Comments on: Colorful new solar-powered lamp at Ikea http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 23:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: imag http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093902 imag Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093902 They look like landfill already. No matter what color they are, please do not fool yourself that these are "green". Most of them will be broken long before they ever pay back their own embedded energy.* *Note that my comment is NOT applicable to a good photovoltaic system, which should last for 20+ years and which will produce 4X-12X its own embedded energy in its lifetime. Putting solar cells on devices only has a net positive environmental impact if those cells are highly utilized and if they offset less clean generation. They look like landfill already.

No matter what color they are, please do not fool yourself that these are “green”. Most of them will be broken long before they ever pay back their own embedded energy.*

*Note that my comment is NOT applicable to a good photovoltaic system, which should last for 20+ years and which will produce 4X-12X its own embedded energy in its lifetime.

Putting solar cells on devices only has a net positive environmental impact if those cells are highly utilized and if they offset less clean generation.

]]> By: YarbroughFair http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094421 YarbroughFair Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094421 None of you take BB seriously, I expect most BB readers to be more critical than most! "BUILT-IN LED LIGHT BULB" MEANS "IRREPLACEABLE LED LIGHT BULB"! THE WHOLE FUCKING THING IS DISPOSABLE! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF ALMOST EVERY PRODUCT AD BEING CRYPTIC AND REQUIRE CODE BREAKING SKILLS! None of you take BB seriously, I expect most BB readers to be more critical than most!

“BUILT-IN LED LIGHT BULB” MEANS “IRREPLACEABLE LED LIGHT BULB”!

THE WHOLE FUCKING THING IS DISPOSABLE! I’M SICK AND TIRED OF ALMOST EVERY PRODUCT AD BEING CRYPTIC AND REQUIRE CODE BREAKING SKILLS!

]]> By: phisrow http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093937 phisrow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093937 But without solar cells, what excuse would we have to embed nickel-cadmium batteries in things? But without solar cells, what excuse would we have to embed nickel-cadmium batteries in things?

]]> By: surrealestate http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094738 surrealestate Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094738 NiMH is very finicky about its charge cycle, too much steady current and the cells will overheat during charging. NiMH chargers have to cycle the current in order to compensate, which requires much more intelligent circuitry than a NiCd cell. NiCd cells are better suited to solar for that purpose, and because they have somewhat fallen out of favor, are considerably cheaper as well. The NiCd cells actually seem to be ideal for LED-based systems, the current draw is much more steady, and many LED types will continue to light at very low current and decreased voltage. They also seem to endure a lot more charge/discharge cycles than other rechargeable battery applications, no doubt because the LEDs are much more forgiving about the battery deterioration over time. I've got solar patio lamps that have probably had over 2000 charge/discharge cycles now, and they are still going strong. NiMH is very finicky about its charge cycle, too much steady current and the cells will overheat during charging. NiMH chargers have to cycle the current in order to compensate, which requires much more intelligent circuitry than a NiCd cell. NiCd cells are better suited to solar for that purpose, and because they have somewhat fallen out of favor, are considerably cheaper as well.

The NiCd cells actually seem to be ideal for LED-based systems, the current draw is much more steady, and many LED types will continue to light at very low current and decreased voltage. They also seem to endure a lot more charge/discharge cycles than other rechargeable battery applications, no doubt because the LEDs are much more forgiving about the battery deterioration over time. I’ve got solar patio lamps that have probably had over 2000 charge/discharge cycles now, and they are still going strong.

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094246 wrybread Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094246 You beat me to the nickel-cadmium rant. So strange that all these solar powered gizmos always (in my experience) come with NiCad batteries. Talk about ungreen. And also inefficient. The first thing I do with those little solar powered lawn lights is swap the batteries for NMH and swap the boring white LED for a super bright blue or somesuch. You beat me to the nickel-cadmium rant. So strange that all these solar powered gizmos always (in my experience) come with NiCad batteries. Talk about ungreen. And also inefficient. The first thing I do with those little solar powered lawn lights is swap the batteries for NMH and swap the boring white LED for a super bright blue or somesuch.

]]> By: hungryjoe http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094508 hungryjoe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094508 A regular lamp is likely to have similar levels of embodied energy, although I can't speak to the Nickel Cadmium issue. Your criticism seems to be that this is not the ideal energy efficient light source, and so it has no value. Isn't this still better than a lamp burning an incandescent bulb, or even a compact fluorescent? I'm not advocating Ikea. This is more of a big picture question. A regular lamp is likely to have similar levels of embodied energy, although I can’t speak to the Nickel Cadmium issue.

Your criticism seems to be that this is not the ideal energy efficient light source, and so it has no value. Isn’t this still better than a lamp burning an incandescent bulb, or even a compact fluorescent?

