Farewell Dichroic, thanks for the memories

In April 2012, reflector lamps over 37W will be phased out by the Australian Government. Below is an article our director Paul Beale wrote on the subject for Engineers Australia magazine.

Dear Dichroic,

I am saddened at the news of your impending demise. You have been part of my life for such a long time it’s almost unimaginable to think of a future without you. But maybe the time’s right because for a while, I’m afraid, things haven’t been the same between us. It’s always hard when you realise that a love affair is over.

But we have had some good times along the way, didn’t we? Before you came along all we had were warm and fuzzy lamps and fixtures that cast their light everywhere; where you want it and where you didn’t. Our shops were lit with fluoros and it was all a bit safe, all a bit boring. Then you came into our lives and you changed everything. There you were, with your precision beams of various angles, a wide range of wattages and all in the sexiest little package. I remember marveling at the little facets that combined to produce your wonderfully precise beam. I hadn’t seen anything quite like it before and I must admit I was enchanted. Overnight, you became the darling of the architectural lighting world.

Didn’t we have some fun together? I’ll never forget how you grazed light down the walls of Bistro Guillaume in such a delightful way. Nor the revelation of the depth of colour in the timber walls at Perth Theatre. You can rest assured that your LED and fluorescent successors won’t be able to match the beauty we created in these spaces.

Nothing good lasts forever, I understand that, and to be honest the cracks started to appear some time ago. Your popularity became your downfall. While the ‘Big 3’ (Osram, Philips and GE) were manufacturing good quality dichroics, a whole host of other, less conscientious manufacturers got in on the act and the the market (and most supermarkets) became awash with your poor quality cousins. I’m sure I’m not the only one to have felt let down by stryated beams and unacceptable efficacy.

When the developers saw you as a cheap way of providing ‘architectural’ lighting in their McMansions the writing was on the wall. In the suburbs people were buying houses with dozens upon dozens of $12 downlights complete with Chinese made 50W dichroic lamps. Not only were the resulting lit environments a crime against aesthetics and functionality, the owners were faced with exorbitant electricity bills. Something had to change and you were the fall guy.

Don’t worry about us, the ones you’ve left behind. We have some great alternatives. We have our cute little CFLs. Yes I know they are expensive, have a worrying 5mg of mercury per lamp, produce cold, flat and unnatural light which can’t be easily dimmed. But hey, they last longer and produce more light per Watt so that’s alright. And we also have LED. At $60 for a decent replacement for a $5 50W dichroic they can seem expensive. In fact, considering they have inferior colour rendering and a whirring on-board electric fan to keep them cool, I would go as far as saying they are expensive, period. Despite claims of 50,000 hour life, you won’t see many warranties beyond 3 years. But there you go, them’s the breaks.

So please rest peacefully in the chandelier in the sky. You won’t be lonely there. Our old friend the GLS has been there a while now and you’ll soon be joined by PAR 38, PAR 30, R40 and any other lamps that are mass produced with low profit margins for the manufacturers. If form is anything to go by this will happen before you know it; in Australia we are truly world leaders in banning this kind of stuff. Don’t expect to see a ‘light bulb socialism’ movement like in the US where public pressure has led to a postponement of the phase-out of the GLS lamp.

Thanks for the memories.

Paul Beale, February 2012