CFLs or LEDs for domestic lights?

D

Don McKenzie

Guest
A few months back, I was reading about a four foot PCB of LEDs that replaced a standard florescent tube. Two prongs on
each end, the same as a tube. All you needed to do, was remove the starter. Wiring out the ballast is optional.
But the cost ~$80AUD :-(

Like most people on this list :)-)), I reckon I was one of the first to use a CFL. A great big clunker built like a
tank, I reckon 20-25 years ago, and for about $27AUD each. Naturally, I like to try new technologies first. As always,
it costs me more money. Being a technology pioneer isn't cheap.

My very good friend Mick got some smaller LED fittings from Dealextreme in honkers, for his 12V down light system. He
was that pleased with them, he put me onto a few others that they have for more conventional domestic fittings.

I just ordered some of these, I wanted something that was physically equivalent to what I was replacing, so I could best
judge apples with apples:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42332
E27 3W 42-LED Energy Saving LED Light Bulb - White (220V)
Price: $7.92 free shipping
3W, but the review reckons they are equiv to 8 to 12w CFL.

Mick just ordered these to try:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.47784
B22 3W 18-SMD 5050 LED White Light Bulb (220V)
Price: $5.80 free shipping

I may try a few of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34393
E27 2W 38-LED White Light Energy Saving Light Bulb (220V AC)
Price: $4.44 free shipping

WOW!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48872
7W 131-LED 6000K 1100-Lumen White LED Down Light (220V~240V)
Price: $19.40 free shipping

From Mick:
I have these in the Kitchen
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30825
They are every bit as bright as the 50w halogens and a lot better... The light is WHITE Not yellow and are wide spread
not narrow beam like Halogen.
Best thing I did.... I replaced 6 x 50W halogen (300w) with 6 x 3.8W (23w) LED and much better result...
To power them I used a 12V 5A power supply
....Cant find it on DX at moment but standard 12V 5a laptop type plug pack thingo...

Hunt around, there are quite a few different types.

BTW, if you order 3, you get a better price.

Are they any good?
Are they as bright?
Will they last as long or longer?
Will they use less power?
Can you use a dimmer?
Insert more questions here...

I know a lot of users are very disappointed with CFLs.

Please let me know how you get on.

Cheers Don...

=====================

--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
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USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
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These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
 
Don McKenzie wrote:
A few months back, I was reading about a four foot PCB of LEDs that
replaced a standard florescent tube. Two prongs on each end, the same
as a tube. All you needed to do, was remove the starter. Wiring out
the ballast is optional. But the cost ~$80AUD :-(

Like most people on this list :)-)), I reckon I was one of the first
to use a CFL. A great big clunker built like a tank, I reckon 20-25
years ago, and for about $27AUD each. Naturally, I like to try new
technologies first. As always, it costs me more money. Being a
technology pioneer isn't cheap.
My very good friend Mick got some smaller LED fittings from
Dealextreme in honkers, for his 12V down light system. He was that
pleased with them, he put me onto a few others that they have for
more conventional domestic fittings.
I just ordered some of these, I wanted something that was physically
equivalent to what I was replacing, so I could best judge apples with
apples: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42332
E27 3W 42-LED Energy Saving LED Light Bulb - White (220V)
Price: $7.92 free shipping
3W, but the review reckons they are equiv to 8 to 12w CFL.

Mick just ordered these to try:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.47784
B22 3W 18-SMD 5050 LED White Light Bulb (220V)
Price: $5.80 free shipping

I may try a few of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34393
E27 2W 38-LED White Light Energy Saving Light Bulb (220V AC)
Price: $4.44 free shipping

WOW!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48872
7W 131-LED 6000K 1100-Lumen White LED Down Light (220V~240V)
Price: $19.40 free shipping

From Mick:
I have these in the Kitchen
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30825
They are every bit as bright as the 50w halogens and a lot better...
The light is WHITE Not yellow and are wide spread not narrow beam
like Halogen. Best thing I did.... I replaced 6 x 50W halogen (300w) with
6 x 3.8W
(23w) LED and much better result... To power them I used a 12V 5A power
supply
...Cant find it on DX at moment but standard 12V 5a laptop type plug
pack thingo...
Hunt around, there are quite a few different types.

