LED House Bulbs?

Mork_417 · 04-04-13, 06:34 AM

So, I have been trying to knock down my honey-do-list this year, as per the deal i made with the GF. Yesterday i was in the hardware store returning a bunch of plumbing fittings I didn't actually use, and I decided to pick up a bulb or two for the girls' ceiling fan. When we first moved into the house two years ago, i replaced all the lights with energy saving fluorescent bulbs. Well, i have noticed that the LED bulbs are getting more & more common, so I decided to grab one, and give it a try.

Got home, and tried the new bulb. It was very nice, instant on, brighter, and only 4.5watts! I was thinking this is going to work nicely for some of our heavily used lights.

Ten minutes later, it died.

Not sure if i'm going to exchange it or just get my money back.

Has anyone else tried these new LED bulbs, and what is your experience with them?

Herr-Berbunch · 04-04-13, 06:43 AM

As far as I know - and I'm certainly no expert - you need a tranformer to bring the voltage down to either 12 or 24V. If you're shoving 110 through them I'm surprised they lasted the day.

Mork_417 · 04-04-13, 06:53 AM

No, these are made as direct replacements for the normal house incandescent bulbs. Sorry, i guess i should have been a bit more clear about the type.

^^^ This is the one i bought. ^^^

But, yeah I'm sure you're right about the transformer, they are just made into the base I guess.

04-04-13, 07:07 AM

I bought a house that had lots of sunken LEDs in the ceilings. The downstairs were fine but upstairs they just went on a near daily basis.
Loft insulation was the culprit.

AVGWarhawk · 04-04-13, 07:48 AM

Not much experience with LED but they are supposed to last until the cows come home at least. I would stick with fluorescent. Although there is a large scare concerning mercury in the fluorescent bulb and special clean up when broken or needing to be disposed of. The US is slowly fading out incandescent bulbs. I hardly see them anymore. LED are becoming more prevalent on the shelves at the stores. Personally I hate the light LED generate. Cold feeling. The rate we are going soon candles will be the order of the day.

Herr-Berbunch · 04-04-13, 08:03 AM

Yeah, they're supposed to take 120V. Apparently they're susceptible to heat failures - they need a bit of ventilation. If you had it enclosed that may have been the cause.

Jimbuna · 04-04-13, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Yeah, they're supposed to take 120V. Apparently they're susceptible to heat failures - they need a bit of ventilation. If you had it enclosed that may have been the cause.

My lad has them almost throughout his place of abode and yes, ventilation is key.

fireftr18 · 04-04-13, 12:50 PM

I'm familier with them and like them, except for the price. I suppose it's a case of you get what you pay for.

LED lights have come into extensive use for the lighting on emergency vehicles. They are expensive, but they show up better than anything else made, and they run with significantly less power draw. Important when you have limited power production and a large draw.

They're also great for flashlights. We now have cheap, tiny flashlights that give out as much, or more light than large, heavy, expensive lights of the past.

I still like the plain old incandescent lights. Cheap and reliable.
I can't stand compact flourescents. They're good at first, then after a while, they kind of dim down.

Spoon 11th · 04-04-13, 12:51 PM

I bought these LEDs from deal extreme:

E27 7W 4000K 700lm 14-LED Warm White Light Bulb - Purple (AC 85~265V)

http://www.dx.com/p/152093

There might be even better models these days. I wouldn't buy anything less than 100 lumens per watt. Also, 4000K color temp is the one I like best. This model is hemisphere and the purple thingy is a heat sink, so I assume it has a long life span.

Herr-Berbunch · 04-04-13, 01:32 PM

85-265V

That's some variation for a bulb that should output a regulated amount.

Spoon 11th · 04-04-13, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

85-265V

That's some variation for a bulb that should output a regulated amount.

It has "wide range" Switched-mode power supply, but yeah, the white leds operate around constant 5 volts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply

Mork_417 · 04-05-13, 04:56 AM

Yeah, it was just a simple night stand lamp, open, so ventilation should have been good. I'm going to swap it out with another one, and give it another chance. I'm all about trying to lower our electric bill every month, so i'm always lookin at new ideas.

I like the 3500k - 4000k range, but the GF likes the 2700k ones.

Thanks for the input guys!

Herr-Berbunch · 04-05-13, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloppyRat

I'm all about trying to lower our electric bill every month, so i'm always lookin at new ideas.

Always admirable. We've got CFLs everywhere but I might have to look into these LED bulbs now they're a lot cheaper.

