Re: How do LED 12V Dimmable light bulb works?

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

This is an area where I've not kept current as I've been in and out of the
hospital several times (4 surgeries and another being discussed) in the past
year.

However, Amazon usually allows you to return items. You might be able to
exchange it for a dimmable LED with a standard base such as...

http://www.amazon.com/Dimmable-Household-Incandescent-Replacement-LED/dp/B002ZBJ25G/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1304683486&sr=1-3

That way you have a standard base that can be used in any standard fixture.

I've only tried one (non-dimmable) LED and it has been disappointing both in
light output and color temperature. It's rated as a warm-white 50W
equivalent but I think it's closer to 25W and, colorwise, it resembles a CFL
more than an incandescent. My light meter is packed away in storage so I
cannot measure the light output - I'm guesstimating based on appearance.

I'm sure there will be a lot of exagerated claims by LED manufacturers but
it is good to see prices falling to the point where the payback period is
more reasonable. One would hope that LEDs will have the predicted lifetimes
unlike CFLs which still have a very high early failure rate.

"emoreno@xxxxxxxxx" <emoreno@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>Thanks a lot, this information is very usefull. This link is awesome,
>seems like a lot of people had talked about it.
>
>On Apr 18, 6:40 pm, nob...@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston) wrote:
>> LED lights have been too expensive for most people so there's a dearth of
>> meaningful HA experience to draw on. You might get better answers on
>> Smarhome's Forums.
>>
>>      http://www.smarthome.com/forum/default.asp
>>
>>
>>
>> "Josepi" <J.R...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >Agreeing with Dave...too much money for that product. prices have just
>> >dropped huge in the last few weeks. return it and get yourself a 120Vac
>> >unit.
>>
>> >You may have trouble making any series, trickle current controlled remote or
>> >dimmer unit work with this, though. This means having a neutral available in
>> >the switch box.
>>
>> >LEDS get very hot and cannot handle their own wasted energy. Don't buy all
>> >the super efficiency BS. White LEDS are very slightly more efficient than
>> >other newer types and the light quality, from the units I have seen, sucks.
>> >The efficiency rating are typically raw LED chips and the ballast circuitry
>> >and lenses and casing has to be added. Single colour LEDs are most efficient
>> >but different colours do not add in intensity similar to lighting from both
>> >sides of an object do not make it brighter on either side.
>>
>> >It would be doubtful that you can ever put these waveform chopping units in
>> >series with anything useful. Find something that uses the wiring neutral and
>> >does not depend on trickle current leaking through the bulb. It will never
>> >stop flashing until the ballast circuitry is burned out.
>>
>> >BTW: 12Volt is a voltage and is never "consumed". That is analogous to water
>> >pressure in a hose. The pressure is never "consumed" . The water is
>> >consumed. In this case current drawn by the bulb and circuitry.
>> >-----------------
>>
>> >"Dave Houston"  wrote in messagenews:4dad985f.38720234@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> >I know of no way to use that with 120V nor does Insteon make a dimmer that
>> >works with 12V AFAIK.
>>
>> >You would be better off with a 120V dimmable LED with a standard screw base.
>>
>> >---------------
>> >"emor...@xxxxxxxxx" <emor...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> >>I bought the following LED dimmable light bulbs :
>> >>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SFBB4I
>>
>> >>However I?m not sure how to make it work. I?m sure that I can?t just
>> >>connect it directly to the power outlet as I can burn it, probably I
>> >>need some type of power adapter but I?m not sure.
>>
>> >>I would like to use an INSTEON dimmer but I was wondering if anyone
>> >>has any experience doing this before and could share some thoghts with
>> >>me before I buy any dimmer.
>>
>> >> This is the first time that I see the MR16 power input (the two
>> >>pins), and I don?t know where to buy those either, or how to make
>> >>connect them on serial (or parallel) to control multiple light bulbs
>> >>from a single power source/dimmer.
>>
>> >>I noticed that this light bulb has some type of heat dissipation thing
>> >>attached to it; but I thought LEDs didn?t produce much heat, does
>> >>anyone know why these light bulbs have to manage heat when these
>> >>consume only 12V?
>>
>> >>If anyone could tell me what is what I need to buy and where to buy it
>> >>to have my setup working would be highly appreciated.
>>
>> >>Thanks- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -