UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Workshop: LED replacements for flourescent tubes.

G6Tanuki · 22nd Nov 2017, 1:10 pm

My experience with LEDs (both GU10 and GLS ES types) is that they can run rather hot - particularly the higher-power ones. 50-Watt-equivalent LED GU10s fitted into 'bullet' style spotlamp-bases have a short and unhappy life because the holder prevents airflow round the base where the electronics live. I've got twelve of the things in my kitchen [50W-equivalent 'daylight' spectrum, from a range of different manufacturers] which give great light - 1400 Lux everywhere! - but one of them fails every couple of months, which is better than the lifespan of 50W GU10 halogens.

I've had one 120-Watt-equivalent LED ES fail after about 9 months - it was mounted 'base uppermost' in a glass pendant fitting which rather enclosed the base so again did nothing for the cooling. Its replacement (free by the supplier, a good thing since it cost me around £15) is so far doing OK.

22nd Nov 2017, 1:10 pm	#51
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,007	Re: Workshop: LED replacements for flourescent tubes. My experience with LEDs (both GU10 and GLS ES types) is that they can run rather hot - particularly the higher-power ones. 50-Watt-equivalent LED GU10s fitted into 'bullet' style spotlamp-bases have a short and unhappy life because the holder prevents airflow round the base where the electronics live. I've got twelve of the things in my kitchen [50W-equivalent 'daylight' spectrum, from a range of different manufacturers] which give great light - 1400 Lux everywhere! - but one of them fails every couple of months, which is better than the lifespan of 50W GU10 halogens. I've had one 120-Watt-equivalent LED ES fail after about 9 months - it was mounted 'base uppermost' in a glass pendant fitting which rather enclosed the base so again did nothing for the cooling. Its replacement (free by the supplier, a good thing since it cost me around £15) is so far doing OK.