Light Bulbs?

[ArmageddonX]

Does anyone know anything about lighting?

I'm trying to find a lighting solution for my home. I'm so sick of the yellow light that I have in basically every room.

I'm looking for white light! As close to sunlight or "medical grade" white I can get. Need them to be 60watt or less.

Any suggestions?

 

[Satires]

I can't remember the name, I think they're called "Full spectrum" lights. They're supposed to be as close to natural lighting. I have seen them in our local stores.

 

[Satires]

Full-spectrum light - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ArmageddonX]

Wonderful!

Do they screw in to a standard bulb sockets?
Do you know a good place I could purchase them?

Do CFLs or LEDs provide a more clear white light?

~ ArmyX

 

[Satires]

Wonderful!

Do they screw in to a standard bulb sockets?
Do you know a good place I could purchase them?

Do CFLs or LEDs provide a more clear white light?

~ ArmyX

To be honest, I don't know about led lights other than they're very expensive.

The light bulbs I speak of are regular light bulbs, yes, they do screw into a regular socket.

In fact, in a natural health book I read they are recommended. Florescent lighting is terrible for some reason, I don't remember why. I think it's the hertz or the frequency that can have a draining effect on some individuals and cause headaches. Just do a google search on that to clarify.

 

[pastafarian]

CFL's like any florescent bulb will have a bluish cold/cool light unless they're coated and sold as "warm". Likewise LED's come in various color temperatures, though they seem to "colder" than incandescent they replace. I replaced the 6 par38 cans in our basement family room with Philips LED's a couple of days ago. Though sold as "warm floods", they're cooler and more directional than the incandescent they replaced. Because we have to add additional a/c to that area in summer to handle the heat generated by the bulbs, I expect the bulbs to pay off in a couple of years. As is, they consume about 1/5 of the incandescent. The $30/bulb price was hard to swallow, but ~50% less than a few months ago. I tried dimmable compact florescent in the same area, but found the dimming poor, noise high and they didn't last very long.

Another thing to consider when replacing incandescent with LED/CF's is bulb size. Though marketed as direct size replacements, I've found the LED and especially the CF's to be slightly larger/longer. This has caused issues in several fixtures we have.

 

[TheAtheistReverend]

GE has a web page where you can compare any two light sources (Graph form) at a time. Comparing soft white bulbs, flourescent and "Reveal" bulbs gives some surprising evidence.

"Spectral Power Distribution Curves (SPD) provide the user with a visual profile of the color characteristics of a light source. They show the radiant power emitted by the source at each wavelength or band of wavelengths over the visible region (380 to 760 nm)."

Here is another visual example of the difference between light sources from an instructors notes for his/her class.

I really like the glow of incandescents, especially since I see them so rarely these days. Most of our home bulbs are now CFLs or LED. LED blows in my book, almost as bad as the CFLs. I may have just had bad luck with the ones I've bought but they don't last anywhere as long as they say they will. The colors I've bought don't come close to natural light, and DAMN they are expensive.
I have a stock of the Reveal type bulbs. They only go in my bedside lamp. I should have enough to last the rest of my life if the bulb-ban ever actually goes into effect.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

Does anyone know anything about lighting?

I'm trying to find a lighting solution for my home. I'm so sick of the yellow light that I have in basically every room.

I'm looking for white light! As close to sunlight or "medical grade" white I can get. Need them to be 60watt or less.

Any suggestions?

Is this based on personal taste or a need for the specific spectrum of light?

One thing to remember is lighting affects mood, not just yours but whoever visits your home so I tend to go with a balanced approach, the warmer more inviting slightly yellow color range around 2800-3100k for living areas and the whiter ranges 3400-3800k for task areas. Much above that and you start getting the bluish cast.

The whiter the light the more invigorating effect, the yellower is more calming so think about what is going on in the particular area when choosing bulbs.

That said I suggest LED since it is more efficient and comes in a wide range of color temperatures. If price is a deterrent you can start switching over a little at a time and with the life span, some up to 50 years, you will recover the costs in reduced electrical expenses and bulb replacement costs. Another nice feature is they come on instantly unlike CFL's.

GE has a web page where you can compare any two light sources (Graph form) at a time. Comparing soft white bulbs, flourescent and "Reveal" bulbs gives some surprising evidence.

"Spectral Power Distribution Curves (SPD) provide the user with a visual profile of the color characteristics of a light source. They show the radiant power emitted by the source at each wavelength or band of wavelengths over the visible region (380 to 760 nm)."

Here is another visual example of the difference between light sources from an instructors notes for his/her class.

I really like the glow of incandescents, especially since I see them so rarely these days. Most of our home bulbs are now CFLs or LED. LED blows in my book, almost as bad as the CFLs. I may have just had bad luck with the ones I've bought but they don't last anywhere as long as they say they will. The colors I've bought don't come close to natural light, and DAMN they are expensive.
I have a stock of the Reveal type bulbs. They only go in my bedside lamp. I should have enough to last the rest of my life if the bulb-ban ever actually goes into effect.

Have you tried the Master Series from Philips? I use them and the light is a nice slightly yellow color very reminiscent of incandescent bulbs. My oldest is a little over 2 years, bought it when they were $60.00, they are coming down quickly though with $34.95 being the current rate at Home depot here.

I am switching all of my landscape lighting customers over to led, there is no reason at all to stay with halogen now other than price and that is dropping.

 

[TheAtheistReverend]

...Have you tried the Master Series from Philips? I use them and the light is a nice slightly yellow color very reminiscent of incandescent bulbs. My oldest is a little over 2 years, bought it when they were $60.00, they are coming down quickly though with $34.95 being the current rate at Home depot here.

I am switching all of my landscape lighting customers over to led, there is no reason at all to stay with halogen now other than price and that is dropping.

I have not, but with your recommendation I'll be picking one up this week if they have a 60-75 watt equivalent.
:thrashern!

 

[ArmageddonX]

It's personal taste mostly. I really dislike the yellow light. I'm looking for BRIGHT and as close to white as I can get. Blue light would even be preferable to the yellow hue I currently have.

Thank you everyone for the help. I am slowly sorting through the replies.

Edit: More than anything, I really need a recommendation on a bulb that fits my needs. Bright white light. One I can go to Lowes or Walmart and purchase.

~ ArmyX

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

Here's one Shop Utilitech 40-Watt Equivalent Indoor LED Flood Light Bulb at Lowes.com

They should have others available as well.

 

[Seanette]

Have you tried the Master Series from Philips? I use them and the light is a nice slightly yellow color very reminiscent of incandescent bulbs. My oldest is a little over 2 years, bought it when they were $60.00, they are coming down quickly though with $34.95 being the current rate at Home depot here.

I am switching all of my landscape lighting customers over to led, there is no reason at all to stay with halogen now other than price and that is dropping.

Is there a 100-watt equivalent? My vision demands a very well-lit room.

I'm currently using CFLs because both halogen and incandescent put out more heat, and it gets quite hot enough here in summer.

 

[TheAtheistReverend]

Is there a 100-watt equivalent? My vision demands a very well-lit room...

I haven't seen one yet. I bet the first ones out will be flood lights though. That seems to be the pattern.

I think I have seen a 75w equivalent, but that was the highest... so far.

Most of'm out there are just a little too pricey for me. If they come down another 10-15% I'll be happy.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

Is there a 100-watt equivalent? My vision demands a very well-lit room.

I'm currently using CFLs because both halogen and incandescent put out more heat, and it gets quite hot enough here in summer.

Highest I have seen is 75w but I am sure somebody has them available but most likely in a par type flood.