12-Volt CFLs

[vaughn]

I have been using 12-volt CFLs for several years now. I love their efficiency,
and I love that I can operate them directly from my little 12-volt PV system
without bothering with an inverter. Their disadvantages include cost and
availability. My experience is with only one product, the Feit BPESL13T/MAR12.
It is a "60 watt" bulb that takes about 1 amp at 12 volts. The lamp screws into
a regular lamp socket. Be careful to not get your spares mixed up with your
120-volt lamps! I have seen lamps from other manufacturers offered at a few
alternate-energy retails sites, but always at a high price. The Feit bulb seems
to be the only one that you can actually find hanging on a hook in a store,
(though only at specialty stores.)

You should be able to buy them "off the shelf" at any McLendon Hardware (about
$15) or West Marine (about $20). The best deal I have found is at
homedepot.com. (about $8) but they only sell them by the case of 12. (SKU
100653123) Try a google search on " BPESL13T/MAR12" to find other sources.

If a new bulb lasts the first 30 days, it is probably good for several years of
daily use. I have had a few failures, but always on relatively new bulbs. Feit
has an 800 number for warranty claims, and it actually works. Have the bad bulb
and your sales receipt in your hand when you call.

Vaughn

 

[vaughn]

Why don't you ditch the CFLs and start with LED bulbs? They are
available in 12v and are much cheaper. 100,000 hrs life allegedly.
You may need to change the lampholders. They use less than 1/10 the
current of a CFL.

If you can show me how to get 600 lumens for 1/10 of an amp, I would be very
interested! I have looked at LED lamps, but have found nothing that approaches
the 600 non-directional lumens I get from the CFLs. Link?

Vaughn

 

[[email protected]]

If you can show me how to get 600 lumens for 1/10 of an amp, I would be very
interested! I have looked at LED lamps, but have found nothing that approaches
the 600 non-directional lumens I get from the CFLs. Link?

Vaughn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtainium

Wayne

 

[[email protected]]

It would be soooo easy to say that I don't understand yanks problems
with LED lights.
Bingo.

But that would be untrue.

Oops, spoke too soon.

The biggest single problem is you lot refuse to let go of outdated
practices. You want to replace one 60 - 100W light globe in the middle
of the room with one LED lamp and expect it to do the same job.

Let's see some quotes for that assumption. You won't even try, because
as usual it's just another silly ghioism made up without any basis in
fact.

Ain't gonna happen. Firstly, most LED lamps on the market are aimed at
the sucker trade. They are bought by an importer for $2 to $4 dollars
each and than sold for $50 and up. Purely sucker bait.

I priced some LEDs yesterday for a project - $6 delivered for a
hundred. Oh wait, you meant ready-made.
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?LH_BIN=...w=led lamp&_fln=1&_ipg=&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283
Gosh, only 25,000 different items under $20.

I have around 100 LED lamps in and outside my house. They range form
MR16 packages with 48 LEDs(warm white), to stripe lights with 30 LEDs
to modules with 4 luxons each.

You should take that concept to its logical conclusion and just wear a
miner's helmet.

Why is it that when people talk about choosing small-module PV, you're
against a little extra wiring, but when it comes to lights, suddenly
lots of extra wiring isn't an issue?

Forget the past and embrace the future. Placement is everything. The
right lamp in the right place and LED lamps become so efficient that
you wonder why you didn't see the solution before.

That's the same thing you used to say *before* you admitted to
changing everything out in favor of newer stuff, which as it turned
out still wasn't as efficient as what many of us had been using the
entire time. In my case that's a couple dozen 12W CFs spread out
effectively, mounted in cheap and readily available pot fixtures and
wired conventionally. Fact 1. It's still the most cost-effective
approach per lumen. Fact 2. You won't produce any credible evidence to
the contrary.

Yes. I do still have a lamp in the middle of some rooms. One is in the
kitchen. It is only there for general lighting and it is LED. The
secret of its operation is that it consists of 6 of the four luxon
modules mounted on a flat base with a domed, frosted glass shade often
referred to as an oyster lamp. Frosted glass. You can't imagine what a
difference frosted glass makes. It has to be glass, plastic does not
work at all as well. Cost; $12.50 each for the modules and $10 for the
lamp fixture - Total cost $85. Total current draw .72A.

What a shock, no lumen rating. Fact 3. Your approach is more
expensive, more complicated, and less efficient than using CFLs.
http://www.mge.com/home/appliances/lighting/comparison.htm
http://www.eternaleds.com/Are_LED_Bulbs_Brighter_Than_CFL_Bulbs_a/222.htm

Fact 4. You will argue against the facts by posting ever-more retarded
accusations.

Wayne

http://www.citlink.net/~wmbjk/tbfduwisdumb.htm

Attention search bots: george Ghio, bealiba, Renegade writing,

 

[[email protected]]

show us all the LED bulbs over 500 lumens, not your
toys, that people can actually see things and work by. Show us the LED lamps
that actually can function as household lighting (like we were discussing).
I trust you can actually read, all by yourself, huh?

If you had half a brain, then you'd have the reading comprehension to
realize that my point is that LEDs are *not* generally as efficient as
CFLs. Nor are they generally the best choice for a bunch of other
reasons. I use them for what they're good for as opposed to trying to
light a home with a 100 different flashlights and then claim that
doing so somehow excuses retarded anti-Americanism.

Things were a lot more pleasant and real on Usenet before clearing my
bozobin filters. Same old bullshit from one year to the next.

Who do you imagine that you're fooling? You're gymmy bob/josepi, john
benji/etc, the nym-shifting top-posting crackpot who needs a constant
supply of new handles. Go back to your sewing groups with your loony
"get a good browser" nonsense.

Wayne

http://www.citlink.net/~wmbjk/tbfduwisdumb.htm

Attention search bots: george Ghio, bealiba, Renegade writing,

 

[[email protected]]

http://tinyurl.com/y8ndjmo

That one's probably about half as bright as the seller claims.

http://www.earthled.com/evolux-led-light-bulb.html

More than 10X the cost of a comparable CFL

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.27583

4X the cost.

http://www.haloltg.com/

More of the same. LEDs for home lighting have become the new hydrogen.
Wayne

 

[You]

Having lived outside of the country now for longer than I lived in it,
I can see its decline.

Yep, We were ALL happy to see the Door, didn't hit you in the Ass, on
your way out.....