Cree LR6-HE shipping yet?

[gnarly]

LR6-HE is the high efficiency version of the LR6 downlight replacement It got PR'd and won a prize in a lighting competition quite a while back. I'm guessing they are using the XP-G leds which are shipping now. But it doesn't seem to be available yet?

I wonder will they charge more for the LR6-HE or will it just replace the LR6 production with the LR6-HE. Does it make sense for them to sell two different efficiency versions of an expensive LED product?

Thanks for any help...

 

[blasterman]

Does it make sense for them to sell two different efficiency versions of an expensive LED product?

Yes....if it saves them money. With LED products the 'HE' designation means little if nothing from a marketing standpoint. Fewer kittens won't be saved or rain forests cut down if you don't buy the non 'HE' version.

So, the HE version has it's best advantage if it simply makes things easier for Cree on the production end. Given the XP-G was designed for applications like this that would make sense.

 

[jd_oc]

Anyone know a release date yet on these? Seems pretty amazing if it's really only drawing 7 watts (vs 11-12 watts for the regular LR6).

 

[jd_oc]

I contacted Cree directly. They informed me the LR6HE is not scheduled for production. Too bad. I'm guessing the LR6 is selling well, so they are going to sit on the HE version until the competition can catch up. Can't see any other reason to hold off on production unless the cost is significantly higher.

 

[LEDninja]

Can't see any other reason to hold off on production unless the cost is significantly higher.

They are probably doing the 35,000 hour test to get Energy Star qualification. ALL the GU-24 based CFLs have the Energy Star qualification. Cree is the only LED manufacturer I know who have Energy Star qualification for their products.

All new home construction in California have to meet the GU-24 standard. That lifetime supply of 100W light bulbs you have so carefully stockpiled before they become extinct in the stores won't fit the new fixtures.
The GU-24 based CFLs will.
Cree products will.

Most other current LED bulbs won't.
5 mm LED clusters won't last the 35,000 hour test.
My Philips 7W MasterLED is rated 155 lumens. My Ikea 7W CFL is rated 286 lumens. So the MasterLED can't meet the "equivalent to a CFL in efficiency" test.

 

[blasterman]

They are probably doing the 35,000 hour test to get Energy Star qualification

Do you work at Cree now LEDNinja?

Like....Cree is really delaying a product release because of requirements in California , which isn't the center of global contruction. Other parts of the world are having booming economies, and Cree is going to stop production because of California or Enery Star requirements (not).

Jd oc, could you please kick a reply E-mail back to Cree and ask them if the HE is energy Star Certified?

 

[LEDninja]

The Cree LR6 is Energy Star qualified now.

For the LR6-HE to be Energy Star qualified it has to undergo a 35,000 hour test. That is 4 years. With the XP-G only released in 2009 I don't expect the qualification to be complete until 2012-2013. Even if EPA/Energy Star accepts use of preproduction LEDs it will still take until 2011-2012.

Cree can always release the LR6-HE without the Energy Star qualification if they want to. Just leave the Energy Star sticker off the box.

One of the things CPF members don't appreciate is the time and money it takes to build an automated factory for large scale production.
For small runs it is possible to hire cheap labour in China or India to make the product. They can make something different next month as most everything can be manual.
For large runs an automated factory is required. You need at least 100,000 units for economies of scale. The design of the factory, the CNC machines, the conveyers robotic welders is thousands of times more complicated than the final product. Any attempt to hurry things up result in costly mistakes and major delays. So don't expect a large company to be producing large quantities immediately after they have a prototype.

 

[Apollo Cree]

All new home construction in California have to meet the GU-24 standard. That lifetime supply of 100W light bulbs you have so carefully stockpiled before they become extinct in the stores won't fit the new fixtures.

Hmmmm.... Maybe I should start stockpiling old light fixtures and GU-24 to Edison base converters and start a black market business in a few years.

Of course, it will probably carry a longer jail term than selling drugs.

 

[gnarly]

Cree just announced the CR6. Their product managers should really decide what they are going to make before issuing press releases!

It is a lower cost version @ $60. There's no information on power at all. The heatsink seems much smaller than LR6 so I'd hope it uses XP-G class LEDs which should put it in the "LR6-HE" power consumption category

http://www.cree.com/press/press_detail.asp?i=1263995442783

Seems like the right thing to do.