BTW, if you order 3, you get a better price.

Are they any good?
Are they as bright?
Will they last as long or longer?
Will they use less power?
Can you use a dimmer?
Insert more questions here...

I know a lot of users are very disappointed with CFLs.

Please let me know how you get on.

Cheers Don...

=====================
Click to expand...
**Thanks for the feedback Don. I've been looking at some of these
Dealextreme LEDs and wondered about their quality and quantity of light
output. I deperately want to get rid of my halogen downlights. They are
incredibly short-lived and power-hungry lighting.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au
 
On 20-Nov-10 7:54 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:

**Thanks for the feedback Don. I've been looking at some of these
Dealextreme LEDs and wondered about their quality and quantity of light
output. I deperately want to get rid of my halogen downlights. They are
incredibly short-lived and power-hungry lighting.
Click to expand...
I figure if they are half as good as they sound, CFLs and halogen down lights will go the way of betamax
recorders.(What-who?)

And look at Mick's power savings. 300W verses 23W, if the ratings are correct. Sure it really needs to be measured
accurately, but it sounds good at this point.

And what about the pink bat scandal. May not have lost all those houses in fires, due to heat in the down lights.
Makes you wonder just a little.

You now see LEDs in traffic lights, autos, etc, etc. I must have 37 million of them looking at me right now.
And that's just my modem and router. :)

Now they will be looking down at my bald head.

Cheers Don...

========================


--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
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On 20-Nov-10 8:10 AM, Don McKenzie wrote:

Just found the best category view:
http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.907

However there is 11 pages of them :)

Cheers Don...

========================


--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
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These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
 
Don McKenzie wrote:
On 20-Nov-10 7:54 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:

**Thanks for the feedback Don. I've been looking at some of these
Dealextreme LEDs and wondered about their quality and quantity of
light output. I deperately want to get rid of my halogen downlights.
They are incredibly short-lived and power-hungry lighting.

I figure if they are half as good as they sound, CFLs and halogen
down lights will go the way of betamax recorders.(What-who?)
Click to expand...
**I still have two Betamax machines. I get excellent returns hiring them
out. All these people with their wedding videos stored on Beta tapes. :)

And look at Mick's power savings. 300W verses 23W, if the ratings are
correct. Sure it really needs to be measured accurately, but it
sounds good at this point.
Click to expand...
**By my figuring, a standard 50W downlight should produce around 1,200
Lumen. The cited downlight is a long way short of that (300 Lumen). I reckon
I could survive with around 600 Lumen per downlight. With best technology,
that would mean around 5 Watts/LED downlight. Realistically, I guess 10
Watts should be obtainable at a modest cost. I'll scour the Dealextreme site
for suitable candidates.

And what about the pink bat scandal. May not have lost all those
houses in fires, due to heat in the down lights. Makes you wonder
just a little.
Click to expand...
**Wonder? Not at all. The fault lies fairly and squarely with the con-men
who did not train their people properly. I hope they get sued into oblivion.
Bastards. It ain't rocket science. It's been known for decades that you
don't cover light fittings with insulation material.

You now see LEDs in traffic lights, autos, etc, etc. I must have 37
million of them looking at me right now. And that's just my modem and
router. :)

Now they will be looking down at my bald head.
Click to expand...
**Yup.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au
 
Don McKenzie wrote:
On 20-Nov-10 7:54 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:

**Thanks for the feedback Don. I've been looking at some of these
Dealextreme LEDs and wondered about their quality and quantity of
light output. I deperately want to get rid of my halogen downlights.
They are incredibly short-lived and power-hungry lighting.

I figure if they are half as good as they sound, CFLs and halogen
down lights will go the way of betamax recorders.(What-who?)

