Latest Breaking News

fizzix137

(21 posts)

77. Cheap strands use AC instead of DC

Wed Aug 2, 2023, 03:28 PM

Aug 2023

The great dilemma is that alternating current is more efficient in transmitting power to our homes, but DC is needed for electronics and LEDs. The cheap strands just apply the 60Hz (cycles per second) to the line of LEDs. This divides the voltage among the LEDs to the lower voltage each LED needs. That's efficient and smart. However, the light is only emitted when the current flows in one direction as the alternating current reverses 60 times per second. (Actually it's 120 times per second, left/right/left/right...) That's efficient in that there's no wasted energy in converting to DC (direct current, always one direction), but extremely annoying to some people that notice the 60 Hz flicker. I can't stand the flickering, but the rest of my fam say I'm crazy.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

105 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

U.S. pulls plug on incandescent light bulbs as new ban goes into effect [View all] BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 OP

truly no reason why they shouldnt all be leds now. bullimiami Aug 2023 #1

I think the issue has been with dimming BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #4

LED lamps are easily dimmable FredGarvin Aug 2023 #33

But (and don't ask me why I know) BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #37

$2 dimmable LED bulbs make good economic and environmental sense FredGarvin Aug 2023 #43

Trying to cheap out too much on the bulbs BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #74

I got an LED Old Crank Aug 2023 #61

I think the Dubai technology is starting to show up in the US Otto_Harper Aug 2023 #8

Yeah this is pissing off some on the right as much as trans kids playing sports. progressoid Aug 2023 #2

of course it is! Think. Again. Aug 2023 #9

We switched to LEDs years ago simply due to the reduction of heat. cstanleytech Aug 2023 #3

But then it makes it harder to use one of these BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #5

I had one 0f these too! MontanaMama Aug 2023 #14

The newest ones are just weird looking BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #15

I had no idea there were recent Easy Bakes!?!? MontanaMama Aug 2023 #17

... BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #20

I always MorbidButterflyTat Aug 2023 #78

I actually wanted one of those decades ago only because I had a big sweet tooth back then LOL cstanleytech Aug 2023 #18

LOL BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #21

Ya LOL I never got one though as we grew up poor and were constantly moving sadly. cstanleytech Aug 2023 #71

I have 2 younger sisters BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #72

I didn't have one but made sure that my kids did. . . . h2ebits Aug 2023 #22

They first came out in the early '60s BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #26

These days you could just get them an air fryer IronLionZion Aug 2023 #44

Well back when those first came out BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #55

My wife say 100 watt Old Crank Aug 2023 #62

I don't think they recommended anything more than a 60W BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #75

Lets solve this. Old Crank Aug 2023 #80

Except you missed this part BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #84

My mom figured if you were old enough for an Easy Bake Oven your were old enough... hunter Aug 2023 #89

Same here! I raised my siblings and cooked. Coventina Aug 2023 #94

We haven't used incandescent bulbs since the early 90's Wednesdays Aug 2023 #6

I started phasing out my incandescent around 2006.... TheRealNorth Aug 2023 #11

I'm glad CFL bulbs have been superseded by LED. thesquanderer Aug 2023 #31

There were a lot of crap compact fluorescents sold. hunter Aug 2023 #90

There will still be incandescent bulbs in the close-outs and dollar stores FakeNoose Aug 2023 #7

I have a bin of 100W incandescents BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #12

It wasnt just GE that figured it out FredGarvin Aug 2023 #25

Right but aren't we paying 5x or 6x more for LEDs compared to incandescents? FakeNoose Aug 2023 #28

No we are not. FredGarvin Aug 2023 #35

Oddly enough that is true BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #76

Sale is banned at all stores MichMan Aug 2023 #92

What's next??? Think. Again. Aug 2023 #10

The bulbs have improved thank goodness. LisaM Aug 2023 #13

To get that kind of light BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #19

Wow. LisaM Aug 2023 #24

My mom always complained about walking in someone's "dark" house BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #32

