Testing out Philips' LED, CFL, and incandescent bulbs (photos)
by ZDNet Author | August 6, 2011 4:10am PDT | Image 1 of 5
Previous | Next
Philips' AmbientLED 17/75-watt went on sale earlier this month online at HomeDepot.com for $39.97. While its resemblance to the nuclear symbol when looking at it from the top is unsettling, the bulb's plastic and metal casing feels nice and sturdy in your hand. Repeated drops from different heights onto various hard surfaces also confirmed that it's pretty hard to break it.
Just In
I care less about color than durability. I did test all types side by side and the LEDs failed within weeks, the CFLs within months and the incandescents are still going. I'm glad our congress in their wisdom has mandated us to buy shlock.
@JimboNobody I don't know when you did your testing or the circumstances of it (and I've never done LED other than in the motorhome), but my incandescents lasted way less time than the CFLs. I was changing track lighting bulbs every month with the old bulbs. I haven't had to do that in probably 2 years now with CFLs.
BTW, it was the congress under the Bush administration that voted to push for more efficient light bulbs. That was 2007.
BTW, it was the congress under the Bush administration that voted to push for more efficient light bulbs. That was 2007.
@boomchuck1 - Dude, do you realize that both houses of congress were held by the Democrats in 2007? Congress writes the laws, not the executive branch. The knee-jerk "Bush-this, Bush-that" garbage is really annoying.
It's funny to read something like "the congress under the Bush administration" that you wrote. The Legislative branch (i.e., Congress) is separate and equal to the Executive branch (i.e., the president). One does not exist "under" the other.
I'd recommend reading the Constitution. It's a quick read, and will help you understand our system of government.
It's funny to read something like "the congress under the Bush administration" that you wrote. The Legislative branch (i.e., Congress) is separate and equal to the Executive branch (i.e., the president). One does not exist "under" the other.
I'd recommend reading the Constitution. It's a quick read, and will help you understand our system of government.
@JimboNobody I'm using bright LED spotlights in ceiling cans throughout the house - the ones in the kitchen are newest with high output bright white and a fraction of the heat output and come with a 10 year lifetime unconditional guarantee - the ones elsewhere are cheaper with warmer spectrum but even so i've only replaced two in three years - way happier with them than CFLs or old incandescent
@JimboNobody - Same here - well, NONE of my LEDs have failed, but my UBER-EXPENSIVE CFLs keep failing, and I've tested electrical, humidity, etc. - and all are well within stated ranges, so no reason CFLs should be failing in a few months. Where's the PROMISE OF 17 YEARS OF CFL LIGHT?!
One reason mentioned was that they are NOT MEANT FOR 'SWITCHING ON AND OFF.' Initial 5, 10, 15, 20-year tests were done with CFLs CONSTANLTY ON! That makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE! So, yeah, if you have some place where you want to leave the light ON FOR 17 YEARS, then maybe.
Also: WHAT "comparison?" This is a half-baked comparison - you need a luminescence meter; you need a voltmeter, you need amp readings and ratings - PLEASE do a REAL 'COMPARISON' - Wattage drawn; amps drawn, kilowatt-hours used; how many "measured lumens" - yes, we definitely need the "human warm-glow" comparison as well, but without the rest, it is not much of a comparison! Thanks.
One reason mentioned was that they are NOT MEANT FOR 'SWITCHING ON AND OFF.' Initial 5, 10, 15, 20-year tests were done with CFLs CONSTANLTY ON! That makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE! So, yeah, if you have some place where you want to leave the light ON FOR 17 YEARS, then maybe.
Also: WHAT "comparison?" This is a half-baked comparison - you need a luminescence meter; you need a voltmeter, you need amp readings and ratings - PLEASE do a REAL 'COMPARISON' - Wattage drawn; amps drawn, kilowatt-hours used; how many "measured lumens" - yes, we definitely need the "human warm-glow" comparison as well, but without the rest, it is not much of a comparison! Thanks.
