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LED There Be Light!

Posted April 03, 2009 7:04 AM

Touted as an emerging technology, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can offer a significant number of benefits including their lightweight structure, power efficiency, and durability. Although unresolved design challenges still threaten to delay their integration into end-user applications, electronics distributors are now stepping in to fill the LED design gap. Can LEDs make inroads in the energy efficient alternative market to compete with compact fluorescent lights? Could they replace the traditional incandescent bulb?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electronic Components, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electronic Components today.

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#1

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/03/2009 9:31 AM

Emerging my A$$, why has it take 30 years to get to the point I was creating designs for in my college years?

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#15
In reply to #1

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/06/2009 3:46 AM

I guess you guys know, I couldn't pass this one up, without commenting.. "LED is emerging technology and is still atleast 5 to 10 years for full replacement of other light sources currently in market" Not true at all... I have my wife convinced about 60% in my house now.. :o) GO LED "4. In LED there is no heat involved" I respectfully beg to disagree with you... Obviously you haven't removed one of those 18 watt, single chip LED floodlights made by Eiko yet... we did that at my customers the other day, and neither the worker, NOR I could handle that puppy.. It was every bit as HOT as a 100 watt incandescent light bulb, freshly turned off. "It is not ready yet to be in home like current bulb. LED chip is still in development. Made in china is not even close to be good and ready for conversion" Maybe You have had some trouble with "Made In China" as I certainly have had lately, however, to say, "Made in china is not even close to be good and ready for conversion" is to show your lack of knowledge as to what is Really going on in the manufacturing realm. Yes, China is actually Cree's largest customer, as well as China is Nichia's largest Customer, as well as China is SSC's largest customer... all leading LED Chip manufacturers.. So, if all of these top quality chip manufacturers, admit that China is their biggest customer, then how can anyone possibly make that statement?? Because of the unscrupulous makers of of "Copy" LED chips in China, let us not throw out the good with the bad.. I assure you, the majority of every finished LED product being sold in this world, is coming out of China.. Bear with me guys, just a little late reading this blog.. Donald

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#2

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/03/2009 10:02 AM

Uhhh, demand DWT?

And they have already made substantial inroads on incandescents in the portable field.

My 4 cell Maglight now lasts FOREVER as much as I want to use it since I switched to LED lamps. LEDS do have some quirks, but the improvement is worth it.

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#3
In reply to #2

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/03/2009 10:18 AM

You are correct there, back 30 years ago power was cheap, every thing was cheap, and no one thought much about conservation. It's all in the marketing.

I had one of those energy efficient compact flurescent bulbs die last night, and being the type I am, I had to take it apart. They may save energy but they are going to put a lot of nasty stuff into the land fills.

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#4
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/03/2009 11:17 AM

From what I had read on other blogs, they also throw a lot of nasty stuff back upstream in use, too.

And you couldn't possibly have had one die, they are supposed to last for years

One of the reasons I ceased using them in New Mexico (at 7,000 feet) was they were substantially affected by cold temps (warm up exceeded the time I needed it on) and the failure rate (perhaps unrelated to temps) was too high.

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#22
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/19/2009 3:41 AM

Moron, I am sick of hearing about people suggesting the chemicals being put back into the earth is a bad thing, it came from the earth and now we return it, yes it maybe in concentrated form but you would not go play in a mecury processing plant so why go play on a landfill... Everything comes from the earth(ground) it is just a sad mis-informed idiot that see a landfill and suggest it is toxic... Yes of course it is toxic just like the tailings pond in the extraction process for most metals ... But you green idiots never visit that far outside your suburb...

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#23
In reply to #22

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/24/2009 5:33 PM

Are you afraid that someone might know who you are 'Guest'? Not all of these toxins 'came from the earth', in fact a great many of the chemicals found in our landfills don't exist in nature... maybe you should consider what you're saying before you go around anonymously denigrating intelligent and informed people...

I say not only have you just qualified yourself as an idiot and a moron, but also as a complete and cowardly a$$hole to boot.

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#25
In reply to #23

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/25/2009 3:14 AM

Good Post. Well said.

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#31
In reply to #23

Re: LED There Be Light!

05/24/2009 1:06 AM

You are right on the money. Just another nameless AH.

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#5

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/04/2009 2:06 AM

Just bought a LED spot light bulb replacement for our Flag pole.

Replacing a 100 watt incandescent with a 2 watt = to a 40 watt florescent. I think the marketing is a bit of a stretch but I won't be so irritated by my Dad's flying the flag 24hrs a day at 100 watts. The Bulb has 95 LEDs in it.

At 4 watts that is 24 times less power usage.

Next I'm looking into replacing my reading lamp with LEDs. Like the lamp but not the fluorescents.