And look at Mick's power savings. 300W verses 23W, if the ratings are
correct. Sure it really needs to be measured accurately, but it
sounds good at this point.
And what about the pink bat scandal. May not have lost all those
houses in fires, due to heat in the down lights. Makes you wonder
just a little.
You now see LEDs in traffic lights, autos, etc, etc. I must have 37
million of them looking at me right now. And that's just my modem and router. :)

Now they will be looking down at my bald head.
Click to expand...
They'll probably grow massive cancers on it |-(
 
Don McKenzie wrote:
A few months back, I was reading about a four foot PCB of LEDs that
replaced a standard florescent tube. Two prongs on each end, the same as
a tube. All you needed to do, was remove the starter. Wiring out the
ballast is optional.
But the cost ~$80AUD :-(

Like most people on this list :)-)), I reckon I was one of the first to
use a CFL. A great big clunker built like a tank, I reckon 20-25 years
ago, and for about $27AUD each. Naturally, I like to try new
technologies first. As always, it costs me more money. Being a
technology pioneer isn't cheap.

My very good friend Mick got some smaller LED fittings from Dealextreme
in honkers, for his 12V down light system. He was that pleased with
them, he put me onto a few others that they have for more conventional
domestic fittings.

I just ordered some of these, I wanted something that was physically
equivalent to what I was replacing, so I could best judge apples with
apples:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42332
E27 3W 42-LED Energy Saving LED Light Bulb - White (220V)
Price: $7.92 free shipping
3W, but the review reckons they are equiv to 8 to 12w CFL.

Mick just ordered these to try:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.47784
B22 3W 18-SMD 5050 LED White Light Bulb (220V)
Price: $5.80 free shipping

I may try a few of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34393
E27 2W 38-LED White Light Energy Saving Light Bulb (220V AC)
Price: $4.44 free shipping

WOW!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48872
7W 131-LED 6000K 1100-Lumen White LED Down Light (220V~240V)
Price: $19.40 free shipping

From Mick:
I have these in the Kitchen
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30825
They are every bit as bright as the 50w halogens and a lot better... The
light is WHITE Not yellow and are wide spread not narrow beam like Halogen.
Best thing I did.... I replaced 6 x 50W halogen (300w) with 6 x 3.8W
(23w) LED and much better result...
To power them I used a 12V 5A power supply
...Cant find it on DX at moment but standard 12V 5a laptop type plug
pack thingo...

Hunt around, there are quite a few different types.

BTW, if you order 3, you get a better price.

Are they any good?
Are they as bright?
Will they last as long or longer?
Will they use less power?
Can you use a dimmer?
Insert more questions here...

I know a lot of users are very disappointed with CFLs.

Please let me know how you get on.

Cheers Don...

=====================

Do they need a dc supply?
Click to expand...
 
On 20-Nov-10 1:59 PM, Rod Speed wrote:

Now they will be looking down at my bald head.

They'll probably grow massive cancers on it |-(
Click to expand...
The sky falling in may beat them to it chicken little :)

Cheers Don...

====================


--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
 
On 20/11/2010 12:59 PM, Rod Speed wrote:
Now they will be looking down at my bald head.

They'll probably grow massive cancers on it |-(
Click to expand...
explaining the unsightly lump on your shoulders woddles

--
X-No-Archive: Yes
 
"Don McKenzie" <5V@2.5A> wrote in message
news:8ko2fpF4noU1@mid.individual.net...
A few months back, I was reading about a four foot PCB of LEDs that
replaced a standard florescent tube. Two prongs on each end, the same as a
tube. All you needed to do, was remove the starter. Wiring out the ballast
is optional.
But the cost ~$80AUD :-(

Like most people on this list :)-)), I reckon I was one of the first to
use a CFL. A great big clunker built like a tank, I reckon 20-25 years
ago, and for about $27AUD each. Naturally, I like to try new technologies
first. As always, it costs me more money. Being a technology pioneer isn't
cheap.

My very good friend Mick got some smaller LED fittings from Dealextreme in
honkers, for his 12V down light system. He was that pleased with them, he
put me onto a few others that they have for more conventional domestic
fittings.

I just ordered some of these, I wanted something that was physically
equivalent to what I was replacing, so I could best judge apples with
apples:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42332
E27 3W 42-LED Energy Saving LED Light Bulb - White (220V)
Price: $7.92 free shipping
3W, but the review reckons they are equiv to 8 to 12w CFL.

Mick just ordered these to try:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.47784
B22 3W 18-SMD 5050 LED White Light Bulb (220V)
Price: $5.80 free shipping

I may try a few of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34393
E27 2W 38-LED White Light Energy Saving Light Bulb (220V AC)
Price: $4.44 free shipping

WOW!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48872
7W 131-LED 6000K 1100-Lumen White LED Down Light (220V~240V)
Price: $19.40 free shipping

From Mick:
I have these in the Kitchen
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30825
They are every bit as bright as the 50w halogens and a lot better... The
light is WHITE Not yellow and are wide spread not narrow beam like
Halogen.
Best thing I did.... I replaced 6 x 50W halogen (300w) with 6 x 3.8W
(23w) LED and much better result...
To power them I used a 12V 5A power supply
...Cant find it on DX at moment but standard 12V 5a laptop type plug pack
thingo...

Hunt around, there are quite a few different types.

BTW, if you order 3, you get a better price.

Are they any good?
Are they as bright?
Will they last as long or longer?
Will they use less power?
Can you use a dimmer?
Insert more questions here...
Click to expand...
* Is all this really worth all the hassle and expense? After all you don't
retain the 'character' of the old 'pearlies'.
I'm sticking with the olduns.

I know a lot of users are very disappointed with CFLs.

Please let me know how you get on.

Cheers Don...

=====================

--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
Click to expand...
 
Gday Trevor,

And look at Mick's power savings. 300W verses 23W, if the ratings are
correct. Sure it really needs to be measured accurately, but it
sounds good at this point.

**By my figuring, a standard 50W downlight should produce around 1,200
Lumen. The cited downlight is a long way short of that (300 Lumen). I reckon
I could survive with around 600 Lumen per downlight. With best technology,
that would mean around 5 Watts/LED downlight. Realistically, I guess 10
Watts should be obtainable at a modest cost. I'll scour the Dealextreme site
for suitable candidates.
Click to expand...
I dont have a lux meter or anything but my perception after replacing 6
x 50w Halogen with 6 x the following

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30825

made little perceptable brightness on the overall effect but the `fill'
was magnificent (just like flouro bar light)the 6 x halogen were very
directional and actually created `shadows' where the light did not light
as well. (my ceilings are 9 foot).

The bulbs I chose I hoped would just replace the halogen as they have
prinetd AC/DC but under AC with the standard 12V transformer they had an
annoy blink that I could not live with. I bought a DC transformer that
the lighting shop said would drive 10 LED downlights but was only 12w so
that wouldnt do so I used a 12v 5A samsung power pack and the result is
brilliant.. The kitchen area feels much brighter than with halogens and
the light is WHITE not YELLOW that the halogens spit out.

I dont believe that the difference between them are from 300-1200 Lumen
unless this is a very logrithmic scale as they are comparable, esp when
you consider the `fill' or light spread from the LED downlights.

Mikko
 
On 20/11/2010 3:27 PM, Metro wrote:
"Don McKenzie"<5V@2.5A> wrote in message
news:8ko2fpF4noU1@mid.individual.net...

A few months back, I was reading about a four foot PCB of LEDs that
replaced a standard florescent tube. Two prongs on each end, the same as a
tube. All you needed to do, was remove the starter. Wiring out the ballast
is optional.
But the cost ~$80AUD :-(

Like most people on this list :)-)), I reckon I was one of the first to
use a CFL. A great big clunker built like a tank, I reckon 20-25 years
ago, and for about $27AUD each. Naturally, I like to try new technologies
first. As always, it costs me more money. Being a technology pioneer isn't
cheap.

My very good friend Mick got some smaller LED fittings from Dealextreme in
honkers, for his 12V down light system. He was that pleased with them, he
put me onto a few others that they have for more conventional domestic
fittings.

