Anyone else hate the new light bulbs?

[Sodo]

I can fully understand the public frustration... if something isn't broken... it does not need fixing!

…..like 2,000 hour incandescents have been 'fixed' to last 1,000 hours and nobody really noticed. Most lightbulbs are produced by a couple huge corporations who have reduced the product life expectancy from 2,000 to 1,000 in a manner such that nobody noticed. Does anyone remember when normal bulbs were 2,000 hour? I think as late as the early 90s they were 2,000 hrs.

I am looking forward to LEDs but I wonder what the plan is to dial back the 25,000 hour lifetime. If done right nobody will notice, and if they seed the forums right maybe people will even defend the "new" reduced-life LEDs.

I haven't found internet evidence of the 2,000 hour life (that I seem to recall) but that's not a big surprise (either way!). Found a some info on the Pheobus Cartel, an organization that operated from 1924-1939 to reduce bulb life expectancy of all the major producers and thus increase the sales quantities of lightbulbs. It fell apart during WWI and also because some companies decided to compete with the cartel. You can bet they have not forgotten to organize on the LED project, probably why it took so long to offer them on the market.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Note that the 110 year lightbulb is about as bright as a candle. No surprise it lasted, it's not burning very hot.

Ways to make a bulb last long:

1) Reduce the voltage. If you run a 120v lightbulb at 100v it will last very long. I remember when you could buy little resistors that you put under the bulb and the bulb lasts 10 years. I suppose a lightbulb company buys out every resistor company and scuttles the product.
2) Design the bulb for 130v and sell it into a market where line voltage is 120v.
3) Or never turn it off, it will last longer, but not forever. But if you reduce the voltage...

I wonder if a guy could start a company to make those and sell the again, do you get bought out or forced out? Well incandescents are out?

IOW - run the bulb inefficiently. ...More waste heat, less light for a longer time. Shoot that foot right off. ... The halogen incandescents are a way around this. They can run the filaments hot because they are made to replate the tungsten that "boils" off back onto the filament as they operate. They can give a higher light/heat proportion and hang in there longer.
larry

?.like 2,000 hour incandescents have been 'fixed' to last 1,000 hours and nobody really noticed. Most lightbulbs are produced by a couple huge corporations who have reduced the product life expectancy from 2,000 to 1,000 in a manner such that nobody noticed. Does anyone remember when normal bulbs were 2,00 hour? I think as late as the early 90s they were 2,000 hrs.

I addressed this earlier. Hotter burning filaments are more light efficient. They do burn out more quickly. Those 2000 hr bulbs put out less light.

 

[Sodo]

I addressed this earlier. Hotter burning filaments are more light efficient. They do burn out more quickly. Those 2000 hr bulbs put out less light.

How much less light?

2% less light but 2 times up the ladder, and 2x the cost to consumers? Maybe 10x the cost for a business who has to pay someone to go up a ladder or change out bulbs just to make sure they don't go down during the day. Don't kid yourself this only works for lightbulb sellers.

 

[k0ua]

I remember when they were 2000 hours.

 

[ultrarunner]

?.like 2,000 hour incandescents have been 'fixed' to last 1,000 hours and nobody really noticed. Most lightbulbs are produced by a couple huge corporations who have reduced the product life expectancy from 2,000 to 1,000 in a manner such that nobody noticed. Does anyone remember when normal bulbs were 2,000 hour? I think as late as the early 90s they were 2,000 hrs.

I am looking forward to LEDs but I wonder what the plan is to dial back the 25,000 hour lifetime. If done right nobody will notice, and if they seed the forums right maybe people will even defend the "new" reduced-life LEDs.

I haven't found internet evidence of the 2,000 hour life (that I seem to recall) but that's not a big surprise (either way!). Found a some info on the Pheobus Cartel, an organizion created long ago to reduce bulb life expectancy of all the major producers and thus increase the sales quantities of lightbulbs. You can bet they have not forgotten to organize on the LED project.

The standard incandescents I buy are 1500 hour rated.

