Current state of the art LED options in H4 / H1 car bulbs

Model H4 LED high performance

Tired of changing the H4 halogen lamps of my Xsara Picasso car, I was looking for alternatives in LED, checking the state-of-the-art in H4 Led lamps, If I could find one well worth installing, so getting savings in fuel and maintenance .

Is it legal? : To carry LED lamps  outdoor legally in Spain, for now we only have the option of installing a complete approved headlamp, and that must be installed by a certified workshop to carry the certificate to the periodic Technical inspection, because the headlamps are designed for a type of lamps with which it lights the same way (lumens and openness); this could cost easily €150. These lamps in theory can not be used on public roads (although for racing/testing purposes). There is no problem changing the ambiental interior lights to Led ones.

In the following video I commented highlight of these LED lamps H4 "SunnyLight"  and installation:

Lighting by electromagnetic induction: Current best choice for high power lamps

When it is necessary to illuminate a street, building, etc, and lots of light output is required, induction lamps are more profitable than the LED because of its lower price and its durability.

Campana 250W used in warehouse

Key Features:

In Depth: Lexman 9W LED bulb E27 230V 4000K 806 lm of Leroy Merlin

In my case gets 3 years warranty

LED bulbs are already flooding the domestic market, with options for almost every need.

We will analyze in detail a model that sells E27 Leroy Merlin with 3 years warranty brand Lexman  (non-publicizing, just to compare).

This bulb shines very well, with a more than acceptable theoretical efficiency of  90 lumens/W, perfect for replacing incandescent bulbs of 100W  (tested). 

His tone, a clear yellowish 4000º Kelvin, is suitable for everywhere in the house (although it is away from 5600K natural sunlight, colder), and a higher CRI of 80, enough.

If we break the glass we see that the controller gives 94V, feeding 33 LEDS 3528 series (which theoretically receive 2,84V and 0,27W each emitting 24 lm / ud), giving 806 lumens and 9W according to manufacturer (and although I can not measure it, seems to be true from its luminance):

The design to dissipate heat is of lightweight aluminum inside, which contacts the exterior part thermal plastic, that transfer worse the heat than aluminum, so it does not burn and can be touched, but it would be best if it were metal body such as lamps from Ikea, since the chip area after 6 minutes is at 43 ° C with 18ºC environment temp.:

With the (+ - 1 ° C) temperature sensor check infrared LEDs

and reaching 64 ° C! after half an hour, a temperature not very convenient for semiconductors. The manufacturer indicates a lifespan of 15,000 hours, but I hardly trust it, I recommend saving the invoice and not buying this bulbs because, if we use a lot, It will not reach the three years guaranteed!

Anyway, for € 6 per bulb, and for environments such as the bathroom where they are at most one hour on, they are more than recommended. For other uses, best to get better quality lamps.

Replacing brake lamps in the car for LED lamps: How to Fix a bad quality LED

In a car brake lights are the most often melted by your continued use (apart from the H7 and H4 for which there is not equivalent LED), so when changing LED we reduce electricity consumption (and fuel) and especially maintenance (not usually easy to change bulbs in cars). (If you stumbled here looking for how to change them, here's the answer ).

I do not recommend installing lamps that are not approved, can be dangerous (as discussed below), unless you have knowledge of electronics can meet with burning car . 

I  bought a pair of lamps DX.com  equivalent 9W (thinking then reduce its power equivalent to 5W lumens if so, which rarely coincide with reality announced on that page), the typical 2 filaments 27 / 5W (connection T25 / T-25/1016/1034/1130/1152/1154/1157/1158/1493/2057/2357/2397/7528/3496 / BAY15D), and by placing saw that the light does not worked .

Building your own High Quality CREE LED lamp with 700 lumens and spending only 6W

Mounted lamp with recycled parts

In this post we will see how to build a LED lamp for your house with 700 lumens with only 6W power consumption using 3 chips CREE XML T6  fed pure white 166 mA each (6W / 12V = 0,166A) a controller 220V with 6W 12V output power, and something like this cap , but I used a recycled sink another LED lamp 7W (thermally conductive plastic) and a fine of an old E14 energy saving lamp. Total Cost: € 18

The CREE LED chips are expensive but give much light per watt, high quality and durable, enduring the worst working conditions.

By making LEDs work well below their rated power (only 25% according to its spec sheet ) get more light per watt, while also reducing its temperature and lengthen your life until after 30,000 hours . A bulb in which the driver will break down before (10,000 hours estimated by its electrolytic capacitor life) before the LED. Furthermore the CRI (color accuracy) increases the lower the current.

Converting an owl figure on a practical table lamp using LED technology

Craft with LED: As you can see almost any object serves to build a LED lamp

Hello friends, we have seen above that the technology of LED lighting allows you to convert almost any object into a light source , which can unleash our imagination and surprise all and sundry with our creations.

This time I decided to make a very special gift to someone very special, while riding entertained me two 7W LED round (it's a type of aluminum plate on which the semiconductor diodes are used in 14 points per disc).

In a bazaar I noticed an owl by the size of their eyes and its shape well served me to do something original and useful; to be hollow could easily incorporate all the elements.

