Has anyone heard anything about LED lights as an alternative to incandescant/CFLs?

Question

These would be so awesome, but they only shine light in one direction, not all over like other bulbs.

Any new technology I don't know about?

Any thoughts?

Answer 1

From what ive read LEDs are not as efficient as they have been advertized to be.  While a sinlge LED is very very efficient, in order to use them for lighting your house, lightbulbs are being made with clusters of LEDs together.  The more LEDs the brighter the bulb and the less efficient.  Standard flourescent tube bulbs are still the most efficient lighting available.  They are now sold in daylight balanced versions so you dont have to look at the nasty green flourescent light!  Compact Flourescents are the second in efficiency, with LEDs right behind.  For the cost, tube flourescents are by far the best alternative.

Answer 2

LEDs are far more efficient than CFLs, CFLs are constructed now in many circumstances with inferior cost cutting matterials in China, that can fail and release the toxic Mercury Vapors in CFls. Part of the problem is the design that allows the ballast to be so close to the bulb containing the mercury gases within when heated can expand and eventually leak. If you ever smell an odd odor and a Cfl is leaking and flickering, turn it off as that odor is likely to be Mercury vapor. Mercury is the most dangerous to humans when in vapor form and can cause brain damage very rapidly. Note also use of a CFL degrades over time as heat increases, if your CFL is hot , then it has already begun wasting energy. I've seen CFLs fail after only 2 months, but are supposed to last 5 years. As they begin to warm as they get older then the Watts they use start to increase. A bulb that started out using only 26 watts, had reached over 150 watts as it was degrading, so savings are limited to while the bulb works as it should.

    LEDs are far safer, and are dropping in price and cost far less to operate than standard CFLs or incandescent bulbs. Many are on sale at numerous sites online, and even better buys on leds can be made now at major department stores, often in the camping section or automotive section of the store. LEDs do present with directed lighting effects, but I bought a 20 bulb unit at the camping section of a local store, and point this bright beam lantern at the ceiling and general reflected light fills the room with light. this 20 bulb unit cost $10 and uses 6 watts of power, and will last a much longer time than any other bulb on the market. My whole house now uses LED lighting. A number I purchased, but I made some led lighting panels from scrap electronics that were being thrown away. This was free and only required my time soldering the links together. Old electronics fail earlier than LEDs do so there is actually a glut of used LEDs out there if you know how to solder. Note ; LEDs are sensitive to DC voltage flowing in the wrong direction, they are diodes and only allow a one way flow of energy. I love employing all sorts of colors of bulbs in a panel as it gives a full rich glow of light. Will add some links to some sources, but shopping around helps a lot.And being creative can get your house lit without spending money at all on bulbs. LEDs are likely to be able to handed down to grandchilren they are so tough.

Answer 3

LEDs are getting brighter and more efficient all the time. Lumiled is one type used in high power lighting systems.