LED Candles...

[LEDAdd1ct]

Okay, so, I didn't see a "candle" forum (hah hah hah ) on CPF, so I hope the mods will let "Lanterns" suffice. Functionally, they do the exact same thing, but I think these are a copy of the "original" lantern, the flame. I have been checking these things out online, and there seem to be a number of varieties. Some operate on coin cells, some on AAA cells, some on AA cells, and some on C cells. Obviously, higher capacity C cells will give the longest runtime. Some of these things have switches, and some of these operate when you exhale sharply on them; i.e., akin to blowing out real candles.

Now, I would get these just for the sake of coolness alone , but I intend to use LSD Ni-Mh, and I am not sure what the low cut-off voltage is. So-

1) Anybody played with these?

2) If so, what brand?

3) How do they look?

4) Do they look like a real candle?

Samples I have been eyeing:

Added 11/03/07: I will be adding to this list suggestions from other CPFer's and things I find on Google, too. So, as more LED Candle Lanterns (or just LED candles) are found, this list will grow!


http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/94ce/

http://www.wowzzers.com/product_info.php?products_id=188

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/prod...-1492714-_-Brookstone+HomePage#MyReviewHeader

http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/product.php?productid=2964&cat=0&page=1

http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/LED-CANDLE-001/default.asp

http://www.qvc.com/qsearch/search.aspx?Nu=000_product_nbr&Ne=300&Ntt=candle&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nr=AND(FILTER(IQVC)%2cOR(ats_code%3aY%2cats_code%3aW)%2cOR(Partner+ID%3aQVC)%2cOR(channel%3aIQ))&N=4294931677&Ntk=MainInterface&cm_pam=Brand&rewrite=no

http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/Flicker/flcbuy_CommercialFakeCandles.html




LEDAdd1ct (an ever-thinning wallet for sure!)

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I found another one today, and this one looks really cool. The site shows a movie of it in action. It has three 5mm LEDs, with an IC to randomize the pattern:

http://www.earthtechproducts.com/p750.html

 

[GreySave]

Take a look at what QVC has to offer. Really! They have a brand called "candle Impressions." They are maade of real wax with a real wick (That cannot be lit for safety). The random flickering LED is inside of the cande below the wick. They for up to 350 hours on two "C" cells. I liked them so well that we have eight of them now. They also come in a wide variety of styles and colors, including wall sconces.

 

[Stromberg]

Led Lenser sells "Candle in the wind" which doesn't actually look like an candle, but still looks cool:

http://www.zweibrueder.com/english/products/livingroomlamps/candleinthewind.html

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

One of the links I posted (see here: http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/product.php?productid=2964&cat=0&page=1 ) is a 2 "C" candle-LED-light. I wonder if this is the same light you purchased?

This same site has a ton of different styles, and the largest ones accomodate "D" cells!

(See their main candle-LED page here: http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/home.php?cat=668 and click "View All")

According to my research, there seems to be one main company that manufactures "C" sized LED candle lights. Do you think this is them?

How is the output on them, and more importantly, how realisitic is it? I was thinking of going with the one from Earthtech, because the video on their site makes it seem pretty real. I also liked the fact it uses 4 AA cells (cheap, easy, Eneloop compatible, if the circuit will deal with 4.8 volts instead of 6), and uses three LEDs for a flicker effect.

What do you think?

Take a look at what QVC has to offer. Really! They have a brand called "candle Impressions." They are maade of real wax with a real wick (That cannot be lit for safety). The random flickering LED is inside of the cande below the wick. They for up to 350 hours on two "C" cells. I liked them so well that we have eight of them now. They also come in a wide variety of styles and colors, including wall sconces.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I found and added the "QVC" site to the list in the first post.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

The LED candle offered by Huntingons appears more realistic than many others (it has a flickering effect that isn't repetitive in the short term anyway).
These candles also have a photoelectric switch (in addition to the on/mode change/off slide switch) that turns them on at dusk & off at dawn.
Operates from two C cells though.
http://herrington-catalog.stores.yahoo.net/hs186.html

I have it on my website at http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/eleventh/candle3.htm if anybody is interested.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Hi, Craig! I was hoping you might chime in. I looked over the ones you reviewed on your site first before posting, but I wasn't too impressed with the ones that pooped-out after a short while. Great site, by the way! :thumbsup:

Regarding the ability of an IC to make an LED candle appear "random", I have my suspicions. A real candle's movements aren't random, of course; they are subject to the laws of physics. A gust of wind, a person walking by, or a downdraft all alter the way a real candle responds. But to someone looking at it, it is that very spontaneity [I believe] that gives real candles their authenticity.

