Maybe the shape/look adds to the effectiveness of the bulb, but between this version and roller coaster looking bulbs, I can't tell which looks worse in a socket.
Can they make a bulb that looks like a normal bulb, but more efficient???
Most compact fluorescents (aka CFLs) come in standard-looking styles like the old incandescents. They just put a glass globe around the "rollercoaster."
And just in case someone yells "mercury!", I know, I know: but they are reducing mercury in CFLs and if you actually bring it back to the hardware store when it's gone out (years later) they can recycle them.
Indeed. It can't be that hard to cram a 13W switch mode supply and a few of those ridiculously bright blow-your-face-off Luxeon LEDs in a discreet diffusing package.
@ Loonie: It's all about the heat. You put that much in a small package, and you melt the LED drivers. Take a look at the CREE/LLF fixture insert, and you'll see what they had to do to get 12 watts/650 lumens of LED into a 6" round capsule (It is a cool product, though).
Heat is LED's enemy. Until they solve that, you won't see very bright LED systems in small packages.
Also - Keep in mind that as LEDs age, they shift color and get dimmer. That will become an issue for many applications.
Yes. Advanced Lumonics (AL) has the CL series bulb that looks like a standard incandescent.
I've been using several of the AL products for about a year now, and although the price is a bit high the quality is great. I look forward to checking out the new Evolux and FL bulbs.
I would imagine the prices will drop over time. It's that old supply/demand and start-up tooling costs economics at work.
If one truly wants to go green and truly wants to reduce their carbon footprint spending the green up-front shouldn't be the big issue.
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Maybe the shape/look adds to the effectiveness of the bulb, but between this version and roller coaster looking bulbs, I can't tell which looks worse in a socket.
Can they make a bulb that looks like a normal bulb, but more efficient???
Most compact fluorescents (aka CFLs) come in standard-looking styles like the old incandescents. They just put a glass globe around the "rollercoaster."
And just in case someone yells "mercury!", I know, I know: but they are reducing mercury in CFLs and if you actually bring it back to the hardware store when it's gone out (years later) they can recycle them.
Indeed. It can't be that hard to cram a 13W switch mode supply and a few of those ridiculously bright blow-your-face-off Luxeon LEDs in a discreet diffusing package.
If the CFs can do it then there's no excuse.
@ Loonie: It's all about the heat. You put that much in a small package, and you melt the LED drivers. Take a look at the CREE/LLF fixture insert, and you'll see what they had to do to get 12 watts/650 lumens of LED into a 6" round capsule (It is a cool product, though).
Heat is LED's enemy. Until they solve that, you won't see very bright LED systems in small packages.
Also - Keep in mind that as LEDs age, they shift color and get dimmer. That will become an issue for many applications.
how bout an OLED lightbulb?
Yes. Advanced Lumonics (AL) has the CL series bulb that looks like a standard incandescent.
I've been using several of the AL products for about a year now, and although the price is a bit high the quality is great. I look forward to checking out the new Evolux and FL bulbs.
I would imagine the prices will drop over time. It's that old supply/demand and start-up tooling costs economics at work.
If one truly wants to go green and truly wants to reduce their carbon footprint spending the green up-front shouldn't be the big issue.