The lamps you're not allowed to have. Exploring the Dubai lamps
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN points to it as proof that efficient, long-lived LED bulbs can be built and as an example of well-designed lamps.
What it is
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.
Recommended by 5 HN commenters across 5 different months, 2021 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Recommends MrGilbert · 2021-01 · on “The Dubai Lamp: The “World’s Most Efficient” LED Light Bulb”
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]
Recommends foxhop · 2021-02 · on “Ercot nearly at capacity for Texas power grid”
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 wa
Recommends asddubs · 2021-11 · on “Upgrading the soldered-on RAM of a Dell XPS13 7390 laptop”
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]
Recommends adolph · 2023-03 · on “LEDs from Dubai: The Royal Lights You Can’t Buy”
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]
Recommends shagie · 2023-06 · on “Amount of work that once bought an hour of light now buys 51 years of it (2017)”
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.
Cites kenmacd · 2021-04 · on “How Government Wrecked the Gas Can”
> 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]
Cites guitarbill · 2021-07 · on “What Happened to the 100k Hour LED Bulbs?”
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]
Cites JKCalhoun · 2021-08 · on “The smart home is flailing as a concept”
> 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]