EarthLED

Power_of_the_Sun

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
37
Location
Texas
My first Advanced Lumonics EarthLED (specifically the Evolux Sh 13 Watt, 3000K [100 Watt Incandescent Equivalent]) arrived today. Cost me just under $89.00 w/shipping. Comparing it with the 100W incandescent it replaced (a Sunbeam Soft White - rated at 1120 lumens) it certainly seems bright enough.

First impressions are:
-it's got a noticeably cooler color temperature
-doesn't light the ceiling as well as a regular incandescent (has no up, only down with some spread to the side - spread is more like a flashlight with the lens taken off)
-allows for really good color distinction
-Plastic "bulb" that protects the LED is frosted (sort of) - has a non-transparent appearance probably with a two-fold purpose:
spread the light more evenly and soften it (take the edge off just like in "soft" incandescents) This could probably be described better. I'm sure some of you could help.

Here are the stats I pulled on it, along with some energy efficiency calculations I made:

EarthLED EvoLux Sh Specifications and Dimensions:
• Light Engine: CREE® LED Light engine
• Power Consumption: 13 Watts Max (12 Watts Typical)
• Input Voltage: 90-277 V AC (Worldwide Capable)
• Luminous Flux: 1075 (Cool White), 1000 (Warm White)
• Color Temperature: 3000 K (Warm), 6000 K (Cool)
• CRI: 75 – Cool , 80 – Warm
• Beam Angle – 180 degrees overall
• Operating Temperature Range: -4°/ 113° F (-20°/ 45° C)
• Operating Humidity Range: 20%/90%
• Lifespan: > 50,000 Hours (MTBF)
• Construction: Flame Retardant Plastic, Active Thermal Management w/Fan, Shatterproof Lens
• Base Types Available: E26/27/BC22
• Physical Dimensions: Overall Length – 4.44 in (113 mm) Diameter – 2.55 in (65 mm) Weight – 6 Ounces
• Cost to run for one year* – $3.80
Calculated assuming 8 Hours a day operation, 365 Days a Year with $.10 KWh Electricity Cost
-Pulled from the EarthLED site: http://store.earthled.com/collections/frontpage/products/new-earthled-evolux-sh

Now, some calculations (go easy on me guys, I'm fairly new to this stuff):

Average incandescent 100 Watt bulb
-$1.00
-1700 lumens or 17 lumens per Watt
-1000 hours bulb life
-Costs $29.12 - $43.68 per year to run (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage)
-Needs replacing 3-5 times per year (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage)

Advanced Lumonics EarthLED (specifically Evolux Sh 13 Watt [100 Watt Incandescent Equivalent])
-$88.98 (w/standard shipping)
-1000 lumens or 76-77 lumens per Watt
-50,000 hours LED life
-Costs $3.79 - $5.68 per year to run (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage)
-Needs replacing every 17-11 years (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage)

Conclusions

Total cost of purchase and use of Earth LED 13 Watt at 12 hours a day for 11 years - $151.46
Cost of purchase and use of Incandescent 100 Watt bulb at 12 hours a day for 11 years - $528.98

*All electricity costs based on $0.0001 (1/100th of a cent) per watt per hour

BTW: If you think I'm crazy for purchasing an $80.00 incandescent replacement, I should tell you that I've recently joined a team in my organization that's sole purpose is to save our organization money. They asked me if I'd head up LED lighting research. I figure, if I am going to recommend LED lighting replacements I might as well have at least one at home to try. (Didn't want to be hypocritical) With calculations such as the ones I just gave (and that's for a single bulb!), and knowing that right now these guys (EarthLED) have ready-to-go fluorescent replacements, I think this could save our organization 10's of 1,000's of $$$.

Regards,

Power
 
Have you done a life cycle cost analysis for compact or linear fluorescents? They won't last as long as LEDs, but they're much, much cheaper to purchase per lumen. Linear fluorescents have a luminous efficacy that's roughly comparable to LEDs as well - you could expect 80-90 L/W.
 
