LED bulbs hit 100 watts as federal ban looms

Associated Press ^ | 16 May 2011 | Peter Svensson

[verum ago]

NEW YORK – Two leading makers of lighting products are showcasing LED bulbs that are bright enough to replace energy-guzzling 100-watt light bulbs set to disappear from stores in January.

Their demonstrations at the LightFair trade show in Philadelphia this week mean that brighter LED bulbs will likely go on sale next year, but after a government ban takes effect.

The new bulbs will also be expensive — about $50 each — so the development may not prevent consumers from hoarding traditional bulbs. The technology in traditional "incandescent" bulbs is more than a century old. Such bulbs waste most of the electricity that feeds them, turning it into heat. The 100-watt bulb, in particular, produces so much heat that it's used in Hasbro's Easy-Bake Oven.

To encourage energy efficiency, Congress passed a law in 2007 mandating that bulbs producing 100 watts worth of light meet certain efficiency goals, starting in 2012. Conventional light bulbs don't meet those goals, so the law will prohibit making or importing them. The same rule will start apply to remaining bulbs 40 watts and above in 2014. Since January, California has already banned stores from restocking 100-watt incandescent bulbs.

Creating good alternatives to the light bulb has been more difficult than expected, especially for the very bright 100-watt bulbs. Part of the problem is that these new bulbs have to fit into lamps and ceiling fixtures designed for older technology.

[dhs12345]

Agreed! So they use a transformer... how to the get the 1VDC or so? Seems half baked to me.

[achilles2000]

There are also component and manufacturing engineering technology issues. It isn’t just a lack of factories.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Sure seems like another one of those half baked ideas that the Feds have come up with and will force Americans to use.

That's exactly what it is. There's no question that LED lighting technology will continue to improve and economies of scale will make LED bulbs affordable in several years. But we aren't there yet, and the government has no business banning the cheaper, time-tested incandescent bulb.

[dhs12345]

Manufacturing issues?

[Mr. Lucky]

There are some niche applications where LED bulbs are cost efficient. For instance, I own a house not connected to the grid. Use of LED bulbs allows me to use a smaller solar array and fewer storage batteries.

But the government can no more order scientific discovery than King Canute could order out the tide.

[Ronald_Magnus]

LEDs are ideal in circumstances where it’s a major operation to replace a burned out bulb. Traffic lights are a good example.

[Graybeard58]

IMO you don't need a 100-watt traditional bulb anyway. Buy the 60 watt bulbs.

It isn't really a matter of what I "need". I want the 100s so that's what I'm hoarding.

I'm not as much into it as some here, I'm not hoarding thousands but I do have more than a hundred. I use the screw tailed bulbs in places but for some areas, I want the old 100 watt.

[dhs12345]

Exactly. Or how many watts to produce x lumens? Efficiency.

[tubebender]

At 50 bucks a pop I would need to list who gets them in my will...

[Adder]

Buy every incandescent you can find. Lowes still has some...bargain prices too.

I almost have enough for the rest ofmy life.

dittos: eff this...and them.

[healy61]

I wonder if I can get an exemption. I need the heat in the winter months, and we do not use any air conditioning in the summer.

[Graybeard58]

This incandescent ban is going to make it difficult to keep newborn livestock warm.

How are little girls going to learn to bake cookies in their Mattel ovens? Those things operate on light bulbs.

[dhs12345]

But it sounds cool. And those LED flashlights are really cool. My TV even has LEDs! And my Xmas Tree — cool!! Lets force everyone to switch to LED bulbs even though we don't know a thing about them.

Sincerely,

The Feds and Lawmakers.

.../sarc

[verum ago]

LEDs are ideal in circumstances where it’s a major operation to replace a burned out bulb. Traffic lights are a good example.

True. I like my LED flashlights. Though the sight of an LED traffic light here last winter covered in snow and ice (that an incandescent one would've melted off) cracked me up pretty good.

[Jonty30]

Do you live in an earthquake-prone zone?

[Daisyjane69]

Good grief.

There was a post, possibly last week or so, about these new CFL bulbs burning the sockets in the fixtures, causing fires, etc. I think one of our FReeper electricians weighed in and included many photos on the thread. I’ve done some searches and cannot find it.

I wanna email it to my landlord because not one, but two of my CFL bulbs looked just like the pics (one of the bulb was emitting smoke as it died!) and NOW, even normal incandescent bulbs burn out much faster than usual.

Good thing my landlord is an electrician by trade, because I think he is going to have to replace two ceiling fixtures in this place.

[Pelham]

“This incandescent ban is going to make it difficult to keep newborn livestock warm.”

I know that some firm was selling incandescents as ‘heating devices’ rather than light bulbs in order to get around the ban.

[Trod Upon]

I guess the retirees just get to eat that one along with inflation.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Like I said, get them at the parts store.

I’m sure a Grote trailer dome light isn’t fifty bucks. You can probably run several off one AC adapter.

[microgood]

Do you live in an earthquake-prone zone?

Yes, but I have never seen an earthquake break a light bulb. I guess it is possible. We had a 6.8 on 2001 here and I did not lose a single bulb in the house or anywhere.