China-made LED-based Fluorescent Tube Replacement versus TLED™

There’re many China-based LED-based fluorescent tube replacement manufacturers. Typically they put hundreds of small LEDs into a tube, and sell the tube with a universal power supply to drive the LEDs. What’s wrong with that picture?

First, with 276 small LEDs connected in series, all it takes for the tube to fail is any one LED fails, out of 276.

Second, small LEDs are designed and rated for 10,000 hours, not 100,000 hours for high-brightness LEDs that are more expensive. Due to their heat management ceramic substrate.

Third, a “flyback” power supply used to drive the LEDs will not last 3 years, due to the use of two electrolytic capacitors. When it dies, you have to look for a replacement, pay for its cost and its shipping and the labor cost to replace it. Not a good deal isn’t it?

Fourth, a flyback power supply’s efficiency is about 80%. You’ll be wasting 20% electrical energy in the form of heat. Energy means money in the long run.

Fifth, their power factor is typically 0.5, as opposed to 1.00 ideally. Green products are supposed to have high power factor > 0.9

Sixth, their overall lighting efficacy is not great:15 watts input for 1000 lumens for model # LJ-SF10-12-W15. That’s 70 lumens per watt.

Seventh, no optics to focus beams to prevent glare

Eighth, the power supply is to be installed in the light fixture. Do you know how to do it or are you willing to pay an electrician do do it for you at maybe $70/hour rate plus travel time?

Would you buy such a product and do it yourself? And repeat the process every other year, i.e. paying for all the costs all over again and again?

The model’s specification:

Part number: LJ-SF10-12-W15
Input: 110V/220V
Power: 15W
Luminous Flux: 1000 lumens
Color Rendering Index: 80
Color Temperature: 3000K-6500K (this doesn’t mean much. Correlated Color Temperature is not specified)
Lifetime: 30,000 hours (would you believe that number now?)
Housing: Glass/PC/Aluminum (Glass can break)

TLED specification:
Part number: TLED-1500 (others available)
Input: 110V
Power: 15W
Luminous Flux: 1500 lumens
Color Rendering Index: >80
CCT: 2700K (warm white) or 6000K (cool white)
Lifetime: >50,000 hours
Housing: Acrylic/Aluminum
Power Factor: >95%
Warranty Period: 5 years

Contact: 707-795-7567

PearlLED.com