Once I get my next paycheck, I am gonna check out the one from Earthtech, 'cause it seems fairly "random", and probably the ones from Thinkgeek, both for the coolness of being able to whisk it on or off with a breeze and the fact you can turn it to blue. Buy both, as the mantra goes.

I just played the video of the candle you suggested. It looks pretty neat. Any idea if it is 1.2 volt * 2 = 2.4 volt friendly? Now that LSD C cells are out, I don't see any reason not to pick up a pair or two to try them out.

 

[LED-FX]

Test really is put several together and see if it reminds you of candlelight or roadworks....

Personally think 3 LED flavours work better than 2 or certainly single LED flavours, gives the impression of the light moving.

Broadway Standard:

http://www.citytheatrical.com candlelite unlimited, 3 lamp or LED combination.

Nicest are flickering candles with `flame` on spring and a pulse coil that keeps the `flame ` moving , haven`t seen them in years unless somone knows better?

Cheers
Adam

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Hi, Adam. Yes, I was thinking the same thing, that three diodes would look more realistic because of the illusion of the flame "moving" in physical space.

I realize buying all of 'em would be the best way to see which one looks the most realistic, but I have plans to pick-up an incan or LED light with warmer color spectrum, plus I'll need batteries for these LED candle lanterns. *sigh* One day, when I'm rich, I'll buy all of them. *yeah, right*

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I just looked at the Candle Lite Unlimited you mentioned, and it looks pretty cool! Have you played with one of these yourself? If so, which flavor did you try, incan or LED, and how real does it look?

These things really are neat!

 

[Kilovolt]

I have recently bought a set of Philips Imageo Candlelight (a Google search will tell you more about them). The effect is unbelievably realistic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP-dO3ba3g4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE-yny2TV64

You get a base with three sockets into which you put the three candles' glass containers. No electric contacts, the candles are charged by induction. A timer controlled 10 hours charge will give you 20 hours of light. Switching on-off is achieved by tilting the candle. The candles are fed by NiMH batteries that are not accessible.

The price in Europe is around $45 including 20% VAT.

And now a few pics:

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Here are some links on building these things to make them appear to be random:


Circuit diagram, for those who can read them:


http://members.shaw.ca/novotill/FireLightFlicker/

Another idea, does not require knowledge of IC/electronic drawings:

http://www.spookyblue.com/halloween/flickerlight/spookyfire/


And yet another:

http://johnnyspage.com/LED Flicker.htm

 

[LED-FX]

City Theatrical candles are pretty darn good , as you would expect at price, current choice of `Phantom of the Opera` not seen the LED version though.

Found the physically moving flames called Feeling Flame:

http://www.feelings-flame.dk/

This site goes into quite some depth on flicker:

http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/Flicker/flkint_Flicker.html

The Earthtech product does look interesting.

Cheers
Adam

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

These look really great! I may even pick up the incan version (three bulbs on a tiny little PC-type card) that runs off a wall-wart:

http://www.enchantedlighting.net/index.htm

Check out the full-version video clip here:

http://www.enchantedlighting.net/video.htm

Awesome! :thumbsup:

 

[dave w]

Okay, so, I didn't see a "candle" forum (hah hah hah )
1) Anybody played with these?

2) If so, what brand?

3) How do they look?

4) Do they look like a real candle?



http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/product.php?productid=2964&cat=0&page=1

http://www.enchantedlighting.net/


LEDAdd1ct (an ever-thinning wallet for sure!)

LEDAdd1ct

FWIW

I have several of the "justhomedecore" candle (URL above) and one of the enchantedlighting incandescent models. Enchanted Lighting Co is a manufacturer and I am fairly certain they also make the three LED model found here http://www.earthtechproducts.com/p750.html

The incandesent three bulb candle wins hands down. But is also most expensive. The grain of wheat bulbs last better than a year when run sun down to sun up. If you can solder, you can replace the "GoW" bulbs with 12V clear christmas bulbs, which will last longer.