Not complaint about this. It's way past time, but MontanaMama Aug 2023 #16

Sadly, there are many areas where DENVERPOPS Aug 2023 #23

Where are incandescent bulbs needed? FredGarvin Aug 2023 #27

Any Place RobinA Aug 2023 #34

Per lumen, LED is far superior to incadescent. FredGarvin Aug 2023 #38

I'm sorry, but you may be behind the times on lighting devices Otto_Harper Aug 2023 #40

I remember having to buy a 100W incadescent bulb to replace a 75W incandescent FredGarvin Aug 2023 #48

I Can't Explain RobinA Aug 2023 #58

Use Google to explain LED lighting wavelength FredGarvin Aug 2023 #66

Many places DENVERPOPS Aug 2023 #39

Municipalities across the globe have replaced incadescent bulbs with LED lighting FredGarvin Aug 2023 #50

I believe differently DENVERPOPS Aug 2023 #57

Municipalities are using LED's in most lighting. FredGarvin Aug 2023 #67

Refer to my #39 DENVERPOPS Aug 2023 #70

Runway and aircraft strobes are generally xenon lights FredGarvin Aug 2023 #81

Yes DENVERPOPS Aug 2023 #85

We do get snowy here in Philly and I think most of the traffic lights are LEDs now BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #63

"But traffic lights! And snow!" Lancero Aug 2023 #88

Very comprehensive DENVERPOPS Aug 2023 #91

I'm hoping incandescent "holiday bulbs" are actually going to be available. Igel Aug 2023 #105

I agree about EVs. LisaM Aug 2023 #29

I read an opinion piece recently... Otterdaemmerung Aug 2023 #95

I too want to know where they are necessary? edhopper Aug 2023 #30

Bullshit relayerbob Aug 2023 #49

Dang, I Missed RobinA Aug 2023 #36

I love LED'S but the lifespan is questionable gfwzig Aug 2023 #41

No shit, GFW DENVERPOPS Aug 2023 #52

It's not the LEDs that are the problem. It's the poor manufacturing of so many of them Wonder Why Aug 2023 #83

Really isn't a policy issue as it is a market issue. OAITW r.2.0 Aug 2023 #42

I was in the super about 2012 the last time they phased out inscnadescent bulbs bucolic_frolic Aug 2023 #45

While the LED may last til the cows come home... 3825-87867 Aug 2023 #46

So your Teevee somehow escapes these turning on and off of "the transformer" is different? FredGarvin Aug 2023 #54

Assuming one can even find them these days, relayerbob Aug 2023 #47

Amen FredGarvin Aug 2023 #51

I swapped over in 1997, I hate to climb step ladders to change bulbs Warpy Aug 2023 #53

You can buy LED lights in differing outputs FredGarvin Aug 2023 #56

I know and will do so Warpy Aug 2023 #64

Prices have come way down Kennah Aug 2023 #59

I welcome our new LED overhead lights. BWdem4life Aug 2023 #60

Maybe buy a string of LEDs that dont flicker. FredGarvin Aug 2023 #69

Cheap strands use AC instead of DC fizzix137 Aug 2023 #77

Anti-woke Republican heads are exploding at this very moment. Martin68 Aug 2023 #65

I haven't purchased an incandescent bulb Progressive dog Aug 2023 #68

Question for people who might know: Orrex Aug 2023 #73

Oven incadescent lamps are not banned. FredGarvin Aug 2023 #79

Ah, thanks. Orrex Aug 2023 #87

My only problem with the LED lights Old Crank Aug 2023 #82

I'm just gonna miss all that excess heat coming from those old bulbs! Crowman2009 Aug 2023 #86

What happens to all the current inventories at home improvement and hardware stores ? MichMan Aug 2023 #93

"What happens to all the current inventories" BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #96

Is that what Lowes, Home Depot and local Ace Hardware stores are doing with theirs? MichMan Aug 2023 #97

You do realize these companies are either global BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #98

My local mom and pop hardware store is global? MichMan Aug 2023 #99

Have you seen any incandescent bulbs BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #100

Yes I have because some customers still like them MichMan Aug 2023 #101

You are apparently unaware how import/export brokers operate BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #102

When did I ever insist what the inventory levels were ? MichMan Aug 2023 #103

You started this subthread with this BumRushDaShow Aug 2023 #104