HR-2's power led

[md01]

What's the life expectancy for an led. I've been leaving my HR-2 plugged in at all times, while the led just keeps burning. I know that leds have long life expectancy, but I wouldn't want it to burn out. Any thoughts? Should I just not worry about?

 

[utdeep]

On this website, the question isn't burn out, it's burn in. And yes, you need to worry about it.
I usually leave my LED mag lites on for at least 100 hours to ensure best performance. 24 on high, 24 on low, 24 on medium, and 24 hours of rapidly switching on/off.
As your HR-2 LED was thoughtlessly designed to only have one LED brightness level, I would cover it with a piece of paper to simulate the medium setting and use your left thumb to simulate the low setting.
The same rules apply, 100 hours of burn-in for maximum performance!
Or I'll beat you with my audiophile stick!

 

[md01]

Quote:

Originally Posted by utdeep On this website, the question isn't burn out, it's burn in. And yes, you need to worry about it. I usually leave my LED mag lites on for at least 100 hours to ensure best performance. 24 on high, 24 on low, 24 on medium, and 24 hours of rapidly switching on/off. As your HR-2 LED was thoughtlessly designed to only have one LED brightness level, I would cover it with a piece of paper to simulate the medium setting and use your left thumb to simulate the low setting. The same rules apply, 100 hours of burn-in for maximum performance! Or I'll beat you with my audiophile stick!

Darn, since I've already done 24 on high, on low, and an medium, I'm gona have to stay up all night to finish "rapidly swithing on/off" part.

 

[utdeep]

Screw the audiophiles. I don't believe in LED burn-in!
Just in case, post a review about it once you're done.

 

[john_jcb]

From the little I have read they have a mean life expectancy of about 11.5 years when operated 24/7. This is average some higher some lower. I don't know anything about the testing that is behind the numbers or the circuit configuration that was used.

 

[md01]

Ahh, that's long enough! Thanks.

 

[cmascatello]

john_jcb has it just about right. The video-grade LEDs that I work with have life-expectancies in the 100-150,000 hour range and that would equate to 11.5 years on the high end. Also, keep in mind that, at least for these video LEDs, the rating is based on full-brightness and estimated strobing of video display which can increase the rate of degradation. I would not be surprised to find generic red LEDs that will last 15-20 years in simple on/off mono-brightness applications.

 

[Jazz1]

I've got amp. that has a burnt out greed LED on the "On" switch. I've never bothered to have it fixed. I know it on when music comes out of the speakers

All funnin' aside, i just leave my HR-2 on all the time, as well as the amp.

 

[john_jcb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmascatello john_jcb has it just about right. The video-grade LEDs that I work with have life-expectancies in the 100-150,000 hour range and that would equate to 11.5 years on the high end. Also, keep in mind that, at least for these video LEDs, the rating is based on full-brightness and estimated strobing of video display which can increase the rate of degradation. I would not be surprised to find generic red LEDs that will last 15-20 years in simple on/off mono-brightness applications.

Another thing to take into account is that no amp maker I know uses them at full power. The blue ones are especially bright.

 

[cmascatello]

Quote:

Originally Posted by john_jcb The blue ones are especially bright.

And way too expensive to run at 100% b/c of the fear of blowing them out. The hi-grade (video) Blues can be 10+ times more expensive than greens and reds. But at 100% brightness they can get up to 6-9,000 NITS -- more than enough to singe a cornea at close range.

 

[cpw]

I leave mine on all the time and don't sweat it. I'm told it should last 15 yrs by the only person I know w/ much EE experience.
Just can't be bothered to unplug it.
As Ray says: "It's always on and ready to please."
CPW