More Energy Savings with the Induction Bulb

[Wilco Vercoelen]

Already known since the 1990, we are starting to see them more in stores.
Warranty is often 5 years.

http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/us/ecatalog/hid/pdf/P-5502.pdf
http://www.econlight.nl/pdf/www.econlight.eu_induction_lamps_2007.pdf
http://www.imsasafety.org/journal/septoct04/7.pdf
http://www.smud.org/education-safety/images-safety/cat_pdf/Induction%20Lighting.pdf

Models:
GE Genura
Philips QL
Osram Sylvania Icetron

[Rob Beckers]

Interesting technology! I had never even heard of this...
It sounds like this could give LEDs a run for the money, or maybe not. It'll be hard to scale up LED technology to high Wattage bulbs in a small package while induction bulbs can do so more easily. The two would have different applications.

To paraphrase a Chinese proverb: We live in interesting times!

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

I
To paraphrase a Chinese proverb: We live in interesting times!

-RoB-

Was that a proverb ... or a curse?

Joe;)

[Rob Beckers]

Was that a proverb ... or a curse?

Joe;)

I believe it was both... :D

-RoB-

[Rob Beckers]

To get back to the topic at hand though: A typical incandescent does about 10 - 15 Lumen/Watt, A CFL bulb goes up to around 60, induction bulbs do 80 according to the posted links. Currently production LED bulbs are all over the place, from 30 through 70 or so, but they've produced LED lights in the lab that do 110 - 120 Lu/W. So, we'll have to wait and see how much upside in efficiency there is for induction bulbs.

Does anyone know what the theoretical limit is for Lu/W? There are only so many lumen one can make out of a Watt of energy. I wonder how close things currently are to this limit.

-RoB-

[Wilco Vercoelen]

In SI, luminous efficacy has units of lumens per watt (lm/W). Photopic luminous efficacy has a maximum possible value of 683 lm/W, for the case of monochromatic light at a wavelength of 555 nm (green). Scotopic luminous efficacy reaches a maximum of 1700 lm/W for narrowband light of wavelength 507 nm.

[Mark Parsons]

In SI, luminous efficacy has units of lumens per watt (lm/W). Photopic luminous efficacy has a maximum possible value of 683 lm/W, for the case of monochromatic light at a wavelength of 555 nm (green). Scotopic luminous efficacy reaches a maximum of 1700 lm/W for narrowband light of wavelength 507 nm.

Good info Wilco. Can you provide a reference source URL?

Is white light of 4700K listed for a maximum lm/W? Is that the Photopic maximum referenced 683 lm/W?

If so, our bulbs have a long ways to go to approach theoretical limits. I imagine that a Betz type hindrance is applicable and only a certain percentage of the power can be projected by the luminous object.

I have played with a few induction flourescent fixtures from Miser Lighting. A friend sells the product. http://www.miserlighting.com/ I've already told him that I would like to see it in a 12VDC version so I can install at my cottage. I suspect that market is a little too small for them to chase at this time...

Regards,
Mark

[Wilco Vercoelen]

Great link Mark!

In a 120 volt, 100 watt "standard" bulb with a rated light output of 1750 lumens, the efficiency is 17.5 lumens per watt. This compares poorly to an "ideal" of 242.5 lumens per watt (35.5%) for one idealized type of white light.
Quote from: Donald L. Klipstein.