Why are 5watt LED GU10 / MR16 bulbs still only F or G energy rated?

[u587162]

I really dont get why LED bulbs of the GU10 or MR16 type, are only energy rated F or G and not A or B - they have the equivalent of 35 or 50 watt halogen bulbs so what gives? I havent seen any A rated LED bulbs, is it to do with the lumen output or something?

 

[EFLImpudence]

I don't know the answer but just looked at one and see this:

Has the system changed?

 

[ericmark]

Both at 12 to 24 volt DC, and both have a lumen output over 100 times the watts used, they will work 10 to 30 volts smooth DC and odd neither show the energy rating. They are designed for caravans and boats, where it is important not to use too much battery.

With AC lamps, there is often a capacitive or inductive linking on the supply cables, so there has to be a small leak resistor to ensure when switched off they do not flash or stay on dim, that resistor is same size for a 15 watt as a 1 watt lamp, so the smaller the lamp, the lower the energy rating, also down to how hard the LED's are driven, at max not as efficient and 70%.

Clearly any power supply dropping the voltage to 12 or 24 volt also has losses, the bulbs shown are designed to run on battery power.

So look at a LED replacement for a fluorescent tube which likely over 20 watt, and we see 100 lumen per watt or better, but a standard 230 volt GU10 is more like 75 lumen per watt. The old fluorescent with a HF ballast was around the 90 lumen per watt, and with wire wound ballast around the 75 lumen per watt. Clearly since the rating changed depending on ballast type, could only give approx lumen per watt with adverts for the tube.

However the main problem with MR16 format (not really MR16 as no reflector) is often the light was directed to a dark surface, but in a chandelier the light is directed to a white ceiling, which spreads and reflects the light far better than when aimed at a darker floor. Illuminated area matters, so a 9 inch down light works better to a 2 inch down light, of the same lumen output. But it is swings and roundabouts, many of the larger units are integral, so when they fail you have to change the lot.

Lighting is not easy, I made a massive mistake, a factory with roof maybe 30 foot high, I fitted low bay lights which were far far better to the fluorescent, so repeated in a factory with a roof 10 foot high, and it was a failure, getting the right spread of light is a specialised subject, clearly if lighting a huge area, it is worth paying for some one with the expertise, but in the home it is more down to what they look like, the first (my living room) is practical, even a plug in ceiling rose, large room wanted loads of light from central point as could not access ceiling to run wires, and this allows 60 watt of LED bulbs, the second was more down to what it looked light, the 5 x GU10 bulbs so around 50 watt is far more than needed for the landing, I have split inner and outer so can use 1, 4, or 5 bulbs, the centre one also smart so colour charging, but the single 12 watt BA22d pendent and bulb it replaced was ample, so down to what it looks like.

Same here original was one 22 watt LED tube in a fluorescent fitting, the down lights look better, but more like 50 watt to do the same thing, not sure the bike is really good decoration, but does show how high the ceiling is, so the spread of light is better with high ceiling.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

 

[EFLImpudence]

Why do they not just quote the number?

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Why do they not just quote the number?

I guess that wouldn't mean so much to the man in the street. I suspect all the information is there to work it out for yourself though.

 

[Murdochcat]

It’s just nonsense. The key is to get people to replace older halogen bulbs to LEDs.

Why confuse matters with stupid systems like this

 

[u587162]

A nice long technical answer (much appreciated) just unfortunately gone over my head.

Not sure I’m any closer to understanding this, in layman speak. If according to the last answer (table), it’s that lumen output per watt is expected to be higher now under the new rules rather than the old period?

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

it’s that lumen output per watt is expected to be higher now under the new rules

Exactly that. Since the original system, lamps efficiency just got better by such a large factor that the old system of displaying it couldn't easily be adapted.

 

[u587162]

But where am I to find any A++ GU10 or MR16 lamps under the new rating? Does anyone really give a **it I mean it’s only a few watts per bulb compared with 50 watt halogens.

 

[flameport]

But where am I to find any A++ GU10 or MR16 lamps under the new rating?

They may not exist yet.

The ratings are there for two reasons.
1 so that people buying new items can compare them with other new items and make a decision on what to buy
2 so that new products can be made to meet them at a later time, improving efficiency.

They are useless for comparing old things with new, or even previous versions of the same product.

Does anyone really give a **it I mean it’s only a few watts per bulb compared with 50 watt halogens.

It may only be a few watts per item, but over hundreds of millions of the things sold and used all over the EU it makes a massive difference.