How Much Power Savings using LED's?

John & Angela wrote:

westend wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
We did a little testing as well. After all is said and done using quality 27 Led single contact bulbs, we found we draw about 1/3 to a 1/4 of the power getting about the same amount of light. No where near the claimed 80 percent less power but substantial enough to justify the change.

Do the LED bulbs you used have a regulator on them? Some of the "quality" bulbs from stateside sellers have a small regulation board attached. This may draw off a bit of current and that may explain some of the disparity between different user's reports on current drawn.

Yes and as a result they also produce a little more heat. But they work well and have good colour temperature. We use outside lights a lot and also tend to leave a few lights on inside so they are on when we walk in (switch position etc). We don't worry about it as much as when we used the incandescents. Probably a little wasteful but its how we role. The energy we save negates the need for another solar panel. :)

Understood. Yes, the LED's draw very little, I don't worry about leaving one on, also. Even at home, I rationalize leaving a light on versus the cost of a broken ankle, leg, or hip.;)

To the original topic, I think the bulbs with a regulator board are drawing and dissipating just a bit more current. This is reflected in the reports of the savings ratios going from incandescent to LED. It wouldn't be hard to skew 75% savings ratio at 250 milliamps to 60% savings at 400 milliamps. That is an increased draw of only 150 milliamps, in the range of connectivity differences.