Moog-Type-S

^^ Most people do notice the difference in lighting temperature.

BubbaMarkTL

Good, then those who do, and actually care, can see that LED is inferior when it comes to light ambiance and quality and will make the prudent decision to stay away until such a time as LED is truely a competitive and viable option.

Moog-Type-S

this...

then, this....
puff puff give give

Fibonacci

I don't think anyone was 'droning' on about LED tech. It is in its relative infancy as a technology and is certainly far from perfection in home lighting for sure.

If CFL's were so great, they should be winning on its own merits and not because its promoted by 'green' nazis and forced upon us by the displacement of incandescents.

LEDs have already won over the automotive establishment and will make further inroads as it scales up. I don't see any reason to see why it can't happen in other applications either.

PortlandRL

I am totally geeking out about this because the Home Depot near my house is currently offering flood-style LED bulbs in 65 and 75 watts as well as recessed-style bulbs. They are also offering the standard globe bulb style but so far, only up to 40 watts. The man who answered my questions said they should have a full line-up by the end of November. They had a set-up to compare incandescent, CFL and LED. The LED light was by far more natural-looking than the CFLs and at a glance, was virtually indistinguishable from the incandescent bulb.

The price is a bit steep ($45 for a flood-style) but as the technology progresses and they become more popular, the price will come down. Regardless, I'm still very excited about this.

doopstr

I just blew a flood lamp but I don't think I'm going to spend $45 to replace it

Any idea if you can dim an LED flood lamp? My outdoor lamps dim to half brightness when there is no motion for 5 minutes.

BubbaMarkTL

Yes you can dim LED with the proper ballast and a compatible fixture

thunder04

iTrader: (1)

Hmm. I saw these at my local Home Depot the last time I was there. I may have to buy one for a light in my house to see how they perform vs the CFLs I currently use.

Moog-Type-S

Wait a couple of years when the cost versus the energy savings makes it easier to swallow.

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

High quality leds are dimmable.

Fibonacci

I just noticed last weekend that Costco started carrying the LED dimmable floods again - they are the 75 watt equivalent for $40 bucks, gonna try some in the basement.

Really looking forward to seeing some decent globe bulb offerings though.

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

Be prepared to be disappointed most of what's currently at retail sucks. If you want LEDs that reproduce light properly you need to look for ones with CREE LEDs. I out fitted my condo with them and they are awesome.

Mizouse

i still want to see that home depot 60watt equivalent, but im not spending like 20-30 on it..

doopstr

I'm still not ready to spend $40 on a flood light. When they get to $20 I will consider them.

Dan

I love this thing!

http://www.microsun.com/content/Benefits-Overview.aspx

Fibonacci

The ones Costco is currently carrying are CREE LED's. I have 26 cans in the basement x 40 bucks = $1040.

fsttyms1

I picked up a bunch of Dimmable LED lights from Sams Club for 20 a piece. I have them in a few places where i dont need a softer light and i really like them. I have had them for a month or so so i cant say on long term viability but i like the quick instant light and how bright they are. I think im going to get 8 more for my garage and put in some can lights soon.

Fibonacci

Costco is carrying LG 40 watt (equiv) LED globes. They sell a pair for $22 bucks. I tried them out in my basement stairway and they have this disconcerting split second delay before they turn on.

Home Depot is carrying Phillips 40 watt (equiv) LED globe, just one for $22 bucks. The 60 watt (equiv) were almost twice as much. I like the Phillips brand much better even though they are pricier. Warmer color and they don't have any delay when you switch on so I plan on buying more.

Hopefully a year from now as production scales up the price will drop precipitously. Yay for progress, no CFL's with potential mercury poison around the munchkins for me.

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

I out fitted my condo with LEDs from ecolumenation.com. they produce a very nice warm light, probably a little more expensive than from a big box store but they are top of the line bulbs.

YeuEmMaiMai

I find LED lighting to be a little on the blue side. I have CCFL lighting throughout the house and it works well and it took a HUGE chunk out of our electric bill. Paid for themselves the first month in savings went from 16* 120W bulbs down to 16*24W

Scrib

Bringing this thread back. I have an asston of 60 watt flood lights in our new house, and the electric meter nearly spins itself off the house when they're all on.

Anyone pulled the trigger on LED floods. I know Fibi was on the fence. Fawkers ain't cheap.

Mizouse

yea are these things cheap yet?

Scrib

Not that I have found. But I have 36 recessed lights. Need to do something.

doopstr

Scrib

Yes, I'm a recessed whore.

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

Scrib I think I mentioned this before but my brother runs the site ecolumenation.com he said you would be looking at $36 per shipped in any color temp/beam angle/dimmable for the PAR30's which are all CREE LED's.

Gfaze

36 x $36=$1296 in lights!

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

Yep they are expensive, at current prices LED's may not make sense for residential use, but in the commercial market where lights are constantly on upwards of 10hrs a day and buildings have to pay labor to change burnt out lights the ROI is typically about 1 year.

Scrib

Yea, you did... I was looking for a PM or something... My memory sucks these days.

I am not familiar with the whole PAR thing... Right now I have 60 watt floods. Are PAR30s equivalent light output?

Scrib

Yes, it is expensive... But when I have 6, 60 watt lights on while watching TV, another 8 on in the kitchen, 3 over the area where my son is playing with a neft basketball, that's what... 17 cans @ 60 watts... 1020 watts. Versus what 15 watts for an LED, which is 75% less?


It may take a while to recoup the $$$, but it's gotta be worth it.

Just have to decide if I want to part with the cash.

Moog-Type-S

^^ Why are you not running CFL's?

Gfaze

^

Scrib

fsttyms1

I have my garage outfitted with them, 12 total. Love them. They are very bright, been about a year since i put them in and are still working great. Work great in cold weather as well. I still have shop lights to add even more light but overall im happy i put them in. Even with 12 of them i use far less energy than the old light setups i had. I have 8 cans in the house with them and a track 6 track light with them in (warmer temp than the ones in the garage) Wife likes them WAY better than the CFLs that were in them. Lighting is instant!


Garage

Scrib

How much and where from?

fsttyms1

I got all mine from sams club. They were under 20 bucks each.

doopstr

$60 light bulb comes down in price -- just in time for Earth Day
About $25 after rebates...
Video at link
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...earth-day?lite

It's pretty interesting that the color of the bulb is yellow yet the light is white.


It won an award
http://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/...t/lprizealert/

Mizouse

Moog-Type-S

At $25 per LED bulb it will take approximately 2-3 years to pay for itself versus the incandescent counterpart

At $60 per LED bulb it will take 5-7 years to pay for itself versus the incandescent counterpart.


CFL still the best cost /value all around.

LED is the future, but the cost benefit is not there yet....give it a couple of more years.

Will Y.

I was in a Home Depot yesterday and saw a number of LED bulbs available, several @ $20 and $25. The LEDs are dimmable, which the CFL's aren't.

I think you're right about prices dropping, but it may only take a year. Remember when CFLs were $10-$12 each?