manuellynch

So what is your "true color"? We hear so many different responses from people - really depends upon age, race, where they grew up.... everyone answers so differently. The other day I was speaking with the lighting manager of one of the top 3 billboard companies in the world - they had some very interesting comments on Color temperature. We are always curious why everyone uses 6500 Kelvin for channel letters but uses 5000 Kelvin for Light Boxes/Cabinet signs. We know that neon for channel letters dictated the preference of 6500 Kelvin bluer white for letters and fluorescent drove the way for light boxes. But what is best for you and your application? And what is your preference - please be candid and share - lets have a candid conversation and dialogue.

Marko - you are one of the best listeners - you always blow me away! And what you said about your feet be cold and Canada on the phone the other day- that was funny. And I think Dubrovnik is the place. Nichia doesnt spend resources on marketing that CREE does - for that matter Axiom doesnt either - so I guess there is a reason why our LED solutions are high value and low cost. Thanks for clarifying the Cree - DOE connection Marko

Bryan - First - I will answer ALL questions when our product is introduced in the USA in late 2011. So if you really do read these post - than please do. We are not introducing in the USA yet because there is no consistency in what anyone uses - so we are debugging how to do this "effectively and efficiently". And secondly - do you ever chime into conversations without just being an argumentative prick or is this just an outlet for you? I know I can be a prick on issues but I also try to add some value on other topics so people can learn and grow. In-fighting and hostility between differences of opinion really leaves nobody in a great place - hell, look at what happened in Tucson. And on the World Cup - ok - understood, I will not bother you with stuff from New Zealand - we would have liked to have you at our ISA Party - but since there will be a lot naked models from New Zealand I dont want to offend you. So instead - watch the Super Bowl - we are involved heavily in the lighting in the stadium and in the halftime show. Manuel

