QUOTE: A proposed Settlement has been reached with Osram Sylvania Inc. (“Sylvania”). The Settlement resolves claims that Sylvania misrepresented that certain replacement automotive lighting is brighter, provides a wider beam, and allows drivers to see further down the road than standard halogen lighting. It also claims that Sylvania omitted material information regarding the reduced life of the replacement lighting. Sylvania denies that it did anything wrong.
The above from an “add” in MOTORTREND magazine – the lawyers win again. The average “payment” for a consumer would be $10, estimated, according to the magazine add.
Anyway, if you read the printed data on any Sylvania bulb packaging, or what is posted on their web site, there should be no surprises. Or if you simply read my summary comments in the BULB REPLACEMENT GUIDE, as below.
Besides, Sylvania is hardly alone in advertising and selling bulbs based on exaggerated claims. And Sylvania actually provides sufficient technical information to make an informed purchasing decision, while not other company does. But of course, the other companies are *small* and don’t have *deep-pockets” like Sylvania.
DIY – bulb replacement guide
http://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=798037
*********
NOTE: the Sylvania web site will give information regarding the CP (candle power) or MSCD, lumens, voltage/ watts, estimated life-hours, and other information for (most) Sylvania bulbs. Technical information, especially regarding life-time hours for other brands is difficult or impossible to come by.
NOTE ON USING BRIGHTER REPLACEMENT BULBS: brighter-than-standard bulbs, same watts as the standard bulb, have a shorter life than the standard bulb. And they cost more. Sometimes the life may be only 1/4 that of a standard bulb, only 30% brighter, yet cost twice as much.
Also note that Sylvania SilverStar bulbs, have the same lumens rating as their standard bulbs, no matter how much “brighter” the advertising says. Only the Kelvin color rating differs, for the same type of bulb. This applies to most brands – I am not just picking on Sylvania. Also, any bulb which is DOT legal, is by definition limited in the amount of lumens it makes, so really no manufacturer can make a (legal) bulb that has more lumens than the DOT standard (for that bulb type).
This seems to me quite a racket by the bulb makers: manufacturer a bulb with 30% brighter (advertised) light, but 1/4 the life, and charge twice the price. This makes the actual bulb cost 8 times the standard bulb (for the same life usage). And if you read the ‘fine-print’, often the brightness comparison is between a NEW higher rated bulb, and an OLD degraded (dim) standard bulb.
This is a quote from the Sylvania web site, and is also printed on most SilverStar packaging: “Claims based on measured comparisons between SilverStar and SilverStar Ultra product families at 100% light output and standard halogen bulbs at 80% light output. Actual performance may vary by product use, vehicle model and usage.”
And what about those bulbs which are rated at dual wattages? such as 65 watt = 115 watts? The short answer is that this is just more BS advertising. Usually, the reference is to a bulb that has a Kelvin whiter color, with the same watt rating as a standard bulb. The whiter color “looks” brighter (to some anyway). The real problem with these bulbs is simply that there is usually no actual real data given, such as lumens output, life-hours, etc. Without actual tech data, it is difficult to tell what you are really buying. About the only thing which is certain, is the bulb will be very expensive and burn out quickly. (my cynicism)
---eof
The above from an “add” in MOTORTREND magazine – the lawyers win again. The average “payment” for a consumer would be $10, estimated, according to the magazine add.
Anyway, if you read the printed data on any Sylvania bulb packaging, or what is posted on their web site, there should be no surprises. Or if you simply read my summary comments in the BULB REPLACEMENT GUIDE, as below.
Besides, Sylvania is hardly alone in advertising and selling bulbs based on exaggerated claims. And Sylvania actually provides sufficient technical information to make an informed purchasing decision, while not other company does. But of course, the other companies are *small* and don’t have *deep-pockets” like Sylvania.
DIY – bulb replacement guide
http://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=798037
*********
NOTE: the Sylvania web site will give information regarding the CP (candle power) or MSCD, lumens, voltage/ watts, estimated life-hours, and other information for (most) Sylvania bulbs. Technical information, especially regarding life-time hours for other brands is difficult or impossible to come by.
NOTE ON USING BRIGHTER REPLACEMENT BULBS: brighter-than-standard bulbs, same watts as the standard bulb, have a shorter life than the standard bulb. And they cost more. Sometimes the life may be only 1/4 that of a standard bulb, only 30% brighter, yet cost twice as much.
Also note that Sylvania SilverStar bulbs, have the same lumens rating as their standard bulbs, no matter how much “brighter” the advertising says. Only the Kelvin color rating differs, for the same type of bulb. This applies to most brands – I am not just picking on Sylvania. Also, any bulb which is DOT legal, is by definition limited in the amount of lumens it makes, so really no manufacturer can make a (legal) bulb that has more lumens than the DOT standard (for that bulb type).
This seems to me quite a racket by the bulb makers: manufacturer a bulb with 30% brighter (advertised) light, but 1/4 the life, and charge twice the price. This makes the actual bulb cost 8 times the standard bulb (for the same life usage). And if you read the ‘fine-print’, often the brightness comparison is between a NEW higher rated bulb, and an OLD degraded (dim) standard bulb.
This is a quote from the Sylvania web site, and is also printed on most SilverStar packaging: “Claims based on measured comparisons between SilverStar and SilverStar Ultra product families at 100% light output and standard halogen bulbs at 80% light output. Actual performance may vary by product use, vehicle model and usage.”
And what about those bulbs which are rated at dual wattages? such as 65 watt = 115 watts? The short answer is that this is just more BS advertising. Usually, the reference is to a bulb that has a Kelvin whiter color, with the same watt rating as a standard bulb. The whiter color “looks” brighter (to some anyway). The real problem with these bulbs is simply that there is usually no actual real data given, such as lumens output, life-hours, etc. Without actual tech data, it is difficult to tell what you are really buying. About the only thing which is certain, is the bulb will be very expensive and burn out quickly. (my cynicism)
---eof