Have you done a life cycle cost analysis for compact or linear fluorescents? They won't last as long as LEDs, but they're much, much cheaper to purchase per lumen. Linear fluorescents have a luminous efficacy that's roughly comparable to LEDs as well - you could expect 80-90 L/W.

That's the next thing on my agenda. Hopefully will have something soon.
 
1000 lumens @ 3000k with an 80 CRI, very impressive, and I'm digging the PC-processor size heatsink. But the others here are probably going to jeer the diffuser lens, and the price obviously isn't ready for primetime (the 2 year warranty is very promising though).

Can these be dimmed? The 180-degree output sounds like a prime candidate for recessed use..
 
Looks like the heatsink is cooled by a fan, for better or worse. I hope it's a quiet one. Still, I've experienced a number of small DC fans get noisy and fail over time.
 
Advanced Lumonics DirectLED FL vs Average Linear Fluorescent

Advanced Lumonics DirectLED FL
Here are the stats I pulled on it:

Specifications and Dimensions:

Power Consumption:

* 8 Watts (2 Ft. / 60 CM)

* 15 Watts (4 Ft. / 120 CM)
* 24 Watts (6 Ft. / 183 CM)

Light Engine:

* 180 SuperBrite LED (2 Ft. / 60 CM)

* 300 SuperBrite LED (4 Ft. / 120 CM)

* 420 SuperBrite LED (6 Ft. / 183 CM)


Input Voltage: AC 110~277V or 12V DC

Luminous Flux:
* 800 Lumens (2 Ft. / 60 CM)
* 1500 Lumens (4 Ft. / 120 CM)

* 2400 Lumens (6 Ft. / 183 CM)

Color Temperature: 3000 K (Warm), 6000 K (Cool)
CRI: 75 (Typical)
Lifespan: > 50,000 Hours (MTBF)
Operating Temperature: -4~104°F (-20~40ºC)
Construction: Frosted, impact resistant plastic & integrated heat sink
Physical Dimensions:
* Diameter - 1.18 Inches (3 CM)

* Base Types Available: Bi Pin T8, T10, T12 Compatible
-Taken from: http://store.earthled.com/collections/frontpage/products/led-fluorescent-replacement-tube

Now, some calculations (again, please go easy on me guys, I'm still learning this stuff...):

When it came to regular linear fluorescents, the prices varied so greatly that I just decided to use the following one as an example: Philips 32 Watt, T-8 Universal Start* Fluorescent Lamp (it is a fairly inexpensive, popular name brand, and will have to do for now to represent average fluorescent bulbs as far as this study is concerned)

Average Fluorescent 4ft 32 Watt Bulb
-$2.39 each
-32 Watt
-2800 lumens (or 87.5 lumens per Watt)
-24,000 hour bulb life
-Ballast needed ($14.39 for electronic ballast that goes with fixture housing for this bulb from same dealer)
-Costs $9.32 - $13.98 per year to run (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage)
-Needs replacing every 8-5 years (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage)


Advanced Lumonics DirectLED FL [4ft Fluorescent Tube Replacement]
-$79.99 each
-15 Watt
-1500 lumens (or 100 lumens per Watt)
-50,000 hours LED life
-No ballast needed
-Available in T8, T10, and T12 models
-Costs $4.37 - $6.56 per year to run (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage)
-Needs replacing every 17-11 years (based on 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year usage

Conclusions
These new LED Fluorescent replacements are efficient, but expensive- not yet cost effective in comparison to their predecessor competitors. They also pale in comparison in terms of luminosity. With a regular fluorescent lamp you are getting almost twice the brightness for close to the same price.
Cost of purchase and use of Advanced Lumonics DirectLED 4ft FL at 12 hours a day for 11 years - $152.07 (not including tax and shipping)
Cost of purchase and use of 32 Watt 4ft Fluorescent Lamp at 12 hours a day for 11 years - $175.32 (not including tax and shipping)

*All costs have been rounded UP to the nearest cent
*All electricity costs based on $0.0001 (1/100th of a cent) per watt per hour
 
Unfortunately, it looks like those LED fluorescent-style replacements use 5mm leds. If that's true, they'll probably dim significantly over time. Notice that they list the life span as the MTBF, not as something more common and useful like time to 70% lumen maintenance. 5mm leds have no place in long-running applications. Power leds are always a better solution.
 