your questions 1) You said "68% is actually the typical T8 luminare efficiency - so that means it is only 68% efficient in getting out fluorescent light" those numbers are usually based on open fixtures. On our LM79 testing we did on our list retrofit kits our light output was higher - these LM79 test results are on our website. Our new system has higher performance than our last kits and will have higher output - LM79 testing in process - will post in 30-60 days. So I will make sure you get a copy. 2) You say a "36K Hour T8 has 90+ percent lumen-maint at end of life. Cost to relamp: $3.50 ($2.50 for the bulb, $1.00 to completely recycle it)" - oh we know all that - we have to have the same or better performance and we do. in fact in New Zealand we arent competing with T8 or T12 we are competing with companies deciding on whether or not to move to T5 or our LED solutions. Most of the decision...honestly...is a commitment to companies being "more green" - and what that means....no one really knows. It is just what they want to do. Fonterra Dairy (largest milk producer in the world) wants to move away from fluorescent due to end of life and relamping "sparks" - in high methane areas it has caused fires. LEDs help fix a safety problem. The largest property management company wants to do the change out to LED because it makes their properties more "modern and attractive to customers". So everyone has their "real reason" for making the change. 3) You asked about the LM80 data. Well you are correct - this is Nichia data running the parts at 80C ambient and 80% humidity - but I am pretty sure they are running on thin FR4 board with no heatsink - they are doing the test to show it working for a TV, Mobile Phone, or Car dash - not a lot of metal around. They all show the data running the parts at full power. We dont run our LEDs at full power - we run 15-25% below what they recommend. Keep in mind that the high temp for an office in New Zealand is 22C... a bit less than 80C. I am not sure you know but I came from a world of military, satellite and medical electronics - so lifetime testing and performance is engrained in what we do. 4) You said "Sorry to sound skeptical Manual, but other T8 LED products have not measured up to the claimed performance in ANY category. The one's operating off the existing ballasts are particularly bad, with ballast losses even higher than when a florescent tube was used. You've announced a product here that claims to have solved ALL these problems, and actually performs twice as well than the fluorescent lamp it replaces. Great!!!" None of the LED tubes that were on the market used Nichia LEDs - they used some pretty crappy Chinese LEDs. Please note that we have not yet finalized the tube running on electronic ballast and I agree with you - there are quite a few losses there...for now. On the magnetic ballast we have shown in repeated test that we are running them at 97.5% efficient.... this was tested by a power company and confirmed. So what we really did is make it work with magnetic ballast found outside the USA. So relamping is easy and quick and requires no modification of the fixture...this is the biggest selling point...because in New Zealand it is AGAINST THE LAW to rewire or change a fixture without a hell of a lot of supporting data from safety organizations...they are very very very careful down here. Safety to a new level. 5) You said "And btw, I'm not disputing your performance, I'd just like to see your data. Preferably from a 3rd party, but if you don't have that... how about posting the LM79 report that you have done? That would be a great start." We will be posting this in 30-60 days - we have found that most of the interest is in a 5 foot solution and not in 4 foot - so we are modifying a few things to finalize all and then do the data. But we will do the data along with a lot of customer testimonials and stories. Hell - what we are doing will be on the world stage in Sept 2011 as the Rugby World Cup is in New Zealand and our lights will be everywhere! 6) You said "You also said the Caliper program is "closely aligned with CREE." Please explain that." CREE is a military electronics company - they get a lot of money from the DOE and DARPA to help develop technologies - I think they have received $60mil+ plus. It is known that CREE sits very heavily on these government officials to ensure systems are put in place to help make "Cree Shine" - this is politics guys. Cree is a public company with a stock that people make a lot of money on. Cree has moved to China and is now focused on the Chinese market - good for them. They realized the USA market for LED lighting was not what they thought it was going to be - hell, I am the one who personally started going after home builders for LED lighting - and we know what happened to home building. DOE ignores Nichia - who by all analyst accounts is the world leader in both size, product performance, and in low cost. If you use a CREE product you get helped along in USA government programs. Good on them for building the parts in China now and getting around the fact that USA military cannot use Chinese made products - political friends clearly helped. 7) You said "I never said the DOE Caliper program was flawless, but it's the largest independent testing program in the world for SSL luminares right now. If you know of better one, please post it here. I wish my industry (cold cathode... neon) had such a taxpayer-funded advocacy group testing and rating our products for performance. If I made LED luminares I thought far-outperformed the competition, I'd embrace the Caliper program." Well we should talk about CCFL - I am a huge fan of it. Not sure if you know but I was VP of Biz Development for Microsemi - the company that made the chips to drive CCFL more efficiently...so I appreciate your technology. As far as a better program than Caliper....well I think that program is about done since Barack Obama but the reigns back into EPA Energy Star hands... they are developing a means an way to measure LED fixtures that is going to make it even more complicated. What is very funny is that there is no Caliper program for incandescent, CFL, etc. I want to thank you for challenging me - hopefully you are coming to ISA in LAs Vegas - would love to have a drink or two and talk about this more. Apologies for coming off so harsh before - that was pretty crappy of me.

Now thats not true - just some hot buttons I have at times. Thanks for posting this though Saneon - made me relook at what I read and realize I was a bit "harsh" - thanks for drawing that to my attention.

Wow, it produces more than 2800 lumens? For 18 watts? That would be an efficacy greater than 155 lumens/watt - nearly 3x anything the DOE Caliper program has measured in a T8 LED retrofit. Have you had any independent testing done that verifies this extraordinary performance? http://apps1.eere.en...replacement.pdf http://www.grainger....cent-Lamp-4PL16 I love people like you - full of lots of data that doesnt mean anything. Do you know who started the Caliper Program? Yours truly with James Broderick of the DOE - my LED fixture was the first ever done. A T8 Fluorescent in a recessed downlight fixture has an efficacy of about 60-70% of the 2800 lumens you claimed - or about 1960 lumens - as consistently shown for a T8 tube in a DOE approved LM79 optical performance test. Our T8 tube is about 2100 lumens...so yes it is greater. We have run LM79 test or comparable in New Zealand and your product output is in compliance with all of photometric requirements. So while I appreciate your ability to follow the great misinformation put out in these reports - I will remind you that they are very much aligned with CREE Lighting and not Nichia of Japan - so our tube is the first product on the market that uses Nichia LED....and yes are greater than 120 lumen/watt on our parts. So thank you for challenging me - for those that know me - I will have fun running circles around you and your links. You will be seeing this tube in facilities all over the USA in 2011. Find the first Caliper test and check with the DOE - it was run on a recessed downlight that I designed, developed, and introduced long before CREE and the DOE got involved...I patented it as well. And you know - while all of those reports are great - do you know that the USA 2nd largest homebuilder had specified our product despite what the Caliper results eventually published.

