Dodgy CFL-style LED in a funny box

Testing and disassembling a questionable 12W LED lamp made of parts originally intended for a compact fluorescent lamp. Reading its entertaining description on its box. Reverse engineering the schematic, how does it work and some oscilloscope measurements.
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[@thecommenter578]

These guys solved my issue, I was dubious about installing LEDs or CFLs, then this guys said "why not both?" And created this amazing product. It's so good that I used it in my hotels and my hotel. 11/10

[@robworrall6832]

Aren't they amazing, and so safe too! To think they output as much as an old 200W incandescant as well, it's just a miracle of technology. Would you like to buy any tin foil hats btw? They stop those 5G death beams that are everywhere now, maybe hand them out to some of the guests in your hotel and your hotels? ;-)

[@hieroben]

A calculator with no numbers on the keys, that's an interesting concept. Add's an element of surprise into math. Nice!

[@michaelwynne2801]

You should do a collaboration with Big Clive on Chinglish writing on Chinese electronic products, it would be hilarious!!!! Great tear down as always DGW.

[@omsingharjit]

@Agustinus Reynaldi do you think Fool bridge rectifire ends as Great Scott said !! I don't think soo

[@johngarritzcx6733]

Yesss😂😁😂😁😁😂😂😂😂😄😄😊😊😊

[@blkmgk16]

Oh my sides, reminds me of a glue I have that says hint of scent

[@primateinterfacetechnologi6220]

totally. That would be so exciting... How exciting? I would squeak like a little girl... on the hilarity of this exact subject (the Chinglish, not sounds I might make and how much they resemble those of a little girl): in the local convenience store near where I live, I once observed amongst the several random products that were often displayed along this one shelf, a silly toy truck, upon which were all these cheesy stickers no doubt translated from Chinglish. They said silly things like "big power" and "super this" and "mega that" odd and not quite right stuff like that... and this one sticker stated with a big exclamation point: "A kind of truck!" I laughed my ass off. I should have bought the thing just for that alone but they wanted like 25 bucks for it and I just couldn't. Peace be upon you, sir.

[@airmann90]

Dodgy circuit, hilarious box and great circuit explanation. Enjoyed thoroughly haha

[@kyawzin3957]

I can't stop my laugh while reading lamp descriptions on packing box! LoL. Thanks for tearing down electronic with sense of humor. Not only giving knowledge but also entertaining!

[@DanishSpeakerChannel]

these where popular in denmark too!! in my home we didnt change light bulbs from 2009 to 2017 (so basically all regular CFL until then) but my grandpa had bought some of these CFL looking LED bulbs and my uncle as well had them in the driveway street lamps around 2012 :)

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

Nice! Even in Australia where in theory are strict conformity laws we see such items. You could glue them 2 strips under a shelf and make a traditional isolated supply. I bought fluoro substitutes from very reputable supplies but the inverters still die shortly out of warranty. We live in a throw away world!

[@δωμάτιομελέτης]

"Can adapt to China's actual situation" Actual situation : voltage fluctuates from 86 to 265 volts?! ...... Got me dead💀😆

[@KrotowX]

Schrödinger's death bulb.

[@brucepickess8097]

@@KrotowX sorry, who's death bulb ?????🤔

[@KrotowX]

@@brucepickess8097 Schrödinger's. Read about Schrödinger's cat ;) The same here - either bulb is alive or dead.

[@δωμάτιομελέτης]

@@KrotowX bro.... Schrodinger's death "BULB"?!?! 😆😭🤣....

[@me202r]

In my country it's always about 251 volts ⚡️ 💀☠️

[@BRUXXUS]

At first, I thought using the CFL glass tube was a clever way of reusing old stock of that twisty glass... then I realized that, well... I'm not sure it would work that way, not without modification to the glass. Right? Also, the LEDs would probably be getting fried with no airflow or way to cool properly. What a weird lamp!

[@KrotowX]

I believe that plastic tube was straight at begin of process. After aluminium strip with flexible led strip above it insertion into tube contraption was heated and flexed into right shape.

[@Fridelain]

It is, probably not (just) the old stock, but the machinery used to make them, which is worth more (if it can be put to use).

[@KrotowX]

@@Fridelain Indeed it may be the one of reasons too. Though particular bulb shape went out of trend a decade ago.

[@piconano]

I think this is a regular CFL but modified the machinery to skip the spaying of the inside tube with phosphor coating. Then just insert the LEDs and the PS.

[@chelarestelar]

@@piconano I also support this hypothesis

[@dennis8196]

LEAVE THE CALCULATOR INTACT!! Thats a working relic of the past and they all eventually go bad. please keep it good! That machine is a thing of beauty, a historical masterpiece!

