LED Lighting

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1237 posts

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#908557 5-Oct-2013 17:59

I meant $24 not $13.

I don't understand why they aren't interested in 5000k lamps. 6500k is too blue and would lose many repeat purchases.

How safe are those BC/ES adapters?

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richms

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#908564 5-Oct-2013 18:19

bfginger:
How safe are those BC/ES adapters?

The ones I bought off ebay are total crap, brittle white plastic, poorly stamped metal shell for the ES lamp which is the contact and only connected with a rivet, and wont fit into a normal batten holder with the skirt on either.

Richard rich.ms

oxnsox

1923 posts

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#908606 5-Oct-2013 20:47

Recently purchased a couple of 9w LEDware (warm white) units at PB Tech.
They appear nicer (lightwise) than the Varibrights, and look physically more like a standard bulb. But without the physical heatsink it will be interesting to see how they last in standard downlight fittings.

richms

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#908608 5-Oct-2013 20:56

The 12w philips I got and swapped out the 8w viribrights on non dimming circuits are all still running fine, They actually say on them no downlights under 3" the the cheap ones I have are 3.5" or so, so should be fine.

Richard rich.ms

Niel

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#908638 5-Oct-2013 22:53

As said, the Panasonic LEDs at Countdown are available in both cool and warm white, and in both ES and BC.

No idea what they look like, the colour temperature is not stated on the box or lamp. Someone feel free to try it and report back, as for me they are too narrow so does not close off my CA downlight fittings enough to stop drafts.

You can never have enough Volvos!

bfginger

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#908654 6-Oct-2013 00:38

The Panasonic LEDs max out at 10 watts so they aren't quite in the same category as the 13 watt Philips. Philips also has a 10 watt LED in BC and ES. New World is usually cheaper for light bulbs than Countdown.

The selection of light bulbs in New Zealand is very poor compared with overseas. It'd probably improve if half the population didn't buy 500 hour "budget" incandescents.

Are there any retailers selling quality BC ES adapters or are they a legal grey area?

spacedog

436 posts

Ultimate Geek

#908764 6-Oct-2013 13:48

I've tested the latest Panasonic 8w and the Philips 9.5w 2700k MyVisions from last year and now the Philips 10w 3000k bulbs that are currently on the shelves at the Countdowns/PaknSave/Bunnings. The Philips MyVision 9.5w is the closest thing I have found to a 60w incandescent as it has the right warmth and brightness. The Philips 10w 3k is noticeably brighter and whiter and probably is a better bulb and has the best CRI I have seen on an LED incandescent so far. The Panasonic 8w is very good as well; about as good as the Philips 9.5w myvision. Everything else I have tried is garbage in my opinion. I really dislike the viribright and the orbit LEDs....too dim and too much skew in the colour. The orbits have a greenish hue and the viribrights are a bit pink. For many people they may be fine, but I'm very particular about my light colours so I have relegated those bulbs to use in closet lights, the garage and any other place other than a living area.

Really wish the pricing would come down on the Philips/Panasonics....they are just too damn pricey. I had no business buying them and the only reason I engaged in testing them was because of my personal fascination with LED lighting. As long as they last me 15 years, I figure they will have paid for themselves even at the high price of ~$20-~$25 per bulb, but until the price drops down on the 10w LEDs, I'm sitting on the sidelines before buying any more bulbs.

mattwnz

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#908771 6-Oct-2013 14:00

spacedog: I've tested the latest Panasonic 8w and the Philips 9.5w 2700k MyVisions from last year and now the Philips 10w 3000k bulbs that are currently on the shelves at the Countdowns/PaknSave/Bunnings. The Philips MyVision 9.5w is the closest thing I have found to a 60w incandescent as it has the right warmth and brightness. The Philips 10w 3k is noticeably brighter and whiter and probably is a better bulb and has the best CRI I have seen on an LED incandescent so far. The Panasonic 8w is very good as well; about as good as the Philips 9.5w myvision. Everything else I have tried is garbage in my opinion. I really dislike the viribright and the orbit LEDs....too dim and too much skew in the colour. The orbits have a greenish hue and the viribrights are a bit pink. For many people they may be fine, but I'm very particular about my light colours so I have relegated those bulbs to use in closet lights, the garage and any other place other than a living area.

Really wish the pricing would come down on the Philips/Panasonics....they are just too damn pricey. I had no business buying them and the only reason I engaged in testing them was because of my personal fascination with LED lighting. As long as they last me 15 years, I figure they will have paid for themselves even at the high price of ~$20-~$25 per bulb, but until the price drops down on the 10w LEDs, I'm sitting on the sidelines before buying any more bulbs.