Axiom's KiwiLED group in New Zealand has just introduced a T8 LED tube for use in countries with 230VAC power systems. The KiwiLED tube is higher output than a 4 ft T8 fluorescent 36 Watt tube, operates at 50% less power at 18 Watts, and runs off the existing magnetic ballast and starters and requires no rewiring. The AT12M18W50 is a 4 ft or 1200mm tube that has a viewing angle of 270 degrees and has built in safety measures to allow simple re-lamping of existing lamps. The product sells for $55 NZD or $42USD. The product is only currently available for shipments to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia, and Tahiti. The product will be available in North America, Central America, South America, and Europe in 2012 and will work with ANY electronic ballast without rewiring - simply change the bulb. We expect pricing to be only $35.00 per tube at that time. Learn more about the Smart Simple Technology from http://www.kiwiled.com/docs/imaje-smarttechnology.pdf We will be posting several videos and stories of some of the largest companies in the world using this technology to save an average of 10-15% on their utility/electric bills per month.

As I told you Jamie - come to Las Vegas and see it at ISA!!! We developed a solution that requires no safety approval as it does not modify the fixture or the wiring - and you will be screwing in a "light bulb" that is rated "lower power" than what the UL listed fixtures in the field are rated to handle. So screw it in and turn on the power! Our warranty will be 2 years. It is our cost that will be the shocker.... We have been developing this with one of the largest billboard companies in the world for Southern Hemisphere... So yes - my questions were largely based on customer interest for this - We just introduced our biggest product for outside USA - a T8 Tube that works with existing 230VAC European/Australian/New Zealand type ballasts - no rewiring. Makes the ballast run more efficiently than the fluorescent tube and is more light output and is 50% of the power....thanks to our smart engineering and our LED partner the big bad ass Nichia....or the technically superior Japanese high quality giant. :) 2011 is going to be a very big year for us around the world - we are seeing the highest growth we have ever experienced...rather interesting.

Philip - it did - thanks a ton. Are you coming to Las Vegas for ISA? Would like to be able to show you what we will be introducing - sounds like you would be very interested.

we can give anyone lists of what to do based on budget or interest (food, dancing, outdoors, sports, etc) - we live in both New Zealand and Las Vegas. For those coming in from California - you may want to check out M Casino pricing - it is the first hotel on the way into town and they did a very nice job. It was made by the Marnell Family - the same one that designed all the luxury hotels in town - go to the top of the M for drinks and a view. As far as the bridge Marko talked about - agreed - very cool. I also recommend the Mob Museum - very well done. And for those interested in some of the most interesting mechanical marvels - very odd stuff - go to the Erotic Heritage Museum - talk about some very interesting mechanical engineers having too much fun. For those who want outdoors - let us know and we can take you to a place in Red Rock where you get the most amazing hike and view of Las Vegas. And then for night time fun...well I recommend the Axiom "Sweet As Las Vegas ISA Party" - will be immediately following Erik's get together - this is on Friday right? Our party includes free drinks, free entertainment and some very "Las Vegas" things to see.... and NO there will not be snakes this time KGirl - and NO there will not be bodypainted bartenders that help people practice eye contact skills! But....there will be much more this time....and naturally we will be introducing some new things. We will have some of the industry leading experts at the party as well so you will be able to ask first hand questions over drinks and entertainment. I am ready for this party - for those who have been to my cruise ship parties or my Catalina Island parties - this will be the best - we use to call them Light It Up events - now we are going with "Sweet As Party"

Our party is going to be OPEN...but as last year you have to sign up to be considered...this is going to be a treat to people who come. Last time Jim Richards, my good friend, was there from UL and shared a lot with people - he passed away a few months ago. I am going to a restaurant at the end of this month in Northern New Zealand where he bought my wife and I a gift certificate for our wedding. The drinks/toast will be for him. Our party is going to be known as a very popular New Zealand, or Kiwi, phrase used throughout the country - the party is going to be the.... Axiom LED "Sweet As..." Party it will be high end...it will be free to guest...it will include things about Las Vegas you usually do not get to see...plus a lot more...if you know what I mean!!!! Details coming soon.

