Home Repair forum - OT: Daylight Bulbs

Author

OT: Daylight Bulbs

Bonnie Jean

2005-07-08, 6:26 pm

I am in the market for a very bright lamp for my knitting. My 100
incandescent isn't enough and is hot. (My hot flashes are quite enough thank
you.)

Does anyone have experience with or knowledge about so called daylight
lights: fluorescent vs. Solux (halogen) vs. Ultralux vs. LED (which is cool
and bright but not daylight type)? I am interested in the differences (real
vs. hype) before I plunk down $75-200. I have looked at some websites but
they are predominantly by the manufacturer or distributor. I don't mind
spending the money if I will notice the difference and will realize reduced
eye strain.

Thanks for your advise,
Bonnie in NJ

Harry Avant

2005-07-08, 11:25 pm

I don't know a thing about knitting but I've tried several "daylight"
type lamps for reading and the one that has worked the best for me is
the Ott Model: 25C92NKS. It is bright, not hot, adjustble so that it
doen't hit my shoulder when it's next to my reading chair. (okay so
I'm 6 foot tall) The visual claity is far better than any of the
others I've tried and at my age, not young, that is a real plus. You
might try a google search for ott light. One of the places that comes
up is a site for sewers and knitters.

Harry

"Bonnie Jean" <me@comcast.net> wrote:

quote:

>I am in the market for a very bright lamp for my knitting. My 100
>incandescent isn't enough and is hot. (My hot flashes are quite enough thank
>you.)
>
>Does anyone have experience with or knowledge about so called daylight
>lights: fluorescent vs. Solux (halogen) vs. Ultralux vs. LED (which is cool
>and bright but not daylight type)? I am interested in the differences (real
>vs. hype) before I plunk down $75-200. I have looked at some websites but
>they are predominantly by the manufacturer or distributor. I don't mind
>spending the money if I will notice the difference and will realize reduced
>eye strain.
>
>Thanks for your advise,
>Bonnie in NJ
>
>

Nick Hull

2005-07-08, 11:25 pm

In article <Fe-dnXFTJZI6eVPfRVn-2g@comcast.com>,
"Bonnie Jean" <me@comcast.net> wrote:

quote:

> I am in the market for a very bright lamp for my knitting. My 100
> incandescent isn't enough and is hot. (My hot flashes are quite enough thank
> you.)
>
> Does anyone have experience with or knowledge about so called daylight
> lights: fluorescent vs. Solux (halogen) vs. Ultralux vs. LED (which is cool
> and bright but not daylight type)? I am interested in the differences (real
> vs. hype) before I plunk down $75-200. I have looked at some websites but
> they are predominantly by the manufacturer or distributor. I don't mind
> spending the money if I will notice the difference and will realize reduced
> eye strain.
>
> Thanks for your advise,
> Bonnie in NJ
>
>

My wife uses Phillips 5000K in a shop light fixture for her knitting.

--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/

Don Klipstein

2005-07-09, 4:25 am

In article <Fe-dnXFTJZI6eVPfRVn-2g@comcast.com>, Bonnie Jean wrote:

quote:

>I am in the market for a very bright lamp for my knitting. My 100
>incandescent isn't enough and is hot. (My hot flashes are quite enough
>thank you.)
>
>Does anyone have experience with or knowledge about so called daylight
>lights: fluorescent vs. Solux (halogen) vs. Ultralux vs. LED (which is cool
>and bright but not daylight type)? I am interested in the differences (real
>vs. hype) before I plunk down $75-200.

Halogen "daylight" lamps produce less light than same wattage of
"regular-color" halogens. Halogens improve only a little, maybe somewhat
over incandescents, and I doubt a halogen of "daylight" color will produce
a higher ratio of light to heat than "regular color" "regular
incandescents". Possibly there is improvement in heat directed your way,
since some of these halogens have reflectors of type that may have reduced
reflection of infrared.

As for LEDs - I say there is mostly hype and plenty of half-truths and a
few outright lies. There are now white LEDs somewhat more efficient than
halogens and about to maybe somewhat over twice as efficient as regular
incandescents, but they are still less efficient than fluorescents. Also
consider that $75 worth of LEDs is not going to produce nearly as much
light as a 100 watt incadescent. I have yet to hear of that much light
from $75 worth of white LEDs even at prices that a lighting device OEM
would pay for 10,000 LEDs.

