LED Christmas lights

[LittleBuford]

Having returned to WDW last week after an almost four-year hiatus, I had a wonderful time! Christmas is my favourite time of year, and I can’t think of a more festive setting than the Disney parks. I do, however, have a major complaint: the multicolour LED Christmas lights that are plastered pretty much everywhere across the resort. They emit that horrible harsh light—the blue is especially offensive—that is typical of LEDs and instantly kills any sense of a warm, old-fashioned Christmas. The issue could be easily fixed if the LEDs inside the coloured bulbs were warm white, as are the filaments in traditional incandescent coloured lights, but for some reason, manufacturers don’t make them this way (with one exception I know of, a company called Tru-Tone); they insist instead on making the LEDs inside the bulbs coloured also, which is why the effect is an assault of pure electric colour.

I realise Disney doesn’t produce its own lights, and perhaps I’m alone in disliking the intensity and purity of coloured LEDs, but surely they could commission something that better replicates the warmth and charm of incandescent lights. Interestingly, I did not notice this issue at Disneyland last year, though there, they seem to have worked around the problem by not including blue among their LEDs. The other colours aren’t nearly as harsh on the eyes.

Do others feel as I do, or am I unusual in being so bothered by the effect of the lights in question?

 

[JoeCamel]

Having returned to WDW last week after an almost four-year hiatus, I had a wonderful time! Christmas is my favourite time of year, and I can’t think of a more festive setting than the Disney parks. I do, however, have a major complaint: the multicolour LED Christmas lights that are plastered pretty much everywhere across the resort. They emit that horrible harsh light—the blue is especially offensive—that is typical of LEDs and instantly kills any sense of a warm, old-fashioned Christmas. The issue could be easily fixed if the LEDs inside the coloured bulbs were warm white, as are the filaments in traditional incandescent coloured lights, but for some reason, manufacturers don’t make them this way (with one exception I know of, a company called Tru-Tone); they insist instead on making the LEDs inside the bulbs coloured also, which is why the effect is an assault of pure colour.

I realise Disney doesn’t produce its own lights, and perhaps I’m alone in disliking the intensity and purity of coloured LEDs, but surely they could commission something that better replicates the warmth and charm of incandescent lights. Interestingly, I did not notice this issue at Disneyland last year, though there, they seem to have worked around the problem by not including blue among their LEDs. The other colours aren’t nearly as harsh on the eyes.

Do others feel as I do, or am I unusual in being so bothered by the effect of the lights in question?

I liked incandescent headlamps too but when the electricity is not 70% heat and 30% light it takes so much less to put out so much more. The warm glow of the large bulb strings is what said Christmas to me and the LEDs just don't do it. Money will win out every time so I will find another windmill to tilt at.

 

[NelsonRD]

Almost all LED manufactures have a color spectrum. I have seen this on Christmas lights as well. Color temperature of 2700k will provide a yellow glow, 7000k is more of the blue tone. Purchase is of personal preference, and attention to color temperature is probably not considered.

 

[Ayla]

I despise LED Christmas lights.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Having returned to WDW last week after an almost four-year hiatus, I had a wonderful time! Christmas is my favourite time of year, and I can’t think of a more festive setting than the Disney parks. I do, however, have a major complaint: the multicolour LED Christmas lights that are plastered pretty much everywhere across the resort. They emit that horrible harsh light—the blue is especially offensive—that is typical of LEDs and instantly kills any sense of a warm, old-fashioned Christmas. The issue could be easily fixed if the LEDs inside the coloured bulbs were warm white, as are the filaments in traditional incandescent coloured lights, but for some reason, manufacturers don’t make them this way (with one exception I know of, a company called Tru-Tone); they insist instead on making the LEDs inside the bulbs coloured also, which is why the effect is an assault of pure colour.

I realise Disney doesn’t produce its own lights, and perhaps I’m alone in disliking the intensity and purity of coloured LEDs, but surely they could commission something that better replicates the warmth and charm of incandescent lights. Interestingly, I did not notice this issue at Disneyland last year, though there, they seem to have worked around the problem by not including blue among their LEDs. The other colours aren’t nearly as harsh on the eyes.

Do others feel as I do, or am I unusual in being so bothered by the effect of the lights in question?

I do not like the led “crystal “ looking lights. I much prefer the duller color.

Glad you had a great time!

 

[LittleBuford]

I liked incandescent headlamps too but when the electricity is not 70% heat and 30% light it takes so much less to put out so much more. The warm glow of the large bulb strings is what said Christmas to me and the LEDs just don't do it. Money will win out every time so I will find another windmill to tilt at.

I didn’t mean to suggest they should switch back to incandescents. Rather, they should strive for the same effect using LEDs (which is possible, as outlined in my original post).

 

[LittleBuford]

Almost all LED manufactures have a color spectrum. I have seen this on Christmas lights as well. Color temperature of 2700k will provide a yellow glow, 7000k is more of the blue tone. Purchase is of personal preference, and attention to color temperature is probably not considered.

You’re talking about white lights. These were fine throughout the resort. I’m referring specifically to coloured lights.

 

[LittleBuford]

I do not like the led “crystal “ looking lights. I much prefer the duller color.

Glad you had a great time!

