LED bulbs for household lighting

[SamuraiBigEd]

If that's true, it's news to me. The last time I checked, fluorescent lighting had the efficiency edge over LED.

Every box or package I have looked at says otherwise. The difference is small, from here on out it will be incremental and not the huge jump seen going from incandescent.

I notice that you used the lumen SI unit. That's what I use for long throw lighting like flashlights and searchlights. But the lux unit is typically used for indoor lighting.

I ran into this when doing landscape lighting, the entire industry is trying to settle on one standard and the preference of choice is lumen. This works better than lux for an all-around gauge because you can still get an idea of light output no matter what the end use is. Lux is well suited for a lighting designer who needs to figure out the correct lighting for a specific environment and task but totally useless for any long range lighting so it doesn't work effectively as lumens for all-around measurement.

Also note that non-CFL fluorescent lighting is common in household lighting. I suspect that a purpose-built fixture will be more efficient than a product made to fit Edison bulb fixtures.

The Edison socket is merely the means of power delivery and doesn't dictate the technology used with it anymore. Regular fluorescent fixtures aren't as efficient as LED or CFL, yes there are high-end fixtures that are but they are very expensive and only seen in large commercial installations.

If LED technology has overtaken pure fluorescent, then I stand corrected.

The light quality from LED is definitely superior! Even the best fluorescent tubes are still obnoxious, the light quality just doesn't quite reach an acceptable level. I know some people are more perceptive of this than others and I am one of those, I can't stand fluorescent light and the cheaper tubes even give me a headache.

But how exactly does that make CFL better for outdoors use?

Sorry, I was not suggesting CFL was better for outdoor use, in fact it was a still-born idea as far as landscape lighting is concerned, the aforementioned cold issues being only a small part of what killed it.

That sure beats the cost of an industrial DMX lighting control system! OTOH my home decor is "real, live rock concert", so I'm still leaning towards the big DMX fixtures.

Party at Speed Daemons!!!! :cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:
:thrasher::thrasher::thrasher::thrasher::thrasher::thrasher:

 

[Haggistech]

I bought LED bulbs for the kitchen

we were using halogen and replacing them every 3/4 weeks

I bought 3 Bright white LED bulbs and they are amazing

instant white light

they have been in there now for around 18 months and none have blown

there was also a lifetime guarantee with them

they were around

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I replaced the lights in my RV with LED's and they hardly draw any current.
I also have an old 10' trailer at our hunting lease, that I built a bank of 24 LEDs for. The lease has no power, so I run this one off of a golf cart battery.
The battery don't go dead because I tossed a solar charging strip on the top of the trailer.
BTW: 24 white LEDs are very bright. The trailer lights up like bright sunlight. Great for reading.
Now I'm rigging a Smartphone charging stations in the boondocks...
(Most of the comforts of home)

 

[Shinji01]

I read a news article about LED lights just a few weeks ago, and apparently there are two types (in the way they are structured).
One is more expensive but lasts longer. Brands like Panasonic and other Japanese brands are using this method.
The other type is cheaper but it does not last as long.
The thing is, I cant find the article or remember the details....


Apart from that, LED has a smaller area for the light to travel.
You will have to choose a well structured bulb that has good reflectors in it in order to have the light bulb light the same area as a normal bulb.
Some LED bulbs simply add more lights to make it brighter and shine wider, but that can result in added weight, putting too mush stress on the socket.

Since getting the right bulb can save you electricity and fewer changes in the future, you muight want to indulge in good expensive bulbs for now until the technology becomes more stable

 

[moorken]

just make sure you take them strong enough, because they already make 1 watt bulbs to but you can compare these to a 10 watt "normal" light, just rubbish! look out for at least 4 to 8 watt bulbs!

 

[h4x0rj3ff]

we use CFLs throughout my house. they are WAY cooler than incandescent light bulbs. a three pack is normally on sale at menards for like 89cents or something like that. above my computers i have xenon bulbs but the problem with them is that there HOT! kinda scares me so there off unless were actively using them. and unless you buy the really expensive CFLs that are specifically designed to dim, you will blow your dimmer switch up. lol

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

I read a news article about LED lights just a few weeks ago, and apparently there are two types (in the way they are structured).
One is more expensive but lasts longer. Brands like Panasonic and other Japanese brands are using this method.
The other type is cheaper but it does not last as long.
The thing is, I cant find the article or remember the details....


