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Reinvented Bulb Isn't Just a Bulb: It's an LED Light Source
Posted by Kit Eaton at 1:15 AM on September 4, 2008
"The lightbulb is dead. Long live CFL!" may be the chant sounding around the world as we switch to the energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, but this has its own problems—something the LED bulb from Frog Design is intended to fix. It's arguable the CFLs are bad for the environment, with plastic parts, electronics and mercury inside, and they emit a harsh light and can't be dimmed. LEDs are more efficient, potentially longer lasting, are dimmable and need less components. Frog has decided that to get consumers to adopt LEDs, and for ease of use, it's simplest to package them in a traditional glass enclosure, complete with screw-fit contacts. It's a design I've secretly thought about for ages: making it into a real product has just one difficulty... bright enough, white enough, long-lasting diffuse LEDs. [Yanko Design]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Ilona Tar
Posted October 13, 2008 9:17 PM
Awesome! bring it on. I walk to work, use envirobags and take 3 minute tepid showers - even in winter - am i now to deprive myself of romance (impossible in a CFL environment where my boyfriend can actually watch an engorged hemoglobin work it's way through the arterioles on my face through my skin, made transparent like a salamander by the CFL lighting).
qbrad
Posted 1:35 AM 4/9/08
@hanswurst0815: or ATM Machines. Or 7AM in the morning!!!
qbrad
lldsandsll
Posted 1:34 AM 4/9/08
u forgot cfl > 2 cfls
lldsandsll
godwhacker
Posted 1:31 AM 4/9/08
incandescent > cfl
led > cfl
candle > cfl
that is all
godwhacker
ljj
Posted 1:31 AM 4/9/08
LED is the future. It cannot happen fast enough.
It's the mercury, stupid. Mercury is very toxic. Unless you recycle your CFL, the mercury goes into the soil, water or air.
ljj
lldsandsll
Posted 1:30 AM 4/9/08
is there an echo in here?
lldsandsll
Joetimek
Posted 1:26 AM 4/9/08
Besides keeping down energy costs, CFLs have no redeeming value. And thanks to my light sensitivity, they give me a lovely headache. I'll probably keep a supply of incandescent bulbs to hold me over until the LED revolution hits.
Joetimek
hanswurst0815
Posted 1:25 AM 4/9/08
@Enochrewt: It's just the same as with "LCD displays".
hanswurst0815
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Posted 1:25 AM 4/9/08
@selfdestruct: Yeah I just remembered that the CFL units inside our displays are dimmable as well. They just don't have the range of LED.
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
hanswurst0815
Posted 1:24 AM 4/9/08
Maybe they should have shown a picture with the bulb being turned on?
hanswurst0815
Enochrewt
Posted 1:24 AM 4/9/08
Light Emitting Diode Light Source? Is it for my Redundant lamp of redundancy?
Enochrewt
selfdestruct
Posted 1:24 AM 4/9/08
I'd choose LED over CFL's, but there are dimmable CFL's available, my house is full of them.
selfdestruct
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Posted 1:19 AM 4/9/08
The superintelligent frogs will bring us Mac tablets, and now they'll bring us LED lightbulbs. I for one welcome our amphibious brain trust.
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Heman
Posted 1:56 AM 4/9/08
I mean diffuse. sorry.
Heman
Heman
Posted 1:51 AM 4/9/08
The problem I have with LED is their light are focus in one area. They are not directional. At least they are when they first hit the market. Are they still like that?
Heman
Y2KGTP
Posted 1:51 AM 4/9/08
Why glass? People are going to still drop and break these things. Why not just clear plastic?
Y2KGTP
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 1:50 AM 4/9/08
buy=by
Noobs-R-Us
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 1:49 AM 4/9/08
Actually, now thinking about that design a bit more I think it sucks!
Don't they know that buy holding the LED in an enclosed space like that they would increase the temperature of the LED? LEDs are like your computer's CPU. It can overhead and burn out with too much heat.
They should just have the design like that but WITHOUT the glass enclosure. We can all get use to having a skinny stick bulb.
Noobs-R-Us
ljj
Posted 1:49 AM 4/9/08
Not that I am obsessive, but here is the EPA recommendation for cleaning up a broken fluorescent bulb:
[www.epa.gov]
ljj
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 1:46 AM 4/9/08
Where can I buy some? Home Depot?
Noobs-R-Us
theczardictates
Posted 2:17 AM 4/9/08
@Joetimek: People say that all the time, and yet, in double-blind [sic] tests, even lighting experts either can't tell the difference or subjectively preferred the light from CFLs.
Citation: [www.popularmechanics.com]
So why do people continue to say this? I guess one of two things:
1) They had bad experiences with early CFLs, which really were very harsh, as well as often being highly inconsistent in color temp, even within a single brand, and haven't tried the newer CFLs.
2) They think its cooler to be contrarian, regardless of what they really think or know. Obviously, if you disagree with the majority, you must be exceptionally smart.