@JimboNobody I too have found LED don't last anywhere near advertized length, CFL's probably don't either but cfl's last much longer for me than the edison bulb. The edison bulb is whats being phazed out but the halogen qualifies under the new law and will save a lot of energy with no real loss long term, I know my headlights last a lot longer with halogen than the old tungsten filiment used to. Price should drop to about the same as the edison bulb within a year or 2 after the energy savings and longer life are considered maybe already there.
I DID do a side-by-side test. The LEDs failed within weeks, the CFLs within months, and the incandescents are still going. Thanks to our congress, we are mandated to buy shlock starting next year.
@JimboNobody Did you install the bulbs in a sealed lighting fixture? LEDs will overheat if they cannot get adequate cooling (ever wonder why most LED bulbs look like giant heat sinks?) and CFLs with magnetic ballasts will overheat.
The Oboma admin has bent us over and told us to hold onto our ankles -- for 39.95 I can buy a 20 year supply of our old bulbs. It hurts!
Cmck
Cmck
@vinylast2@...
How much can you buy a CFL for whiney??? 4 for a buck at home depot? I have a cheepy CFL outside that has been on every night (all night) for a little over 2 years. It runs on 14 watts and is as bright as a 75watt old school bulb... Phasing out old energy innefficient light bulbs has been in the works for over a decade... You don't get to blame that on the HNIC. (however it's obvious that the tools like you are eager to blame anything and everything you can on Obama. And you know damn well that Bush and all the republitards are 100% responsible for the mess we are in). Perhaps the thing that hurts is your brain...
How much can you buy a CFL for whiney??? 4 for a buck at home depot? I have a cheepy CFL outside that has been on every night (all night) for a little over 2 years. It runs on 14 watts and is as bright as a 75watt old school bulb... Phasing out old energy innefficient light bulbs has been in the works for over a decade... You don't get to blame that on the HNIC. (however it's obvious that the tools like you are eager to blame anything and everything you can on Obama. And you know damn well that Bush and all the republitards are 100% responsible for the mess we are in). Perhaps the thing that hurts is your brain...
@i8thecat3
3 years into it and worst credit history ever! Your blame game will never quit. Like you I have been dissatisfied since 2001 however your golden boy has worsened the economy, scared those who creates jobs, Started additional wars as in Libya (not even authorized by congress) and not accomplished any (or many) of his political itinerary which got him elected. His healthcare agenda even had states talking of secession from the union, now after all that why don't we just give him another Nobel Peace Prize. Has anyone in government ever wondered if the debt ceiling could have been lowered if maybe so much new government not been created by the ultra-liberals in charge?
3 years into it and worst credit history ever! Your blame game will never quit. Like you I have been dissatisfied since 2001 however your golden boy has worsened the economy, scared those who creates jobs, Started additional wars as in Libya (not even authorized by congress) and not accomplished any (or many) of his political itinerary which got him elected. His healthcare agenda even had states talking of secession from the union, now after all that why don't we just give him another Nobel Peace Prize. Has anyone in government ever wondered if the debt ceiling could have been lowered if maybe so much new government not been created by the ultra-liberals in charge?
@i8thecat3
When will the Democrats stop blaming President Bush for the faults of Obama. Obama is the worst president EVER, but the sheep keep drinking the Kool-aid and raising tax's
When will the Democrats stop blaming President Bush for the faults of Obama. Obama is the worst president EVER, but the sheep keep drinking the Kool-aid and raising tax's
@partman1969 @sak632 - This is coming from an independent: Bush was easily the worst President this nation ever had and ever will have, in terms of fiscal responsibility. You both seem to forget that his policies more than doubled the federal deficit from the Clinton era, yet congress gave him debt ceiling increases without even blinking. The difference between tax and spend vs borrow and spend is tax and spend leaves you with less of a deficit. Heck, he was so good at deficit spending that he was able to continue the deficit spending after Obama (whom I'm also not happy with) was elected.
As far as the blame for the subject at hand goes, it's entirely on the Republicans - they pushed for more efficient light bulbs back in 2007 and they got it, since it was a way for their coffers to be filled (you really think it costs $2.50 to make each CFL or $40 to make each LED bulb? HAHAHA!)
As far as the blame for the subject at hand goes, it's entirely on the Republicans - they pushed for more efficient light bulbs back in 2007 and they got it, since it was a way for their coffers to be filled (you really think it costs $2.50 to make each CFL or $40 to make each LED bulb? HAHAHA!)