The LED models look less realistic because of their faster turn-on time...but still look realistic enough to fool.

The single LED inside the candle design (below)
http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/product.php?productid=2964&cat=0&page=1
looks least realistic but still has nice effects, and is least expensive. You should be seeing them as Christmas candle decorations soon. These single LED models look better if you can place them a little above eye level, otherwise you can see the flicker coming from below the "wick". I have home control system which "lights" the accent candles in various rooms at sundown (all powered by "wall wart" supplies instead of batteries). Makes for nice effect in room decor and is inexpensive. Very high WAF.

Dave

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Hi Dave! That's some terrific information.

Here are some things I've been mulling over:

1) The "justhomedecor" candle is sold by Candle Impressions (based in Canada, products made in China).

2) The Candle Impressions models get very high reviews on QVC, especially the five hour timer model. However, what you said makes sense (with respect to placing them above eye-level to maximize the illusion), and others recommend placing them above eye-level, too.

3) The consensus from others, supported by your point, is that incans look more realistic than LED models. However, incans burn out, and run hot. LEDs, for all intents and purposes, never do, and run cool, especially at the extremely low-level of current draw used here (no Luxeons/Crees ).

4) I suppose one could think of it this way: the Candle Impressions models that use two D cells and run a five hour timer are portable, low temperature, and will never burn out. However, the LEDs look less like real candles, and you will [eventually] have to replace batteries.

The Enchanted Lighting version with the three bulb incan and wall-wart transformer looks more real (from your reports and others), does not use/require batteries, will maintain constant brightness, and can be plugged into a wall-timer to customize the times you want the "candle" on and off. However, you sacrifice portability, and the bulb will eventually die.

I priced D batteries at Sears yesterday (yup, after voting I went to price batteries to assess potential future cost for a product I don't even own ) and a four-pack was $6.00. So two cells are three bucks. The replacement bulbs for the incan, Enchanted Lighting version, sold here

http://www.enchantedlighting.net/bulbs.htm#1

are $20 for a four-pack, or five bucks apiece. If I did my math right, that's $3 "a run" for two batteries for the LED version made by Candle Impressions, and $5 "a run" for Enchanted Lighting. The two dollar difference is the price you pay for that extra authenticity incandescents seem to offer in this application.

I suppose the only other factor is availability. Companies come and companies go, but D cells will always be available. Also, a pair of rechargeable D cells (such as this LSD version http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/...P_id=&osCsid=83b8bb2b81510fff13789f59dd2b604d)will last practically forever.

Naturally, I'll probably wind up purchasing both.

I've been checking out timers (that suffix "-holic" in "Flashoholic" is there for a reason!) and this one uses your area code to turn appliances on at sunset and off at sunrise.

http://www.amazon.com/review/produc...13598-2448624?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

How cool!

 

[mulki]

Re: LED Candles... found a couple in DX

DX has some LED candles:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9383

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9544

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I just got off the phone with a very nice customer service rep. at Enjoy Lighting, the makers of the Enchanted Lighting candle with three separate bulbs and random, non-repeating patterns. While speaking with him, I extended an invitation to join CPF, and especially, to read this thread. I hope that he will accept this invitation, and perhaps answer any questions about his product.

:thumbsup:

LEDAdd1ct

 

[GreySave]

<< One of the links I posted (see here: http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreu...4&cat=0&page=1 ) is a 2 "C" candle-LED-light. I wonder if this is the same light you purchased? >>

Sorry Addict. Due to time limitations I have not been back to this thread for a while. Yes, those appear to be the same product as that which QVC offers.

Which of these is best is a very subjective issue, just as it is with flashlights. I find the single LED driven Candle Impressions model to give a great illusion for the dollar, and that includes the cost to operate. They also look OK when turned off if someone happens to look down the throast of the the candle (We use ours as centerpieces during the holiday season). There are no exposed LEDs or bulbs to ruin the perception. The "random" effect is not as randon as many might like, but it suits my wife and I. You can probably find a video link on one of the product pages at QVC that will show you what they look like.