Looks like the heatsink is cooled by a fan, for better or worse. I hope it's a quiet one. Still, I've experienced a number of small DC fans get noisy and fail over time.

The fan on these really isn't that loud. It has to be pretty quiet for you to hear it.
I've been sselling these and using these for about 6 months now, and they are really problem free. You just have to get used to the LED directionalism.
 
Looks like the heatsink is cooled by a fan, for better or worse. I hope it's a quiet one

And when the fan clogs up with dirt a year or two down the road like all mini fans of this type (note the warranty on the bulb), and kills the LEDs, what about our cost analysis?

I'll stick to CFL, or LED fixtures I build myself that don't require absurd active cooling.
 
And when the fan clogs up with dirt a year or two down the road like all mini fans of this type (note the warranty on the bulb), and kills the LEDs, what about our cost analysis?

I'll stick to CFL, or LED fixtures I build myself that don't require absurd active cooling.

I've experienced that happening with computer fans, but more often in my personal experience the bushings or sleeve bearing wears out and the fans start to make an irritating buzzing sound. You can temporarily rectify this by lubricating the shaft, but eventually these fans seize. Ball bearing fans are supposedly longer lasting, but they're also a bit noisier.
 
And when the fan clogs up with dirt a year or two down the road like all mini fans of this type (note the warranty on the bulb), and kills the LEDs, what about our cost analysis?

I'll stick to CFL, or LED fixtures I build myself that don't require absurd active cooling.

I will say that this is my number one concern with these! I test products we sell non stop. I have had one of these bulbs running outside since about July. So that's about 5000 hours of use. Still going strong.

But I wouldn't use one of these in my wood shop where I kick up a lot of dust...
 
The problem with this review is that he never tells what fixture he has the light in. If he was using an table top lamp, well of course there will be a difference, the LED is blasting straight up.
I will say that these bulbs are not a 100 watt eqv. More like a 60 watt eqv. And the new version is a little better than the version this guy tested 8 months ago. But still they are only 1000 lumens. Once the UL starts catching up, we should see more realistic claims!

The trick with LED's is using them in places that are fit for LED's. They are not going to be a great bulb for every situation.
 
The problem with this review is that he never tells what fixture he has the light in. If he was using an table top lamp, well of course there will be a difference, the LED is blasting straight up.
I will say that these bulbs are not a 100 watt eqv. More like a 60 watt eqv. And the new version is a little better than the version this guy tested 8 months ago. But still they are only 1000 lumens. Once the UL starts catching up, we should see more realistic claims!

The trick with LED's is using them in places that are fit for LED's. They are not going to be a great bulb for every situation.

I currently have (and tested) this bulb in my walk-in closet. It is a ceiling open fixture with no cover. Please remember, the Sylvania bulb I tested the EvoLux Sh (Warm White) against was rated at 1120 lumens - only 120 lumens higher. So actually, I thought it did (and does) quite well considering it is using at least 87 Watts less.
 
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You do realize (based on those figures) it will take approx. 2 years to make up your investment price back right?

Based on life span, you will need to purchase 5 CFLs to cover the 50k hours. That's ~$20 over the life of the LED (which has yet ot be proven might I add) and using only 10 Watts more per lamp compared to the LED.

I don't see based on those facts where LED would be a higher benefit to CFL's.:thinking::shrug:
 
That's simple, a CFL won't ever really last 10,000 hours. I kill those things around my house in about two years, or about 3000 hours. CFL's don't like being turned on and off all the time, which shortens their life.
So really you are looking at $40-60 for CFL cost over the life of an LED bulb. Unless you have a CFL that you are leaving on all the time, then you will get 10,000 hours.

LED bulbs are not bothered by being turned off and on all the time.

They even proved this on Myth Busters.. I'll have to see if I can dig that up...
 
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