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Cost to manufacture, 4x the LED modules and better supply circuitry. Upsides: LEDs driven at very low current last "forever", more light, less waste heat. Dow

Cost to manufacture, 4x the LED modules and better supply circuitry. Upsides: LEDs driven at very low current last "forever", more light, less waste heat. Downsides: price to manufacture, and manufacturers preferring to make the typical ones that over-drive and burn out the LEDs so you have to buy replacements.

ars 6y ago
> so you have to buy replacements. They are rated for 15,000 hours, and so are regular LEDs. The solution is very simple: Return any LED that doesn't last the specified time. Manufactures will very rapidly start making changes if everyone did that. You can just write the installation date with a Sharpie on the bulb, or keep track of them in a spreadsheet. I've been doing it for a couple years now, and based on my data I don't think I'll ever need to buy a bulb again. My bulbs last around 1,000 hours, not even remotely close to the promised 15,000 hours. So I just return them and get new ones.
- carlob 6y ago
  1,000 is really really low. Could it be something to do with your socket position and how they dissipate heat?
- ryan_j_naughton 6y ago
  How do you return them? Through the manufacturer or the store? Wouldn't the return window be passed so it is now a warranty claim, right?
  - muststopmyths 6y ago
    I had some FEIT brand LEDs stop working after a few months. I sent them email and promptly got a response. I had to answer some questions about the use, and they sent me a box of new bulbs. Never asked me for proof of purchase either. Replaced bulbs have worked fine for a few years now.
  - gambiting 6y ago
    I've been returning bulbs to amazon for years this exact way, even if the bulb is out of "warranty". I just go on the chat, say "the bulb packaging says it will last 15k hours, it hasn't even been 15k hours since I bought it, much less 15k hours of use, so it's misleading advertising". They just accept a return&refund 100% of the time. Amazon is too big to care.
- oasisbob 6y ago
  > The solution is very simple: Return any LED that doesn't last the specified time. Manufactures will very rapidly start making changes if everyone did that. Agreed. I think this is why Energy Star rated LED lamps require such a long warranty. Eg, Philips Hue products have a two year warranty, unless they carry an Energy Star, in which case it's three.
  - pbhjpbhj 6y ago
    2 years is a pretty short warranty, it's the mandated minimum for electronics in EU law AIUI.
    - gambiting 6y ago
      >> it's the mandated minimum for electronics in EU law AIUI. It's such a common misconception I'm really shocked that EU has never made a better effort to clarify it. EU does not enforce any warranty period by manufacturers. Zero. What it does enforce however, is the seller's responsibility for the product they sold. And this responsibility is at least 2 years(it's actually 6 years for most electronics and other products), but....it only covers manufacturing defects. That is the key word here. Any defects found in the first 6 months are presumed to be the result of manufacturing issues and the seller has to fix/replace the item for the buyer without asking for any proof of how the defect occured. But after 6 months, the responsibility shifts - it's the consumer who has to prove that the defect is a result of manufacturing problem. As I am sure you can appreciate, it's extremely difficult for most items. In theory you could call upon this law even after 5 years after buying a bulb and say that the bulb broke due to a manufacturing defects and the seller would have to replace it - but it's up to you to prove it.
      - pbhjpbhj 6y ago
        The seller warrants the goods, it's in the Consumer Rights Act in UK, did I say differently? You're right it is often misunderstood, in part because shops will say "oh, you have to contact the manufacturer" which is fraud AFAICT, but seems to be extremely common. Under UK's CRA there's effectively no end to a warranty, if the product could reasonably be expected to still work. But I thought the EU Directive only specified 2 years minimum for countries to apply ... do you happen to know a reference for the 6 years, please?
- torgoguys 6y ago
  Wow--sounds like either you've got a problem or I somehow am getting very, very lucky. I bought my house about 12 years ago. We bought all LED and CFL bulbs when we moved in. With only a couple of exceptions (special circumstances), we're still using those bulbs today.
baybal2 6y ago
> 4x the LED modules LEDs themselves are very cheap. For individual LEDs, the cost of the package costs more than the LED itself.

ars 6y ago

> so you have to buy replacements. They are rated for 15,000 hours, and so are regular LEDs. The solution is very simple: Return any LED that doesn't last the specified time. Manufactures will very rapidly start making changes if everyone did that. You can just write the installation date with a Sharpie on the bulb, or keep track of them in a spreadsheet. I've been doing it for a couple years now, and based on my data I don't think I'll ever need to buy a bulb again. My bulbs last around 1,000 hours, not even remotely close to the promised 15,000 hours. So I just return them and get new ones.

carlob 6y ago
1,000 is really really low. Could it be something to do with your socket position and how they dissipate heat?
ryan_j_naughton 6y ago
How do you return them? Through the manufacturer or the store? Wouldn't the return window be passed so it is now a warranty claim, right?
- muststopmyths 6y ago
  I had some FEIT brand LEDs stop working after a few months. I sent them email and promptly got a response. I had to answer some questions about the use, and they sent me a box of new bulbs. Never asked me for proof of purchase either. Replaced bulbs have worked fine for a few years now.
- gambiting 6y ago
  I've been returning bulbs to amazon for years this exact way, even if the bulb is out of "warranty". I just go on the chat, say "the bulb packaging says it will last 15k hours, it hasn't even been 15k hours since I bought it, much less 15k hours of use, so it's misleading advertising". They just accept a return&refund 100% of the time. Amazon is too big to care.
oasisbob 6y ago
> The solution is very simple: Return any LED that doesn't last the specified time. Manufactures will very rapidly start making changes if everyone did that. Agreed. I think this is why Energy Star rated LED lamps require such a long warranty. Eg, Philips Hue products have a two year warranty, unless they carry an Energy Star, in which case it's three.
- pbhjpbhj 6y ago
  2 years is a pretty short warranty, it's the mandated minimum for electronics in EU law AIUI.
  - gambiting 6y ago
    >> it's the mandated minimum for electronics in EU law AIUI. It's such a common misconception I'm really shocked that EU has never made a better effort to clarify it. EU does not enforce any warranty period by manufacturers. Zero. What it does enforce however, is the seller's responsibility for the product they sold. And this responsibility is at least 2 years(it's actually 6 years for most electronics and other products), but....it only covers manufacturing defects. That is the key word here. Any defects found in the first 6 months are presumed to be the result of manufacturing issues and the seller has to fix/replace the item for the buyer without asking for any proof of how the defect occured. But after 6 months, the responsibility shifts - it's the consumer who has to prove that the defect is a result of manufacturing problem. As I am sure you can appreciate, it's extremely difficult for most items. In theory you could call upon this law even after 5 years after buying a bulb and say that the bulb broke due to a manufacturing defects and the seller would have to replace it - but it's up to you to prove it.
    - pbhjpbhj 6y ago
      The seller warrants the goods, it's in the Consumer Rights Act in UK, did I say differently? You're right it is often misunderstood, in part because shops will say "oh, you have to contact the manufacturer" which is fraud AFAICT, but seems to be extremely common. Under UK's CRA there's effectively no end to a warranty, if the product could reasonably be expected to still work. But I thought the EU Directive only specified 2 years minimum for countries to apply ... do you happen to know a reference for the 6 years, please?
torgoguys 6y ago
Wow--sounds like either you've got a problem or I somehow am getting very, very lucky. I bought my house about 12 years ago. We bought all LED and CFL bulbs when we moved in. With only a couple of exceptions (special circumstances), we're still using those bulbs today.

baybal2 6y ago

> 4x the LED modules LEDs themselves are very cheap. For individual LEDs, the cost of the package costs more than the LED itself.