[@stefanjohansson1234]

Yes, i'm calculating on you to open that calculator! Thanks for the presentation of this indispensable CFL-style LED lamp, oh the ideas that pop up in some peoples heads!

[@-yeme-]

aww, I've missed that level of comedic english on product packaging. now it seems like most chinese manufacturers have managed to hire someone competent to write what goes on the box, but this is a return to the glory days of 10 years ago when you were almost guaranteed this level of entertainment with every ebay purchase. the actual lamp too has that same flavour, super budget-cut, weird old-stock cfl housing and badly made buck board.

[@greasyfingerprints]

The cat is waiting for a bath in the basin.

[@Pirelli.]

8:05 Well, it's very warm, the capacitor needs cool air on its legs! lol 😂😂Thanks DGW, another great video!! God bless you! 🙏

[@paulstubbs7678]

Thanks for my daily laugh, especially when you 'got stuck in' with the screwdriver. I kind of like the look of this lamp - definitely not seen at my shops in Australia although I would be tempted to replace the regulator.

[@williamhuang8309]

0:35 The small circle is the full stop that's used in the Chinese writing system.

[@andrewd762]

I spent the last week binge watching your videos. Just wanted to say thanks for the great, varied and interesting content.

I think you'd be the best quality control, leader. Since you always dive into circuit boards and take them apart, it is by far the best videos from you.

[@sourabhmallik]

The demonstration is much more funny!! This made my day!!! 😍😝

[@Nethradorus]

Tak koukám, že obě věci v pořádku dorazily, to je super :) Cena byla vskutku 59Kč, ale dva roky nazpět, co jsem ji koupil. Teď jsem už nekoukal, jestli to tam ještě mají a kolik za to chtějí :D

[@309electronics5]

Hilarious spelling on the box and a dodgy circuit wow! Great video i love these dodgy products and seeing how they have been made to be as cheap as possible

[@cmuller1441]

Add a fusible resistor and remove one current sensing resistor to reduce the current and it will last for years.

[@HIDLad001]

They probably had a warehouse full of unsold CFL bulbs.

[@Zebra_Paw]

This thing can be made decent just by adding a fuse and stuff like that, and redoing the soldering. But of course you need to be able to open it without destroying the package!

[@KrotowX]

- This is not the right way, but we like it anyway... Now you sound like UK DJ Solarstone :D

[@KeritechElectronics]

"Vyrobeno w Cine" && "MADE IN EU", hmmm... even a stupid label contradicts itself. I'm not surprised that MCPCB is used, theoretically it should help with heat dissipation, but since the strip is enclosed in a plastic or glass helix, the hot air can only travel upwards into the sealed case where it can't really exchange heat with the environment. Nice circuit design, but the unsoldered cap leg was definitely a bad thing. Looks like it was soldered by hand, at least the THT part, and a mistake happened. Nice VFD calculator! Non-destructive teardown, please.

[@castlecodersltd]

Another great video, thanks for the tip about the extra bit of winding on the transformer

[@bob-ny6kn]

The heat in that tube must be baking. Those strios look like the 40vdc in my shop that I had to repair - they melted the masking tape I was using to temporarily hold down an end.

[@ankanpradhan9724]

You are more funny than the package

[@mernok2001]

1:54 Was that lamp made for export since its 240V rated instead of 230V?

[@MalditoSeasEstadoDelsrael]

I had one of these since 2012 and it lasted until last year, it finally died because of corrosion, the glass tube is all crusty because it burns the dust and bugs that step on it

[@shashibhushansingh_]

This buck regulator board is very common in India for replacement for original buck regulator in 9 to 12 LED bulbs for which It costed only ₹20 per piece few months back. Drawback is that output voltage is little higher than required.

[@timbelson9522]

The fact that watts are unit for power its widely used for different types of applications that marketing will utilise confusing ambiguity to catch consumers attention but just remember an led light bulb W rating is its power consumption unlike a laser pointer that doesnt advertise consumption that is rating for output :)

[@janno288]

At least it has holes in the housing for airflow over the driver, also the leds are seperated from the driver. if the components are of reasonable quality it should last a long time

[@rgstever]

The small circle is what is used as a period (full stop) when using a Chinese/Japanese character set. The reason being that the solid dot is used to indicate a short stop between syllables in Japanese, as for Chinese I don't know as I can't read it well.