How to buy bulbs: Look at lumens and light-degrees

HOW TO BUY LIGHT BULBS: LEARNING ABOUT LUMENS IS A BRIGHT IDEA

The lamps are improving efficiency; Watts measure them no longer works. The new bulbs - such as halogen incandescent, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL for its acronym in English) and light emitting diodes (LED for its acronym in English) - have a longer life and use less energy than incandescent bulbs traditional, which means savings in electricity bills. In fact, from 2012, daily use bulbs will have to meet the new standards of the Department of Energy with respect to the amount of energy they consume. For the next two years, will eliminate any bulb that does not meet these standards .

Along with this change using more efficient light bulbs, a new way to select them when you go shopping.

What are Lumens?

For years, people have chosen to base bulbs in watts, learning by experience how much light bulb gives a typical 40 or 60 watts. But the wattage of a bulb consumes only tells you how much energy - does not tell you how much shine.

Because the new bulbs are designed to consume less power, wattage is not as reliable in measuring the brightness of a light bulb - you have to use the lumens.

Lumen = Brightness
W = energy

Lumens measure brightness, ie the total amount of light emitted. For example, a standard 60 watt incandescent bulb produces 800 lumens. Instead, a CFL causes lumens 800 and consumes less than 15 watts. 

Calculating the cost of lighting according to the type of bulb

Picture: r (Energy Trends)

With the price of electricity rising steadily, and the prices of CFLs, correct evaluation of what type of lighting to use at home is necessary to not lose sleep over the bill. 

Recently I commented the advantages and (current) limitations of the LED; this post by a simple calculation table, see what it would cost to illuminate a room, hallway, or whatever depending on the type of lamp chosen. 

Ex LED lamp with E27 and 420 lumens with 6W consumption.; glows like a traditional 30W

I entered the data for five similar lighting lamps (1000 lumens); comparable to a 75W traditional incandescent bulb: 

1. E27 LED lamp ; 10 / 12W consumption
2. Philips CFL; Consumption 15W
3. Halogen; 50W, their advantage is that they last longer and shine a little more (because it uses another gas).
4. Traditional low power ; use halogen technology.
5. Traditional 75W

Report: LED lighting, present and future of lighting

LED Bulb E27 6W to 220VAC

The lighting technology LED is already present and future of lighting, with prices a few years ago was prohibitive but are becoming more affordable and superior performance compared to other light sources, making them rapidly depreciable . 
They are currently recommended especially where they can not be placed compact low-power, as in bathrooms and hallways (CFL does not hold up well off and frequent or cold locations such as garages on): 

• LED technology is low power consumption, with savings of 80-90% compared to incandescent and improving every year.
• Ecological; no Mercury or polluting materials, emits no UV or infrared.
• Lifetime: Duration between 20,000 and 50,000 hours, depending on the quality of the lamp and the LED.
• Instant light, as fast as incandescent or halogen.
• Can be switched on and off as many times as you want without reducing useful life.
• Because of its semiconductor format optimally support vibration and shock; it will work even if the casing is broken, contrary to the other technologies.
• With more lumens per cm2 than halogen and CFL, and more efficient, have great ability to be miniaturized (flashlights, televisions, etc).
• Uniform light without shadows into the light, available in warm white or pure, or all colors to consumer tastes.
• Design only limited by the imagination thanks to its compact size and low temperature of LED; the possibility of sharing the light sources as we want by the lamp allows innovative designs integrated into the environment ; are valid for any type of use.
• As in the CFL, some models can be adjusted easily by varying the electric current applied to a regulator. Very useful for environments that wish adaptive dynamic light environment (eg., We could program Arduino ambient lighting that adapts to the light coming through the windows, or human presence, illuminating more where people are ).

However, its disadvantages, but salvageable, are: 

• The angle of the light from an LED is directed at an angle of limited brightness;There are lamps with angles between 30 and 240; laterally to illuminatemanufacturers seek designs where multiple LEDS pointing to different parts or modern reflectors, which can be a problem of space, and rising from the lamp, but gradually being solved with lenses that scatter light or formats led targeted less.
• Are still relatively expensive when it comes to high power systems where other lamps are almost as efficient and cheaper, such as sodium vapor (80 lm / W, but also more polluting and less durable), since the ledes require heat sinks (this will change as improve its luminous efficiency).
• The LED works better the white light is emitted (temp. Color approx. 6000K), for more warm yellow light to be mixed with another color decreases performance slightly.
• Require temperatures below 70 ° C to maintain their life, so they need efficient heat sinks, which increases their cost.
• They are very long lasting, but its intensity decreases with time; for an LED with an expected life of 25,000 hours, you will after that time a light intensity of 70% the original, but it will illuminate; not "merge" normally, but they fade away.
• The high power LEDs must wear a suitable light fader so that if viewed directly by accident, do not harm the view (some are more intense to look at the sun directly).

This entry will discuss technology LED and its many advantages, the influence of operating temperature on the duration (disarm a lamp) and uses more current recommended (for those who want to minimize investment while taking advantage of technology); go for the LED is a very good investment, ecological and profitable.

Save with LED technology