LED Tubes

[Other Daniel]

Hi all,
A number of years ago, I replaced my flourescent tubes with LED ones, in the workshop.
I have the impression that they have dimmed, slightly, over time.
Does this happen ? Or is it just me getting old, and it's my eyesight ?
Appreciate any opinions on this.
Take care,

 

[RWD3M]

Now, interesting that you say this. I've been thinking more or less the same thing of late (in the interest of clarity, I have LED battens not replacement tubes) but put it down my eyesight or some other such malady.

However, I'm going to be putting that to the test soon as I have need to purchase another fitting and the same ones as I fitted 7 years ago are still available. So, watch this space?

 

[reb78]

We have a number of LED 'filament' bulbs in the house and they have visibly dimmed - its really noticeable in a few as they are in lights with multiple bulbs and the ones next to them fitted at the same time and same spec are brighter. Annoying given that they cost more to both buy and manufacture than traditional bulbs.... Contrast that to tungsten filament bulbs that i bought 15+ years ago for pennies and are still fine...

 

[Cobbler]

Funny thing I find with LED tubes & bulbs, yes they are really bright, but if I have to look at something closely I have to get a torch to see. I don’t know what it is or whether others find the same. If I try painting something on the bench, what’s not in direct light I can’t see properly, it’s dark.

 

[gaz1]

they dim as the led small light units start to fail more and more

leds just dont last as long as what they are saying they do

 

[Muzzer]

This is normal, expected behaviour of LEDs. There is a myth that they last longer, don't dim with time and use less energy than fluorescent. Apart from cheap arrays failing due to manufacturing quality issues with the components themselves and the PCB assemblies (often solder joints), the light output falls as they age. As for energy efficiency, look at the lumens per watt of fluorescent tubes in comparison with LED battens - very similar. Similarly for service life.

On another forum, I pointed out that swapping fluorescent tubes for LEDs won't actually lead to reduced running costs and the guy got really cross, having forked out for dozens of them. I use only LEDs myself but appreciate that they aren't some form of technical miracle unless you compare them to filament bulbs. But who lights their workshop with those?

 

[brightspark]

yes they do deteriorate. fitted hundreds of pannel lights in a school some are well noticable after 5 or 6 years use they go dim and look dirty

 

[sparkysy]

Yes they definitely do degrade, I fitted some LED panels in a local village hall sports lounge 4 years ago, some of the users of said room have been saying they are struggling to see in there.
Also don't forget they reclassified the rating of LED lamps as they became more efficient.
So some with the same wattage now may be noticeably brighter.

I recently fitted a load of 200watt UFO light fittings as a replacement for some failing 4 year old ones.
The difference was staggering!

 

[Bsmith]

Say you have 100w flourescent light, does it take 100w to run it or is it 100w to start it ?

 

[Screwdriver]

Interesting report here: https://seas.umich.edu/news/u-m-study-outlines-cost-energy-savings-switching-fluorescent-lamps-leds

 

[Migmac]

Ours at work have dimmed, not all at the same rate. They can only be 6/7 years old

 

[Other Daniel]

Thanks for the opinions, that makes me feel a bit better.
I'll try replacing a couple and see what that does....

 

[Blobber]

Interesting report here: https://seas.umich.edu/news/u-m-study-outlines-cost-energy-savings-switching-fluorescent-lamps-leds

Another rubbish report, at the start its 44% more efficient, then its between 18 and 44% and then its "we really dont know as its all imported tat so its an average ish 25%"

 

[Screwdriver]

Another rubbish report, at the start its 44% more efficient, then its between 18 and 44% and then its "we really dont know as its all imported tat so its an average ish 25%"

Oh. So what you want is a single number that applies to every possible combination of style, wattage, luminance, cost, frequency of use, lifespan and efficiency? Don't hold your breath, best you can do is weigh up all of the potential factors which will affect how they compare.

 

[brightspark]

Thanks for the opinions, that makes me feel a bit better.
I'll try replacing a couple and see what that does....

it will make the old ones look like they arent on just changed a four foot one in a restaurant kitchen and the new one is twice as bright as the older ones next to it

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Hi all,
A number of years ago, I replaced my flourescent tubes with LED ones, in the workshop.
I have the impression that they have dimmed, slightly, over time.
Does this happen ? Or is it just me getting old, and it's my eyesight ?
Appreciate any opinions on this.
Take care,

Yes they do dim over time.
Enough that E lights one are advised to be replaced after 5 years.

Yet no one will publish evidence to deny or confirm.

 

[Gareth J]

I replaced a load of fluorescents for LEDs about 5yrs ago. Several failed where they got warm and the glued strip of LEDs fell off the top of the tube and pulled the end connections. I now install the "upside down" Can't say I've noticed a drop in brightness but have no way of telling.

I don't think they dull as much as old fluorescents though, don't have a starter to be messing about with and start up instantly (if they're going to) and that's appreciated.

Too much LED stuff is one shot disposable though. I get that it's often a legacy thing, trying to shoehorn a bulb and driver into the space of an old standard bulb. But why are new LED units made as complete units, rather than a new standard of low voltage bulbs and drivers that can fit into the housings.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

why are new LED units made as complete units, rather than a new standard of low voltage bulbs and drivers that can fit into the housings.

For recycling at the correct places.