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LEDs Clobber CFLs; Turn Indoor Farming Into New Growth Market
The Energy Collective ^ | February 16, 2016 | David Wamsted

Posted on 02/21/2016 2:35:22 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

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To: usconservative

Dang! I just installed five Feits in my kitchen... and I am studying for my Tech/General. I suppose the heat pump plus the LEDs will make me a “deaf” ham :-(


41 posted on 02/21/2016 5:30:03 PM PST by LoneBugle
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To: TigersEye; 9YearLurker

I’ve got a half-dozen or so of the CREE downlight retrofits. Dimmable, 3000K (close to incandescent), plus they don’t leak air into the attic. Good stuff, I like them.


42 posted on 02/21/2016 5:30:48 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: usconservative

So much electronic stuff causes rf issues up close—such as my radio reception being bad when near either of those computers.

But I can have any electronic equipment up close to these bulbs without any issues.

If you’re dealing with some finer level beyond all that, then I think that’s your issue rather than at least the LED bulbs of the type I have.


43 posted on 02/21/2016 5:36:52 PM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: Yardstick

I am a fan of LED lighting, however they do have some drawbacks.

I live in Wisconsin and our city decided to install LED lighting for the stop lights. They failed to take into account that the traditional lamps melted the ice and snow. It made for interesting driving not knowing whether to stop or accelerate at the intersections.


44 posted on 02/21/2016 5:38:04 PM PST by ThE_RiPpEr. ( The rainbow is the new swastika....)
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To: FreedomPoster

Thanks! They sound good. Progress should mean something better.
CFLs just didn’t fit that definition for me.


45 posted on 02/21/2016 5:38:53 PM PST by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
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To: LoneBugle
I've heard from TWO fellow ham's here on FR who've suggested fixes to my LED Light RFI problem. You're not alone on here. At last count, I'm aware of at least a dozen other Ham's here on FR. Anytime the topic of amateur radio comes up on a thread there are some interesting (and insightful!) responses.

From what I've read and received in FR Mail, buying a quality LED light (not the cheap Chinese knockoff's) will make a big difference.

The issue I have with my son's rather large fish tank and his grow lights are that they're (a) LED strips that run the length of his tank and then around the edges of the tank so he has about 20' of LED lights right underneath my fan dipole and (b) the crappy switching power supply that's used to power them generates a crapload of noise by itself. Then there's his reptile tanks and cages with their LED UV lights, heaters, etc.. which all cause their own noise. Uggghhh.

Switching power supplies (or what we commonly call WALL WARTS) cause A LOT of noise when they go bad. Switching power supplies are the DEVIL, IMO.

I had one in my shack that was connected to a NAS Disk Device that went bad. Made 20, 40, 75 and 160m completely useless until I found it. And even then, I was shutting circuit breakers off in the house to narrow down with the device causing the noise. It's a lengthy (and funny) story I posted on eHAM about how I ended up finding it and I can point you to that if you want a good laugh.

The bottom line from that entire story was that I now have a monthly task that I walk around the house and put my hands on all the wall warts/switching power supplies and if any of them feels "too warm" or "hot" they get repaired or replaced. Heat from a switching power supply hanging on the all is NOT a good thing, especially too much heat.

46 posted on 02/21/2016 6:06:46 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: ThE_RiPpEr.
I live in Wisconsin and our city decided to install LED lighting for the stop lights. They failed to take into account that the traditional lamps melted the ice and snow. It made for interesting driving not knowing whether to stop or accelerate at the intersections.

We have the same problem here in the flatlands of Illinois. I have the additional joy of having my ham radio receive blasted out by static when I pull up near most stoplights now.

I live on a corner lot, the village had to REMOVE the LED Street Light on the corner because it was interfering with my receive and I'm a licensed amateur radio operator. At first they refused, they changed their tune really quickly when the FCC got involved.

I have a license to transmit on the band that their light was creating interference on, they don't. LOL! Bastards. I can't wait to move outta here.

47 posted on 02/21/2016 6:09:50 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: usconservative

I’d love to read your story on eHam. I go there often to just dream about things named Elecraft.


48 posted on 02/21/2016 6:13:28 PM PST by LoneBugle
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To: LoneBugle
Elecraft huh?

