More efficient new LEDs now available, over 200lm/W

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in hardware on (#1B4TB)
story imageCree's newly announced XP-G3 model of LED delivers 31% more lumens (lm) and 8% higher lm/W than its predecessor. Offering over 205 lm/W at 350mA, this marks the first time commercially-available LEDs have exceed the efficiency of low-pressure sodium lamps, commonly found in municipal streetlights. OrangeTeK has already announced they are designing a new model of streetlight with XP-G3 LEDs. In practice, however, it's likely that most users of XP-G3 LEDs will run them at higher power with reduced efficiency, rather than install five times as many LEDs, due to price. Any efficiency improvements are good news, however, as numerous cities have already installed LED streetlights, and many more have plans in the works. This seems to be motivated by the whiter appearance of LEDs compared to sodium lights, which is ironically the major source of opposition from the public, who complain about LED streetlights keeping them up at night, among other concerns.

Philips had previously demonstrated 200lm/W LEDs, and claimed they'd be available to consumers by 2015, but a search of current products only reveals far less-efficient models. The XP-G3 is available for order right now. Cree has previously demonstrated LEDs in the lab that deliver up to 303 lm/W, which is half-way to the maximum theoretical efficiency of this technology. Estimates are that as much as one quarter of the world's electrical consumption is used for lighting. Most consumers could see significant savings just by switching to florescent or LED lights in the first place. About 50 percent of lights sold in the US are halogen incandescents, which are only one quarter as efficient as LEDs, have far shorter operational lifetimes, and cost about one quarter as much.

Great but (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2016-04-22 04:48 (#1BCH5)

We have a long way to go. It is an improvement that one light in the circuit doesn't blow the rest. That one socket can be replaced without affecting the others. The power config isn't good. Turning the light switch off doesn't actually turn off the power. Which can lead to current running through you if you change a bulb with the lightswitch off. That did not hurt, but it wasn't good. Then we have the problem of cost: 1 power cord per light is an upfront cost that can be borne, but the cost of replacing the power packs every couple of years adds up. I remember buying cheap ass $1 light bulbs for years and replacing them without hassle. Going through putting out the whole socket and buying a new transforming for every light in the house is starting to seriously piss me off. The way they churn through bulbs is a concern. The cost of the bulbs is a concern at what? $5 to $25 a bulb? Geez. That hurts. This room has 8 of them in the ceiling. Start multiplying. Yes, it is an improvement over halogen which quite frankly was a secondary heater in the house. There are still improvements to be made. One of them is not using springs with so much tension that they rip through the ceiling plasterboard when the socket is pulled down.
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