LED Equivalent to 100-Watt Bulb Announced

Incandescent lighting enthusiasts who like bright lights but have witnessed a shrinking list of options can have some refreshment; Switch Lighting has announced the first ever LED equivalent to a 100-watt bulb.

The company reports that this energy efficient bulb creates a self-cooling environment inside that allows maximum brightness with fewer LEDs. “This is the brightest LED replacement bulb available and Switch is the only company with this innovative technology,” says the Switch press announcement.

The light was unveiled at the 2011 LIGHTFAIR International Trade Show in Philadelphia during March 17 – 19.

“Nobody in the LED space can produce this incandescent-quality light. The brightest LED you can see on the shelf is a 60 watt-equivalent. We announced our 75 watt-equivalent last month, now we’re announcing the 100 watt equivalent,” said Boris Lipkin, Switch Lighting’s CEO.

As nice as these lights appear to be, they come with a high price tag – as do all LED lights – compared to standard incandescent light bulbs. But they do last up to 20 times longer. When calculating increased lifespan with reduced electricity costs, the figures start to look more appealing, except that the entire expense is shouldered at the front end of the investment. This is where the term investment takes on a more appropriate meaning.

Previous to the  LED equivalent to a 100 watt  bulb, Switch has offered LEDs that are equivalent to both  60-watt and 75-watt bulbs. In order to solve deal with the problem of LEDs projecting light in only one direction, the company has mounted outward-facing LEDs on metal fingers. Suggested retail price for the LEDs is between $20 and $30.

Gizmag reports “the real key to the brighter bulb is the company’s “City of Light” technology that allows for maximum brightness with fewer LEDs by creating a self-cooling environment inside the bulb. To draw heat away from the LEDs, the bulb dome is filled with a nontoxic liquid that flows out towards the surface of the bulb as it warms. The heat then dissipates evenly over the surface of the bulb and the liquid is then drawn back in to repeat the process.”

According to the US Department of Energy, the energy efficiency of light sources can be characterized in a number of ways. Luminous efficacy indicates how much light the source provides per watt of electricity consumed. This is stated in lumens per watt (lm/W). Another measure of energy efficiency is the total watts a device consumes in providing the intended service.

“With our unique self-cooling technology, we offer the most affordable, energy-efficient light bulb on the market that is nearly identical to the regular incandescent bulbs we’ve come to love,” says Brett Sharenow, chief strategy officer at the San Jose-based company.