A very small number might really be sensitive to the difference -- but when you look at the numbers *claiming* to be sensitive against the results of objective tests, it's clear that the majority are every bit as psychosomatic as people claiming to be sensitive to WiFi.
@ljj: You need to look at the full lifecycle, including the toxins emitted by power generation. From that perspective, incandescents put almost twice as much mercury into the environment even in the worst case scenario of dumping the CFL into a landfill. If the CFL is properly disposed of, the incandescent is almost four times as bad. Unless you plan on licking up broken bulbs, you're really not in any danger.
As usual, we tend to focus on problems that happen nearby/all at once, and ignore what happens far away/over time.
Citation: [www.rmi.org]
and: [www.popularmechanics.com]
/Apologies for citing actual research
theczardictates
Phenostar
Posted 2:14 AM 4/9/08
@Enochrewt: It's for the backup Redundant Lamp of Redundancy.
Phenostar
este
Posted 1:53 AM 4/9/08
"Light Emitting Diode Light Source? Is it for my Redundant lamp of redundancy?" LOL!
I'm new to commenting, are you guys always this uninformed ?
LED's have no range. They cover a very specific wavelength compared to incand/cfl/halogen/etc. White leds are expensive because of this. Not to mention the fact that white leds are WAY harsher then other white sources.
If LEDs are so much better then why is it they are unavailable/really expensive? Short answer is: They are not ready.
In the meantime use CFL and shutup
este
cmantito
Posted 2:35 AM 4/9/08
@este: "In the meantime use CFL and shutup"
I don't see why I should be forced to use one type of bulb over another. If I want to use really expensive LED bulbs, that's my call really isn't it? And if I want to use incandescent bulbs regardless of how expensive they are on my electric bill, that's also my call, isn't it?
cmantito
up2l8
Posted 2:33 AM 4/9/08
@Noobs-R-Us: LEDs don't put out much heat. Besides the sucker is already encased in a blob of plastic, I doubt the glass container does much more.
up2l8
philly_phenom
Posted 2:56 AM 4/9/08
The main plus for making it into a bulb (plastic or glass) is that you can use them in lamps that have the lamp shade clamp onto the bulb. You can't do that w/ the swirly bulbs.
philly_phenom
impliedsurprise
Posted 2:49 AM 4/9/08
I'm getting a 15 watt LED bulb in a few weeks. That thing will be ridiculously bright. I plan to plug it into one of those ac battery packs and walk around the city at night just for kicks.
This bulb is a great concept, but that's all it is. the light will only shoot out of the top, not the sides or the bottom, at least the way it's configured now.
There's a nice article here that explains a bit about the beam length.
[www.eternaleds.com]
impliedsurprise
Gann
Posted 2:45 AM 4/9/08
Don't give up on incandescents just yet.
Gann
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 2:38 AM 4/9/08
@up2l8: You're wrong. They produce plenty of heat, especially large wattage ones like the ones needed in light bulbs. Even a 3 watt LED needs a heat sink to dissipate the heat. Imagine a 20-30 watt bulb! It will melt your face off.
Noobs-R-Us
aec007
Posted 3:14 AM 4/9/08
I've been in OEM manufacturing for 20 yrs and with the lighting industry for almost that much.
I've specified 1000's of light sources in every configuration, CRI, °K range, etc... and there is nothing better looking than good'ol Tunsgten Halogens.
The only thing that I personally think might hold the future of lighting is ESL.
See the tech at: [www.vu1.com]
aec007
markarian
Posted 3:03 AM 4/9/08
Led edison bulb replacements are still crazy expensive, even compared to CFLs.
markarian
nocar
Posted 3:30 AM 4/9/08
@este: Your very first post and you're calling everyone uninformed and telling us to shutup? Don't think you are quite ready to comment here yet, we're generally a little more polite in our disagreements.
It's hard to say ''shutup'' without vowels.
nocar
Harlan
Posted 3:26 AM 4/9/08
@Enochrewt: I don't think that's actually redundant. Light's modifying two different things in the phrase "light emitting diode light source". There are plenty of LEDs that aren't used as a light source, and there's not really a way of saying the right thing by omitting one of the instances of "light." Diode light source just doesn't cut it.
Harlan
CPFReviews.com
Posted 3:25 AM 4/9/08
"LEDs are more efficient, potentially longer lasting, are dimmable and need less components."
This is true, but to make it main stream, will take a while.
As of Today, LED's are making it mainstream to Flashlights
There are still some problems that need to be resolved. Efficiency is not yet to the optimum. The technology is still evolving we see new records broken every once a while now a days. Big manufacturers would not want to venture anything mainstream that is still evolving. (One of the reasons why MagLite took a while to introduce LEDs in their flashlights)
At today's pace, new LED's get outdated as early as 6 months. It's a big risk from manufacturers point of view.
CPFReviews.com
Joetimek
Posted 3:56 AM 4/9/08
@theczardictates: It's related to eye injuries I've had. I'm not ultra sensitive, it's just a lot less preferable for me, personally. I have no doubt that most people aren't bothered by it. And yes, my experience has been with early CFLs. Is it gonna kill us all? No. Is it gonna kill anyone? Probably not. I just wish there was another option.
