5 HN users recommended this explainer5 months2021–2026score 5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN points to it as proof that efficient, long-lived LED bulbs can be built and as an example of well-designed lamps.
Big Clive tears down the Dubai lamp, a Philips LED bulb developed with Dubai's ruler for maximum efficiency and long life. He examines its construction and circuitry, including underrun LEDs and many filament strips.
“Check out the dubai lamp to see a lamp designed to be efficient and last” (HN, 2021)
I think this one here appeared because it's been featured on hackaday recently[1], which got featured there because Youtube channel "bigclivedotcom" made a video about them[2], which blew through the roof because of some Youtube-algorithm-doodads? Compared to his recent other videos, this really stands out in terms of views. (Although I can really recommend the channel). Anyways, the main thing is that these lamps use more filament-strips than usual led bulb, thus allowing them to run cooler and last longer. Unfortunately, they are only available in Dubai (afaik). [1]: [link] [2]: [this video]
Teardown of Dubai lamps with more filament strips running cooler
I love my incandescent bulbs. It is a threat to remove them. The heat they produce is amazing in the winter. I use a 100 watt bulb to keep me warm at my desk. Heat bodies not buildings. I've been practicing this since a child and I'm 36 now. To heat yourself, check out: [link] For actual good LED lamps (not the crap they push in USA) check out: [this video] TLDR most LED lamp are running over spec which cause them to fail and become a commodity rather than infra. I had a rear projection DLP LED TV which ran its red LED over spec and it burned out at least 3 times as fast as the green and blue. [link] The heat is not always just a byproduct, sometimes you need or want the heat. Compare this 100 watt bulb to a tiny space heater and you will see the difference in your electricity bill. Buy a "kill a watt" meter to start testing you appliances rather assuming incandescent is evil.
although it certainly is true these days, that the average LED based bulb is pushing those LEDs hard, which incidentally also makes them less efficient, rather than just using more of them at the same wattage. Check out the dubai lamp to see a lamp designed to be efficient and last: [this video]
2021, cited source material comes from the always awesome Big Clive YouTube Channel. bigclivedotcom: The lamps you're not allowed to have. Exploring the Dubai lamps: [this video]
Source material for the article, from a favorite channel
There are a lot of cheap, poorly designed LED bulbs that put heat stress on critical components. Technology Connections : A troubling trend in lighting? - [link] (It goes into how a number of LED bulb failures are because the lamp wasn't able to dissipate heat from the electronic components. It also shows how some higher quality LED bulbs are made so that they dissipate heat better - they don't make as much heat as an incandescent bulb, but there is still some and that is the cause of a lot of failures.) The lamps you're not allowed to have. Exploring the Dubai lamps - [this video] is also interesting. They have a different design and it gets into the electronics.
Different Dubai lamp design with a look at the electronics
> Light bulbs don’t illuminate. I find this one especially funny as it's pretty much the lack of regulation that made the 'old' bulbs burn out much too quickly [1]. And before someone says "but my LED bulbs keep burning out", also the free-market/lack of regulation. To see how they should be built watch Clive on how bulbs are made for Dubai[2]. 1. [link] 2. [this video]
Interesting to see no mention of the "Dubai lamp". There was a previous discussion on HN [0], and of course the Big Clive videos about it [1]. In short, the LEDs are underrun, which increases the efficiency, and should increase the lifetime (which as the article mentions is mainly related to heat). Edit: They're called "Dubai lamps", because they're only supposed to be sold there (even though Philips makes them). [0] [link] [1] [this video]
> the fault is not in the actual light emitting element but (of course) in the driver.... Being over-driven. Big Clive loves to tear down LED bulbs to examine the driver boards. Often shows you ways to drop the current to sustainable levels and get back your 20-year lifespan LED bulbs (caveat, at lower power levels). [link] More specifically, example: [this video]
Big Clive does this sort of thing on his YouTube channel fairly often. A few examples: * Adjusting a current regulator to drop a 10W lamp to ~2W - [link] * Adjusting a capacitive dropper-based lamp from 5W to 0.5W - [link] * Making a "Dooby" (inspired by the Philips Dubai lamps[1]) lamp - using a series capacitor to make various lamps run at 0.1-2W - [link] [1] They're designed to have a higher energy efficiency and a longer operational life - [this video]
Dubai lamps designed for higher efficiency and longer life
There are in fact LED bulbs that aren't overdriven to a deliberate and premature thermal death, but you can only buy them in Dubai: [this video] Lightbulbs have a long and very successful history of artificially driving lightbulb lifetimes down though a cartel system: [link] If you're building your own LED fixtures, you can probably underdrive the LEDs and run them at a radically cooler and slightly more efficient operating point, at a higher upfront cost: you need more LEDs for the same output.
The big problem for me is, as a consumer, how do I know that brand X is producing quality bulbs that'll last a long time? The issue is that LED bulbs aren’t simple devices like incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs have an electronic power supply inside which drives the LEDs at a constant current. Power supply design is a major subfield of electronics engineering and there are all kinds of tradeoffs you can make to optimize for different goals. Consumer electronics almost always optimizes for cost, to the detriment of all else. It is possible (and not very difficult) to design LED bulbs that will practically outlive their owners [1]. The problem is that it requires putting more LEDs in the bulb and driving them at lower current. This makes the bulb cost more and the only benefit is longer life. For a manufacturer, there are nothing but downsides to this approach. [1] [this video]
Long-lived LED bulbs need more LEDs driven at lower current
I remember seeing a relevant video about Dubai and some bulb company working together to create a longer life led bulb. Ok here it is -- The lamps you're not allowed to have. Exploring the Dubai lamps [this video] > These fascinating lamps are a result of a collaboration between Philips Lighting and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum - the ruler of Dubai. They are designed to be the most efficient available, matching high lumen output with very long life. Once you see the construction and circuitry you'll realise this isn't just marketing spin. Now I want to actually look into and see if they're available elsewhere, because my LED bulbs really do seem to fail pretty frequently...
Philips and Dubai's ruler collaboration on a long-life LED bulb
Yes, it’s because they drive the heck out of the LEDs to get their maximum rated light output. This produces excessive heat, shortening the lifespan of everything inside the case, including the very cheap electronics they use to rectify mains AC. In Dubai they actually have efficient and long-lasting LED lights [1]. These exist in order to satisfy strict government regulation there. They’re not sold anywhere else because they’re more expensive to make (more LEDs per bulb running at lower output). [1] [this video]
Efficient long-lasting LEDs exist in Dubai under strict regulation
No argument from me, other than: All those things can be also be said about corporations. You brought up lamplighters and the electric lightbulb. It's worth noting that corporations had a cartel that prevented lightbulbs from running longer than a few years. And to some extent that still happens. Big Clive did a good video on the Dubai Lamp a few years back, and why you can't buy them anywhere but in Dubai. [this video]
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