Ron Schenone

LED 40, 60 Watt Equilvalent Bulbs – Would You Pay $50+ For One?

Posted by on Apr 14, 2010 | 15 Comments

Both G.E. and Phillips have introduced LED light bulbs to replace the standard 40 watt and 60 watt incandescent bulbs currently in use. The newer LED bulbs equivalent to a 40 watt bulb uses only 9 watts and is being claimed by G.E. to last 17 years. The LED from Phillips which is to replace the standard 60 watt light bulb uses 12 watts of juice and the lifespan is shorter. How much shorter is not currently known. But as with any new technology when it is first introduced there is the issue of price. These new bulbs may be selling in the $50 to $60 price range when they hit store shelves later this year.

As most of us know, the ability to buy incandescent light bulbs will come to a halt here in the U.S. sometime between 2012 and 2014. According to a recent news article it states the following information:

Philips is hoping to sweeten the deal for its customers with several other features. In addition to emitting a warm white light, as opposed to the bluish glow LEDs used to be known for, the new bulb is dimmable. The company is also hard at work on future offerings that could justify higher prices, including a lighting system tailored for homes called Living Ambiance that would come with thousands of different settings like color variation.

Philips is also looking to cushion its consumer bulb business with street-lighting revenue from municipalities. Later this year, it plans to debut long-lasting LEDs for this application, which could generate millions in bulk orders.

I believe that these new LED’s will be the light of choice once the pricing comes down to a reasonable few bucks a bulb. The new LED’s as stated above have the soft white light that most of use enjoy and are dimmable.

Comments welcome.

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  • Martin VanMeter

    Classic marketing approach – outrageous initial prices for LED lighting you can order direct from Hong Kong distributors for $8 to $10 shipped. And 17 years….no chance ! LED life is shortened considerably when exposed to heat, and even an LED replacement 120v lightbulb produces heat in the circuitry that rectifies 120v AC to some much lower DC voltage the LED’s will use. Plain jane CFL’s are a much better alternative until “Madison Ave.” losses interest in $50 lightbulbs. What a stupid idea.

  • Thomas Wilson

    For about $2.00 you can buy a CFL lamp that is just as efficent as the LED bulbs… The LED Bulb does not last 25 times longer… Only reason to buy one now is in a place where it is very very inconvienent to replace.

  • justin g

    The idea of an L.E.D. light alternative is attractive indeed for a multitude of reasons. LED does not require mercury as a catalyst which reduces the toxicity of overall product in landfills (however LED uses gallium arsenide not sure how much better that is). They are obviously far more efficient as most of the waste heat is only current regulation. The price point is the obvious deal breaker here as that would be an obvious severe markup. The energy savings just simply do not add up to enough to make them cost effective yet for consumers. Most of us aren’t interested in advanced color settings either and would prefer cheaper more efficient bulbs over expensive advanced ones.

  • Clyde Hunter

    I have been using a LED bulb in a drafting table type swing arm lamp for about a month. I was reluctant to order this from a catalog I received because they claimed it was the equivalent of a 100 watt bulb. I believe it now. Using a “Kill A Watt” meter I have measured the power used as 1 watt. I measured it as 3 watts initially, but for some reason it is only ONE WATT now. I got 2 bulbs for between $35 and $40. Overall it should be much cheaper than CFL’s.

  • WVRich

    Unlike the CFL, you don’t have to call the HazMat team if you drop the LED on the concrete floor.

  • bem

    I would have to pass on the LED lights. Too much money for too little return. In fact, I would like to go on record as opposing the end of incandescent bulb sales as well. Of all the moves that could be taken to reduce energy use in this country this one is next to worthless and adversely impacts those on limited or low incomes.

    My own experience with CFL’s does little to make me want to embrace the LED lights. I’ve purchased different makes and used them in different fixtures, lamps and overhead, only to have the expensive little buggers burn out within months while older incandescents keep on putting out the lumens.

    I guess I need to start hoarding incandescents while I can easily get them. Big business doesn’t make enough from them and they’ve bought their way to a more profitable future from our ‘representatives.’

  • Daniel Meyer

    CFLs are failures. They’re supposed to last however-many-years too, and the ones in my house never make it past a year. Not to mention it takes them 5 minutes to get warmed up.

    I’m a huge fan of LEDs. I’ve replaced all the bulbs in my trucks, and I’ve started to replace them around my house. Yeah, they’re really expensive, and no, at that price I won’t ever save that much money in electricity. But it’s a cause I believe in (I’m not a green freak, I just don’t want to spend a fortune in electricity) and the prices won’t come down until people start buying them. Plus, LED tail lights just look cool.

  • http://ubuildapp.com Brad Waller

    I’ve been waiting for these for years. Price still needs to come down to a reasonable level, but you will see LED lighting dominate at some point in the future. It wins in all categories: size, power, and environmental impact.

    As for lifetime, LEDs have been used in high heat environments for years. Their lifetime is well understood. And if the bulbs use 9 to 12 watts, then you know how much (or little) heat they are generating. About the same as a hard drive in standby.

    Also, they don’t fail all at once, but you lose one at a time – and these bulbs are made of many discrete LEDs.

  • Dick

    Martin is right. Stupid idea – for now.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks for all of the comments everyone. Your input is appreciated.

  • Buffet

    They need to just give ‘em to me. I’ll be
    a Beta tester.

    • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

      I’d like to test a batch myself. LOL

  • Cliffystones

    I have wanted to replace the incandescent lamps on our front porch and coach lights for some time. Besides price, something not mentioned is that a lot of the LED lamps have disclaimers warning not to use them with timers, motion detectors and the like.

    The LED bulbs would be great outside, as the incandescent candelabra lamps seem to burn out quite frequently. Especially here in Colorado when winter temps get into single digits. I’m waiting for affordable bulbs that have protection allowing them to be used on control devices, then I’ll probably take the plunge.

  • mike hudson

    kindly i want to know how much watts and how much amp will take 50 simple leds,