4 ms·

> Trying to cram all the infrastructure for an LED lamp into the shape of a light bulb is a bad idea, even if the input power is DC. Absolutely, the incandesce

> Trying to cram all the infrastructure for an LED lamp into the shape of a light bulb is a bad idea, even if the input power is DC. Absolutely, the incandescent light bulbs have that shape for a reason: the screw is small because there is nothing to put in it and it doesn't heat, the bulb is large to dissipate all the light and heat it generates. And the LED light bulbs have exactly opposite problems: almost all of the heat is generated near the screw while the bulb itself generates almost none and the light-emitter doesn't even need the bulb that large around of it. Oh, and the casing around the screw is plastic so the thermal conductivity is horrible. Honestly, it's a profoundly terrible form-factor which we're now stuck with.

Zak 4y ago
I don't think we're exactly stuck with the old form factor. We can start phasing them out. Replacement of screw sockets with modern fixtures is well within the capabilities of the average DIYer (though perhaps some places it's illegal for anyone but a professional electrician to touch anything hardwired).
- Joker_vD 4y ago
  Well, one of the main sales point of the LED bulbs was compatibility with existing E14/E27/etc sockets: no need to change the wiring, or the fixtures, just buy a new, better light bulb and screw it right in! It will also serve longer and be better for the environment, what's not to like? We'll even ban the sales of 100W and higher incandescent light bulbs to help you make the right choice! That's also the pitch of the smart bulbs: a sane way would be to make a smart light switch but what if you can't do that (e.g., you rent the apartment)? So we'll shove the controller chip into a disposable light bulb, that's still perfectly fine for the environment. By the way, I don't know how things turned out in your part of the world but over here, after the ban went into the force the manufacturers of incandescent lightbulb started selling 95W light bulbs 8D
dredmorbius 4y ago
There are finned LED bulbs which can fit standard Edison Screw sockets, e.g.: <https://www.designboom.com/technology/self-cooling-100-watt-equivalent-led-bulb-by-ge/ https://www.designboom.com/technology/self-cooling-100-watt-...> <https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/c2/c5/b5c2c5d69fb240a571bab42fea91828d.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/c2/c5/b5c2c5d69fb240a571ba...> It's also helpful to recognise that existing lighting fixtures and lamps were designed around the constraints of incandescent bulbs. The first generation of LED bulbs and lamps largely conform to these. As LEDs mature, both fixtures and lamps which address the limitations and requirements of the technology (transformers, perhaps dedicated 12v circuits, heat dissipation for the transformer rather than lighting elements themselves, and better light-temperature and intensity regulation) should emerge. We're presently in the somewhat-messy half-emerged state. Think horseless carriages, wireless, and the days of dual gas/electric lighting and lamping systems (yes, these existed, and yes, the failure modes were ... much as you might imagine).
- amluto 4y ago
  I sure hope 12V doesn’t happen. 12V is absurdly low for lighting and needs extremely thick wires to get decent efficiency. 24V is okay. 48V would be nicer for indoor use.
  - brianwawok 4y ago
    Wiring up a house with 48V for lights and 120V for plugs would be such a pain. Pulling 2 different wires to every room. Weird circuit breakers. Yuck.
    - robocat 4y ago
      Already happens in New Zealand: lighting is usually low current 1mm2 wiring, and everything else is heavier gauge. Circuit breakers mostly care about Amps (all breakers could be rated to mains voltage if you wanted to avoid “weird”). Also low voltage wiring can legally be done by anyone in NZ (a bonus when doing your own work, and a pitfall when buying a house?)

Zak 4y ago

I don't think we're exactly stuck with the old form factor. We can start phasing them out. Replacement of screw sockets with modern fixtures is well within the capabilities of the average DIYer (though perhaps some places it's illegal for anyone but a professional electrician to touch anything hardwired).

Joker_vD 4y ago
Well, one of the main sales point of the LED bulbs was compatibility with existing E14/E27/etc sockets: no need to change the wiring, or the fixtures, just buy a new, better light bulb and screw it right in! It will also serve longer and be better for the environment, what's not to like? We'll even ban the sales of 100W and higher incandescent light bulbs to help you make the right choice! That's also the pitch of the smart bulbs: a sane way would be to make a smart light switch but what if you can't do that (e.g., you rent the apartment)? So we'll shove the controller chip into a disposable light bulb, that's still perfectly fine for the environment. By the way, I don't know how things turned out in your part of the world but over here, after the ban went into the force the manufacturers of incandescent lightbulb started selling 95W light bulbs 8D

dredmorbius 4y ago

There are finned LED bulbs which can fit standard Edison Screw sockets, e.g.: <https://www.designboom.com/technology/self-cooling-100-watt-equivalent-led-bulb-by-ge/ https://www.designboom.com/technology/self-cooling-100-watt-...> <https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/c2/c5/b5c2c5d69fb240a571bab42fea91828d.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/c2/c5/b5c2c5d69fb240a571ba...> It's also helpful to recognise that existing lighting fixtures and lamps were designed around the constraints of incandescent bulbs. The first generation of LED bulbs and lamps largely conform to these. As LEDs mature, both fixtures and lamps which address the limitations and requirements of the technology (transformers, perhaps dedicated 12v circuits, heat dissipation for the transformer rather than lighting elements themselves, and better light-temperature and intensity regulation) should emerge. We're presently in the somewhat-messy half-emerged state. Think horseless carriages, wireless, and the days of dual gas/electric lighting and lamping systems (yes, these existed, and yes, the failure modes were ... much as you might imagine).

amluto 4y ago
I sure hope 12V doesn’t happen. 12V is absurdly low for lighting and needs extremely thick wires to get decent efficiency. 24V is okay. 48V would be nicer for indoor use.
- brianwawok 4y ago
  Wiring up a house with 48V for lights and 120V for plugs would be such a pain. Pulling 2 different wires to every room. Weird circuit breakers. Yuck.
  - robocat 4y ago
    Already happens in New Zealand: lighting is usually low current 1mm2 wiring, and everything else is heavier gauge. Circuit breakers mostly care about Amps (all breakers could be rated to mains voltage if you wanted to avoid “weird”). Also low voltage wiring can legally be done by anyone in NZ (a bonus when doing your own work, and a pitfall when buying a house?)