There's potentially a problem with LED lighting that I wasn't aware of until a friend sent me an article on the subject. It's something you probably should be aware of if thinking of switching to LEDs now that incandescents are largely out of production. I haven't paid a lot of attention to LED lighting. Until recently it's been expensive, more useful for narrowly focused applications like task lighting, and not that much more energy efficient than the CFLs we use almost everywhere inside and outside the house (there are a few incandescents in the carport that have been there about 15 years and counting - not used much). Additionally, all LEDs are made with either the element gallium (Ga) or indium (In), and both of those are not very abundant on this planet. That leads to questions about sustainability for something produced in 100s of millions of units, like light bulbs. The article -  That 60W-equivalent LED: What you don’t know, and what no one will tell you… - is from EDN (Electronic Design News), which is a largely apolitical magazine written by and for engineers.

If anything, their bias would be to get you to buy more of their advertiser's products, like LEDs. You should read the entire article (it's non-technical), but here's the money quote: Within an LED bulb the internal generation and distribution of heat is such that it “desperately” needs access to cool surrounding air.  The fact that it has that metallic housing is irrelevant in restricted air. That 60 watt Wal-Mart bulb, when operating base down in open air and not even using a shade, has its internal LED case at 85°C, the absolute upper end of what is considered “safe” for full life expectancy. The same deal is true for competitive bulbs. Put a shade around it... and it’s a little warmer. Put it into any kind of base-up socket and it gets a lot hotter and all life expectancy numbers are off the table. Put it into any kind of porch or post light fixture, and it can fry, with its internal power supply components at the cliff edge of failure. Put the lamp in a ceiling-mounted fully enclosed fixture and set the timer for when failure will occur.

In other words,  totally unlike incandescent and substantially unlike a CFL, reliability and life expectancy go down hill sharply as soon as you install  it anywhere that air is restricted. A large percentage of places for LED best value is in those place where access is difficult and air is restricted. LEDs do not target a “table-lamp-only” marketplace. Some related information: 85C (185F) is the maximum operating temperature for most electronic components designed for industrial use. Consumer products usually top out at 70C, military and aerospace at 125C. Per the article, full life expectancy is quoted for operation at 85C, so that's not the problem. The problem is that in an open application, like a table lamp, the LED bulb is already at 85C. When you enclose it in something, like a globe or ceiling fixture, it will get hotter - a lot hotter. There's a rule of thumb reliability engineers use that comes from Arrhenius (the same guy who outlined the greenhouse effect around the end of the 19th century).

Arrhenius said that chemical reaction rates double for every 10C rise in temperature. For estimating reliability, you turn that around and estimate that product life gets cut in half for every 10C rise in temperature. House For Sale Gabriel View Georgetown TxA lot of faliure mechanisms are, or act like, chemical reactions. Exotic Shorthair For Sale IllinoisThat's the point the author of the article is actually making.Mets Tickets For Citi Employees Also note that this has little to do with the actual wattage or power consumption of LEDs vs. incandescents. LEDs do use less energy, but if they don't cool as efficiently as light bulbs in an enclosed fixture, they can still get hotter. That seems to be the case here, and for all manufacturers - not just Wal-Mart suppliers.

This isn't probably a safety issue - houses won't burn down - because  a lot of light fixtures have built in thermal cutouts that will shut off electricity if they get too hot, or the electronics that operates the LED (LEDs operate at around 1.8 volts) will fail. The other important factor is the backlash that this kind of situation can create. People buying LEDs bulbs are expecting lower electric bills and bulbs that last a long time. They can end up very disappointed when the hype about lifetime turns out not to be true in some applications. That can damage the credibility of people who advocated the solution. As a corollary to that, it's important to understand what Germans might call the Gestalt, others the whole enchilada, or 60s refugees the holistic nature of solutions to environmental problems. Just because something solves one problem - like reducing energy use - doesn't mean it satisfies all the other constraints it needs to, like lifetime. Completely understanding a technology is a good idea if you want to avoid unintended consequences.

