L.E.D. Light bulbs.

[hank]

I've searched the other LED lights/ Energy saving bulb threads but can't find anything about LED Bulbs. There's plenty on Flebay from China, so I assume they're getting popular; I've just found a UK supplier ( again on Fleabay ! ).
Does anyone have any experience with these devices? Here's the link ........

E27 E14 B22 LED Day White 5050 3258 SMD Energy Saving Corn Light Bulb UK ship | eBay

I'm impressed by the efficiency of the LED torches which are becoming popular. If LED's could replace these Low Energy Light Bulbs that I've been replacing, then I'd be happy to change over.
I think the Energy Saving Bulbs I'm using must have a misprint on the packet, I think the '6000 hours life', has a decimal point missing !

H.

[nightshade]

I have just replaced Halogen bulbs in my caravan for Warm White SMDs these are a twin wired disc that replaces a twin wired capsule halogen (G4)
The results are very, very, good. I bought the SMDs from hanway on e-bay to try these out 8 for under £10, retailers here charge around a fiver each! I have not found them so good in the house. The GU10 bulbs intended to replace GU10 halogen spots just do not throw enough light but they are getting better, just watch the lumens figure.

SMD surface mounted diode (appearance, small flat yellow squares)
LED light emmiting diode (appearance small clear dome)

[Hobjob]

I've fitted some in a new small annexe - they look like the now common conical halogen ones. 4 x 3 watt bulbs give a reasonable light, and optics are reasonably directional.

I have a desk light with them, and a car inspection lamp that lives under the desk for getting as phone, wi-fi, usbs etc., and head torches. And a home made set of three strips glued onto foil that is fitted onto a screw on lens hood for macro work.

Early ones were all rather bluish, but warmer colours are appearing.

In my experience they are poorly directional (except as above), and never seem as bright as the "equivalence" rating suggests they should be. But they never get hot and so far I have had no failures.

I have not yet used them in a standard 'old bulb' like socket.

[Lancashire Lad]

LED lighting is one technology that has massive potential in terms of energy saving. - I'm all for it.

It is already finding an increasing percentage of the market in "mood" and "decorative" lighting" and in such things as have been mentioned - torches, work-lamps, headlamps. and things like rope-lights, Christmas tree lights etc. etc.

I too have replaced several GU10 halogen lamps with LED's (GU10 capped LED's are readily available at all of the main DIY stores).

As Hobjob says, they aren't as bright, but (in my case) they don't need to be, and they each run at 3 watts, as opposed to 50 watts. A 94% energy saving.

To buy, they are presently expensive in comparison, but they have an expected lamp life of 50,000 hrs, as opposed to 1000 hrs for the halogens.

There is much research going on into the use of LED's for replacing normal fluorescent and incandescent lamps in domestic, commercial, and industrial lighting.

Field trial results are already showing the benefits. (Typical one here):-
Lit Up: an LED lighting field trial / Energy efficiency / Publications / Home (United Kingdom) - Energy Saving Trust

I suspect that within a matter of only a few years, prices will come down acceptable levels, giving real incentive for buying LED luminaires, and we will see more and more of their use in everyday circumstances.

One thing worth mentioning with regards to your comment on lack of longevity in compact fluorescent "energy saving" lamps.

It is little known amongst the general public, and the manufacturers certainly don't go out of their way to publicise it, but the longevity of these lamps is seriously compromised when they are used in situations where they are likely to be switched on/off within a couple of minutes. (For example on a stairwell).

The inherent characteristics of their design makes them much more suitable for situations where, once switched on, they remain on for several hours.

People generally complain that they are useless and very dim in comparison with equivalent incandescent lamps, but again, it is an inherent design characteristic that they will be very dim upon switch on, and it takes several minutes before they produce their full output lumen rating.

Regards,
Mike.