If I ever get the time I think some really cool chandeliers could be made using LEDs, a whole new art form of lighting yet to be explored.

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#16
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/06/2009 5:29 AM

You have a flag pole? Do you shoot popinjay?

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#17
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/07/2009 1:54 PM

No we have something better. A Euro import called Starlings, year round moving targets. So we have popinstarlings.

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#18
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/08/2009 6:12 PM

I bet they make a better stew then popinjay too... no amount of ketchup can cover that woody pinetar taste

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#6

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/04/2009 8:36 AM

LED is emerging technology and is still atleast 5 to 10 years for full replacement of other light sources currently in market.

LED conversts more than 95% Electrical energy to light energy. Since the conversion is from electron to photon and few saving which is worth noting are

1. No more hot glass and heating room in summer t run aircondition to cool down the house

2. There is only 40% power utilization on conversion of electricity to light and same

3. The bulb is rum under vacuum and because of thin glass shell there is vertual vacuum degradation and eventually wire which when got hot provided heat gets oxidized and is called burned out bulb

4. In LED there is no heat involved

5. LED chip is electronic system

6. When electricity supplied it emits light photon and few things are

7. Light emittingwill need additional items like light diffuser and spreader.

8. Light is generated by chips and chip is based on p/n junction so it is based on having uniformity on die adhesive, pin holes and other common defects

Masyood

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#7

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/04/2009 4:35 PM

There is nothing emergent about LED technology anymore. Even in the highly proprietary and cash strapped world of theatrical lighting, LED's are becoming commonplace. This is significant since as an industry theater is usually 10+ years behind the curve on new technology application because our systems are proprietary by design and our market is nearly non-existant in the eyes of the manufacturing sector.

The only thing left to do is start stocking the shelves at your local store with products that are already on the market which won't happen unless you go in and demand it; especially since the average consumer isn't used to thinking about potential savings over periods of 10 years or more and these lamps are anything but cheap.

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#8
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/04/2009 4:56 PM

It is not ready yet to be in home like current bulb. LED chip is still in development. Made in china is not even close to be good and ready for conversion

Masyood

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#9
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/04/2009 5:45 PM

I grant you that there may not be a replacement for every lamp type yet, but most standard household lamps can adequately be replaced with a standard LED lamp now.

http://www.ledtronics.com/products/cat1.aspx?P=C0D8

I am aware that there are manufacturing infrastructure issues and pollution issues etc... but the simple fact is you can get an LED to replace your incandescent bulbs in most cases and the only way we're going to move beyond this level is for consumers to get involved by purchasing the products so that the manufacturers have an income base to invest in R&D.

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#10
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/04/2009 5:55 PM

I will not do that yet. I was not first to buy flat panel since was fully aware the draw backs and the life issue and when reliability went up I end up buying for each room. LED bulb is not there yet. It is CREE who is still working on LED chips and give few more year

Masyood

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#27
In reply to #9

Re: LED There Be Light!

05/21/2009 11:53 AM

I now started working on new technology for lighting and is more exciting than LED. This technology does not have decay problem because of increase in temperature. It is more efficient and is based on pure concept of material science.

I am hoping to put this in hand of every one since it is purely based on MEMS technology which is well understood in world of semiconductor and Fab world of electronic manufacturing.

This is based on materials and is from www.globalappiedmaterials.com

Masyood

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#28
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Re: LED There Be Light!

05/22/2009 12:47 AM

Your link is faulty.....

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#29
In reply to #28

Re: LED There Be Light!

05/22/2009 6:25 AM

I am sorry this is my mistake and is actually typo and sorry for inconvenience. The site is www.globalappliedmaterials.com

This company is in the business of making materials at higher end of electronic, component and product development. If I can do any thing let me know what you wanted to know

Masyood Akhtar Ph.D

Masyood@gmail.com

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#30
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Re: LED There Be Light!

05/22/2009 12:54 PM

Its probably not a good idea at this time to go there, a further problem is that the PRODUCTS link is broken.......

Let us know if and when the site works as it should.

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#11

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/05/2009 3:40 AM

I know that CFLs are not appreciated by some people who can "see" the 50 or 60 Hz frequency "pulsing" of the light. (Lucky for me I do not!)

I saw an article some years ago which claimed that some CFLs can also be driven with DC to stop that....But do not ask me which, if any, can be so driven today please....

Just a thought in passing.........

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#12
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/05/2009 3:32 PM

Andy, I disagree that this comment is off-topic. I think CFL's are very much a part in the equation as are the various incandescent and arc lamps. Each has it's place in the greater scheme and what we really need to do is find the balance between them. We have to factor manufacturing cost, maintenance cost, replacement cost, heat output, wavelength output, disposal issues, external temperature effects, aesthetic concerns...

