Go L.E.D.

Professionals Only! Electrologist to Electrologist (pros only)
#1

Try switching out your halogen for an LED. The lights are now available for nearly all applications. The light is more intense and more “natural.” Actually, the whiter light makes seeing the hairs better. The lamps are also completely cool and that makes the patient more comfortable. (I am currently switching all my “in ceiling” halogens to LEDs. Yes, a very expensive task, but worth it in the long run because they use only a fraction of the wattage.

Here’s a website that will probably have a lamp for your use:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FMR16-x4W-x.htm#photos

#2

I started Margaret with 35 watt MR16 halogens and then switched them for LED lamps available from the local Home Depot. They run so much cooler and provide clearer vision with more balanced color.

Don’t be put off by the initial expense compared to the less expensive halogen bulbs. Halogens have a rated lifetime of 2000 to 4000 hours, but LED lamps have roughly five times (5x) that life, measured in tens of thousands of hours. They’re worth it.

#3

Unfortunately, there are no LED lights available for the sockets of my Heraeus 2060 halogen lamps.

#4

changing the light socket is not all that hard. :wink:

#5

Halogen IS quite harsh and glaring. LED is so much softer, yet puts out the light.

#6

Well, i am aware of. I even started my business with an LED based ring loup. Unfortunately the LED died because of lack of cooling. After putting the lense (8 dioptres/3X magnification) into a lamp having a fluorescent lamp as its light source i noticed that it was more difficult to see the hair.

So it is sure that i will invest in led lighting as soon as the available light sources permit modifying my lamps - which is not an easy task - here a picture of such a lamp:

Beate

BTW: has someone already tried out one of these more or less cheap LED headlights for outdoor use?

#7

I just replaced the 20 watt halogen bulb with a 10 watt LED bulb. Am going to look for a little higher watt LED, because I have to get the light much closer. The amazing thing is - as close as I get the bulb to the client (and my hands) there is no heat coming off the bulb!

#8

I use 18W LED bulbs, love them… very bright, great color, no heat, last forever

#9

I switched to a fluorescent daylight bulb a few years ago because of the heat from Halogens, but recently I feel I am not seeing as well. What do you suggest LED’s?

#10

I like fiber optics best.

#11

What are Fiber Optics? I never heard of that.

#12

I also use LED on a extended flexible arm, for the same reasons good light and cool, would like to know if anyone uses a head lamp, not a great look granted but may be useful.

Hi Arlene, could tell us more about fiber optics, sounds interesting maybe post a photo?

#13

I saw Arlene with her fiber optic set up in Quebec City. Quite cool, literally. When she first came into the room, I thought I was looking at a beautiful, female coal miner :). The light doesn’t blind the client like a halogen and it is not as warm/ hot as a halogen. I would choose an LED over a fluorescent and halogen, however, I feel that I can see the blond peach fuzz very well with the halogen. also, I can’t say how many people tell me they love the warmth of the halogen.

#14

I have similar helogen desk lamp (like on the photo I attached ). And it is SO dangerous! Very soon after turning it on, the head of the lamp becomes SO hot! One time I even got so serious burn when accidentally bumped into it. The burn mark lasted more than a year!

#15

http://www.designsforvision.com/SurgHtml/S-LEDCoa.htm

Above link for pics and info.

They are meant for surgeons so I figured if they are good enough for
docs in the operating room, they would be good enough for me.

I have their telescopic lenses too however you are locked into working at
a specific working distance unless you buy more than one pair as I have.

I would suggest them for those of you who work many hours a day
because it enables freedom of movement as the light and magnification
go where ever you go. Your back will thank you.

The light will cost about $1,500.
Each pair of glasses will cost about another $1.500.

#16

You are really adorable Dee.
Very smart and adorable.
I haven’t been referred to as
beautiful in decades but this here
hair miner thanks you.

#17

I am currently evaluating the LED head light available for my loupes. Great to work with, but a price of more than 1000 EUR + Tax hurts a lot…
Other medical LED lamps (freestanding) are even more expensive.

BTW: i still need at least one of my halogen lamps to light the working area when want to get an overview and thus don’t use the loupes.

#18

I was searching for an alternative to the halogen bulb for my microscope. Does anyone know if there are LED alternatives for the zeiss microscopes? (I found a few online that would fit the scope except that the wattage just wasn’t high enough. The max was 35 watts)

#19

The wattage LEDs need is much lower than the wattage of halogen bulbs. About a factor of 5.

#20

Funny thing about lights, and why lower wattage bulbs took so long to come by. When the light bulb was first mass marketed, they were sold by the same company that was selling metered electricity. Even as the engineers were trying to solve the energy efficiency problem, the bosses were enjoying the fact that the energy that was wasted as excess heat was actually increasing the energy bills they got to charge, and so even when the problem was “solved”, no changes in production were made, so that the company could keep making more money off both the bulbs and the wasted energy.