Apart from that, LED has a smaller area for the light to travel.
You will have to choose a well structured bulb that has good reflectors in it in order to have the light bulb light the same area as a normal bulb.
Some LED bulbs simply add more lights to make it brighter and shine wider, but that can result in added weight, putting too mush stress on the socket.

Since getting the right bulb can save you electricity and fewer changes in the future, you muight want to indulge in good expensive bulbs for now until the technology becomes more stable

The different LED's you refer to are these.

Original LED

and

Luxeon Emitter

The original LED can produce a large amount of light with sufficient bulb count but what can be done with 9 1 watt Luxeon emitters will take 80 super bright LEDs.

The weight of another Luxeon emitter is in grams so it is not substantial enough to make a difference, the added weight comes from the driver and heat sink. Also now that LED's are reaching this level of light they are no longer a cool light source, the emitter is producing heat now and the driver can generate considerable heat.

just make sure you take them strong enough, because they already make 1 watt bulbs to but you can compare these to a 10 watt "normal" light, just rubbish! look out for at least 4 to 8 watt bulbs!

1 watt emitters are more than sufficient for the job, plus the larger emitters go up in heat production. With the 1 watts you simply add emitters to reach the desired output and light pattern with the proper reflector.

The 3 watt and larger are generally reserved for large flood, spot or flashlight duty.

 

[mikedt]

we use CFLs throughout my house. they are WAY cooler than incandescent light bulbs. a three pack is normally on sale at menards for like 89cents or something like that. above my computers i have xenon bulbs but the problem with them is that there HOT! kinda scares me so there off unless were actively using them. and unless you buy the really expensive CFLs that are specifically designed to dim, you will blow your dimmer switch up. lol

Ever had one of those cheap Chinese CCFLs blow-up on you? See post #21 in this thread. They stink.

 

[Speed Daemon]

I read a news article about LED lights just a few weeks ago, and apparently there are two types (in the way they are structured).

Actually there are many kinds of LED chemistry, physical layout etc., and many more uses for them. From the original red GaAsP LED that I used to buy in quantities of 1 back in the early '70s to the latest "white" LED-based products that can work on household AC, there's a wide range out there.

Recently there has been a lot of news about the use of LEDs in the home. This is mainly as a light source for backlit LCD displays and "screw in" replacements for incandescent bulbs.

When it comes to making "white" light, there are a variety of different methods, each with their benefits and liabilities. There are a lot of companies, large and small, working hard to improve the technology. One thing that has been more or less common in simple white LED lamps is the use of colored phosphors that are excited by the primary emission of the LED material, making a light that appears to be more or less white to the human eye.

Initial cost, product lifetime and other retail considerations matter, of course. But so do other things like how close to "natural" light (the definitions on that can vary widely) the devices are. The ideal white light has a ruler flat frequency response across the visible spectrum, and wastes as little energy as possible to unseen frequencies and heat. We're a long way from that ideal.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

The ideal white light has a ruler flat frequency response across the visible spectrum, and wastes as little energy as possible to unseen frequencies and heat. We're a long way from that ideal.

You obviously have not been in my secret laboratory...

 

[Sharondippity]

I don't pay for electricity anymore since going solar in 2009, so I'm mostly interested in long lasting bulbs, not energy efficient ones. Just curious on what folks recommend for that. I have an outside light shining on my flag every night and that flood bulb goes out every six months because of usage.

 

[mikedt]

I don't pay for electricity anymore since going solar in 2009, so I'm mostly interested in long lasting bulbs, not energy efficient ones. Just curious on what folks recommend for that. I have an outside light shining on my flag every night and that flood bulb goes out every six months because of usage.

Is that one of those halogen flood lamps? I found bulbs never lasted very long either. There are LED flood lamps...
LED Flood Light - China LED Light manufacturer -Shenzhen LUCKY Solid State Lighting Co.,Ltd.
...don't know if these particular ones are any good though, you may be LUCKY!