I also have long life rated for 3000 hour I would source through Grainger.

Anyone remember the advertisements for long life bulbs in Alaska... they were on all winter and anyone could buy them and they really did last.

They have always been available... had an application where changing out the bulb required the expense of a bucket truck... bought traffic signal lamps and have not had to change one yet.

As always... consumers have (Had) choices.

I would also buy off the shelf 16 packs for the rentals... been there done that with more expensive bulbs and they would disappear.

 

[Sodo]

If it was a gov't requirement to print the life expectancy directly on the bulb (alongside the wattage and voltage) they would all last 3,000 hours or better. And 3,000 hour bulbs would not cost 5-10x as much they would compete on price.

 

[ultrarunner]

If it was a gov't requirement to print the life expectancy directly on the bulb (alongside the wattage and voltage) they would all last 3,000 hours or better. And 3,000 hour bulbs would not cost 5-10x as much they would compete on price.

I believe it is a reqirement to include average life on packaging for retail sale.

 

[Inspector507]

They have always been available... had an application where changing out the bulb required the expense of a bucket truck... bought traffic signal lamps and have not had to change one yet.

I was going to also suggest the 69W Traffic Signal bulbs. Rated for 8,000 hours. I used them all the time when I was working for an electrical contractor. They are pricey, I found them on the net from $1.72-$10.00 each. They are a little different shape being an A21 bulb instead of A19. They also have a brass base which last longer too.

 

[ultrarunner]

Real quality bulb... have not sourced any recently.

Worth every penny for the right application.

 

[grsthegreat]

the hour rating on incandescent arnt correct. I have 24 or so recessed lights in basement, each with 65 watt , 130 volt incadescent. None have burnt out yet, and according to the photographs i took during the construction, i instal;led them in May, 2007 (dang...has it been that long ago,.,..). I use them a few hours a day, sometimes up to 8 hours. Ive never replaced any of them.

There all on meistro dimmers, so maybe the automatic slow increase up to full brightness helps. who knows. but they have way more than 1,000 hours on them.

My exterior porch lights use compact florescent, all with base up applications. and they run dusk to 11pm every day (timer) and i havnt replaced any of them in many years either. All home depot brands.

They do take a bit to come full bright in winter though....but im in no hurry to swap these for LED's.

 

[SPIKER]

If it was a gov't requirement to print the life expectancy directly on the bulb (alongside the wattage and voltage) they would all last 3,000 hours or better. And 3,000 hour bulbs would not cost 5-10x as much they would compete on price.

I remember the 2000 hr life were pretty much the "STANDARD" bulbs and then they had 3000 and 5000hr bulbs (the 5000 were basically rough service ones with out the rough service ratings.)

Mark

 

[sld]

This guy should think about LED's.

http://magazine.uc.edu/content/dam/magazine/images/famous/designers/poynter/UncleFesterBulb.jpg

 

[ultrarunner]

Not to add more confusion...

The $12.97 9.5 watt (60 watt equivalent) CREE led lamps I bought proved to be so popular on Christmas that I ended up giving a few away to family.

Went to Home Depot this morning and noticed the CREE 13.5 watt (60 watt equivalent) in the TW series with 93 CRI were on sale for $9.97 less my 2% Pro Rewards... so I ended up buying some for Mom's home and she likes them on first try... not at all the reaction she had when I gave her some curly compact fluorescents a few years ago!

One more thing...

On the way home I stopped by a new ACE Hardware a friend had just taken over...

He was giving away compact fluorescents for free... two packs of 100w equivalent that use 23 watts.

He told me they have mercury and he wants them out of the store.

 

[k0ua]

Not to add more confusion...

The $12.97 9.5 watt (60 watt equivalent) CREE led lamps I bought proved to be so popular on Christmas that I ended up giving a few away to family.

Went to Home Depot this morning and noticed the CREE 13.5 watt (60 watt equivalent) in the TW series with 93 CRI were on sale for $9.97 less my 2% Pro Rewards... so I ended up buying some for Mom's home and she likes them on first try... not at all the reaction she had when I gave her some curly compact fluorescents a few years ago!

