The CREE LRP-38

November 12, 2009

We can’t tell you  how excited we are at Cree’s achievement in the LRP-38 LED lamp.

Originally we saw this new technology at LightFair and were cautiously skeptical.   Show booths are of course designed to make things look the best they can – hiding every possible flaw.  Further, it’s very difficult to evaluate color temperature and output when your standing in the middle of a convention center. 

Cree’s display for this lamp consisted a multitude of these lamps landing on a bunch of fruit demonstrating its application for the grocery store market place. 

To be honest, at the show, I thought the lamp looked like it might read a bit too pink off the trade show floor. I knew I had to reserve judgement because I realized I was also immersed in cool color temperature metal halide. Fortunately, Cree agreed to send us a sample of this lamp to review.

Cree_ProduceDisplay
So we mocked it up in the toughest environment for LEDs possible … residential.   This is the domain of the incandescent and halogen bulbs.   The results,  I have to tell you,  were very impressive.   We put this 12 watt lamp side by side with a 50 watt 25 degree halogen IR. The output was very comparable. It appeared to us that the Cree color temperature was ever so slightly pink compared to straight halogen but definately, in our opinion, a workable lamp in residential and hospitality design projects.

The LRP-38 beam spread was exceptionally smooth.  It far surpased it’s halogen predecessor in that department.  The glare control is outstanding due to the design.   The LED is actually in the fin in front of the reflector and aims backwards not towards the occupants in the space.    Awesome!   We can’t wait to see more bulbs in this family. 

Congratulations Cree!! on an outstanding accomplishment in LEDs.

And, more good news, the box comes labeled with a lighting facts label. How will this affect consumers in the future? See our post Legislate this!

LRP-38

For more about this lamp from the Cree website go to http://www.creeledlighting.com/lrp-38.htm

We’ve found this lamp for sale online as various vendors for $160 – $179.

For more detailed information on our comparative testing please email us at
editor@lightrightnow.com

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Don’t want a headache from your LED task lighting? …

June 2, 2009

Then you’ll need to be aware of this…

Some LED linear lighting fixtures used for undercabinet lighting produce what is called multi-source shadowing.

It looks like this:

This is because they use many smaller points of light that have a directional quality.

Regardless of the color temperature or output, we bet this would be very likely to give just about anyone a headache if they are working next to it.

So while you’re testing for color and output, you might also want to take a look at the shadow pattern you’ll get. It varies with the configuration and treatment of the LED lamps in a fixture.

Some shadowing may be tolerable for an application but it does need to be considered in your selection.

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Wanted – Stand-alone Wallbox Dimmer with Astronomical Timer

May 15, 2009

Wanted: Wallbox Dimmer with Programmable Astronomical Time Clock Functions

Application:  All across America Porch lights could be on a timer.  They would automatically come on at sunset, or sunset + .5hr and then automatically go off after a user specified number of hours.   The timer would conserve power usage while providing a reliable and sucure lighting source while conserving power usage and extending lamp life.

You won’t find this energy idea on the Energy Star Website, but any lighting designer can tell you that dimming a standard incandescent bulb not only saves energy but can extend it’s life well beyond that of a CFL.   Check out this terrific ONLINE CALCULATOR by Lutron.

Combine that with an astronomical time clock feature that automatically shuts lights off and homes could have significant energy savings, and long life while enjoying the light quality from a standard incandescent or halogen lamp.

Leviton? Lutron? Cooper?
Anybody have one of these? Please advise ASAP ! I’ve got a bulk order for you.

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Is the lighting industry being out-marketed ? Part 2

July 9, 2008

Western Interiors just sent out a Email update regarding their July issue.

One of the articles is about 5 cool urban lofts in the west. Locations include San Francisco, Scottsdale, LA, Dallas and Vancouver. Likely suspects for cool loft properties.  Prices ranged from 300,000 to 4.4 million.

