Are these "tesla technology" light bulbs just a new variety of CFL? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: thisguy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 06:31:59 am
content: Was shopping at Costco, and picked up a box of what I thought was a new brand of LED bulbs at $3 per bulb. It turns out they were these:https://www.lightbulbs.com/blog/tesla-light-bulbFrom the web page it looks their marketing guys like to say Tesla a lot, and they are selling some variety of compact florescent bulb. (As far as I can tell, the company selling these bulbs has nothing to do with the Tesla automobile company.)The light seems a little whiter to me than some warm-white LED bulbs I have, but not at all unpleasant. Unfortunately, I don't have tools to analyze the spectrum and evaluate their claims. The marketing verbage triggers warning flags, and it makes me very skeptical that this is any sort of dramatic improvement. But I could be wrong. Maybe something new and better is hiding behind all of that marketing BS and fetishing of Nicola Tesla.Does anyone know more about these bulbs?

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 06:39:19 am
content: Since they say they use phosphor, it cannot be a true RF excited plasma bulb making a spectrum near full like true sunlight like one of these:http://luxim.resilient.lighting/technology/how-lep-worksSo, the tesla name is just there for marketing...Within 5 years, true quantum dot leds lights will erase this product...

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 06:47:54 am
content: Possibly some sort of RF plasma lamp. Seehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_lampfor an overview. If you've got the facilities to do so, look at the bulb's broad-band RF emission spectrum, you can probably spot the excitation oscillator frequency. Colour rendering will be as good as the phosphor mix - it makes a lot of difference down-converting from UV so all colours have similar conversion 'costs' rather than starting with near-monochromatic blue, and trying to fill in enough of the gaps in the spectrum to be perceived as white the way LED bulbs do.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 02:15:12 pm
content: I remember reading in a science book nearly 20 years ago about light bulbs that used radio transmitters to excite a plasma. I guess they're finally coming to the consumer market but a bit late when LEDs have been affordable for a few years!

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 03:47:46 pm
content: Related video:

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 04:22:45 pm
content: Quote from: thisguy on September 22, 2017, 06:31:59 amTake it apart

author: thisguy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 05:07:15 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on September 22, 2017, 04:22:45 pmTempting, but I'm concerned because it contains mercury. Not sure I want to risk breaking it's containment and inhaling that stuff.

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 05:28:00 pm
content: Why buy this??LEDs already have better efficiency (a lot better) and better CRI. LEDs will also continue to improve efficiency (proven track record) and run relatively cool to the touch.LEDs don't contain mercury. LEDs can already be dimmed to low levels reliably without flicker etc. LEDs come in various colour temps to match your lighting needs. All this available now.I use the term LEDs above to mean the entire LED 110/240V 'bulb'.cheers,george.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 05:34:36 pm
content: I think the Tesla relationship for these guys is just like that for Musk's company. A desire to invoke a creative genius in association with an electrical product. Both have a remote connection in that Tesla invented the family of electric motors used in his cars, and Tesla invented and promoted RF excited fluorescent lighting.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 10:22:29 pm
content: Quote from: georges80 on September 22, 2017, 05:28:00 pmSounds like buying LED is what was intended.To me, the question is more like, "Why sell this?"Trying to cash in on the "Tesla" name probably.Quote from: thisguy on September 22, 2017, 06:31:59 am

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 11:12:24 pm
content: Quote from: thisguy on September 22, 2017, 05:07:15 pmIf the mercury in one broken bulb was a significant hazard they wouldn't allow them to be sold.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2017, 11:25:03 pm
content: I guess is this the same concept as putting high voltage near a fluorescent bulb? Was messing with a self wound transformer and having some fun making stuff light up. Was all fun and games until I lost control of the wire and gave myself a nasty shock.

author: Iceberg86300
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 05:10:02 pm
content: Re: 110/220 LED bulbsQuote from: georges80 on September 22, 2017, 05:28:00 pmDid I miss the last innovation cycle?All the bulbs I'm running and have in reserve have a giant freaking heat sink, and will burn the shit outta ya.Do you mean relative to an incandescent? Even the last CFL's I installed run cooler than the last LED's I have. Currently have a mixture b/c I'm not going to toss any prior to LED tech just to say I'm running LED's, except for the case when changing a bulb requires a ladder, and there are multiples of them, so they get swapped while the ladder is in the house. Still don't hit the garbage/recycle pile unless they're dead though. Or have a horrible CRI.On that note, does anyone have recommendations re 6500k (or thereabouts) color temp high CRI bulbs of any tech that are dimmable? As well as any being available in different single outputs?I calibrate displays/home theaters and a touch of backlighting/ambient light does wonders for increasing picture quality, as well as making the viewing experience much more enjoyable for my customers who insist on watching in total darkness save for the output from the display. It's amazing how fatiguing and sometimes even painful, it can be to watch in total darkness.The problem is that most folks are a tough sell on the ~$300 display calibration & don't want to drop ~$75-100 on a basic light that meets the CIE D65 white point with a 90+ CRI. Decent products can double or triple that cost.There are a ton a products sold as "bias lighting" on eBay/Amazon/etc that don't give specs, but the sellers are smart enough to give the desired specs when asked. Basically, can't trust em as far as I can throw em.SteveSent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 06:01:29 pm
content: Quote from: Iceberg86300 on September 23, 2017, 05:10:02 pmI've never noticed LED bulbs getting significantly warm. They are only consuming about 10 W, so how hot can they get?As to high CRI and quality bulbs meeting specs, I look to brand names like Cree or Philips. But I have no interest in 6500 K, that is far to cold for me. I choose 2700 K for my lighting. It is much more pleasant for ambient light.I tried and liked the Cree lamp below. It weighs far more than any other LED lamp I have looked at, so I guess it is designed to last. The downside is it is quite large, so is not suitable for small fixtures.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 08:35:15 pm
content: The biggest problem I have with LED bulbs is that you mostly only get two choices for color: too blue or too yellow. I'd really like for some in the 3800-4200K range to become available. The "shop lights" I installed in my work area are 4000K and I like them a lot.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 09:00:13 pm
content: As mentioned, these are not new, nor were they invented by Tesla. They are induction lights. They are mostly used in industrial applications. RFI and EMF is always a problem with them.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 09:17:39 pm
content: The advantage of true induction lights is that no wires through the glass envelope are required. Since they don't need wires, they can use corrosive elements that would be incompatible with wires:sulfur instead of mercury. More conventionalmercury based lampscan also use induction, and benefit from a longer life because there are no cathodes to sputter and break.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 09:21:34 pm
content: Also used for the Rubidium lamps in frequency standards of course.