STEVETERRY
Well-Known Member
This thread began as a side conversation in the thread: Experience with Philips Ambient LED in the Home. I have split it out into it's own thread to make it easier to search for in the future.
Gaff
It's interesting to me that no post in this thread mentions power factor. In their effort to get the cost of LED bulbs down, manufacturers have sacrificed power factor. Many of these LED bulbs have very poor PF--sometimes as low as 0.4. This has the utilities quite scared, and their method of controlling this will be:
A. Change the standards to require higher power factors. This is already happening, led by the Canadians in North America. This will make LED bulbs cost more.
B. Charge you a hefty premium for lower power factors.
So, when selecting an LED bulb, I think you need to include power factor in the payback equation.
ST
Gaff
Like many of you I have been playing around with LED bulbs in the home. While I have had good success in a few applications like under counter task lighting, I had not found anything that I really liked for replacing a plain old incandescent A lamp.
Well - that has changed. at LDI last year Philips was showing a bulb which looked funny, ( it has a very YELLOW appearance) but seemed like it might bear further investigation. I never saw one in the local stores, but I ran into it on amazon the other day.
Amazon.com: PHILIPS Endura LED 12.5 Watt A-Shape A19 LED Dimmable Light Bulb ~ 60 watt incandescent equivalent: Home Improvement
I got two and tried them in a ceiling unit, and I have to say that I am very happy. The color temperature is a very warm 2700K. Skin tones look good to my eye. It seems that it takes a fraction of a second longer to turn on that the old incandescent unit did, but it gets to full bright immediately.
I am a happy camper.
If you are looking for an LED to replace your standard 60 to 75 watt A lamp - you should give these a look.
It's interesting to me that no post in this thread mentions power factor. In their effort to get the cost of LED bulbs down, manufacturers have sacrificed power factor. Many of these LED bulbs have very poor PF--sometimes as low as 0.4. This has the utilities quite scared, and their method of controlling this will be:
A. Change the standards to require higher power factors. This is already happening, led by the Canadians in North America. This will make LED bulbs cost more.
B. Charge you a hefty premium for lower power factors.
So, when selecting an LED bulb, I think you need to include power factor in the payback equation.
ST
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