Each loft is listed along with a description of the unit amenities:

Steel-framed windows, concrete floors, hardwood floors, exposed brick, Jenn-Air, Bosch, Sub-Zero, GE appliances, Scavolini cabinets, Waterworks fixtures even a mention of a local Green Building Certificate.

No lighting mentioned. 

No Lutron control system, no GE Precise MR16 lamps, no recessed 3″ aperture accent or art lighting.   No Lucifer, Lightolier, Focal Point, Pure lighting, Flos, Artemide… nothing!   Wow.

 

Who missed the mark more?   The lighting manufacturers for not positioning themselves to be mentioned in this article?  Or the real estate marketers for clearly missing a premium sales feature?

 

 

 

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Are lighting manufacturers being outmarketed?

May 27, 2008

Lighting follows only water, food and shelter as an essential basic need in our modern lives and yet lighting manufacturers have let this resource disappear from our daily consciousness.  

Forefront in the consumers mind are technology devices such as the latest MP3 player options, multi-function cell phones, email or T.V.   These consumer technologies are being constantly re-invented and pitched with the trendiest ad campaigns.   The consumer is conditioned to anticipate the arrival of the next version with the expectation that it will be even better.   Even better,  they think their image is at stake with their selection of devises.  Bravo marketers!  Way to penetrate the consumers psyche.

How is it then that the lighting products are completely lost to this audience?

Last time I checked this was a 3 billion dollar a year industry and yet there’s no direct contact to the consumer?

Do lighting manufacturers think that consumers can’t make technical decisions? Do they think they can’t convince these consumers to select quality or commit to a substantial financial investment?   Do they think the only message a consumer can digest is green?

The success achieved by any technology business is in part determined by it’s ability to break through the technical knowledge barrier and build consumer confidence and their ability to choose what’s best for them.  The average American consumer knows what DPI options they need for a HDTV, (High Definition Television – bet you didn’t need me to spell that out), what kind of cable they need to connect it; how the signal gets converted, if their preference is Plasma or Digital, if their purchase will be affected by their altitude, what DVD player and DVD will get them the best picture and yet… the latest lighting terms they know are likely 20 years old.

These consumers are buying $8-15,000 motorcycles, $20,000 and up boats, and now they’re purchasing a family suite of $1-3,000 mountain bikes and yet somehow the lighting industry and home builders think they can’t afford to spend more than $5,000 on lighting their new $500,000 homes.  

Reason number one the lighting industry is failing to reach the consumer is that the enjoyment of living in a well lit environment isn’t being pitched at all.   The focus in only on meeting the basic need of illumination.   The International Association of Lighting Designers has begun to change the image of lighting in their new branding campaign.   It’s about the impact of lighting on people.   Manufacturers need to follow suit, create the desire, educate on the difference their product offers and stop treating consumers like simpletons by beating the green drum.

The second reason is how lighting is being purchased by the average consumer.   It’s through the electrical distribution process.    And this isn’t this working because it’s not bringing the best quality products for the best price to the consumer.    There is no real incentive for distributors and contractors to advise consumers on the best choice.  Their business model is based on encouraging purchases of products from which they can make the most profit.   In a market where the consumer doesn’t currently know anything about the product and can’t tell a valuable purchase from a cheap substitute there is trouble.    

So the $5,000 worth of fixtures in your new home or remodel are likely worth only $600. Yes. Sorry to break the news to you. You’ve probably grossly overpaid and underpurchased at the same time. It would be like going out and getting a 19inch black and white TV for $2,000 because you didn’t know you could get a 50″ Plasma HDTV. Bet you can’t imagine that happening right?

If one of the latest lighting terms you know is halogen, or if you’re thinking LEDs are ready to go prime-time you’re about to be bamboozled on your next lighting purchase.    Better get yourself an independent lighting designer or consultant because you’re missing some important info that no one is even bothering to pitch you.

Crazy huh?

 

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