Dave's eevblog tackles heat and efficiency of a CREE XPG light strip, sort of

I like some of the drama this EE does on his video blog.
This one is a 12 minute video, and he uses a whiteboard to try to tackle thermal efficiency of LEDs. A lot of people discuss efficacy and efficiency here but seeing it on video helps.


Dave lights up his new backyard deck with Cree XPG LEDs, and then winds up measuring the wind from a storm instead. And who can spell efficacy?
http://www.eevblog.com/2009/12/19/eevblog-50-solid-state-led-lighting-and-how-thermal-design-sucks/

Funny video although somewhat rambling and over-emphatic
at times...just his style I guess.

I'm pleased to see what seems a reasonable explanation of
the efficiency aspect. Thermal analysis can be difficult; I
know at work, specialized tools are used and require lots of
conditions to be defined. I don't think this negates the value
of at least being able to ball-park the LED/heatsink temperatures.
Looks like most custom builders use the emperical/experimental
approach (nothing wrong with it) versus the analytical approach.
It usually works out, but seems to result in some over-design
which wouldn't help pushing forward high-volume LED lighting
solutions due to already high cost, compared to alternatives.

Dave