Marko - in Rotorua New Zealand for a few days - then going to White Island to walk a volcano (look it up - one of the most active volcanoes in the world!). We will work to make sure you can make it - part of it is to show the group what you did with our power supplies and our lights at City Center - every time I pull into the garage I think of you. Erik - our party will start wherever you have your meetup - you will see what I mean soon...this is going to be a blast...and the talent that is coming this time...over the top!!!!

Axiom NZ LEDs are going to be showcased and used pretty extensive in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in Sept 2011.....so we got the CUP covered We just found out that our lights will be extensively used in the PEPSI show/stage used for the SUPER BOWL....so we got the BOWL covered. Now it is time for the GLASS....that is a glass of something strong to drink!!!! Cheers!

So another quick question... on some of these fixtures it appears that the igniters are often replaced as well - would it be common to remove or disconnect the wiring from the igniter? Do newer systems integrate the inductor, capacitor, and igniter into one "transformer" or are the three components usually separate?

Ok .... we did it...we came up with the best party for ISA...this will be the one to watch. I will be needing some help from Marko and Sean/EGL on this - call me to discuss 702-425-4381 This is going to be "over-the-top" awesome.... having all the right friends in Las Vegas pays off.... I am looking forward to this.

On the Neon Graveyard - a friend of ours does a lot of photo shoots there. It would be very cool to organize a SignSyndicate group trip there and I could arrange for them to go and photoshoot....would be great to add as artwork for your site later.... just an idea.

Good stuff Erik - Reality is a dose of medicine I think we should all swallow - thanks for doing what you did - it opened my eyes.

Stephanie and I will be there. So will engineering team from California and most likely all the models from New Zealand. We are staying at our place on Las Vegas Blvd. We will probably be throwing another strange party - after all the #1 airline in the world Air New Zealand does its ads in the nude fully body painted...we are looking to get permits for what we want to do!!! While Snake Babe was great we dont do anything the same way twice for a party....maybe the man with the $100,000 boobs is available!

These guys came out of Agilight - I am sure they are using the same Chinese LEDs and will have the same drop in brightness issues that plagued Agilight. I am sure they will also have the same color control issues that is hurting Agilight - several people in UK are very upset with this.

In your experience are the capacitors failing due to temperature or due to swings in primary voltage inputs ..i.e. ground fault issues, lightning strikes, etc? And do you notice a difference on the type of capacitor you use? Coming from the military electronics world we wonder why higher grade capacitors are not used on billboard signage. Thanks for input.

I know someone that can probably arrange for you to meet him in person - let me know and I will ask. One of our largest customers in Las Vegas as ex-high end military colonel who is "very connected".

Solid Works is a very useful program - if you need any subcontractors that specialize in Solid Works I can connect you to people all over the world that can help you in doing everything from just viewing files, designing something new, or coming up with a way to present solutions to your end customers. Give me a ring on 702-425-4381 and I can connect you to "the best" in the industry- he is located in San Diego.

Check with Blair Companies in Altoona PA - I think they make the BP Gas price changers in green.

ISA is coming isnt it? Haha. We developed some rather clever solutions recently and just wanted to know a bit more about billboard lighting and "security" style lights... parking lots as well. Seems like sometimes people miss that magnetic ballast work and rarely fail...it is the bulbs that fail. Electronic ballasts when used are "more efficient" but fail more often - and cost a lot more. So if you just reread what I wrote you can get an idea or where we are going. I know the folks at LSI very very well - I like them and I know all of the key players pretty well. Seems like someone should make a solution that can retrofit a metal hallide lamp in less than 1 minute and cost under $200....1/3rd the power...key is color rendering for billboards - most LED solutions out there are horrible!!!

are most ballasts magnetic or electronic ballasts these days? In failures is it always the bulb or do the transformers/ballasts fail? And do you use 400 Watt more than 250 Watt?