$50 LED Bulb

[landover]

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Originally Posted by GrayHare The use of LEDs in automobile tail lights has puzzled me. The incandescents are cheap, light weight, and when operating on a car's DC last for decades. I'd expect any energy savings from LEDs in a car to be offset by their heavier weight and, after an accident, greater replacement cost.

I guess one advantage of LED taillight is that LED light turn on almost immediately whereas normal bulb takes time. So even 1/4 of a second gives atleast some more time (distance) to react (stop).

[TromboneAl]

I rarely pay more than a dollar for a CFL -- due to getting it from a promotion or a garage sale. Yes, there is quite a difference in quality from one brand to another. Usually, if it doesn't burn out after a month or so, it will last for years.

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I wouldn't say 'obsolete' - as long as we are still using 120V 60 Hz AC, it will keep on working.

So will a non-plain-paper fax machine, a corded telephone, an Apple II, a Bernouilli drive, a pager, a walkman, a VCR, payphones, and a dot-matrix printer.

[GrayHare]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl So will a non-plain-paper fax machine, a corded telephone, an Apple II, a Bernouilli drive, a pager, a walkman, a VCR, payphones, and a dot-matrix printer.

With LBYM I still routinely use 6 of the items on that list.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

... as long as we are still using 120V 60 Hz AC, it will keep on working.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl So will a non-plain-paper fax machine, a corded telephone, an Apple II, a Bernouilli drive, a pager, a walkman, a VCR, payphones, and a dot-matrix printer.

Let me guess...you're currently using all of the above.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl So will a non-plain-paper fax machine, a corded telephone, an Apple II, a Bernouilli drive, a pager, a walkman, a VCR, payphones, and a dot-matrix printer.

Depends on the definition of 'obsolete' that we are using. I was using a stricter one - it is no longer practical to use it for its intended function. Like a VCR would be 'obsolete' when you can't buy tapes for it anymore. They are somewhat obsolete with the switch to digital OTA - the internal tuner/timer no longer does what you want, you need a converter box and the VCR can't control the channel selection of that (w/o extra external stuff that probably isn't worth it).

A 'looser' definition would be - 'the newer versions are better'. A lot of people use the word that way, and I don't like it because it isn't specific. If I say 'obsolete' you know I mean there are problems using the old style. If I merely mean 'newer is better', I'll say that. When people use the looser term, I don't know which they mean w/o asking more questions.


Somewhere in-between is where the difference is so great, that it just doesn't make sense to use the old style. That Apple II probably doesn't run programs you would find useful, doesn't connect to the internet, etc - it just doesn't make sense to try to use it today for anything practical. A Walkman still works, but the pain of cassette tape versus small mp3 makes then unattractive. I doubt paging services are still available, are they? A corded phone performs its function as well as it did originally. I wouldn't call it obsolete (if you have a land line, it can function during a power outage), but you might prefer cordless.


But the LED gets plugged in and it produces light for (supposedly) 30 years. Sure, ten years from now you would not buy that same LED, newer ones would likely be a better value, but that doesn't affect the ability of the old one to continue to do its job.

-ERD50

[easysurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl I rarely pay more than a dollar for a CFL -- due to getting it from a promotion or a garage sale. Yes, there is quite a difference in quality from one brand to another. Usually, if it doesn't burn out after a month or so, it will last for years. So will a non-plain-paper fax machine, a corded telephone, an Apple II, a Bernouilli drive, a pager, a walkman, a VCR, payphones, and a dot-matrix printer.

I have trouble parting from my Sony Mavica digicam that runs of a floppy disk. I know, it is obsolete and I don't use it anymore, but at one time that helped pave the digicam revolution.

[TromboneAl]

I guess I see 30 years as so far in the future, that I expect wild increases in technology. Energy use of almost zero with special color temperatures that help you not feel hungry.

[ERD50]

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Originally Posted by TromboneAl I guess I see 30 years as so far in the future, that I expect wild increases in technology. Energy use of almost zero with special color temperatures that help you not feel hungry.

Well, I don't know about color temperatures and appetites, but LEDs are already ~ 30% efficient, so there isn't a whole lot of room for improvement. I don't know if there are theoretical limits, but I'd guess doubling to 60% is about all we will see - a halving of energy consumption. Not exactly what I'd call 'wild increases'.

-ERD50

[packrat44]

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Originally Posted by RunningBum What burns me is that they let the Philips CEO claim his bulbs will last 30 years (possibly, but I've had a couple CFL bulbs burn out quickly so I'm not sold on that claim) while saying that incandescent bulbs burn out "in just a matter of months". I've had many bulbs I put in when I built my house 11 years ago not burn out, including some that are on for 3-6 hours most days. I've got a couple fixtures that did burn through bulbs quickly, and I went with lower wattage or CFLs there. Most are fine. Claiming they go in a matter of months is a lie.

Same complaint with CFLs. Some have gone out so quickly I had to check and make sure they weren't flash bulbs for one of my ancient cameras.

[Texas Proud]

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Originally Posted by packrat44 Same complaint with CFLs. Some have gone out so quickly I had to check and make sure they weren't flash bulbs for one of my ancient cameras.

+1


Edit to add.... For a 25 cent light bulb, no big deal, for a $5 CFL dimmable, it will get you chapped... for a $50 LED, I would be furious...

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl I guess I see 30 years as so far in the future, that I expect wild increases in technology. Energy use of almost zero with special color temperatures that help you not feel hungry.

By then we'll have all eaten enough radioactive waste mixed with plastic debris in our food sources we'll give off our own light. Hmmm...I don't feel so hungry now. Must be working!