Holy thread resurrection Batman!
Bought an Osram Parathom MR16 20 UCG (try to fit that model name into a normal conversation, I dare ya!
) LED bulb today. It's a replacement for those tiny 2-pin 20W halogen spotlights, I've got just one fixture left these days that take such bulbs, but it's located at the entrance so it's a pretty important light. However due to its fairly high power consumption compared to my other lights (use 11W CFLs almost exclusively everywhere else) I've been reluctant to use it for long periods of time.
Thusly, this is kind of an experiment to see where LED tech is at the moment. Right now, it's still in its infancy mostly it would seem, but rapidly getting there. Many current model of LED bulbs may draw only a pittance of electricity and may last for 25 years, but they also put out far too little light to be useful except for mood lighting.
This halogen substitute however pumps out a fair amount of light, although pretty concentrated of course. It has three high-intensity LEDs and is rated at 4.5W. Somewhere there must be a voltage regulator thrown in, so probably a bit of electric waste, but assuming the transformation process is pretty efficient each LED could draw upwards of 1.5W each. That's pretty serious for a LED, and they do shine pretty darn bright too. Definitely uncomfortable to look straight into that's for sure, and probably unhealthy for the retina too for more than a split-second.
The armature enclosure/LED mount acts as a heatsink, and boy does that thing get hot. Must be 80+ C, it's absolutely scorching. Since it's a fairly hefty chunk of metal it cools slowly too, so changing it (when I'm fucking seventy years old,) won't be just a case of popping it out, and then in with the new one. Oh well, I don't think it'll be much of an issue really!
Paid about SKR 150 for it, and it works pretty well. The quality of light is supposed to be warm white, but might in reality have a slight bluish tone, it's hard to say since the wall it shines on is in fact light blue! It's not obviously blueish though, if it's there it's quite subtle.
Now I just wish there were some 75/100W-equivalent LED bulbs to buy. I hardly dare think of how effing expensive they would have to be though, but I still want 'em...
Bought an Osram Parathom MR16 20 UCG (try to fit that model name into a normal conversation, I dare ya!
) LED bulb today. It's a replacement for those tiny 2-pin 20W halogen spotlights, I've got just one fixture left these days that take such bulbs, but it's located at the entrance so it's a pretty important light. However due to its fairly high power consumption compared to my other lights (use 11W CFLs almost exclusively everywhere else) I've been reluctant to use it for long periods of time.Thusly, this is kind of an experiment to see where LED tech is at the moment. Right now, it's still in its infancy mostly it would seem, but rapidly getting there. Many current model of LED bulbs may draw only a pittance of electricity and may last for 25 years, but they also put out far too little light to be useful except for mood lighting.
This halogen substitute however pumps out a fair amount of light, although pretty concentrated of course. It has three high-intensity LEDs and is rated at 4.5W. Somewhere there must be a voltage regulator thrown in, so probably a bit of electric waste, but assuming the transformation process is pretty efficient each LED could draw upwards of 1.5W each. That's pretty serious for a LED, and they do shine pretty darn bright too. Definitely uncomfortable to look straight into that's for sure, and probably unhealthy for the retina too for more than a split-second.
The armature enclosure/LED mount acts as a heatsink, and boy does that thing get hot. Must be 80+ C, it's absolutely scorching. Since it's a fairly hefty chunk of metal it cools slowly too, so changing it (when I'm fucking seventy years old,
) won't be just a case of popping it out, and then in with the new one. Oh well, I don't think it'll be much of an issue really!Paid about SKR 150 for it, and it works pretty well. The quality of light is supposed to be warm white, but might in reality have a slight bluish tone, it's hard to say since the wall it shines on is in fact light blue! It's not obviously blueish though, if it's there it's quite subtle.
Now I just wish there were some 75/100W-equivalent LED bulbs to buy. I hardly dare think of how effing expensive they would have to be though, but I still want 'em...