Jimbuna · 04-05-13, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Always admirable. We've got CFLs everywhere but I might have to look into these LED bulbs now they're a lot cheaper.

I was under the impression people in your area simply wired themselves to the street lighting

Herr-Berbunch · 04-05-13, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I was under the impression people in your area simply wired themselves to the street lighting

Shhhhh!

We're also running an extension from the neighbour's leccy supply for when the passing trams interrupt the street light supplies.

04-04-13, 06:34 AM	#1
Mork_417 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: DB-15 Posts: 851 Downloads: 263 Uploads: 0	LED House Bulbs? So, I have been trying to knock down my honey-do-list this year, as per the deal i made with the GF. Yesterday i was in the hardware store returning a bunch of plumbing fittings I didn't actually use, and I decided to pick up a bulb or two for the girls' ceiling fan. When we first moved into the house two years ago, i replaced all the lights with energy saving fluorescent bulbs. Well, i have noticed that the LED bulbs are getting more & more common, so I decided to grab one, and give it a try. Got home, and tried the new bulb. It was very nice, instant on, brighter, and only 4.5watts! I was thinking this is going to work nicely for some of our heavily used lights. Ten minutes later, it died. Not sure if i'm going to exchange it or just get my money back. Has anyone else tried these new LED bulbs, and what is your experience with them? __________________ Heading to AM49.(U-553)

04-04-13, 06:43 AM	#2
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	As far as I know - and I'm certainly no expert - you need a tranformer to bring the voltage down to either 12 or 24V. If you're shoving 110 through them I'm surprised they lasted the day. __________________

04-04-13, 06:53 AM	#3
Mork_417 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: DB-15 Posts: 851 Downloads: 263 Uploads: 0	No, these are made as direct replacements for the normal house incandescent bulbs. Sorry, i guess i should have been a bit more clear about the type. ^^^ This is the one i bought. ^^^ But, yeah I'm sure you're right about the transformer, they are just made into the base I guess. __________________ Heading to AM49.(U-553)

04-04-13, 08:03 AM	#6
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	Yeah, they're supposed to take 120V. Apparently they're susceptible to heat failures - they need a bit of ventilation. If you had it enclosed that may have been the cause. __________________

04-04-13, 12:50 PM	#8
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	I'm familier with them and like them, except for the price. I suppose it's a case of you get what you pay for. LED lights have come into extensive use for the lighting on emergency vehicles. They are expensive, but they show up better than anything else made, and they run with significantly less power draw. Important when you have limited power production and a large draw. They're also great for flashlights. We now have cheap, tiny flashlights that give out as much, or more light than large, heavy, expensive lights of the past. I still like the plain old incandescent lights. Cheap and reliable. I can't stand compact flourescents. They're good at first, then after a while, they kind of dim down. __________________ Of all the forms of Martial Arts, Karaoke causes the most pain!

04-04-13, 07:07 AM	#4
Tribesman Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I bought a house that had lots of sunken LEDs in the ceilings. The downstairs were fine but upstairs they just went on a near daily basis. Loft insulation was the culprit.

04-04-13, 07:48 AM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Not much experience with LED but they are supposed to last until the cows come home at least. I would stick with fluorescent. Although there is a large scare concerning mercury in the fluorescent bulb and special clean up when broken or needing to be disposed of. The US is slowly fading out incandescent bulbs. I hardly see them anymore. LED are becoming more prevalent on the shelves at the stores. Personally I hate the light LED generate. Cold feeling. The rate we are going soon candles will be the order of the day.

04-04-13, 12:51 PM	#9
Spoon 11th Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Finland Posts: 689 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I bought these LEDs from deal extreme: E27 7W 4000K 700lm 14-LED Warm White Light Bulb - Purple (AC 85~265V) http://www.dx.com/p/152093 There might be even better models these days. I wouldn't buy anything less than 100 lumens per watt. Also, 4000K color temp is the one I like best. This model is hemisphere and the purple thingy is a heat sink, so I assume it has a long life span.

04-04-13, 01:32 PM	#10
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	85-265V That's some variation for a bulb that should output a regulated amount. __________________

04-05-13, 04:56 AM	#12
Mork_417 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: DB-15 Posts: 851 Downloads: 263 Uploads: 0	Yeah, it was just a simple night stand lamp, open, so ventilation should have been good. I'm going to swap it out with another one, and give it another chance. I'm all about trying to lower our electric bill every month, so i'm always lookin at new ideas. I like the 3500k - 4000k range, but the GF likes the 2700k ones. Thanks for the input guys! __________________ Heading to AM49.(U-553)