 

[Gmash]

I don't pay for electricity anymore since going solar in 2009, so I'm mostly interested in long lasting bulbs, not energy efficient ones. Just curious on what folks recommend for that. I have an outside light shining on my flag every night and that flood bulb goes out every six months because of usage.

Wow, 100% solar, that's pretty impressive and awesome!

 

[mikedt]

Wow, 100% solar, that's pretty impressive and awesome!

I believe Sharon does live in SoCal. Something like it never rains in Southern California. Don't think you could do 100% solar electricity in the United Kingdom. LOL

I've got solar water heating, It's nowhere near 100% though, probably more like 30%-40%.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

I don't pay for electricity anymore since going solar in 2009, so I'm mostly interested in long lasting bulbs, not energy efficient ones. Just curious on what folks recommend for that. I have an outside light shining on my flag every night and that flood bulb goes out every six months because of usage.

For longevity LED is the best choice and there are many options available. How tall is the pole and how big is the flag?

 

[Sharondippity]

I believe Sharon does live in SoCal. Something like it never rains in Southern California. Don't think you could do 100% solar electricity in the United Kingdom. LOL

I've got solar water heating, It's nowhere near 100% though, probably more like 30%-40%.

I live in the Bay Area, which is considered Northern California

I had solar panels installed when I had the roof redone. It was a real no-brainer, my house is almost all glass ( why I don't throw stones ha ha ) and I was paying $$$$$$ for electricity when using the air conditioner.

For longevity LED is the best choice and there are many options available. How tall is the pole and how big is the flag?

Right now I have the Giants' flag a flyin but normally it's Old Glory:

Sharondippity: waiting for tonight's game....

That flag is 5x8 but I don't know the exact pole height.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

I would suggest a 9 emitter up light like the FX Luminaire NP9 but you will need a transformer. PM me and I can give you other options as well or tell you where to find it.

 

[SiempreTuna]

Short answer: go LED if you can. They're getting much cheaper - I bought a GU10 recently for

 

[SUroot]

I have 4 LED's in my kitchen. I say 4, each unit contains 3 LEDs @ 4 Watts each. So Each unit is 12 Watts, but each unit has a brightness equivalent of around 75 Watts of normal Halogen bulbs.

The ones I have are

 

[SiempreTuna]

Here's a strange thought: if the LEDs in my bathroom last as long as they claim, I'd probably be replacing the bathroom before I replaced the bulbs.

Strange world where your bulbs lasts longer than your bath ..

 

[Unforgiven]

Here's a strange thought: if the LEDs in my bathroom last as long as they claim, I'd probably be replacing the bathroom before I replaced the bulbs.

Strange world where your bulbs lasts longer than your bath ..

lol, I redid my bathroom at the same time I put the LED's in (photo above) so I'll see which lasts longer.

 

[Morat]

I bought LED bulbs for the kitchen

we were using halogen and replacing them every 3/4 weeks

I bought 3 Bright white LED bulbs and they are amazing

instant white light

they have been in there now for around 18 months and none have blown

there was also a lifetime guarantee with them

they were around

 

[Speed Daemon]

Here's a strange thought: if the LEDs in my bathroom last as long as they claim, I'd probably be replacing the bathroom before I replaced the bulbs.

Strange world where your bulbs lasts longer than your bath ..

Welcome to the future!

I'm already getting that with CFL bulbs. I'm stuck with a bunch of 'em! My last apartment had regular bulbs, so I bought enough CFL bulbs for it. And I put some in my mom's house. My new apartment already has CFL lighting, and when my mom's house was sold, I took back my CFLs. So I have a box of them in various sizes and no place to put 'em!

 

[Speed Daemon]

That's similar to my experience. Those damn Halogen GU-10s were hogging 50W each in a four light track. Now I'm down to 4x9w and a nice 5000k warm light. They've been working for at least 2 years without blowing so they've paid for themselves in bulbs easily, and the power saving on top.

You call 5000K (a.k.a. "cool white") warm?

 

[Morat]

Hahah, no sorry - they're 3000k