120v LED vs CFL vs 12v Lamps Results
Following up on another thread discussing using inverter and 120v lights with LEDs or CFLs. I have been using a CFL for a reading lamp for some years, but now have an LED bulb to make a comparison. ...
Forum Discussion
Permit me a realistic hypothetical scenario.
For any reason whatsoever when an LED gets a little too hot, it consumes more amperage. Greater wattage. "That" greater wattage makes the LED run even hotter. It's nuclear fission almost. Called thermal runaway. Most of the time the device burns up and goes open circuit. But I have myself fried to flame tiny feed wires before chip Armageddon.
My high wattage builds include killer size heat sinking ball-bearing brushless fans AND dedicated fuses. This allows me to actually over-drive the chips. Calculate max ambient temp, determine max possible Delta T p/n junction temp differential and go for it. Te penalty is cost. Heat sinks are not cheap. But I get a smaller fixture and with 50 and 100 watt Sure® chips, better lighting.
General Advice:
Do
Not
Rely
On
Manufacturer's
Published
Wattage
Specs
Do your own ma testing before entering all-out Gyro-Gearloose, mode. Most chips overstate their draw to the point of being silly. The new beta CREEs I am evaluating render 1.00 draw at 12.18 volts at 25c. At 13.00 volts they draw 1.18 amperes, and at 13.8vdc, 1.53 amperes.
Soooooooooooooo.......................
Between 12.18 volts and 13.8 these chips draw .53 amperes more. 13.18 volts times 1.53 amperes is (?) TWENTY POINT SEVENTEEN WATTS. Oooooo at 12.18 volts they are 12.19 watt rated. Don't look back - something may be gaining on you...
For any reason whatsoever when an LED gets a little too hot, it consumes more amperage. Greater wattage. "That" greater wattage makes the LED run even hotter. It's nuclear fission almost. Called thermal runaway. Most of the time the device burns up and goes open circuit. But I have myself fried to flame tiny feed wires before chip Armageddon.
My high wattage builds include killer size heat sinking ball-bearing brushless fans AND dedicated fuses. This allows me to actually over-drive the chips. Calculate max ambient temp, determine max possible Delta T p/n junction temp differential and go for it. Te penalty is cost. Heat sinks are not cheap. But I get a smaller fixture and with 50 and 100 watt Sure® chips, better lighting.
General Advice:
Do
Not
Rely
On
Manufacturer's
Published
Wattage
Specs
Do your own ma testing before entering all-out Gyro-Gearloose, mode. Most chips overstate their draw to the point of being silly. The new beta CREEs I am evaluating render 1.00 draw at 12.18 volts at 25c. At 13.00 volts they draw 1.18 amperes, and at 13.8vdc, 1.53 amperes.
Soooooooooooooo.......................
Between 12.18 volts and 13.8 these chips draw .53 amperes more. 13.18 volts times 1.53 amperes is (?) TWENTY POINT SEVENTEEN WATTS. Oooooo at 12.18 volts they are 12.19 watt rated. Don't look back - something may be gaining on you...
