Journal timothy's Journal: Query: Cheap(ish) mains-powered, powerful LED lights? 7
My name it Tim, and I like flashlights.
Several weeks ago, I gave in to long-taunting temptation, and bought my most powerful flashlight yet, a Fenix TK-40.
It's nowhere near as bright as the 4000+ lumen light that ThinkGeek* sells (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/cd85/-- Yowza!), but it's pretty respectable -- 600+ lumens bright, and runs on AAs, my favorite batteries.
Right now, in fact, I'm using this flashlight, set on Medium (which is still pretty bright-- 93 lumens, supposedly, though it far outshines another flashlight I've got that's supposed to be putting out 120 lumens) to illuminate my small room. It's not bright compared to a typical conventional light-bulb, but even with it angled on a shelf and bouncing off the ceiling (not pointing toward me), it's bright enough to read by, and it means I can see my keyboard. Switching it to high for a bit, it provides a a lot more light than does the "60 watt equivalent" CFL I have in a small gooseneck fixture and would ordinarily be using.
All of which brings me to the question: if for around $130, it's profitable enough to bother selling a light this bright that's also packaged in a waterproof, portable package, why can't I find similarly bright LED desk-, stand-, or clamp-mounted lights made for mains power? I'm picturing something like this multi-headed beast (http://tinyurl.com/yettgqm), but with each head being a very bright LED module.
And Yes, I realize that the answer is simple enough, in one sense: I can't find this because no one, including me, has decided the gains to be had were so worthwhile on a [(returns)x(probability of success)-(overhead and opportunity cost)] basis. Thank you, Captains Obvious!
But I think (and am sugggesting!) that for someone already in the lamp-making business or seeking to enter it, using ultra-bright LEDs in a flexible mount of some kind would be a worthwhile business.
Even more blue-sky: I'd like to have a ceiling grid of power points on which I could snap / magnetically attach / velcro / etc. downward-facing (or even ceiling-bouncing) LED modules wherever I wanted. Put a bunch of dim (or dimmable) ones around the edges, for watching movies in the mostly-dark, or a cluster of brighter ones to point down at delicious food at the dining room table, or a few remote-controlled pointable medium spotlights for reading lamps.
How about ceiling robots with belly lights, that could hold to the ceiling with whatever gecko-foot technology manifests in the next few years? (Prepare for an awful pun: "Mr. Watss On, come here.") Sweep an area you want illuminated with your hand, and make it so.
But for now, Hey, I'd really be pleased just to have a night bright LED lamp that I don't need to feed batteries.
* If you care, ThinkGeek shares Slashdot's corporate umbrella, and Slashdot pays me, though that has nothing to do w/ my mentioning ThinkGeek here on Slashdot. Capice?
Make your own (Score:2)
http://www.dirtside.com/led/hacking.html [dirtside.com]
Re: (Score:1)
Cool projects that guy's done!
I should learn to deal more w/ simple circuits, soldering, etc (what little I've done would not please any electrical engineers, welders, or post-toddler children), and making some form of LED lights does appeal as a project.
But I think that would be hobby-labor for me, rather than where my comparative advantage lies :) I have a few sets of cheap LED Xmas lights which I used as nightlights (though not currently in active service), but what I'd like to see is a hybrid of polishe
Re: (Score:2)
Well, the first thing you need to know is that the current energy-efficiency of LEDs is almost exactly the same as fluorescent lighting, so you won't save any money on the power bill.
The second thing you need to know is that there is a wide range of what qualifies as "white" LED lighting, everything from a harsh blue-white to lamps that are more yellow than white. Try before you buy.
The third thing you need to know is that the LEDs will be driven at 3.2 to 3.4 volts. 120 volts AC has a peak of 170 volts. Wh
Re: (Score:1)
Informative!
One thing that means any such project will remain strictly hobby-level (and low hobby level at that) for me is the variation in color; I am happy with all of my LED flashlights, but their color temps. vary quite a bit; hard to tell when only using one at a time though -- the eye quickly adjusts, even when I can tell that this one's whiter, this one's bluer, this one's closer to yellow ...
And re: the relative power efficiency, I think in some cases the LEDs win anyhow -- depends how directed you
Wal Mart (Score:2)
I haven't bought any (yet), but Wal Mart has LEDs that fit standard CFL sockets for about $5.
Re: (Score:1)
Hmm. Will have to check this out. I've been watching LED bulbs, but most of the ones I've seen have a) had disappointing output or b) very bad user reviews -- lots of "worked for a week" or "two out of four failed to light" type reliability problems.
Of course, if bought in-person at Wal-Mart, returns are easy ...
Re: (Score:2)
I haven't tried them (yet) so I couldn't say how good or bad they are. If you do try them, please review in your journal!