Comparing CFL / LED / Incandescent - handy link

[numenius]

Choosing low energy lighting I always struggle with the fact that I have no idea how bright say an LED light fitting is compared to an incandescent one. I can "imagine" how much light you get from a 60w or 100w incandescent bulb, but also find CFL's invariably overstated (which is why I use 25w CFLs to replace a 100w incandescent because the 20w ones the manufacturers claim give the same light as a 100w incandescent really don't. A fact reflected in the link below) and with LEDs it's even harder as there is such variation in the output I find. So this is quite handy: http://www.designrecycleinc.com/led%20comp%20chart.html  -  If you go right to the bottom it gives you the lumens which solves that (though I find LEDs vary hugely unless you buy known brands - for example I tried some very cheap chinese LED indicator bulbs as an experiment for a trailer and they are nowhere near bright enough -only cost me a couple of pounds so worth trying them out to see).

[Bodidly]

Hi numenius

I would be wary of this guide.
The suggested output from the LEDs 6-8 watt is 800 lumens, I believe the best production ones to reach 100 lumens per watt and most to be a lot less. Having said this I do like LEDs, in my parents kitchen I replaced 4x50watt halogens at maybe 850 lumens apiece with 6x7watt LEDs this looks like a fairly equal swap to the eye. The claimed output of the LEDs we used was 450 lumens. I totally agree with you on the CFLs they never appear to be quite as good as claimed, also they seem to fade long before they ever die.

Beau

[wookey]

Correct. Best bare LED are up to ~130lm/W (a few months back - it's rising steadily - I see 156 is being claimed this week at Cutter). But by the time you have a driver and some optics an actual lamp is never better than about 90lm/W. Most you can buy are around 60lm/W and plenty are 40 (which is about the same as CFLs), or even less.

So yes the outputs on that page are currently a little optimistic, but they'll probably be reasonable next year.

(I just installed some DIY XPG-based lights and they are really rather good (and cheap). I'll post when I get a mo.)

[Simes123]

Would be interested to know a bit more about your diy options and sources Wookey please

[brackwell]

If only life was so simple.

A equally, perhaps more, important consideration is the angle of light they are giving.  A 1 watt LED spot type (eg GU10) with a very narrow beam gives as much light on a surface below as a 7w with a wide angle beam or a CFL or a tungsten bulb.  The difference is the area of the surface being lit.   And as for putting bulbs in up facing lamp shades!

I replaced my 10 halogen gu10s  with 4x 7w 120deg in the centre of the room and 6x5w  60 deg around the edge  and there is no doubt that they are significantly brighter.
I also have a 3w 30 deg in a reading lamp

I would not dream of having any other lights now. Yes they are expensive but will pay for themselves. If one was to move house one would just take them with you as they will last a lifetime.

The gov should introduce legislation as this would have a big impact on the 17.00hr peak electricity.

Ken