I have a hard time parting with that kind of money for a rig. Now an Amplifier, that's another story! :-)

There is nothing like having an Alpha 9500 and being able to push legal limit+ any time you want for as long as you want. If I can hear 'em, I can DEFINITELY work 'em!

49 posted on 02/21/2016 6:17:43 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I love LED lighting. I have now converted my entire house LEDs my power bill is down considerably next step is to get rid of that dang hot water heater. Once that is an on demand gas system I will ger in the solar. My house has $75 a month power, 35 a month with the hot water heater off.

Glad to chuck those old cfl mercury bulbs, dang things are dangerous.


50 posted on 02/21/2016 6:21:14 PM PST by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: All


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51 posted on 02/21/2016 6:30:29 PM PST by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I replaced virtually all my bulbs with LED’s, having skipped the CFL phase. I have a constant reminder of it right here as I type. My articulated desk lamp used to burn me when I adjusted it....now it is almost cold to the touch. Amazing.


52 posted on 02/21/2016 6:43:17 PM PST by Scooter100
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

OK, first, how does LED “clobber” CFL? Not by the pie charts shown.

(No, I have not read this whole thing. Just enough time to pop in, skim, and comment.)

CFLs are heartily annoying, although I don’t think they are “harsh” like LEDs can be. What am I missing? The LEDs my husband bought for the hallway are highly hospital-level white-blue brilliance annoying.

As for the CFLs, I hate how they are affected by the least little coolness. Those near the roof this season are very dim, and take some 15 min to seem full power. All CFLs never start purely bright. I also do not see how they pass muster with “lasts for years!” BS. If you’re willing to leave your lights on indefinitely, I guess so. But people turn off lights at bedtime, and during the day. So, not much saving there.


53 posted on 02/21/2016 6:51:19 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: LoneBugle
I'd love to read your story on eHam

And I'd love to find it and send it to you. It was a response to a post on one of the Forums. I've spent 20 minutes looking for it to copy and paste it back to you and unfortunately cannot find it. I cannot believe eHam doesn't have a way to find all responses based on a callsign. That's just frustrating .... I simply cannot repeat/recreate the humor with which I made that post!!

54 posted on 02/21/2016 6:54:31 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: usconservative

No problem, thanks for trying. I’m just happy to hear there are Freeping Hams. I am also learning a lot from the ham radio forum on ar15.com.


55 posted on 02/21/2016 7:08:29 PM PST by LoneBugle
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I think I beat him. I just took delivery yesterday on a dozen 60w (equivalent) LEDs. My price was also 20 bucks, with free delivery.

They're (sort of) dimmable. They dim quite well until half brightness, but then they flash at lower levels. That beats some CFLs I tried that also advertised dimmable. They had three levels: bright half-bright, and off. At least they didn't just sit there and buzz, like non dimmable ones. This is important to us, since all of our light switches have dimmers.

56 posted on 02/21/2016 7:24:08 PM PST by norwaypinesavage (The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Thought I killed that profession before I left ....:o)

Don’t forget the 300 empty miracle grow buckets stacked on the house with no lawn or garden....


57 posted on 02/21/2016 8:45:10 PM PST by Squantos ( Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: norwaypinesavage

Loews had a sale on Black Friday - $1 each for 60W.

I told my son that about 20 of those would be a great Christmas gift for dear old dad.

He went there, scarfed up all they had left, and kept them for himself.


58 posted on 02/22/2016 2:18:07 AM PST by chopperman
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To: Mariner
All the indoor growers have already shifted to LED. Little heat, better spectrum and more lumens.

Not to mention their major plus that the power usage does not spike (a major lead for drug enforcement)! It allows your "Grow House" to remain more anonymous!

59 posted on 02/22/2016 3:14:28 AM PST by ExSES (the "bottom-line")
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To: Mariner
All the indoor growers have already shifted to LED. Little heat, better spectrum and more lumens.

Not to mention their major plus that the power usage does not spike (a major lead for drug enforcement)! It allows your "Grow House" to remain more anonymous!

60 posted on 02/22/2016 3:14:28 AM PST by ExSES (the "bottom-line")
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