I just ordered some of these, I wanted something that was physically
equivalent to what I was replacing, so I could best judge apples with
apples:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42332
E27 3W 42-LED Energy Saving LED Light Bulb - White (220V)
Price: $7.92 free shipping
3W, but the review reckons they are equiv to 8 to 12w CFL.

Mick just ordered these to try:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.47784
B22 3W 18-SMD 5050 LED White Light Bulb (220V)
Price: $5.80 free shipping

I may try a few of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34393
E27 2W 38-LED White Light Energy Saving Light Bulb (220V AC)
Price: $4.44 free shipping

WOW!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48872
7W 131-LED 6000K 1100-Lumen White LED Down Light (220V~240V)
Price: $19.40 free shipping

From Mick:
I have these in the Kitchen
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30825
They are every bit as bright as the 50w halogens and a lot better... The
light is WHITE Not yellow and are wide spread not narrow beam like
Halogen.
Best thing I did.... I replaced 6 x 50W halogen (300w) with 6 x 3.8W
(23w) LED and much better result...
To power them I used a 12V 5A power supply
...Cant find it on DX at moment but standard 12V 5a laptop type plug pack
thingo...

Hunt around, there are quite a few different types.

BTW, if you order 3, you get a better price.

Are they any good?
Are they as bright?
Will they last as long or longer?
Will they use less power?
Can you use a dimmer?
Insert more questions here...

* Is all this really worth all the hassle and expense? After all you don't
retain the 'character' of the old 'pearlies'.
I'm sticking with the olduns.


We have a completely led household and although a longish return
Click to expand...

the savings are there and I like the pure white , even the 2 watt in
my Maglite is

excellent and goes close to 100 hours between charges


--
X-No-Archive: Yes
 
On Nov 20, 5:46 am, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:
A few months back, I was reading about a four foot PCB of LEDs that replaced a standard florescent tube. Two prongs on
each end, the same as a tube. All you needed to do, was remove the starter. Wiring out the ballast is optional.
But the cost ~$80AUD :-(

Like most people on this list :)-)), I reckon I was one of the first to use a CFL. A great big clunker built like a
tank, I reckon 20-25 years ago, and for about $27AUD each. Naturally, I like to try new technologies first. As always,
it costs me more money. Being a technology pioneer isn't cheap.

My very good friend Mick got some smaller LED fittings from Dealextreme in honkers, for his 12V down light system. He
was that pleased with them, he put me onto a few others that they have for more conventional domestic fittings.

I just ordered some of these, I wanted something that was physically equivalent to what I was replacing, so I could best
judge apples with apples:http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42332
E27 3W 42-LED Energy Saving LED Light Bulb - White (220V)
Price: $7.92 free shipping
3W, but the review reckons they are equiv to 8 to 12w CFL.

Mick just ordered these to try:http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.47784
B22 3W 18-SMD 5050 LED White Light Bulb (220V)
Price: $5.80 free shipping

I may try a few of these:http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34393
E27 2W 38-LED White Light Energy Saving Light Bulb (220V AC)
Price: $4.44 free shipping

WOW!http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48872
7W 131-LED 6000K 1100-Lumen White LED Down Light (220V~240V)
Price: $19.40 free shipping

 From Mick:
I have these in the Kitchenhttp://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30825
They are every bit as bright as the 50w halogens and a lot better... The light is WHITE Not yellow and are wide spread
not narrow beam like Halogen.
Best thing I did....  I replaced 6 x 50W halogen (300w) with 6 x 3.8W (23w) LED and much better result...
To power them I used a 12V 5A power supply
...Cant find  it on DX at moment but standard 12V 5a laptop type plug pack thingo...

Hunt around, there are quite a few different types.

BTW, if you order 3, you get a better price.

Are they any good?
Are they as bright?
Will they last as long or longer?
Will they use less power?
Can you use a dimmer?
Insert more questions here...

I know a lot of users are very disappointed with CFLs.

Please let me know how you get on.