As for some suggestions:

1. I would beware of fluorescent units from anyone making health claims.
My impression is that you pay for hype and likely half-truths and
possible lies.

2. I would beware of compact fluorescents advertised as "full spectrum".
All too often they are not what most in the industry would want to
call "full spectrum" or "broad spectrum" but something you can pay
much less for if you know what they are.
Furthermore: The "Lighting Industry" lacks an accepted definition of
"full spectrum". I have even seen some resistance to adoption of
such a thing, since a foreseeable effect would be legitimizing some
of the hucksters.

3. One thing to consider is "color temperature".

This means roughly:

2700 - roughly incandescent or orangish "warm white"
3000 - very slightly whiter, roughly "halogen" but may also be
pinkish/less-yellowish "warm white"

3500 - My words: "semi warm white", maybe like short life
incandescent/halogen photoflood lamps and projetor bulbs,
but can also be slightly more-pink/less-yellow.
Includes some Sylvania compact fluorescents labelled
"daylight".

4100 - The "regular cool white" color, which I consider roughly
"average sunlight". The main problem of "traditional" /
"old tech" cool white is a color rendering index of only 62.

5000 - An icy cold pure white, sometimes appears slightly bluish,
roughly the color of noontime tropical sunlight with clean
air.

mid-5,000's to 7,000's - more bluish, generally bluish shades of
white. 6500 is a common figure here. Typical overcast sky
is about 6,000 and most black-and-white TVs are 9300.
10,000-infinity is roughly the range of "sky blue".

Please keep in mind that color temperatures around or over
4,000 easily appear "dreary gray" at lighting levels used in
most home use.

4. Most fluorescent lamps with rated color rendering index in the range
of 82-86, especially if color temperature is in the 2700-5000 range,
have their color distortions in the direction of making most colors
brighter and "more vivid" than "proper". Most other fluorescent
lamps, probably all with color rendering index 70 or less as well as
most with color rendering index in the low 90's, have their color
distortions mostly in the direction of making colors appear darker
and duller (more brownish, sometimes and/or more grayish) than
"proper".

5. In general, fluorescent lamps with color rendering index higher than
86 have less light output than most with color rendering index in
the range of 53-86.

6. Despite reduced light output, a good one is Philips TL950 color.
These are available in 17 watt 2-foot and 32 watt 4-foot T8 (1 inch
in diameter). Get at electrical/lighting supply shops that sell
Philips products, and be prepared to special-order a whole box of
them. Or get from bulbs.com - also likely a minimum order of a
whole box of them - which is 25 bulbs!
These are 5000 Kelvin ones with rated color rendering index of 98.

Use these in fixtures that take T8 (32 watt or 17 watt) bulbs.

- Don Klipstein (don@misty.com)

Norminn

2005-07-09, 12:25 pm

Bonnie Jean wrote:

quote:

> I am in the market for a very bright lamp for my knitting. My 100
> incandescent isn't enough and is hot. (My hot flashes are quite enough thank
> you.)
>
> Does anyone have experience with or knowledge about so called daylight
> lights: fluorescent vs. Solux (halogen) vs. Ultralux vs. LED (which is cool
> and bright but not daylight type)? I am interested in the differences (real
> vs. hype) before I plunk down $75-200. I have looked at some websites but
> they are predominantly by the manufacturer or distributor. I don't mind
> spending the money if I will notice the difference and will realize reduced
> eye strain.
>
> Thanks for your advise,
> Bonnie in NJ
>
>

Dumb question - do you wear eyeglasses? Had eye exam recently? When I
need more light, it is a sign I need my glasses changed.

I have a daylight magnifier/lamp which was my mom's. She used it for
needlework. It has a heavy base and a long "arm" so the magnifier lens
can be placed in your field of vision over your work. Might not work
well with knitting, depending on how much room you need.

Have you tried adding more lamps to the room, not just the one next to
you? Ambient light around you should improve the situation.

