5 ms·

As others have mentioned, it seems all backwards that each bulb is converting AC/DC internally, and does not appear to have much in the way of heat dissipation

As others have mentioned, it seems all backwards that each bulb is converting AC/DC internally, and does not appear to have much in the way of heat dissipation for the converter or the LED chip(s). I've built a lot of LED lighting setups, and even with the most efficient chips and converters, extremely underdriven, the footprint required to run efficiently and dissipate heat in a way that will let them last 10-20 years is an order of magnitude larger than what would fit in a bulb.

atonse 8y ago
I've thought about the idea of wiring my entire house with DC for the lighting parts, for exactly this reason. But the fact that I'd have to sell my house one day stops me.
- Freak_NL 8y ago
  I've built a custom LED-lighting setup in my living room. There is one 10cm × 4cm × 30cm AC/DC transformer (with its jet-intake-like 4cm fan replaced with a quiet 8cm fan intended for gaming rigs) that supplies 12V from a central location, passing through a panel of MOSFETs driven by a PCA9685 controlled by a Raspberry Pi, onwards to the custom armatures in the ceiling. I can set it to all the colours of the rainbow (RGBWW LEDs), but the warm-white LEDs mean I can mix anything from a very low-key ambient amber evening lighting to a brighter and colder light useful for doing things that require, well, light. I've only done this in the living room as an experiment, and have no intention of doing this anywhere else exactly because of the maintenance overhead and the breaking with convention. > But the fact that I'd have to sell my house one day stops me. “Here. It works now. Here is a manual that describes how it works, here is a box of spare parts. You are welcome to rip it all out and replace it with conventional gear. There is no warrantee on this thing, even though it's awesome.”
- driverdan 8y ago
  Low voltage lighting is becoming common. Adhere to industry standards and it may increase your house's value.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]

atonse 8y ago

I've thought about the idea of wiring my entire house with DC for the lighting parts, for exactly this reason. But the fact that I'd have to sell my house one day stops me.

Freak_NL 8y ago
I've built a custom LED-lighting setup in my living room. There is one 10cm × 4cm × 30cm AC/DC transformer (with its jet-intake-like 4cm fan replaced with a quiet 8cm fan intended for gaming rigs) that supplies 12V from a central location, passing through a panel of MOSFETs driven by a PCA9685 controlled by a Raspberry Pi, onwards to the custom armatures in the ceiling. I can set it to all the colours of the rainbow (RGBWW LEDs), but the warm-white LEDs mean I can mix anything from a very low-key ambient amber evening lighting to a brighter and colder light useful for doing things that require, well, light. I've only done this in the living room as an experiment, and have no intention of doing this anywhere else exactly because of the maintenance overhead and the breaking with convention. > But the fact that I'd have to sell my house one day stops me. “Here. It works now. Here is a manual that describes how it works, here is a box of spare parts. You are welcome to rip it all out and replace it with conventional gear. There is no warrantee on this thing, even though it's awesome.”
driverdan 8y ago
Low voltage lighting is becoming common. Adhere to industry standards and it may increase your house's value.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]