Joetimek
liroku
Posted 3:48 AM 4/9/08
I dunno, design doesn't seem too great to me. The shape of the pedestal will only allow light at 180 degrees, so if you put this thing in a lamp it'd only put light straight up. Wouldn't work too well for looking at anything below the level of the bulb. This is the whole problem with LEDs in the first place, they're so damned directional. I have a couple of LED bulbs in my house (not this fancy), and they do okay, but they're only suited to fixtures designed for extremely directional bulbs...
liroku
CPFReviews.com
Posted 3:46 AM 4/9/08
@este: "If LEDs are so much better then why is it they are unavailable/really expensive? Short answer is: They are not ready."
Yes, to a great extent it is true, the technology is still evolving. Perhaps in a few years they might be ready, when increment in efficiency is no longer there (LED's will be mature by then) and manufacturers find out a cheaper way to build LED's.
Today, a single Power LED that can generate say 150 Lumens still costs $2 - $5 (Example Cree XR-E LED). Cost per lumen is exceptionally high.
If LED's have to compete with CFL, the cost of (LED + Electronics) must be comparable along with equivalent lumens produced.
Today, if a good quality CFL costs $15, a equivalent LED luminaire will cost of the order of $150 (at least 10 x 150 lumen will be required... not even counting electronics and heat sinking)
CPFReviews.com
CPFReviews.com
Posted 4:16 AM 4/9/08
@liroku:
The design is nice, but not very practical.
Firstly, realistically speaking, Single LED at max will emit 200-250 Lumens (at 1A)
Secondly, heat emitted has no where to go, I would modify the design and put up heat radiating fins to the steam for a good heat dissipation and it will also be decorative.
Thirdly, it wont be able to compete with standard 60W incandescent bulb or CFL in terms of total light output. it wont even have a ful 180 degree beam, forget about 360 degree light.
Yes LED is more efficient than Incandescent Bulb but when it comes to shear output, that single LED is no match for 60W bulb.
CPFReviews.com
Enochrewt
Posted 4:16 AM 4/9/08
@Harlan: Ok, that might be true. It just sounds kind of silly to me.
LCD display though would be a display that shows an LCD. Like a TV tradeshow booth, or the selection of LCDs at the store. Yet people use it.
Enochrewt
DisposableInterloper
Posted 4:49 AM 4/9/08
Gizmodo already posted about this craptacular waste of glass before. I do believe Jésus wrote that article.
DisposableInterloper
jasonshort
Posted 5:06 AM 4/9/08
Ah, the horseless carriage of LED lighting design has arrived. Maybe now we can move forward with more interesting designs that take advantage of the technology.
jasonshort
vgart
Posted 5:01 AM 4/9/08
As long as its not $10 a bulb!
vgart
StarChaser Tyger
Posted 5:36 AM 4/9/08
@hanswurst0815: They couldn't, because it's a Yanko 'design', aka it doesn't exist except as a picture file. They have no idea how to build it, they just had someone chimpslap it together in photoshop.
StarChaser Tyger
Loonie
Posted 6:32 AM 4/9/08
LEDs last for absolutely bloody ages. Why would a company sell you one LED light bulb when they could sell you forty incandescent bulbs?
LED lighting is the future, but in the world of consumption, bulb manufacturers will be dragged into that future screaming and kicking.
Loonie
badweasel
Posted 10:49 AM 4/9/08
@hanswurst0815: Um.. this is not a real product. It's a rendering of a product concept. They didn't design anything - meaning they didn't figure out the inner workings to get a single LED to deliver as much light as a light bulb. This is stupid. Again the blog sites report something as news and fail to mention that it's simply a concept drawing. I HATE concepts on Giz and Enadget because they are not real. Anyone with decent 3D skilz can "design" something. Then blog site posts it and people are asking where to buy it. Put this crap in a different section of the website.
badweasel
FrankReality
Posted 12:00 PM 4/9/08
How about using one or more ultraviolet LEDs placed inside a bulb coated on the inside with a thin phosphorescent layer of material?
FrankReality
adlyb1
Posted 1:43 PM 4/9/08
So, Frog decides to design something that already exists and do it poorly? What a surprise.
I use LED lighting in several places in my house and I am very pleased with the results. Not a complete replacement for incandescent in some situations, but for the right purpose, they work well. Definitely better than CFL.
adlyb1
TDBURN
Posted 5:42 PM 4/9/08
@lldsandsll:
Hilarious!
TDBURN
ljj
Posted 1:01 AM 5/9/08
@theczardictates: CFLs are the lead paint and asbestos of the 21st century. Light bulbs break, it happens. When it does with CFLs, mercury is released in the air of your house. It is an unneeded introduction of contaminants in your home.
ljj
hanswurst0815
Posted 5:26 PM 10/9/08
@badweasel:
Hah, me too.hanswurst0815