I’m not advocating Ikea. This is more of a big picture question.

]]> By: Tony Tarle http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093748 Tony Tarle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093748 I sure hope they're better than their last solar powered lamps! http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/03/09/ikea-sunnan-cheap-co.html I sure hope they’re better than their last solar powered lamps!

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/03/09/ikea-sunnan-cheap-co.html

]]> By: GreenJello http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093753 GreenJello Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093753 Your link is broken, it goes to candle holders and candles. Your link is broken, it goes to candle holders and candles.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093760 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093760 Here is the good link http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40200950 Here is the good link

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40200950

]]> By: knoxblox http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093764 knoxblox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093764 Ugh. Teal, one of the ugliest and most prolific colors of the 80's. Ugh. Teal, one of the ugliest and most prolific colors of the 80′s.

]]> By: jennybean42 http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093788 jennybean42 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093788 Well played, Rob. Well played. Well played, Rob. Well played.

]]> By: cjp http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094068 cjp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094068 Anybody know how many lumens these things produce? Anybody know how many lumens these things produce?

]]> By: tedrock http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093814 tedrock Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093814 We've had one of these for the last year or so (bought ours in the Ikea in Emoryville, CA in April 2010). It works really well, has a photo sensitive on/off switch (so you cant drain batteries in daylight) and is designed to tilt toward the sun. We love it! We’ve had one of these for the last year or so (bought ours in the Ikea in Emoryville, CA in April 2010). It works really well, has a photo sensitive on/off switch (so you cant drain batteries in daylight) and is designed to tilt toward the sun. We love it!

]]> By: SidFudd http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094075 SidFudd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094075 And should I be shopping there anyway? Bloody tax cheats. I just wish that walking their entire store in Burbank wasn't something like a consumerist religious experience. Sigh. Maybe extreme lateral thinking is required now. "Hi, I know the receipt says I owe $978 plus CA sales tax for this loveseat / chaise lounge, but you're evil, so I'm ONLY going to pay the California sales tax. Cheers. Now help me load it in the car." And should I be shopping there anyway? Bloody tax cheats. I just wish that walking their entire store in Burbank wasn’t something like a consumerist religious experience. Sigh. Maybe extreme lateral thinking is required now. “Hi, I know the receipt says I owe $978 plus CA sales tax for this loveseat / chaise lounge, but you’re evil, so I’m ONLY going to pay the California sales tax. Cheers. Now help me load it in the car.”

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094339 Michael Smith Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094339 <blockquote>Putting solar cells on devices only has a net positive environmental impact if those cells are highly utilized and if they offset less clean generation.</blockquote> What makes you think these are made with energy from "less clean generation"?

Putting solar cells on devices only has a net positive environmental impact if those cells are highly utilized and if they offset less clean generation.

What makes you think these are made with energy from “less clean generation”?

]]> By: Dave Faris http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094854 Dave Faris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094854 In other words, they've re-purposed the same shitty solar lights I've got running up my driveway. The same ones that barely give off any glow? Great. In other words, they’ve re-purposed the same shitty solar lights I’ve got running up my driveway. The same ones that barely give off any glow? Great.

]]> By: Ipo http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093831 Ipo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093831 /əˈko͞otərmənt/ , funny, I even pronounce it accouterments, it irks people. /əˈko͞otərmənt/ , funny, I even pronounce it accouterments, it irks people.

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1093836 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1093836 Rob, you make me smile. Rob, you make me smile.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/27/colorful-new-solar-p.html#comment-1094647 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1094647 NiCd gets no respect these days. They're actually pretty good, except for the pesky disposal issue. The big advantage NiCd cells have over NiMH is that they can be charged forever at a few ma with no overcharging damage. That means the manufacturer can build the gadget with no charge controller and not worry about it (cheaper that way). Put in NiMH cells, and they probably won't last for as many charge-discharge cycles as the NiCd would have. Thus you have more waste, not less. You also get to deal with the NiCd cells you took out. You can't chuck them in the trash, thanks to their cadmium content. They have to go to a household hazardous waste collection point. NiCd gets no respect these days. They’re actually pretty good, except for the pesky disposal issue.

The big advantage NiCd cells have over NiMH is that they can be charged forever at a few ma with no overcharging damage. That means the manufacturer can build the gadget with no charge controller and not worry about it (cheaper that way).

Put in NiMH cells, and they probably won’t last for as many charge-discharge cycles as the NiCd would have. Thus you have more waste, not less.

You also get to deal with the NiCd cells you took out. You can’t chuck them in the trash, thanks to their cadmium content. They have to go to a household hazardous waste collection point.

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