One more thing...

On the way home I stopped by a new ACE Hardware a friend had just taken over...

He was giving away compact fluorescents for free... two packs of 100w equivalent that use 23 watts.

He told me they have mercury and he wants them out of the store.

If you don't mind, and can think of it, you might report back in a year, and tell us how you are getting along with them.

And the 4ft Flourscents we have had in our houses for years have mecury in them too. It hasn't killed us just yet.... cough.. cough.

 

[SPIKER]

If you don't mind, and can think of it, you might report back in a year, and tell us how you are getting along with them.

And the 4ft Flourscents we have had in our houses for years have mecury in them too. It hasn't killed us just yet.... cough.. cough.

I think the mercury is worse for kids but it makes adults pretty crazy (NOT SURE MOST OF US WOULD EVER EVER EVER NOTICE ) lol:shocked:

Mark

 

[bcp]

Mad as a hatter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Mad as a hatter" is a colloquial phrase used in conversation to refer to a crazy person. In 18th and 19th century England mercury was used in the production of felt, which was used in the manufacturing of hats common of the time. People who worked in these hat factories were exposed daily to trace amounts of the metal, which accumulated within their bodies over time, causing some workers to develop dementia caused by mercury poisoning (called mad hatter syndrome). Thus, the phrase became popular as a way to refer to someone who was perceived as insane.

 

[ultrarunner]

If you don't mind, and can think of it, you might report back in a year, and tell us how you are getting along with them.

And the 4ft Flourscents we have had in our houses for years have mecury in them too. It hasn't killed us just yet.... cough.. cough.

Just had the same discussion... only time will tell as to reliability and quality of light.

I was surprised the curly compact flouresents are being cleared out at more places. My neighbor in a nearby city said he noticed a clearance mark down where he shops.

Put a 4 lamp T8 fixture in Mom's kitchen about 10 years ago... she needed more task lighting and I was always changing out burnt out 100 watt bulbs in the original light fixture.

After the first day she said the new T8 fixture was too bright... took out two of the bulbs and have been running it with the two remaining... very pleased with the light and sprung extra for full spectrum GE bulbs.

 

[SPYDERLK]

How much less light?

2% less light but 2 times up the ladder, and 2x the cost to consumers? Maybe 10x the cost for a business who has to pay someone to go up a ladder or change out bulbs just to make sure they don't go down during the day. Don't kid yourself this only works for lightbulb sellers.

LOTS less. You can easily be paying 20% more for the electricity to get the same light. In the case of 130v bulbs run on 120v its closer to 25%.
larry

 

[crazyal]

CFLs are worthless. Like many in rural New England we heat with wood, and by morning the interior winter temp is around 45F. Flip the light switch and ten minutes later you have enough light to see dim shapes. LEDs are costly, but I'm tired of needing a flashlight to find things in my own house!

It looks like the sale is over in Vermont (at least in Williston).

Anyone near DC you may want to take advantage of these while they are still on sale. As soon as they come back on sale in Vermont I plan on getting more.

 

[SPIKER]

Well after having the CFLs in the kitchen for a month, I went today and bought me some regular incandescent bulbs 4 boxes of 12 in 60watt and 75 watt and 2 boxes of 4 of 100watt bulbs. That is on top of the store of them we have now. I figure that should hold us over for 10 years and by then there SHOULD be some worth while LEDs. I know the CFLs are total junk for my old eyes so I don't have to worry about them for a while

I bought mine at Menards for 2.64/box of 12, and After the 11% rebate YA BABY the 100 Watts were more for only 4 bulbs but they are the double life rough service ones...

http://www.menards.com/main/electri...pose-light-bulbs-12-pack/p-1865768-c-7481.htm

Add here says 2.97 here (11% off in rebate=2.64) so some where around 2.82 w tax for 12 bulbs. So less than a quarter per bulb which should work well enough for a while...

Mark,