I personally feel that LED's effectively deal with more of these issues then any other single light source. I am one of the people that can see the pulsing in flourescents, though there seem to have been dramatic improvements in limiting this issue, or maybe I've become less susceptible. My main issue with fluorescents is that they are still not very power efficient compared to LED's and they produce huge quanities of troublesome waste (mmm... mercury) not that LED's are clean, they just last a decade or so longer. CFL's have more 'landfill' issues then tubes, but tubes are more difficult to replace and ballasts do die eventually.

Like I say, this is a bigger issue then flickering and power consumption, and as far as I'm concerned your comment was right on topic.

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#13
In reply to #12

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/05/2009 3:51 PM

Many thanks.

I have done just what you mentioned in your post, I have CFLs where they work best and LEDs for the rest - almost! Only our lounge has a few Halogen lamps still, but CFL replacements are planned.....

By the way, where the CFLs take a second or two to start properly, I also fit LEDs as well, some instant light till the CFL is "online"! It works fine......

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#14
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/05/2009 5:26 PM

Every technology has good and bad embeded. LED is based on electronic chips and based on generation in production it has arsenic, gallium, vanadium and other heavy metal. and disposal of this also needs to be consider.

I have been in third world and solar is getting popular but we are also creating waste dump which we will pay price after 15 years since we are dumping silicon with silver, lead and aluminum

We do need balancing of technology benefit and associated risk.

When I look all technology my feeling is it is time for

1. conventional lighting system needs to go.

2. New technology needs to be assessed and impliment

3. Technology which is close to implimentation is solar if we find how to take care of the disposal and we not only sale but train the people how to collect the broken and unuse part

4. Next technology is LED which still need time to be reliable and dependable.

5. Any other technology like galliumor silicon light source

Masyood

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#19

Re: LED There Be Light!

04/16/2009 12:44 AM

I am a retired old geezer trying to occupy my time with photovoltaic led applications. I have been stripping landscape lighting for the led assemblies and applying them to other applications. Currently I am combining a solar led assembly with a mason jar that I have frosted by sandblasting. I have been looking for a distributor that deals in small numbers, 100 units or less, to purchase the solar assemblies from. So far I have had no luck.

I have also been looking for a variety of solar led assemblies to apply to different glass products, jars, vases, bottles etc. I'm in the geezer tinkerer price range as well. I'm currently buying solar landscape lights individually from True Value Hardware $5.00 for a two light system, Menards $3.00 for a single led system, and WalMart $4.00 for their single led diode system.

If anyone has any knowledge that would point Buzz the Geez in the right direction to acquire solar led assemblies with rechargable batteries I would be appreciative.

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#20
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/16/2009 2:17 PM

Buzz the Geez (Love that name!), try the organization at www.freecycle.org. Once you have identified, and joined, your local group(s), put out a few items you wish to give away, and then put up a wanted for led lighting systems. Sure, you'll get some junked ones, but usually only one component of the system is bad, and you can salvage everything else. And I have found myriad stuff no one wants that amazes me. I design and build robotic projects with kids, and am always in need of switches, motors, batteries, etc. Most of the stuff (not batteries, though) can be best found, in REALLY HIGH QUALITY, in printers, scanners, copiers, all in ones, etc., and I have found more of those than I can keep up with, fully functional, being given away. I don't even put out wanteds on them, they just keep showing up. I hadn't thought of scavenging LED sidewalk and yard lights, solar powered flashlights, etc, but I need those kinds of parts, also, so I'm off to follow my own advice. I don't know your home 20, but I'm pretty sure we won't be in competition for parts. At least not so you'll notice. Let me know how it goes for you.

Micah

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#21
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/16/2009 11:54 PM

Thanks Micahd02. I will take your advice and see what I can come up with.

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#24
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Re: LED There Be Light!

04/24/2009 11:37 PM

Good news LED mini solar lights at Menards go on sale for 2 for $5.00

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#26

Re: LED There Be Light!

05/21/2009 11:19 AM

I'm involved in the industrial end of it, but LED lighting is sweet. It can even look good, check out the task lighting at Waldmann. I'll be using LED's from now on.

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#32

Re: LED There Be Light!

05/24/2009 1:28 AM

I have been searching for a better spotlight for fire equipment for many years.I have used HID lights from JW Speakers, and Hella as well as halogens from Havis Shield. But recently I bolted a LED spotlight on that was made by Grote. It is called Trilliant. Not cheap, but dramatically better than every other light I have ever tried.

I recently put a pair of Led narrow flood lights in the house. I was impressed with the light output, but there was more heat than I expected. Each of them has 3 LEDs built in.

This week I saw where Sam's Club is selling LED household replacements bulbs. The time is approaching.

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