There was recently an article about the quality of LED bulbs at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11131680

It appears that there is a flood of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th teir bulbs in the NZ market, and there is no way to prove their lifespan, as there is currently no standards in NZ for them. Some say they last 50000 hours, but there is no way to prove this, and often the company only gives a 1-3 year warranty on the bulbs anyway, so that isn't exactly standing behind the lifey of the bulbs. When I went to the Auckland home show recently, there were so many companies selling LED lights, there must be really good margins in them. Many of them however do not allow you to change the bulb, so you must throw away the fitting when the bulb dies, which isn't very environmentally friendly and also expensive to do.
Personally I would only buy the well known brands, and bulbs that fit into existing fittings. I have been trailing various bulbs including philips, and the 13 w philips so far have been the best performers in terms of light quality, probably a superior light quality to incandescents. I note that it says it only last 'up to' 15000 hours, so don't know how the other companies can get them lasting over 3 times as long. I have yet to see any panasonic ones, but will keep am eye out. The other brands I would look at are GE and thorn, but haven't yet sen any on the NZ marekt.

Niel

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#908819 6-Oct-2013 17:34

Agree, the Philips bulbs are great. Viribright was good at first when they came out, but later batches have the pink tint. I would not be surprised if they were dumped on NZ as a small isolated market where we are/were amazed to discovered there is such a think as LED bulbs so most customers would not complain/care.

The most common failure in NZ's temperate climate is the driver life, not the LED degrading from high temperature. Good electrolytic capacitors typically last between 5000h and 15000h, however that is when not subjected to mains surges and also manufacturers do not use good quality capacitors. If you buy an integrated fitting, choose one with an external driver which you can easily replace. That also allows changing the lights to extra low voltage DC and run off solar power (e.g.).

To break even with the cost vs power saving, you need to use a 10W LED bulb only about 1500h.

You can never have enough Volvos!

richms

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#908868 6-Oct-2013 18:45

The later viribrights look better IMO (assuming warm white) but even then, in the same purhase groups (of the ones still working) there is a variance in colour, enough to see in the light cast on a grey wall etc, not just when looking at the lamps themselves.

Richard rich.ms

Niel

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#910133 8-Oct-2013 21:22

http://www.qualityledlighting.co.nz/gallery/Slimline%2BRange/slimline-12w/276407
I've bought one of these and finally got around to install it next to a (cheap) recessed fitting with an 8W Viribright. The photo is not great, but gives an indication of how much brighter and wider angle it is, and it is IC rated and fully dimmable. It is an electrician that imports it and got it certified for NZ regulations. The separate power supply has an electrolytic capacitor, but is a good brand and only on the output so not exposed to mains surges so should last a reasonable time. The guy stocks only 3000k warm white, but can get whatever you specify including changing the finish of the fitting.

You can never have enough Volvos!

floydie

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#911527 9-Oct-2013 18:01

i'm looking very seriously at the 10W and 14W ROBUS dimmable LED downlights at ideal electrical....anyone using them? they look very good, much better styling than the FUGLY phillips ones they also stock...

richms

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#986335 12-Feb-2014 19:20

So it looks like bunnings are closing out all their non philips brand lighting. I got the last 3 es 8w daylight lamps from constalation drive bunnings at $10.00 each but that means there isn't an easily available DIMMABLE lamp available now.

Anyone got any suggestions on others?

Richard rich.ms

Niel

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#986423 12-Feb-2014 21:32

I have about 10x Viribright ES warm white bulbs available, think it is 8W. About 1 year old, roughly, one or two might give a brief single flicker once in 5 or 10 minutes which is not a safety issue, just a weak solder joint on one of the LEDs (not power supply). In a couple of months I will have another 15 available when I'm changing the remainder of my light fittings to fully sealed IC-F rated fittings which my wife love (the only thing that really matter!), will post photos soon. Feel free to make me an offer, but not expecting anything near the $18 each I've paid. Also have recessed ES fitting available if anyone are actually interested in them, 2 years old http://www.homedownlights.co.nz/downlight_114.htm and I will take a donation so I can buy my kids ice cream, 11 available now and another 15 in a couple of months.

You can never have enough Volvos!

richms

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#986426 12-Feb-2014 21:38

There were plenty of warm white available which I don't want.

I also bought one of a new arlec 9w 92 mm hole down light. Rated for covered but not dimmable. Funny how the driver on it is rated for 8w.

Was $20 and lists 5700 or 5800 k so probably a little bluer than I really want.

Will be swapping out my down light with the 5w viribright I bought by mistake tomorrow in daylight hours. The 5w viribright flicker at 100hz so was banished to hallway duty.

Richard rich.ms

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