut Daily:
The mercury is not disposed. It is recaptured, recycled and reused.
Urban mythology.
Huh? I've just put my fingers on the plastic shield surrounding the socket holding a 15W CFL which has been running 9 hours now.
Barely above room temperature.
When it was holding a 75W incandescent it was too hot to touch.
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