@partman1969 and sak632
Our credit rating would be far worse if Obama hadn't done everything he could to slow and recover from the Bush epidemic. What you two morons fail to realize is just how bad things would be if Obama wasn't elected... Like if McCain and Palin got in we wouldn't even be a nation right now and we wouldn't have a credit rating at all. Go pick up a history book and read about how we got out of the great depression... Here's a news flash brainiacs.. It wasn't be stopping or slowing government spending and giving the super wealthy a tax break... Do you tools think that the Bush deficit just went away when Obama stepped in? He has spent his entire first term trying to fix the massive problems left from Bush and the Republitards. And sak632, Bush was the worst president the US has ever seen. Maybe if you would pull yer head out and wipe the #^$% from your eyes, you would easily see that Obama has done nothing but try to help this nation recover and move forward... And prejediced retarded racists like you go around spreading hate and stupidity that only a fool would believe. You both are the epitome of un-american, you both are the epitome of a republican... Dumb, greedy, prejudicial, moronic lemmings.
Our credit rating would be far worse if Obama hadn't done everything he could to slow and recover from the Bush epidemic. What you two morons fail to realize is just how bad things would be if Obama wasn't elected... Like if McCain and Palin got in we wouldn't even be a nation right now and we wouldn't have a credit rating at all. Go pick up a history book and read about how we got out of the great depression... Here's a news flash brainiacs.. It wasn't be stopping or slowing government spending and giving the super wealthy a tax break... Do you tools think that the Bush deficit just went away when Obama stepped in? He has spent his entire first term trying to fix the massive problems left from Bush and the Republitards. And sak632, Bush was the worst president the US has ever seen. Maybe if you would pull yer head out and wipe the #^$% from your eyes, you would easily see that Obama has done nothing but try to help this nation recover and move forward... And prejediced retarded racists like you go around spreading hate and stupidity that only a fool would believe. You both are the epitome of un-american, you both are the epitome of a republican... Dumb, greedy, prejudicial, moronic lemmings.
@i8thecat3 Unfortunately CFLs are disposal hazards due to the mercury
@archangel9999 the mercury in a modern cfl is much less than the mercury released from producing the additional power required to power the edison bulb equivalents by coal. I'll also take the Hg in a cfl over the nuclear waste produced to power the the equivalent edison. I know some moron will comeback with how safe nuclear and no accidents here since 3 mile island, etc but that's no consolation to the thousands who can never return to their homes in japan where they have been at least as thorough as the US NRC.
@vinylast2@... Yeah, them nasty politicians. They voted for this in 2007 when that socialist Kenyan George W. Bush was in office. Huh? Wait a minute...
@vinylast2@...
You're also paying at least $2-$3 more per month on your electric bill. But I realize that the Obama-bashers aren't particularly strong in math.
You're also paying at least $2-$3 more per month on your electric bill. But I realize that the Obama-bashers aren't particularly strong in math.
@vinylast2@... It wasn't Obama. The law was passed in 2007.
Obama was not the driver of the new standards. Sylvania, Phillips, and GE were.
JimNobody, what brands did you test and under what conditions? Many CFL's cannot, for example be burned in an enclosed luminaire. I am an electrician and have had the opposite experiencin, except with the really cheap CFL and LED bulbs.
BTW, the big three manufacturers have new incandescent bulbs that meet the new energy standards that they themselves helped write. Please don't repeat the ignorant political hacks claims that incandescent bulbs are being made illegal.
As to the claim that you save money with cheap, made in China, incandescent bulbs, that's worse than saving money buying really cheap paint. You pay more for the electricity and time changing bulbs. Worse, the cheap metal in the base welds itself to the socket and you mess them up too.
JimNobody, what brands did you test and under what conditions? Many CFL's cannot, for example be burned in an enclosed luminaire. I am an electrician and have had the opposite experiencin, except with the really cheap CFL and LED bulbs.
BTW, the big three manufacturers have new incandescent bulbs that meet the new energy standards that they themselves helped write. Please don't repeat the ignorant political hacks claims that incandescent bulbs are being made illegal.