Thank you!

 

[Gringrinngghost]

I despise LED Christmas lights.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

Almost all LED manufactures have a color spectrum. I have seen this on Christmas lights as well. Color temperature of 2700k will provide a yellow glow, 7000k is more of the blue tone. Purchase is of personal preference, and attention to color temperature is probably not considered.

It's due to the phosphors that are used.

They emit that horrible harsh light—the blue is especially offensive—that is typical of LEDs and instantly kills any sense of a warm, old-fashioned Christmas.

Sorry to burst your bubble but under the phosphorus coating, most LEDs are blue. Its actually how they make the white light for LEDs. Now there are LEDs that would be perfect for it, but in my research, they haven't been made in blub style. They are WWA leds, (Warm White/White/Amber) and are what you are looking for the classic style but again, there is to my knowledge no commercial versions.

 

[LittleBuford]

Thanks for sharing! At the end of the first video, he reveals that Noma is selling exactly the kind of lights I’m asking for in the UK, which is great news!
Hopefully it won’t be long before they’re more generally available.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

Hopefully it won’t be long before they’re more generally available.

I've gotten for my tree this year, Twinkly by Italian company LEDWorks and for the price, its nice for the average consumer,. I honestly feel limited by them and are considering just building my own lights for next year.

 

[LittleBuford]

Sorry to burst your bubble but under the phosphorus coating, most LEDs are blue. Its actually how they make the white light for LEDs. Now there are LEDs that would be perfect for it, but in my research, they haven't been made in blub style. They are WWA leds, (Warm White/White/Amber) and are what you are looking for the classic style but again, there is to my knowledge no commercial versions.

View attachment 759167

I think you’re misunderstanding my point. The videos you shared above show exactly what I’m talking about. It’s not a technical claim I’m making, but an aesthetic one. Warm white LEDs with coloured caps give a good approximation of traditional incandescents. Tru-Tone and (as I discovered from your first video) Noma UK are already making them, so it’s certainly doable.

 

[osian]

I fol!ow that channel. I like this guy. He has an EPCOT mug on his shelves.

 

[NelsonRD]

You’re talking about white lights. These were fine throughout the resort. I’m referring specifically to coloured lights.

Fair enough. The bigger problem I have with LED lights is flicker. LED's are a diode, passing current one way, and the half waveform of the 110v/60Hz be seen as a 60Hz flicker without a rectifier, mostly out of the corners of my eye.

 

[LittleBuford]

Fair enough. The bigger problem I have with LED lights is flicker. LED's are a diode, passing current one way, and the half waveform of the 110v/60Hz be seen as a 60Hz flicker without a rectifier, mostly out of the corners of my eye.

The flicker isn’t something I notice much, if at all. I guess we’re all sensitive to different things!

 

[Gringrinngghost]

I think you’re misunderstanding my point. The videos you shared above show exactly what I’m talking about. It’s not a technical claim I’m making, but an aesthetic one. Warm white LEDs with coloured caps give a good approximation of traditional incandescents. Tru-Tone and (as I discovered from your first video) Noma UK are already making them, so it’s certainly doable.

I don't think your getting at what I am saying. I was just merely explaining why most LEDs seem to have the harsh blue light, which is because of the fact that most leds are blue under their phosphorus coasting. Tru-Tone part of what appears to be their solution is that they are using a thicker materials, which is one reason why Technology Connections prefers them. The thicker the materials are, the less the light can leak out, compared to most commercial sets. I am honestly surprised to not see more commercial Christmas lighting to limit the brightness but that would add a bit more complexity such as a variable resistor, or driver boards but you don't.

The issue is and one that I have brought is is that you can't get near the ideal the classic style with just warm white alone. There is going to be an inherent trade off, and until High-CRI leds are basically everywhere, its not one that I expect to see fixed anytime soon. I have in my testing, found that if the amber color was used and can be brighter that it would be a perfect contender for classic style bulbs.

This is more of a simplistic version, but the general color rendering index of lighting.

Fair enough. The bigger problem I have with LED lights is flicker. LED's are a diode, passing current one way, and the half waveform of the 110v/60Hz be seen as a 60Hz flicker without a rectifier, mostly out of the corners of my eye.

The fix to that is to use a driver and make the AC to DC, aka a bridge rectifier.

 

[NelsonRD]

The fix to that is to use a driver and make the AC to DC, aka a bridge rectifier.

I know, but not too many Christmas lights have full bridge rectifiers.

 

[LittleBuford]

I don't think your getting at what I am saying. I was just merely explaining why most LEDs seem to have the harsh blue light, which is because of the fact that most leds are blue under their phosphorus coasting.

I don’t disagree with anything you’ve posted, but we’re talking at cross-purposes. I’m saying exactly the same thing as the man whose videos you shared earlier. He explains how to make coloured LEDs look more or less like incandescents—by combining a warm white diode with a coloured cap (in contrast to the standard practice of making the diodes coloured too). You’re making a related but different point.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

A few years ago I thought my incandescent icicles looked dim and “old” compared to led lights, now I‘ve switched to leds and one of my neighbor still has incandescent lights and I find myself loving how ”classic” their lights look.

There’s definitely pros to LEDs but I do miss the warmth of the older lights.