Bonnie Jean

2005-07-09, 12:25 pm

"Norminn" <norminn@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:42CFBCC5.2030400@earthlink.net...

quote:

> Dumb question - do you wear eyeglasses? Had eye exam recently? When I
> need more light, it is a sign I need my glasses changed. I have a daylight
> magnifier/lamp which was my mom's. She used it for needlework.

I don't need a new prescription...and a magnifier won't solve the problem. I
don't want to turn on every light in my room either.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I am going to go to an electrician's
store in my area today. They also sell lighting. Will see what they have to
say.

Thanks again

Tom Miller

2005-07-10, 4:25 am

On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 22:40:24 GMT, havant@earthlink.net (Harry Avant)
wrote:

quote:

> | I don't know a thing about knitting but I've tried several "daylight"
> | type lamps for reading and the one that has worked the best for me is
> | the Ott Model: 25C92NKS. It is bright, not hot, adjustble so that it
> | doen't hit my shoulder when it's next to my reading chair. (okay so
> | I'm 6 foot tall) The visual claity is far better than any of the
> | others I've tried and at my age, not young, that is a real plus. You
> | might try a google search for ott light. One of the places that comes
> | up is a site for sewers and knitters.
> |
> | Harry
> |

My wife bought an Ott light for her knitting but found it to be pretty
useless. The light is not strong enough to really illuminate much of
the work. I can't see why they are so highly acclaimed myself. Pricey,
too.

quote:

> | "Bonnie Jean" <me@comcast.net> wrote:
> |
> | >I am in the market for a very bright lamp for my knitting. My 100
> | >incandescent isn't enough and is hot. (My hot flashes are quite enough thank
> | >you.)
> | >
> | >Does anyone have experience with or knowledge about so called daylight
> | >lights: fluorescent vs. Solux (halogen) vs. Ultralux vs. LED (which is cool
> | >and bright but not daylight type)? I am interested in the differences (real
> | >vs. hype) before I plunk down $75-200. I have looked at some websites but
> | >they are predominantly by the manufacturer or distributor. I don't mind
> | >spending the money if I will notice the difference and will realize reduced
> | >eye strain.
> | >
> | >Thanks for your advise,
> | >Bonnie in NJ
> | >
> | >
> |

Bonnie Jean

2005-07-10, 12:25 pm

"Tom Miller" <jebainc@xxoptonline.net> wrote in message
news:42d07cb3.46757789@news.optonline.net...

quote:

> On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 22:40:24 GMT, havant@earthlink.net (Harry Avant)
> wrote:
>
>
> My wife bought an Ott light for her knitting but found it to be pretty
> useless. The light is not strong enough to really illuminate much of
> the work. I can't see why they are so highly acclaimed myself. Pricey,
> too.

I went to the local store and the only thing they had was the Ott. I thought
it was useless too, for me at least. Definately not bright enough.

Bonnie

Tom Quackenbush

2005-07-10, 12:25 pm

Bonnie Jean wrote:

quote:

>I am in the market for a very bright lamp for my knitting. My 100
>incandescent isn't enough and is hot. (My hot flashes are quite enough thank
>you.)
>
>Does anyone have experience with or knowledge about so called daylight
>lights: fluorescent vs. Solux (halogen) vs. Ultralux vs. LED (which is cool
>and bright but not daylight type)? I am interested in the differences (real
>vs. hype) before I plunk down $75-200. I have looked at some websites but
>they are predominantly by the manufacturer or distributor. I don't mind
>spending the money if I will notice the difference and will realize reduced
>eye strain.

I've been pretty happy with an UltraLux 55W floor lamp for reading.
I've only compared it to a 150W incandescent & a 27W fluorescent
Wal-Mart floor lamp; the UltraLux is much better than either of those.
The incandescent probably would have been fine, except for the heat,
if it was used with a reflector.

I'd guesstimate that the 18W/27W WalMart ("Sunter" brand) lamp is
about is about 85% as effective as the UltraLux at 20% the price.

You might want to look at
http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.co...re_ultralux.htm .

I'd be interested in hearing if you find a good solution.

R,
Tom Q.

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