As to the claim that you save money with cheap, made in China, incandescent bulbs, that's worse than saving money buying really cheap paint. You pay more for the electricity and time changing bulbs. Worse, the cheap metal in the base welds itself to the socket and you mess them up too.
I just obtained several floodlights made by Lights of America ( yes, they claim to be made in the US for those that complain about cheap imports) that produce wonderful contrasty 3000K light and use something like 17 watts for the equivalent of a 100 watt flood, I believe. It barely warms up. It cost 18 bucks where I live which is Canada where people switched to CFLs and alternatives to tungsten bulbs years ago. Sure the original CFLs were less than wonderful and did burn out prematurely but in the past five years they have matured fully with solid state power supplies and I have many that have been used for that many years heavily and are fine. Personally I wish that one could get cooler ones than the 3000k standard that people seem to like but overall they are excellent and dependable. Unlike the US, Canada has ended the sale of incandescents in the near future and I hear no one complaining about it as ha ha. We luckily drink tea and do not dump it into the harbour and start a teabag party that condemns new technologies. I recommend that people get LEDs even over the CFLs. There are all sorts of great bright and white light ones out there now and they will save so much energy that it will make your country less dependent on energy imports. Of course since we Canadians sell you oil, I guess I should keep that a secret...
@nfiertel For those that are unaware, we buy more oil from Canada than from any other country. In order, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, Nigeria, Columbia, Iraq, Angola, Russia.
@boomchuck1
Shhh! STOP TELLING EVERYONE!
It's also a little-known fact that 3 out 4 Americans prefer the CFL to the NFL (Well, at least Democrats do, once they've gotten used to the rules)
Shhh! STOP TELLING EVERYONE!
It's also a little-known fact that 3 out 4 Americans prefer the CFL to the NFL (Well, at least Democrats do, once they've gotten used to the rules)
@boomchuck1 - I did not know that - thank you for the enlightenment. So, instead of taking over Iraq and Afghanistan, we should be taking over Canada.
@nfiertel: you are right that the 'teabag party' seems to condem 'new technologies' - and for no good reason, except to have something to whine about; and Democrats and liberals do PLENTY of whining themselves, but at least are open to something besides "Drill baby, drill." News flash for the 'tea baggers' - oil WILL RUN OUT - what will you do then?
Newsflash to Democrats - QUIT TAXING EVERYTHING! I hate both parties equally!
@nfiertel: you are right that the 'teabag party' seems to condem 'new technologies' - and for no good reason, except to have something to whine about; and Democrats and liberals do PLENTY of whining themselves, but at least are open to something besides "Drill baby, drill." News flash for the 'tea baggers' - oil WILL RUN OUT - what will you do then?
Newsflash to Democrats - QUIT TAXING EVERYTHING! I hate both parties equally!
I switched whole house from incandescent to CFL but noted the cfls didn't seem to last as long as indicated on the packaging, so I started writing the install date on the base - and the date of their demise: majority lasted 6-11 months, with one lasting 2 years. I can only hope brand name cfls last better than the made-in-PRC FEIT brand. Overall, in my personal documented experience, the incandescents have lasted longer and cost less to purchase - but the cfls don't seem to use as much electricity - or at least don't heat up the house as much and require more effort & electricity from the AC to cool the house. In the Phoenix summer, that's important. For the psycho Bush & Obama haters. Get a life. Do something worthwhile for a change - hate congress.
@jmmailin
And, while you are at it, throw a few stones at Wall Street. They truly deserve it.
And, while you are at it, throw a few stones at Wall Street. They truly deserve it.
@fatman65535 The whole system does.
I know nothing about light bulbs. A number of years ago, this technological dinosaur was given 2 CFL by her electric company. Installed them on a line with a rotary dimmer switch. Result, very bad smell of bulb burning up'. What is the state of the art on dimmer switch run bulbs? Will CFL's still burn up and what about your newer techno lights - will they cook too? Just wondering if I should even risk buying cheap CFL's at all?
@mr504767 Dimmer switches work by chopping up the power into sharp pulses, so the total average voltage delivered into your bulb is lower. An incandescent bulb is just a piece of wire inside glass, so it deals with the pulses just fine. But a CFL has a switching power supply inside its base, and those sharp pulses will destroy it quickly. There are more expensive models of CFL specifically made to use with dimmers.