As I mentioned at the outset, outside of a couple of LED flashlights - which I like a lot - I don't have any direct experience using LED light bulbs. I do have a fair amount of experience in electrical engineering, particularly reliability and temperature problems, and the guy who sent me the article link has a lot more experience. The engineering basis of the article seems correct to me. It seems like something worth being aware of.Which Light Bulb Should I Choose? This guide will tell you all the differences between LED and halogens light bulbs and what to look out for when you are choosing your light bulbs.Lumens What are lumens? Lumens are a measure of light.... Read More about Which Light Bulb Should I Choose?Will I burn down my apartment? May 26, 2005   SubscribeHow to Color Light Bulbs Colored light bulbs add a warm glow to any room. While tinted light bulbs in primary colors are available at certain hardware or discount stores, why not experiment with your own creativity and color light bulbs yourself?

You can select unique colors and coat a set of bulbs, or you can add beautiful and interesting designs. Light bulbs with hand-painted patterns or scenes make perfect, one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family. Clear glass light bulbs. Paint brushes in various sizes (synthetic or natural brushes can be used). A palette or small cups for holding the paints while you work. Select clear, unused bulbs for your project. While you may use white or tinted bulbs, transparent glass will permit the colors of the paint to show through to their best effect. Purchase specialized glass paint, such as the dishwasher and oven safe paints used for coloring ceramics, from a craft supply store. Oil and acrylic paints should not be used for light bulb painting, as they will not stand up to the heat of a lighted lamp. Glass paint must be applied to a clean, dust-free surface. Clean each light bulb using rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner; allow the bulbs to dry before painting.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for preparing and applying glass paint. This type of paint does not take long to dry once it is applied to a glass surface, so make sure you have everything you need close at hand. If possible, use a table clamp to hold the base of your light bulb for ease of handling as you paint. Spread newspaper to protect the surface of your work area. Once you have all your supplies assembled, you can begin painting. Use small dollops of paint to prevent it from drying out. Working in small sections, create swirls, blocks of color, or floral patterns – anything you can imagine. You can mix glass paints to make new colors, if you like. If you choose to paint a scene, color the background first and allow it to dry, then add the elements of your scene in layers. Allow the painted bulbs to air-dry for 30 minutes to an hour. Clean your brushes right away using soap and water. Place the colored bulbs into an unheated oven. Follow the instructions included with the paints for preheating the oven and baking the painted bulbs.

Baking permits the colors to set before using the bulbs in your lighting fixtures. Note: Clear holiday lights can also be painted using glass paint. Remove each bulb on a string of lights from its socket, taking care not to damage the fine wire contacts, before you begin painting. Because holiday lights do not get as hot as incandescent bulbs, you can use an air-drying glass paint rather than baking the bulbs in the oven. Use very small amounts of paint for each bulb, and do not paint the base of the bulbs where they fit into the sockets. Once the bulbs are dry, replace them on the wires and test the string of lights to be sure all bulbs are working before use. Always wear gloves while handling light bulbs to prevent injury in case of breakage. Use a light touch with your paint brushes to avoid breaking the bulbs as you work. Handle heated glass with caution. It is best to allow the bulbs to cool inside the oven before removing them. Inspect bulbs for damage before placing them in an oven.

Do not use bulbs that are cracked or discolored, as they may break when heated. Never place light bulbs into a preheated oven; put the bulbs into a cold oven, then preheat to allow the bulbs to come to temperature. Only glass paint should be used for painting light bulbs. Other paints may cause a fire hazard or release harmful fumes if they are heated. Always use the correct bulbs for your lighting fixtures. Using a wattage that is too strong for a particular lamp can cause a fire. Use stencils to create colorful patterns on clear light bulbs. Replace ordinary light bulbs with colored bulbs in soft hues to set the mood for a romantic evening. Use soft, soothing pastel tones to color bulbs for your baby’s nursery. Decorate your child’s room with bold, bright, colorful bulbs. Make your next barbecue or outdoor party even more festive with colored lighting. Replace your regular outdoor bulbs with multi-colored bulbs (be sure to use the correct bulbs for your outdoor lighting fixtures).