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.3000w Inverter on no light but various parasitic 12v things--1.7 amp draw seen on Trimetric monitor.One double 12v lamp- 4.4 amps-- adds 2.7 amps12v lamp no inverter--0.7a light off, 3.4a on--adds 2.7aOne 13w Sylvania CFL - 2.7 amps--adds 1 ampOne 5w IKEA LED- 2.2 amps-- adds 0.5 amp(no comparable 12v LED to test here, sorry)The three each have about the same light--no actual measurement of that.So using the 120v LED with inverter is 2.2 amps as seen on Trimetric, while no inverter on, plus double 12v light is 3.4 amps for about the same lighting.

BL13It's no secret that fluorescent lighting strobe bothers old folks (me). I can try and trick myself but my eyes do not cooperate. I read a minimum of three hours in bed per night. Three hours under fluorescent lighting and my eyes ache. Using 5K LED lighting they don't.My recommendation is for seniors to try different lighting, including kelvin temperature and lumens. Whatever works, works.I wish I could lose say 50 years off my age but I'd settle for twenty (sigh).

After making a few random measurements in the past, my conclusion is that LED lamps are a little more energy efficient than CFL lamps. About a 10% power reduction for the same amount of light (a subjective, no instrumentation measurement for the light level). LED lamps that flicker at 60 Hz can drive me nuts. I see this mainly in Christmas lights.

BFL13 wrote: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.3000w Inverter on no light but various parasitic 12v things--1.7 amp draw seen on Trimetric monitor.One double 12v lamp- 4.4 amps-- adds 2.7 amps12v lamp no inverter--0.7a light off, 3.4a on--adds 2.7aOne 13w Sylvania CFL - 2.7 amps--adds 1 ampOne 5w IKEA LED- 2.2 amps-- adds 0.5 amp(no comparable 12v LED to test here, sorry)The three each have about the same light--no actual measurement of that.So using the 120v LED with inverter is 2.2 amps as seen on Trimetric, while no inverter on, plus double 12v light is 3.4 amps for about the same lighting.Thank you for doing this!So if I understand correctly, using 120v inverter is 1.7 amps + .5 amp for 120V LED bulb?VERY interesting!

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:BL13It's no secret that fluorescent lighting strobe bothers old folks (me). I can try and trick myself but my eyes do not cooperate. I read a minimum of three hours in bed per night. Three hours under fluorescent lighting and my eyes ache. Using 5K LED lighting they don't.My recommendation is for seniors to try different lighting, including kelvin temperature and lumens. Whatever works, works.I wish I could lose say 50 years off my age but I'd settle for twenty (sigh).CFLs employ a switching powersupply which operates above 20Khz, unlike the older fluorescent technology which used a big heavy magnetic ballast that worked at 60hz.Even linear fluorescent ballasts have changed to switching power supplies to gain efficiency thanks in part to the same legislation in the States which banned general purpose old fashion incadescents..

120v LED vs CFL vs 12v Lamps Results | Good Sam Community

DiskDoctr
Explorer
Apr 01, 2017
BFL13 wrote:
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.

3000w Inverter on no light but various parasitic 12v things--1.7 amp draw seen on Trimetric monitor.

One double 12v lamp- 4.4 amps-- adds 2.7 amps
12v lamp no inverter--0.7a light off, 3.4a on--adds 2.7a
One 13w Sylvania CFL - 2.7 amps--adds 1 amp
One 5w IKEA LED- 2.2 amps-- adds 0.5 amp
(no comparable 12v LED to test here, sorry)

The three each have about the same light--no actual measurement of that.

So using the 120v LED with inverter is 2.2 amps as seen on Trimetric, while no inverter on, plus double 12v light is 3.4 amps for about the same lighting.

Thank you for doing this!

So if I understand correctly, using 120v inverter is 1.7 amps + .5 amp for 120V LED bulb?

VERY interesting!
road-runner
Explorer III
Apr 01, 2017
After making a few random measurements in the past, my conclusion is that LED lamps are a little more energy efficient than CFL lamps. About a 10% power reduction for the same amount of light (a subjective, no instrumentation measurement for the light level). LED lamps that flicker at 60 Hz can drive me nuts. I see this mainly in Christmas lights.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Apr 01, 2017
BL13

It's no secret that fluorescent lighting strobe bothers old folks (me). I can try and trick myself but my eyes do not cooperate. I read a minimum of three hours in bed per night. Three hours under fluorescent lighting and my eyes ache. Using 5K LED lighting they don't.

My recommendation is for seniors to try different lighting, including kelvin temperature and lumens. Whatever works, works.

I wish I could lose say 50 years off my age but I'd settle for twenty (sigh).
tvman44
Explorer
Apr 01, 2017
Thanks. Very interesting.

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