New LED Light Tubes - Anybody Try These Yet ?

M

MikeJanis

Banned
Are any pool rooms using these yet ?

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/green/item_62.html


LED tubes overhead


Ubiquitous in stores and offices, fluorescent light tubes may be energy-efficient, but their innards are toxic. The EverLED tube contains no mercury or lead. It also lasts up to five times as long and uses 25 percent less power than fluorescents. Since LEDs work at low voltages and existing fluorescent fixtures deliver huge spikes of electricity, engineers built circuitry into the tubes that analyzes and adjusts the voltage accordingly. $150 per bulb; leddynamics.com
 
It doesn't really seem cost effective. If the bulbs last 5 times longer than a fluorescent, but cost nearly 30 times more while only saving you 25% of the energy, the savings is minor if any looking at the long-term.
 
madhaterm3 said:
It doesn't really seem cost effective. If the bulbs last 5 times longer than a fluorescent, but cost nearly 30 times more while only saving you 25% of the energy, the savings is minor if any looking at the long-term.
Click to expand...

Yep, ya'got a really good point there. Now I'm actually embarrased that I brought them up without thinking it through.......:o

I guess the best application for them would be in the food service industry???

Mj
 
Hmmm...
Good idea...but.
$150.00 per bulb
4 bulbs per pool table lamp=$600 per pool table.
17 tables x $600
$10,200 for table lights.

Ceiling lights
$150 per bulb
2 bulbs per fixture $300 per panel
75 light fixtures x $300 per panel = $22,500

Total $32,700

If my profit margin is 10% means I have to generate an additional $327,000 in income to pay for it over the next X number of years.

I don't see the sport of pool picking up that much in St. Louis. 5 rooms have gone under in the past year.

I think the technology is still too far away from being really economical. Right now it makes more sense to just put in skylights.:D
 
cueandcushion said:
Hmmm...
Good idea...but.
$150.00 per bulb
4 bulbs per pool table lamp=$600 per pool table.
17 tables x $600
$10,200 for table lights.

Ceiling lights
$150 per bulb
2 bulbs per fixture $300 per panel
75 light fixtures x $300 per panel = $22,500

Total $32,700

If my profit margin is 10% means I have to generate an additional $327,000 in income to pay for it over the next X number of years.

I don't see the sport of pool picking up that much in St. Louis. 5 rooms have gone under in the past year.

I think the technology is still too far away from being really economical. Right now it makes more sense to just put in skylights.:D
Click to expand...

Yeah but since they last 5x longer think of how much time you save for other things instead of walking around and changing your 218 light bulbs all the time....................................LOL

I think your math is off a bit to.

You forgot to deduct the 25% savings off your electrical bill and the price of the 218 light bulbs you wont be replacing. I know its trivial but I wonder what deficit it leaves if we factor that in ?

Mj

Edited for assumptions:

Assume a normal tube lasts 2 years and the NEW tube last 10 years.

That means you wont have to replace (218 X 5) = 1090 tubes.

Assuming the old tubes cost $7 each that = (1090 X $7) = $7630

Assuming your light bill for the pool room is $1500 per month. You will save 25% by using the new tubes ( 1500/4 = $375) (375 X 12 = $4,500 per year) $4,500 per year x 10 years = $45,000 over the 10 year life of the new tube.

You spent $32,000 replacing your tubes
You save $7,630 from not purchasing old tubes
You save $45,000 from your electric bill

This gives you a profit of $20,630 over the 10 year period.

Also assume it takes 5 minutes to change each old tube so thats 1090 tubes x 5 = 5,450 minutes / 60 = 90.8 hours saved over the 10 years that you could use as free time or for other projects.


I don't know the actual numbers so please tell me if they are anywhere near the ballpark.


For some reason I am really curious about this now.

Mj
 
Last edited:
Too tired to calculate right now.

Your numbers are probably right in a perfect world and with laboratory grade equipment. Pool rooms are no laboratory.

But the little spiral light bulbs have taught me one thing for sure. Light bulbs NEVER NEVER EVER last nearly as long or save as much money as the manufacturer says. My 7 year light bulbs usually last 18 mos or so? I have been buying the spiral efficiency bulbs for at least 5 years now. I think my longest one has lasted about 3-4 years. NONE have lasted 7 years. So the claims of these lasting that many years do not excite me at this time. I would rather just turn the lights off when not using them in order to save money.

Technology was invented in the 1950's that would make a light bulb that never burns out. Alas, no one makes them. Ok, better stop rambling.

That's my Al Gore salute for conservation for tonight...;)
 
The future lighting methods are in state of flux.

LEDS are the next thing in energy savings .
LEDS also allow you to use ordinary dimmers.

remember new technology is expensive initially
How about the price of DVD players then and now!

I wouldn't buy a new car model the first year either !
That's me
 
Wouldn't the new lights only save you 25% of the cost of the old lights.

If the room's power bill was $1500 then my guess is only a small % actually comes from the lighting.

I hve heard that there is another benefit and thats a loss of heat from lighting. In a decent size room I think the lighting can really add to the rooms heat. Not sure how much though.

Wasn't there a room that just went to a new LED light fixture. I think in Tulsa??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top