[@michalcz123]

Who is from Czech knows that the texts on the labels are interesting. :)

[@gkdresden]

I personally like the LED E14 lamps in the style of the first old Edison carbon ribbon lamps with a "designed" radiation temperature of 1800 K. The flexible substrate was really a technological challenge in the development of this light emitters. But I like them because of their candle like radiation temperature even if you sacrifice a good percentage of COP.

[@teslakovalaborator]

Já jsem pro nakouknutí dovniř té T801, klidně i překreslení schématu.

[@DrZipZwan]

Those EXACT LED lamp, are available in my country for around 3 years now, available in store called 1$ store. So when you buy something from there, do not expect for the best technology quality available. I still got 2 plugged in the ceiling at my balcon. We do not turn it on for a long period, just when someone need something there during night, and so on, that is why , they are still alive. In salon or kitchen, same model lasted for 1 month or 2, then there build in LED started to burn 1 after another... very bad cooling...

[@hugoegon8148]

12:02 why not using the square root button? 😁

[@lenslens7379]

I love your calculator!!

[@elvinhaak]

Is the tube of the 'CFL' plastic or glass?

[@jec_ecart]

Looks like some basement diy.

[@JandeVu]

Dva vodiče připojené k převodníku, možná je to pojistka?

[@shubhankarghosh]

Please make a video how do you make circuit diagram of any circuit boards

[@DownhillAllTheWay]

Thanks for this -= you have totally convinced me. I don't want any.

[@douro20]

There's a datasheet available for the CL1502 but it's only available in Chinese and the manufacturer only does commerce in Chinese...

[@AlessandroCussino]

I love your videos about crap devices 😉

[@hermannschaefer4777]

0:35 The small circle is common in many Asian languages, normally U+3002, &#12290 or&#x3002。

[@alancordwell9759]

Would definitely like to see inside the calculator!

[@1marcelfilms]

Those weird typos must be OCR translation

[@redoverdrivetheunstoppable4637]

the bang will be the brightest moment i have a similar lamp, bought on purpose for 1€, it has the previous version of the CFL tube (the multiple U shaped one), still glass, never used it, i keep it as a collectible LOL i know it sucks big time, also the LEDs are eye piercing

[@liam3284]

Small circle is the Chinese dot。 China domestic power is 3Y220. Line to Line is 380V, Line to Neutral is 220V.

[@beatrute2677]

bloody helll. super dodgyyyyyy

[@RobotN001]

Needs to recheck bulos after CAP resoldering and 230VAC mains. Funny bulos anywayos.

[@ruben_balea]

The closest Chinese bazaar to my house prints its own stickers with custom barcodes, a fake CE mark and "Made in China" so everything becomes instantly CE approved and Chinese, the funny thing is that a few categories of products are actually made in Spain or other EU countries and comply with all EU regulations, they do not import certain products from China simply because their customs tariffs/taxes or something similar are very high to avoid unfair competition with local companies.

[@theinventor2618]

What is the conclusion🤣🤣

[@opposites-369]

Bro I think is great you to build EST Analog Meter & LCR Analog Meter with programing chip & sircuit design 👍🏻🙏🏻✨💖

[@ankanpradhan9724]

"Made in Eeeyooooou?"

[@InsideOutElectronics]

The best part is reading Chinglish :D

[@bedrichrudolf137]

1:45 meabe they use Samsung LM301H high end SMD leds in package 3825? just joke 😂

[@timbelson9522]

Its watt rating of 12 is input consumption not the lumens output....

[@eDoc2020]

I was surprised by the output capacitor. It's only 3.3uF and rated for 250v even though it only sees 35v. 15uF 50v would make more sense. They probably copied the value from high voltage LED string drivers.

[@slugoids]

Funny box

[@tushar673353]

I have those led drivers ...they are super worst ...even in 12v 500ma they are getting melting hot

[@versedbridge4007]

Comical Chinglish! :D

[@change_your_oil_regularly4287]

👍

[@technixbul]

I sent to your email my version of 2 displays clock as i promised.

[@tyramisiu]

Label made in EU. 🙃

[@lezbriddon]

16-18w led equals 100w tungsten to human eyes

[@celsoneves2368]

Top good!.

[@shadowxxe]

Maybe the label was made in the EU xD

[@shahriaralam8181]

😆😆😆😆😆 the google translated levels

[@1marcelfilms]

Redo it with flexible filament LED

[@shayhsopwagqehghggtfyggty2635]

I love your videos! Thanks for explaining and showing electronics also telling its safety it really helps! Also can I have a shoutout plz/please? I'm your 9th commenter!

[@NikiBretschneider]

I think that label is perfectly OK. You didn't know, that EU is part of a Great China?