Cheers Don...

====================
--
Don McKenzie

Site Map:            http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page:http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page:    http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam:  http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptophttp://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
Click to expand...


While it sounds great (and Im sure the technology is well on the way
to being standard for most lighting) I would be careful with any of
these Chinese 240v LED lights.

A friend had some sample Chinese LED lights for various types of
fitting and from different manufacturers brought to him by a guy in
the same industrial complex, having plans to import and sell them.
One type was intended to replace those warehouse type high wattage
fittings with the funnel shaped reflector on front that give a very
bright white light (I don't know what type of bulb these use or what
they are called in the trade).

One of them the internal PCB caught fire after a few hours, and after
this, all were cut open and inspected. In every case they were poorly
designed, would not pass any electrical safety, and in the ones with
the metal back, there was serious risk of mains contacting the
unearthed metal. The plans at importing were scrapped as a result.
The units looked very well made and good quality from the outside.

After that PCB fire - I would advise taking at least one sample unit
apart and giving them the once over before installing a lot of them in
your house.
 
On 21-Nov-10 12:28 AM, kreed wrote:

One of them the internal PCB caught fire after a few hours, and after
this, all were cut open and inspected. In every case they were poorly
designed, would not pass any electrical safety, and in the ones with
the metal back, there was serious risk of mains contacting the
unearthed metal. The plans at importing were scrapped as a result.
The units looked very well made and good quality from the outside.

After that PCB fire - I would advise taking at least one sample unit
apart and giving them the once over before installing a lot of them in
your house.
Click to expand...
and that is the main reason I purchased 3 for a trial, and not a house full. :)

Like most people that buy direct out of China these days, I have had some real rubbish, and dealextreme goods are no
exception. I half expect 1 or more to be unserviceable. If all 3 work, it will be a bonus.

If these prove successful in principal, and I believe they will, then we will eventually get some quality controlled
units landed here, but with middlemen prices of course.

Then with popularity, as manufacturing prices go down, and quality goes up, hopefully we will see a decent range of LED
lighting products at reasonable prices. So the cycle goes on to then next big technology change.

Cheers Don...

======================

--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
 
On 21-Nov-10 11:48 AM, kreed wrote:

The tube is not exposed like modern CFL but is inside what looks like
a glass jar, and takes a couple of minutes to come on properly.
22 or so years on both still work well.
Click to expand...
Yep, they are the ones. You basically had to be in the trade initially, as you could only get them at places like
Middendorfs (now middys http://www.middys.com.au/) trade counter.

I threw a working one out about a month ago to save the grand kids doing it when I fall off the perch. Possibly a
mistake. But you can't hoard everything.

I reckon it was between 22 and 25 years ago when I got mine, as I know who I was with at the time of purchase, and he
(Fred) has been retired for 22+ years now.

Cheers Don...


--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
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These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
 
On Nov 21, 5:22 am, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:
On 21-Nov-10 12:28 AM, kreed wrote:

One of them the internal PCB caught fire after a few hours, and after
this, all were cut open and inspected.  In every case they were poorly
designed, would not pass any electrical safety, and in the ones with
the metal back, there was serious risk of mains contacting the
unearthed metal.  The plans at importing were scrapped as a result.
The units looked very well made and good quality from the outside.

After that PCB fire - I would advise taking at least one sample unit
apart and giving them the once over before installing a lot of them in
your house.

and that is the main reason I purchased 3 for a trial, and not a house full. :)

Like most people that buy direct out of China these days, I have had some real rubbish, and dealextreme goods are no
exception. I half expect 1 or more to be unserviceable. If all 3 work, it will be a bonus.

If these prove successful in principal, and I believe they will, then we will eventually get some quality controlled
units landed here, but with middlemen prices of course.

Then with popularity, as manufacturing prices go down, and quality goes up, hopefully we will see a decent range of LED
lighting products at reasonable prices. So the cycle goes on to then next big technology change.
Click to expand...
That is how the cycle seems to go.

