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from the light-bulbs-may-die-but-dark-bulbs-are-forever dept.
Markus Krajewski reports that today, with many countries phasing out incandescent lighting in favor of more-efficient and pricier LEDs, it’s worth revisiting the history of the Phoebus cartel—not simply as a quirky anecdote from the annals of technology but as a cautionary tale about the strange and unexpected pitfalls that can arise when a new technology vanquishes an old one. Prior to the Phoebus cartel’s formation in 1924, household light bulbs typically burned for a total of 1,500 to 2,500 hours; cartel members agreed to shorten that life span to a standard 1,000 hours. Each factory regularly sent light bulb samples to the cartel’s central laboratory in Switzerland for verification. If any factory submitted bulbs lasting longer or shorter than the regulated life span for its type, the factory was obliged to pay a fine.
Though long gone, the Phoebus cartel still casts a shadow today because it reduced competition in the light bulb industry for almost twenty years, and has been accused of preventing technological advances that would have produced longer-lasting light bulbs. Will history repeat itself as the lighting industry is now going through its most tumultuous period of technological change since the invention of the incandescent bulb. "Consumers are expected to pay more money for bulbs that are up to 10 times as efficient and that are touted to last a fantastically long time—up to 50,000 hours in the case of LED lights. In normal usage, these lamps will last so long that their owners will probably sell the house they’re in before having to change the bulbs," writes Krajewski. "Whether or not these pricier bulbs will actually last that long is still an open question, and not one that the average consumer is likely to investigate." There are already reports of CFLs and LED lamps burning out long before their rated lifetimes are reached. "Such incidents may well have resulted from nothing more sinister than careless manufacturing. But there is no denying that these far more technologically sophisticated products offer tempting opportunities for the inclusion of purposefully engineered life-shortening defects."
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Sunday September 28 2014, @10:30PM
I have one of those old 1st gen CFL bulbs that were housed in the plastic case, weren't spiral shaped and are really long. The thing must be 15 years old and still works to this day in my back porch light. I have another 100W equivalent over my side door that has been going for years, one of the first cheap-o bulbs from home depot. They have all gave me great service and I also have a bunch of flood CFL's as the house has track and high-hat lighting.
The worst bulb I had was this crap CFL Con Edison gave out for free. The bulb was maybe 4 months old and looked really cheap but I figured what the heck. I put the thing in a bathroom light fixture. One day I flip the switch and a dim light came from the fixture along with a loud buzzing sound. Turns out the light came from burning electronics and not the bulb. A lot of smoke came out and I quickly opened the fixture and saw a large brown burn spot on the housing. No fire thankfully but if it was left on by accident I shudder to think what would have happened. I had another spare Con Ed bulb but I threw it out.
I have a few LED bulbs as most of the CFL's are still kicking. I purchased nice bright white LED flood bulbs for my kitchen but they were expensive, $30 each. Great light though. The soft white bulbs are just as good as the incandescent and CFL's but they can dim and burn less power than a CFL. They were $20. As time goes by and the last of the incandescent bulbs burn out I will replace them with LED. Those are in seldom used rooms or fixtures. MY daily use lights are all CFL or LED.