[@jkobain]

I bet they founded a special industrial zone in China and called it EU…

[@kuyaronniestv6334]

Sir im new subs

[@liam3284]

I found Osram CFLs died from this kind of poor soldering.

[@nicks4597]

maybe leds made in china but assmbled in czech??

[@zx8401ztv]

Hmm ching-lish, So much bullshit!. Well it works but how long for lol. Even your quality control cat thinks it's crappy :-D

[@RobotN001]

Nice bulos ))) wanno buy one

[@bikash3003]

😜😜😜

[@localgamingmaxyt7929]

Op

[@ouyastechshow1118]

the "。" is "." in chinese.

[@AndreiH_STB4008]

OMG! Quite a lot of grammar errors. What do you expect from a Chinese product, especially no-name?

[@omsingharjit]

Teach China English first 😂😂

[@debmalya6144]

Chinese power grid

[@-Crash-Nebula--]

Incandescent bulos,Made in EU 🤔🤔🤔

[@cum_as_you_are]

Please never stop making videos! You are great!

[@change_your_oil_regularly4287]

Maybe the label is made in the EU and the lamp in China 😁

[@KrotowX]

Yes.

[@johngarritzcx6733]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@wychowanek90]

I'd try this one on a variac to really see if it accepts "china power grid situation"

[@AndreDeLimburger]

"China's actual stuation of power grid"

[@rfmerrill]

China is a very big country, and I think things are not as standardized there as in the rest of the world maybe. My understanding is mainland china is mostly 220V 50Hz, and I'm not sure but I think they use both American-style and Australian-style outlets, though the Chinese ones are slightly different than the actual US or AU ones. I think ungrounded outlets are US-style while grounded outlets are Australian-style. I also get the impression that it's not uncommon to find dodgy "universal" outlets in hotels or offices, and also maybe some places have 120V. But it gets more complicated if you start talking about the special areas like Hong Kong. Hong Kong is also 220V 50Hz I think, but they use type D and type G outlets as a former British colony. Taiwan also uses 110V, and I think US style plugs. (Yes Taiwan is not under PRC control, not trying to start that debate :P)

[@KahruSuomiPerkele]

Taiwan isn't 110v but 120v, I live there and you wont find 110v anywhere.

[@rfmerrill]

@@KahruSuomiPerkele ah wasn't trying to be specific. In the US people say 110 and 120 interchangeably when the voltage can actually be anywhere in that general range

[@KrotowX]

Sure Taiwan prepared well to twhart mainland China soldier plan to boil tea in their own electric kettles.

[@AUATUWVSH]

in most of that Chinese junk, the wires act like a fuse

[@brucepickess8097]

Mostly any components that are overrated act as a fuse after the emission of magic smoke.😏

[@SrWolf90]

Hahahaha, what a translation, incandescent "bulos" which in Spanish means hoax XDDD.

[@two_number_nines]

You need to make a few videos on computer DVD drives. They are a true goldmine of technology-brushless motors, brushed motors, magnets, lasers, nylon gears, stainless steel axles, PCB's with golden components like voltage regulators, motor drivers, memory chips cpu chips, headphone amp driver chips, indicator leds, potentiometers and more. I think you could trully make a 30 part series on reusing these machines of peak capitalist material abundance.

[@ForgottenLore]

China is having a lot of power cuts lately in some cities, so the grid is more like 0v instead of 86v. :D

[@antibrevity]

With the claimed efficiency, I wonder if it produces light output at 0v. That would be /very/ adaptable.

[@Georgy-fg3bg]

​@@antibrevity At 0V the lamp produces high quality dark Ra=0 with 100% efficiency.

[@antibrevity]

I imagine that the redundancies are from automatic translating where 2 Chinese items are simplified to a single English word or object (i.e. two types of street lamps). However, automatic translating doesn't produce typos so the writing was translated and then transferred by hand into the print files. Bizarre.

[@KahruSuomiPerkele]

Yes, Chinese do have multiple words for hotels. I currently live in asia and it's harder for them to know if redundency makes sense or not if they never spoke english. As for the typos, it's probably a picture to text conversion, which would explain the missing spaces and the "dislexic" errors such as c instead of o etc... my guess on that one.

[@KrotowX]

Luckily they at least learned how Latin characters look. Seen an "ingenious" sign for Russians where text in English was printed with Cyrillic characters.

[@sebastian19745]

@@KahruSuomiPerkele Well, the typos are for sure generated by an OCR software, so my guess is that you are right.

[@MC-01]

Just the engineering behind this and production cost they could've just made a simple but robust LED light

[@Random_4400]

8:03 R U KIDDING ME GUYS?!?!