Tag Archives: LED

Light Bulb Technology: Update III

Posted on October 14, 2011 | 4 comments

This represents the final of the series in my light bulb experiment.

I have finished test driving three types of bulb technology, incandescent, CFL and LED.  The results are below and to be honest, I shocked.  To the point I may have to run it again.

Bulb Cost per Bulb Cost per KWH Cost per hour Lifespan 50,000 Hour Cost
Incandescent $1.00 $0.1701 $0.0070 2,000 $375.00
CFL $1.00 $0.1701 $0.0017 10,000 $88.00
LED $18.00 $0.1701 $0.0017 50,000 $103.00

The efficiency of the LED is not better, literally, then that of the CFL.  Further, the COST of the LED is through the roof.  Finally, the light given off by the LED is horrible; more akin to a institutional ward than a reading source or office light.

The hands down winner is the CFL with the incandescent coming in last.

Fascinating.

Now, for the dilemma.  Would we have seen the advent of the CFL without government intervention in the light bulb market?

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Light Bulb Technology: Update II

Posted on September 26, 2011 | 2 comments

Awhile ago I mentioned that I was starting an experiment on different types of light bulbs.  I think that there are three commercially available bulbs on the market.

  1. Incandescent
  2. CFL
  3. LED

I have purchased a bulb of each kind and am conducting an experiment with each of the three.  As part of the experiment, I need to account for:

  1. Quality of light
  2. Cost of bulb
  3. Heat of bulb
  4. Cost of electricity
  5. Cost of replacement

I just finished my evaluation of the CFL and I must admit, it stands the test of the test.

I find the light to be nearly equal to the light given off by the incandescent.  Which to me, in certain conditions, is a deal breaker.  Further, the heat given off by the CFL is manageable.  While I am unable to unscrew a traditional light bulb while burning, I was able to unscrew a CFL while burning.

So, the financials:

Bulb Cost per Bulb Cost per KWH Cost per hour Lifespan 50,000 Hour Cost
Incandescent $1.00 $0.1701 $0.0070 2,000 $375.00
CFL $1.00 $0.1701 $0.0017 10,000 $88.00

Not even close.  Over the course of 50,000 hours the savings is about 400% over the incandescent bulb.,  And if you demonstrate the savings in terms of 10,000 hours:

Bulb Cost per Bulb Cost per KWH Cost per hour Lifespan 50,000 Hour Cost 10,000 Hour Cost
Incandescent $1.00 $0.1701 $0.0070 2,000 $375.00 $75.00
CFL $1.00 $0.1701 $0.0017 10,000 $88.00 $17.60

Again, not even close.  However, the difference in 10,000 hours vs, 50,000 hours is that 10,000 hours is very close to a year.  Just be switching to a CFL bulb you can save about 60 bucks a year.

Per lamp.

Wow!

The light is a little bit more raw, but, if you are like me, you will have a shade over the bulb.  And that shade blunts the glare of the CFL to the point that you can’t tell.

At this point, the CFL wins hands down!

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Light Bulb Technology: Update I

Posted on September 18, 2011 | 1 comment

Earlier this week I mentioned that I had come across the three types of light bulbs at Home Depot.  I bought one of each:

  • 40 Watt incandescent
  • 40 Watt CFL
  • 40 Watt LED

I’m gonna try and see how big the difference is between the three and how long the payback period is for switching.

I started with the incandescent bulb and let it burn for 72 hours.  When I turned off the lamp at that time, the bulb had consumed 2.93 KWH.  At 17.01 cents per KWH, that bulb cost me $0.498 to run for those three days.  Or .7 cents per  hour.  The bulb itself cost me $1.00.  Further, the life of the bulb is listed as 2,000 hours.

Here’s what it looks like:

Bulb Cost per Bulb Cost per KWH Cost per hour Lifespan 50,000 Hour Cost
Incandescent $1.00 $0.1701 $0.0070 2000 $375.00

I’m using a 50,000 hour cost because the LED bulbs are rated for 25,000 hours. Imagine, 25,000 hours. THAT is a long time.

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Light Bulb Technology

Posted on September 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

So, last week I was in Home Depot looking for some stuff.  And while shopping for stuff, I thought of some other stuff I wanted to buy.  Light bulbs.  See, I like my light bulbs and the light they give off.  Further, I discriminate in my light bulbs based on several factors:

  1. Quality of light
  2. Cost of bulb
  3. Heat of bulb
  4. Cost of electricity
  5. Cost of replacement

The single most important aspect to me is the quality of the light.  I hate Hate HATE working in too dim light, reading by too bright a light and sweating too near a hot light.  Hate it all.  So, it matters.

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