Give it another 5 years and we will probably see racks of these LED
lights at every supermarket for a few bucks each -
just like how CFL have evolved to where they are now.




BTW a friend has a couple of those early CFL's that sound like what
you mention.

The tube is not exposed like modern CFL but is inside what looks like
a glass jar, and takes a couple of minutes to come on properly.
22 or so years on both still work well.







Cheers Don...

=====================
--
Don McKenzie

Site Map:            http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page:http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page:    http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam:  http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptophttp://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
Click to expand...
 
"kreed" <kenreed1999@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:df35a529-d570-4559-8099-cbece761c5b1@r6g2000vbf.googlegroups.com...
BTW a friend has a couple of those early CFL's that sound like what
you mention.
The tube is not exposed like modern CFL but is inside what looks like
a glass jar, and takes a couple of minutes to come on properly.
22 or so years on both still work well.
Click to expand...
Sounds like the expensive Phillips units I had 20 years ago. Didn't last
long at all for me however. I'm astounded that any lasted 22 years, are they
ever actually turned on, or were they stored for 20 of those 22 years
perhaps?

MrT.
 
On 21-Nov-10 12:49 PM, Mr.T wrote:

Sounds like the expensive Phillips units I had 20 years ago. Didn't last
long at all for me however. I'm astounded that any lasted 22 years, are they
ever actually turned on, or were they stored for 20 of those 22 years
perhaps?
Click to expand...
Phillips, correct :)

Had one outside for a little while, but it was replaced by one of those movement sensor 2 by 500w fittings, so it didn't
see a lot of service, and put on the shelf until I binned it a month or two back.

I must admit, the others I had, expired very quickly. What a disappointment.
Sounds like most people at that time would have had a similar experience with them.

Cheers Don...



--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
 
On Nov 21, 11:49 am, "Mr.T" <MrT@home> wrote:
"kreed" <kenreed1...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:df35a529-d570-4559-8099-cbece761c5b1@r6g2000vbf.googlegroups.com...

BTW a friend has a couple of those early CFL's that sound like what
you mention.
The tube is not exposed like modern CFL but is inside what looks like
a glass jar, and takes a couple of minutes to come on properly.
22 or so years on both still work well.

Sounds like the expensive Phillips units I had 20 years ago. Didn't last
long at all for me however. I'm astounded that any lasted 22 years, are they
ever actually turned on, or were they stored for 20 of those 22 years
perhaps?

MrT.
Click to expand...



These ones would have been about 1986-7, were Philips and he got them
through
his workplace out of technical interest as they were a new thing, they
weren't retail.

I remember thinking at the time that it was a silly idea compared
to just installing a standard fluro batten which at the time was
around $10 including tube
(which could be replaced for a couple of bucks when it failed)

There was also a mentality at the time that things were to be repaired
when they failed too and
throwing away the entire CFL rather than change the tube was
'ridiculous' :)


At least one the lights would be used daily, one is in the garage and
turned on at night (probably not for a long time) and
the other is at the front door outside light.
 
On 11/21/2010 11:14 AM, kreed wrote:
On Nov 21, 11:49 am, "Mr.T"<MrT@home> wrote:
"kreed"<kenreed1...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:df35a529-d570-4559-8099-cbece761c5b1@r6g2000vbf.googlegroups.com...

BTW a friend has a couple of those early CFL's that sound like what
you mention.
The tube is not exposed like modern CFL but is inside what looks like
a glass jar, and takes a couple of minutes to come on properly.
22 or so years on both still work well.

Sounds like the expensive Phillips units I had 20 years ago. Didn't last
long at all for me however. I'm astounded that any lasted 22 years, are they
ever actually turned on, or were they stored for 20 of those 22 years
perhaps?

MrT.




These ones would have been about 1986-7, were Philips and he got them
through
his workplace out of technical interest as they were a new thing, they
weren't retail.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I have one of those Phillips, been on the front light from the
garage door operator for about 25 years now. Would be turned on daily at
least.
Ahhh ! they just don't make 'em like they used ta !!

Cheers ........... Rheillt P
 
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