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Does the use of connectors imply that users could replace failed LED boards instead of trashing the entire bulb? Or even upgrading to more efficient LED boards

Does the use of connectors imply that users could replace failed LED boards instead of trashing the entire bulb? Or even upgrading to more efficient LED boards?

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
sixtofour 15y ago
I'm sure it's no usable serviceable parts. The article's author had to destroy the bulb to get in and take pictures.
ChuckMcM 15y ago
It means its possible, it doesn't mean that the owner could do it. It would be good PR on phillip's part to include a postage paid mailing label that would let you recycle dead bulbs. They could recover most of it and save both e-waste and the energy cost of casting a new heatsink.
- ars 15y ago
  The energy cost of individually mailing a heavy bulb is greater than the energy cost of casting a heatsink. Centralized recycling might work, but not a postage paid mailer. Plus who is going to successfully store a mailer for 10 years while waiting for the bulb to burn out. And in 10 years they won't want this bulb back, there won't be anything reusable in it. Just recycle it for the metal.
  - gregable 15y ago
    Storing the mailer isn't a big problem. When I buy a new bulb, I'll get a new mailer. I toss the first round. I don't disagree with you on the energy cost though.
nate_meurer 15y ago
This is a brilliant idea. Absolutely brilliant. My biggest reservation about buying LEDs now isn't the price; it's that the lights that will be available next year will be twice as good, and I can't stand the thought of discarding an entire bulb in order to upgrade. It makes no sense to me that the actual LED is inseparable from its quarter-pound aluminium and plastic shroud. A lightbulb should allow you to swap out some small component that includes the LED die and perhaps the driver.
- ars 15y ago
  When compact fluorescent bulbs first came out they did something like this. The ballast lasts much much longer than the bulb, so you were able to remove the bulb while keeping the ballast. It was a total failure. And in hindsight a terrible idea. No two companies' bulbs were compatible so most of the time you were not able to find a replacement bulb even if you tried, and when you could find them they cost more than an entire new bulb! The reason is that the extra cost of manufacturing them in a replaceable fashion costs more than simply tossing them. I can confidently predict that you will never swap any components from a commercial LED bulb. And BTW the "LED die and perhaps the driver" is probably 95% of the cost of the bulb. The heatsink and housing is nothing in comparison. There is nothing of value in them to keep. Just recycle them for the metal.
  - nate_meurer 15y ago
    > "No two companies' bulbs were compatible so most of the time you were not able to find a replacement bulb..." Standardization would be much easier for LEDs than for CFLs simply because of the size of the package. We have plenty of standard bulb bases that could potentially be used for LEDs, e.g. E-10 or PR-6. The biggest issue is ensuring enough contact with the heat sink. > "The reason is that the extra cost of manufacturing them in a replaceable fashion costs more than simply tossing them." There's no way to know this without seeing the manufacturing breakdown. The additional cost may be negligible. > "The LED die and perhaps the driver is probably 95% of the cost of the bulb" That may be true now, but I personally don't care. Given the choice between replacing an entire bulb and replacing a small piece for slightly less, guess which one I'll choose. Furthermore, this situation will change quickly as LED bulbs are made in greater quantities. Ultimately the cost of the electronics and the LED will be cents. Think about what's happened to LED flashlights. The cost of the aluminum and plastic fixture is fixed.
weeny 15y ago
It's definitely not user serviceable. Indeed, the SMPS circuitry at the base of the bulb is going to fail before the LEDs do, and that stuff is all encapsulated in epoxy.

Does the use of connectors imply that users could replace failed LED boards instead of trashing the entire bulb? Or even upgrading to more efficient LED boards?

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

sixtofour 15y ago

I'm sure it's no usable serviceable parts. The article's author had to destroy the bulb to get in and take pictures.

ChuckMcM 15y ago

It means its possible, it doesn't mean that the owner could do it. It would be good PR on phillip's part to include a postage paid mailing label that would let you recycle dead bulbs. They could recover most of it and save both e-waste and the energy cost of casting a new heatsink.

ars 15y ago
The energy cost of individually mailing a heavy bulb is greater than the energy cost of casting a heatsink. Centralized recycling might work, but not a postage paid mailer. Plus who is going to successfully store a mailer for 10 years while waiting for the bulb to burn out. And in 10 years they won't want this bulb back, there won't be anything reusable in it. Just recycle it for the metal.
- gregable 15y ago
  Storing the mailer isn't a big problem. When I buy a new bulb, I'll get a new mailer. I toss the first round. I don't disagree with you on the energy cost though.

nate_meurer 15y ago

This is a brilliant idea. Absolutely brilliant. My biggest reservation about buying LEDs now isn't the price; it's that the lights that will be available next year will be twice as good, and I can't stand the thought of discarding an entire bulb in order to upgrade. It makes no sense to me that the actual LED is inseparable from its quarter-pound aluminium and plastic shroud. A lightbulb should allow you to swap out some small component that includes the LED die and perhaps the driver.

ars 15y ago
When compact fluorescent bulbs first came out they did something like this. The ballast lasts much much longer than the bulb, so you were able to remove the bulb while keeping the ballast. It was a total failure. And in hindsight a terrible idea. No two companies' bulbs were compatible so most of the time you were not able to find a replacement bulb even if you tried, and when you could find them they cost more than an entire new bulb! The reason is that the extra cost of manufacturing them in a replaceable fashion costs more than simply tossing them. I can confidently predict that you will never swap any components from a commercial LED bulb. And BTW the "LED die and perhaps the driver" is probably 95% of the cost of the bulb. The heatsink and housing is nothing in comparison. There is nothing of value in them to keep. Just recycle them for the metal.
- nate_meurer 15y ago
  > "No two companies' bulbs were compatible so most of the time you were not able to find a replacement bulb..." Standardization would be much easier for LEDs than for CFLs simply because of the size of the package. We have plenty of standard bulb bases that could potentially be used for LEDs, e.g. E-10 or PR-6. The biggest issue is ensuring enough contact with the heat sink. > "The reason is that the extra cost of manufacturing them in a replaceable fashion costs more than simply tossing them." There's no way to know this without seeing the manufacturing breakdown. The additional cost may be negligible. > "The LED die and perhaps the driver is probably 95% of the cost of the bulb" That may be true now, but I personally don't care. Given the choice between replacing an entire bulb and replacing a small piece for slightly less, guess which one I'll choose. Furthermore, this situation will change quickly as LED bulbs are made in greater quantities. Ultimately the cost of the electronics and the LED will be cents. Think about what's happened to LED flashlights. The cost of the aluminum and plastic fixture is fixed.

weeny 15y ago

It's definitely not user serviceable. Indeed, the SMPS circuitry at the base of the bulb is going to fail before the LEDs do, and that stuff is all encapsulated in epoxy.