LED enabled

[Mike M]

Here it comes, duck your head or embrace it.

The product is LED's. Not halogen fixtures retro'd w/LED lamps. Big difference. Critical difference. I found an enthusiastic manu that seems to have nailed the photometrics and performance.

I will be using a set of his products for an enclosed patio job complete with tropicals, a pool, etc. I wanted to do something where the service calls would be spread out, since entry inside the home may lead to my arrest without precise advanced scheduling with the owner present. The install will be my in-the-field study to put the product to the test.

I already did the front of the owner's home in halogen, and he kept asking me about LED's. Everyone is asking about LED's. The nationed watched Bush fire up the big old Christmas tree with LED's.

Making my biz "LED enabled" will have huge returns, and early market positioning is always important.

[sitelights]

I reviewed a few LED fixtures about two years ago; significant improvements have probably been made in more compact size, amount of heat generated and lumen output.

Unless it is a secret perhaps you could provide a link to the manufacturer's product pages. Also, since product price is not a topic on lowvolt.org for obvious reasons you might be willing to refer to the percentage upcharge i.e. 25%, 50%, etc. compared to similar non-LED units. At one time I suggested that the LED option doubles the unit price. Please do not state prices, simply percentages.

[Mike M]

Brass fixture with LED (not a retofit bulb type) about 60% more than a comparable brass fixture with an MR 16 bulb.

But that's misleading. The LED sytem has less expensive components. The cost of the system and service as a whole package is what needs to be compared.

The 20 watt halogen-equivelant bullet I am looking at consumes 5 watts. That equates to significant savings in transformers and smaller wire, less runs, longer runs are possible. Splices being cheaper, too, with the sudden need/benefit of being able to chain many fixtures (pierce-point connectors seem more attractive now).

Installs are faster, no need for worrying about calculating and compensating so much for voltage drop. This is because the control modules act as resistors, providing the LED with only what they need. Also, not enough volts? The light shows you. It begins blinking intermittantly (not fading) when you have too many lights on the run and the voltage needs boosting.

Controlability. The light can be "dialed in" for dimmability. Is that a word? Anyway, this is what I was asking about back in another thread on this site (search my q's for LED). Also, modifications can be made for those wanting to control color, as well. The diodes for this are in RGB and can be white (all) or whatever you program for them (mind you, this is a modified feature).

Service: LED's last much much longer than MR16's, which saves costs associated with call backs, premature burnouts, and annual scheduled changes. Less damage from cooler operating temp's. LED's are friendlier to their housings; there is a pumping action when halogens heat up and cool down, pulling in moisture.

Increased value. It's not just a different light source. Fixtures take less abuse, no more socket problems, less service demands, and there is a monetary value for the consumer in recovery of initial investment over time, especially with significant energy savings.

For more info, visit dglights.com (prices not posted), I will be getting a sample of the 'palm' bullet which many other lighting companies are using exclusively as thier LED of choice. I also went ahead and ordered 12 more, but normal shipment is back ordered four weeks. In addition, I will be getting one of the fixtures which has similar output with an MR16 35 watter.

Soon, we will be wondering how we ever had life without LED's. I will position myself in my market now, not later. I may have some problems, it may cost me some money, but isn't that what business is? I will be the go-to-guy for LED's. I guess I have to do an actual side by side cost analysis, to see what the installation differences are (this doesn't include the service and consumption differences). It would be easier that way, getting true cost-per-fixture numbers.

[Mike M]

I tried editing my post for spec and price percentages and horrible grammar, but the feature was getting hung up.

Specs: LED fixture comparable in photometrics with the MR 16 20 watt: 5 watts, about 60% price increase for the LED fixture.

LED fixture comparable with a 35 watt MR16, 8 watts, 133% price increase.

[sitelights]

I have found that when editing a lengthy post the "save" function is very slow; try using the "go advanced" function to save your edits.

[Mike M]

Go advanced is cool. Above is revised a little. Cannot change font as offered. But I can here.

[Mike M]

Review:

The DGLIGHTS Palm65 in brass is sleek as all heck, with a narrow profile, and with a heavy feel.

More importantly, the light output differences compared with halogen was indistinguishable to my eye. I took some photographs tonight of the palm65 in application, and with a fixture housing an MR16 ushio 20 watt in the same spot, against my two story house. I had to keep checking to make sure it wasn't the same light source in both pics.

Incredible. I also tried what I was told by the manu: you can light the palm65 with an ordinary 9volt, and it will have the same 6 watt output as it would using a multitap up to 15v.

Dang. I will be using these, but be warned, the palm65 is back-ordered 4 weeks. As soon as I get the 35 watt equiv fixture, I'll post again. I'd like to try that in a tall palmetto application.

Please scroll up if you haven't already seen my edit/revision on cost comparisons. The ratio is now very attractive for the palm65, and in time, I assume the bigger version will drop in price. But it exists for the LED-craving consumer.

[Semper Lux]

The DG Lights Paso model I have is milled from a solid chunk of brass and weighs 1 lb. 11 oz. The driver electronics are encapsulated in a round plastic cylinder that DG calls a "tootsie roll" and fits snugly (but easily) inside 1/2" PVC conduit.

It's intended as a wall or post mount downlight. Less than 4" across, shaped like a half dome with fins for heat dissipation.

It uses a Lamina Atlas LED. 5 W puts out a lot of light.

Here are some photos (http://picasaweb.google.com/g.catanese/DGLights).

[Mike M]

Nice work Greg. In addition to models mentioned, I also have the MR16-35W comparable LED staked luminaire on order. I will probably order a small area light today from DGLights.

If anyone has a good electronic book containing technical info on LED 's, please refer here.

Thanks!

Mike M.

[Mike M]

I have been getting horrible eye stress from reading too much on line regarding LED's, my strongest interest is in transformers and controls).

--great info at Philip's ("color kinetics", holy smokes, worth visiting)
--Hadco has my interest (acquired by Philips)
--DGLights, awesome fixtures

>>still Looking for a specialized LED forum with LED peoples

Does anyone have references in alternative media:

--technical books
--catalogs
--I subscribed to the free e-mail version of the LED magazine (London? can't remember
name at moment) Am now willing to pay for hard copy.
--trade Shows (I found Light Fair: May 2008/Vegas, now plan to be there)
--brick and morter distributors

My eyes are sucking back into my head from the on-line stuff.