which new streetlights do you like better? (fit in, price)

[bryantm3]

recently i've been on a thing about streetlights, and i've just learned that many communities around the nation have been replacing their streetlights with energy efficient lighting— specifically LED lights and Induction lights.

i figured it isn't long until we get these new lights, so i should introduce them to y'all.

the difference between LED and Induction in terms of efficiency is minimal, with Induction lights having various efficiency depending on the wattage (the brighter it is, the more efficient it is) and the LED lights have an efficiency that stays constant somewhere between the lowest and highest efficiency points of the Induction lights.

the main differences are price and the quality of light produced. Induction lighting is cheaper and produces a constant glow similar to the old mercury vapour lights, while LED lights constantly pulsate and are more "targetted" like a laser. the colour is similar, with the LED lights being a bluish-white and the induction lights being a greenish-bluish white.

here are some videos of the lights in action:

Induction lights:

Pomona Induction Street Lights - YouTube

LED lights:

LED Street Lights on Victor Street, Torrance, CA - YouTube


here is a picture directly comparing the two. The first two poles visible in this photo are inductions, the ones after the first pole on the right are all LED.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

recently i've been on a thing about streetlights, and i've just learned that many communities around the nation have been replacing their streetlights with energy efficient lighting— specifically LED lights and Induction lights.

My wife hates blue-white LEDs. The blueish tinge makes her eyes hurt, enough so that I can't use many older LED flashlights around her.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

My wife hates blue-white LEDs. The blueish tinge makes her eyes hurt, enough so that I can't use many older LED flashlights around her.

they actually have some LED lights in use at the old fourth ward park that just opened— drive by there at night to see an example of the streetlights.

honestly? i hate them too. i can tell that they're 'blinking' very quickly, they look like a TV screen, and the colour is awful. it's so noticeable that you know what kind of streetlight it is the second you arrive, versus other lights where you don't really notice them because they fit in to the ambient surroundings. the reason i didn't give an opinion in the first post was to prevent biasing anyone's answers.

from what i've seen over the internet i prefer the induction lights, but then again i haven't seen them in person. everyone seems to be jumping on to the LED bandwagon with LED tvs, LED flashlights, LED traffic signals, this and that and while i think they serve a good purpose for some things i don't think the entire nighttime world around us should be lit by LEDs given the bizarre nature of the light.

[erick295]

LED's are supposed to be run at 120Hz or more when used for lighting. I don't know what's going on in OFW but they must have gotten some seriously cheap lamps if you can see them flickering. I haven't seen those but I've seen many others, and their light is 100x cleaner and steadier than the horrid mess of light that comes out of arc vapor lamps.

That white color really bothers me while driving, though. I find those orange sodium lights much easier to see by since they don't affect my night vision as much. With white lights it's harder for me to see what's in the shadows and it takes longer for my eyes to adjust after leaving the area. I guess white is nicer to look at, but in a weird way it's a step backwards. I wonder if anyone will try making LED street lamps in other colors?

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by erick295

LED's are supposed to be run at 120Hz or more when used for lighting. I don't know what's going on in OFW but they must have gotten some seriously cheap lamps if you can see them flickering. I haven't seen those but I've seen many others, and their light is 100x cleaner and steadier than the horrid mess of light that comes out of arc vapor lamps.

That white color really bothers me while driving, though. I find those orange sodium lights much easier to see by since they don't affect my night vision as much. With white lights it's harder for me to see what's in the shadows and it takes longer for my eyes to adjust after leaving the area. I guess white is nicer to look at, but in a weird way it's a step backwards. I wonder if anyone will try making LED street lamps in other colors?

have you seen any of the induction lamps in person? how do they look?

[cqholt]

I like the cool blue tint to the LED lights. Its soft color.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I like the cool blue tint to the LED lights. Its soft color.

so you prefer the LED lights— do you know if the streetlights 'blink' like the ones in the o4w do?