I have to start by saying that these lamps look fantastic. They are manufactured as if they are glass lamps, but use big long filaments made of strings of LEDs mounted on strips. This completely reverses the trend of trying to run small numbers of LEDs at high current with voltage dropping circuitry, and instead works by running large quantities of LEDs at low current. This also makes the drive circuitry much simpler, but does limit their ability to be dimmed.
I really enjoyed taking this lamp to bits as you'll see in the video. The circuitry was really simple and interesting.
It uses an SM2082B chip which appears to be a linear current regulator which has its current programmed by an external resistor. This particular version appears to have two regulators on board. The power supply is simply a 47 ohm resistor, rectifier, 4.7uF 400V smoothing capacitor with 1M discharge resistor, and the chip itself with two programming resistors (100 ohm and 120 ohm??). The bulk of the voltage is dropped across the four LED strips in series. Each strip seems to have about 24 chips giving a potential voltage drop of around 290V meaning that the chip has to drop about 40V at probably around 15mA giving it a dissipation of about 0.5W. If the chip does overheat it self regulates the current downwards to compensate.
This is such a fresh and simple approach to LED lamps. It looks stunning, puts out a LOT of light in a very even distribution and runs barely warm to the touch.
I think we're going to see a LOT more of these appearing. I already see similar versions using COB strips and not even attempting to look like a filament.
The large series array of LEDs also lends itself well to capacitive droppers as you'll see when I power the globe from a cobbled together power supply. It could even be powered from a simple resistor and rectifier for visual effect.
For me this is one of the most exciting developments in LED lamps yet.
I really enjoyed taking this lamp to bits as you'll see in the video. The circuitry was really simple and interesting.
It uses an SM2082B chip which appears to be a linear current regulator which has its current programmed by an external resistor. This particular version appears to have two regulators on board. The power supply is simply a 47 ohm resistor, rectifier, 4.7uF 400V smoothing capacitor with 1M discharge resistor, and the chip itself with two programming resistors (100 ohm and 120 ohm??). The bulk of the voltage is dropped across the four LED strips in series. Each strip seems to have about 24 chips giving a potential voltage drop of around 290V meaning that the chip has to drop about 40V at probably around 15mA giving it a dissipation of about 0.5W. If the chip does overheat it self regulates the current downwards to compensate.
This is such a fresh and simple approach to LED lamps. It looks stunning, puts out a LOT of light in a very even distribution and runs barely warm to the touch.
I think we're going to see a LOT more of these appearing. I already see similar versions using COB strips and not even attempting to look like a filament.
The large series array of LEDs also lends itself well to capacitive droppers as you'll see when I power the globe from a cobbled together power supply. It could even be powered from a simple resistor and rectifier for visual effect.
For me this is one of the most exciting developments in LED lamps yet.
"I've got contingency plans here."
Goes on the wall , that one.
You know , if you had a glove, you could protect your hand, and use it to trim your beard. Save on plasters.
I watched a YouTube Video of how these lamps are made… all in China…. by hand and machine….. how technology has changed….. you should watch the original GE video from 1940 on the Mazda lamps… (you tube) and then watch the newer video on the LED process…. welcome to the 21st century! wonder what Edison and Swan would think about this??
technically any banana is an electric banana once you screw it into a light socket.
I love these lamps but they flicker
You could always stick a B22 cap after youre done…. epoxy it to the base …. providing you didnt damage the circuitry….. i bought 60 of those online (Canada,, with E27 base… not E26… figured would be better space for the circuit.)
My experience with these types of LED lamps (sadly) is "they don't work". Mind you, it was probably a bad batch but until they get them down right (I figure a year or two) I'm not inclined to get them if the other stuff works fine.
I've got a "CE" G23 led lamp that uses the same crd device (SM2082B) but… it has no smoothing capacitor at all. In fact, this lamp presents a massive amount of 100Hz flicker compared to standard CFL lamps I've tried before.
I would not buy one if I didn't have the opportunity to see one in real life. but seriously guys, it's so lovely, I actually bought one just to look at
the most intriguing lamp i am using right now is the ebay item number 391222697069 e27 3w st64 "steel flower". i use it as a "sleep inducing bulb" and i wonder how they managed to put it inside the glass because it reminds me a boat inside a bottle!
i recently got a dimmable one, it has 0 electronics in them. 6 filaments in 3 pairs, this makes for 75v per filament isnt that a bit high?
electrical banana… there might be a song in that! great job Mr.clive!
I also have some of these. I'm sure in a couple of years time, these will blow everything out of the water, CFLs, conventional LED lamps with heatsinks and hot PSU's, halogen lamps in bulbs…
It's just such a good design. The LEDs have a large surface area, so are more than adequately cooled, the power supply can be situated far away from the LEDs, and away from any damaging heat. Best of all, these look just like the real deal. No ugly white plastic, warm up time, expensive heatsink, PSU heat induced failure, and best of all, cheap!
The more I think about these, the more I like them. They're just so perfect!
Thanks for the vid, Clive!
They could be filled with hydrogen or helium gas at atmospheric pressure. For better power dissipation.