@mr504767 CFLs have warnings printed both on the packaging and on the bulbs that states they cannot be run on dimmers. Some CFLs can and will be labeled as dimmable, but even they're not the best choice for dimmer switches. LEDs, on the other hand, generally are dimmer-safe.
My kitchen counter is lit by 3 identical flood lights in the ceiling. When one burned out last fall, it seemed a perfect chance to try a CFL flood that matched the others.
So with two old incandescents and one new, long-life CFL on the same circuit, guess which lamp burned out last month? It's not the first time I've been unimpressed with my expensive, "long-life" CFLs.
What kind of research determines the relative life span of CFLs? Do they just take a poll of the guys in the marketing department, asking what they think it ought to say on the package?
So with two old incandescents and one new, long-life CFL on the same circuit, guess which lamp burned out last month? It's not the first time I've been unimpressed with my expensive, "long-life" CFLs.
What kind of research determines the relative life span of CFLs? Do they just take a poll of the guys in the marketing department, asking what they think it ought to say on the package?
@kidtree
Did he just claim to be an electrician or did he poll your marketing department and ask them if he should be an electrician...
Sounds to me like you have one light fixture that burns out regular bulbs as well as CFLs... Common sense would make you wonder about the fixture, not the bulbs... Duh... But alas.. Common sense is not that common anymore...
Did he just claim to be an electrician or did he poll your marketing department and ask them if he should be an electrician...
Sounds to me like you have one light fixture that burns out regular bulbs as well as CFLs... Common sense would make you wonder about the fixture, not the bulbs... Duh... But alas.. Common sense is not that common anymore...
My only problem is waiting for the CFLs to fail so I can replace them with LEDs. I replaced all my incandescents with CFLs several years ago, and have only had a handful fail, even with running some of them on dimmers.
@PercySludge - Umm... I think you meant CFLs "aren't too bright." LEDs, overally, are the BRIGHTEST, as far as lumen-per-watt and as far as overall light generated.
As for COST: Both now are comparable: TOO COSTLY, but prices are dropping as more people buy them.
And LEDs produce much less heat than both CFLs and (obvioiusly) incandescent.
Additionally, LEDs do not have the harmful phosphorous and mercury contained in CFLs; so, even in that respect, they are a smidge 'greener' than CFLs.
As far as "difficult to make here" - you probably are right.
As for COST: Both now are comparable: TOO COSTLY, but prices are dropping as more people buy them.
And LEDs produce much less heat than both CFLs and (obvioiusly) incandescent.
Additionally, LEDs do not have the harmful phosphorous and mercury contained in CFLs; so, even in that respect, they are a smidge 'greener' than CFLs.
As far as "difficult to make here" - you probably are right.
This thread epitomizes the polarized craziness which has gripped the political debate in this country. Rather than blaming Bush or Democrats for this nation's woes, let's unite and overturn these ridiculous government bulb mandates. Incandescents have problems - heat, longevity, CFL's have problems - mercury, light quality, start up, etc., LED's have serious issues too. Let the consumers and marketplace decide what bulbs to use.
@ajrmd - PERFECT response! I agree - Okay, you SMART Republicans and Democrats, tell us "lesser-schooled" folks: HOW do we overturn this? Do we keep pummeling our representatives? LET'S TURN IT OVER! SOCIAL MEDIA *BLAST* OUR REPRESENTATIVES. Let's do it! I think if we bombard their phones and email addresses and their twitter and facebook, then we can get the message across - it seems to be working for that whole Anonymous/LulzSec hacker movement - and, sadly, it is working for the "mobs in the UK." And, the 'social thing,' for better or worse, is really making ground-breaking changes in the Middle East.
It really is a stupid bill, even though, ultimately, it saves energy. The market itself; and the people; ultimately, will move to LED/CFL on their own.
It really is a stupid bill, even though, ultimately, it saves energy. The market itself; and the people; ultimately, will move to LED/CFL on their own.
Join the conversation!
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
Vendor Showcase
Facebook Activity
