Posted: 5/7/2014 12:41:17 PM EDT
| Cree, Phillips, or...... 60 watt bulbs? Any experience or recommendations are greatly appreciated since my old bulbs are starting to die and I need to have some replacements in the closet for when they do. Thanks for any help. |
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I just purchased and installed 5 of the CREE 100w equivalent bulbs in my unfinished basement. They were pricey, I got them at Home Depot for around 100-bucks. Maybe a little more.
The ones that I have are I think the daylight temperature, 5K? In any case they are BRIGHT! They light up those gray cinder block walls and concrete floor in a major way. Compare the different bulbs to see what suits your eyes and application. They are shaped like a traditional incandescent bulb and have a finned, ceramic assembly at the base of the bulb. I guess it may be a heatsink. It's not obtrusive. |
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I just purchased and installed 5 of the CREE 100w equivalent bulbs in my unfinished basement. They were pricey, I got them at Home Depot for around 100-bucks. Maybe a little more. The ones that I have are I think the daylight temperature, 5K? In any case they are BRIGHT! They light up those gray cinder block walls and concrete floor in a major way. Compare the different bulbs to see what suits your eyes and application. They are shaped like a traditional incandescent bulb and have a finned, ceramic assembly at the base of the bulb. I guess it may be a heatsink. It's not obtrusive. The fins are heatsink for the power supply of the LED's. It's the weak spot that kills CFL bulbs, and will still be the weak spot that kills LED bulbs. The LEDs themselves will last a long time. I think they should make a base/power supply with anodized aluminum heatsinks, which the user can then add the bulb of the wattage that matches the base. When the base fails, get another. Otherwise, there will be many angry people over how much was spent on LEDs and having them last barely longer than CFLs (especially in always on or can light mounts). |
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Any experience or recommendations Most of the "Utilitech" LED bulbs and fixtures that Lowe's sells are Chinese-made. They aren't much cheaper than their American-made Cree counterparts, so there's really not any reason to buy them. Most of the Phillips stuff is also pretty good. |
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Quoted: I have a couple Cree bulbs and they are great. I'll wait for the 100w to come down in price before I try it. Twenty bucks is a little steep for one light bulb. I'm still buying the CFLs. No way I'm paying $20 for a light bulb that has about the same efficiency as a CFL. When the LEDs get below $10 each, then I'll probably make the switch. |
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I have have some of the GE/Phillips in a few elevators at my hospital that have been running 2 years 24/7 and none have quit working yet. I did a energy calc. and by changing 800 - 60W lamps the first year savings was $137,689.00. That factors in labor, and regular bulbs and CFL as well. We have have several CFL lamps catch fire and burn they got so hot in can lights. LED is the way to go. I am testing some outdoor floods right now, 150W equivalant in the 5K kelvin range, I like them so far.
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Same here, $20 for a 100, no way, but $3.97 for a 60 watt, Ive done quite a few of them.
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This. I'm still buying the CFLs. No way I'm paying $20 for a light bulb that has about the same efficiency as a CFL. When the LEDs get below $10 each, then I'll probably make the switch. Quoted:
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I have a couple Cree bulbs and they are great. I'll wait for the 100w to come down in price before I try it. Twenty bucks is a little steep for one light bulb. I'm still buying the CFLs. No way I'm paying $20 for a light bulb that has about the same efficiency as a CFL. When the LEDs get below $10 each, then I'll probably make the switch. |
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<snip> The ones that I have are I think the daylight temperature, 5K? In any case they are BRIGHT! They light up those gray cinder block walls and concrete floor in a major way. Compare the different bulbs to see what suits your eyes and application. This^ - the 5k 100W lights are insanely bright, I bought four of them for a bathroom that always seemed dimly lit - now it's like high noon on the equator in there. They will be moved to the garage and other outdoor fixtures and replaced with the 2k 100W lights. ETA: wattage |
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This. I'm still buying the CFLs. No way I'm paying $20 for a light bulb that has about the same efficiency as a CFL. When the LEDs get below $10 each, then I'll probably make the switch. Quoted:
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I have a couple Cree bulbs and they are great. I'll wait for the 100w to come down in price before I try it. Twenty bucks is a little steep for one light bulb. I'm still buying the CFLs. No way I'm paying $20 for a light bulb that has about the same efficiency as a CFL. When the LEDs get below $10 each, then I'll probably make the switch. Our local home depot had 60W equivalent CREE LEDs for 5.99 EACH on sale last month. I was fuckin bummed that I was completely broke at the time. 
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This. I'm still buying the CFLs. No way I'm paying $20 for a light bulb that has about the same efficiency as a CFL. When the LEDs get below $10 each, then I'll probably make the switch. Quoted:
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I have a couple Cree bulbs and they are great. I'll wait for the 100w to come down in price before I try it. Twenty bucks is a little steep for one light bulb. I'm still buying the CFLs. No way I'm paying $20 for a light bulb that has about the same efficiency as a CFL. When the LEDs get below $10 each, then I'll probably make the switch. CFL's are shit, they don't last, and the light is terrible. 
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The Sylvania Ultra LED ones are pricey, but probably the closest thing to a standard bulb I have found yet. They come in several flavors: http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-78952-20-watt-A21-Ultra/dp/B009ZWB8PU/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_z The Feit Electrics in PAR20 and PAR30 (as well as other sizes) also are good: http://www.amazon.com/Feit-PAR30L-LEDG5-Dimmable-Reflector/dp/B009NCECV4/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_y Both these choices are pricier than some of the alternatives, but after trying a few, I realized that they were better. The Sylvanias are great 2700K lights, and are almost identical to regular bulbs in light spread. None of that 180 degree hemisphere bullshit. The Feit Electrics are good 3000K lights, which are flush in ceiling sconces. They dim well, but tend towards greyish at the dim end. The other PAR bulbs I tried were ugly on high. These were only a little strange on super low. I use LED now in areas that get a LOT of use, and need either instant brightness or dimmability. I use CFL in areas where less use is necessary, or a warm up is tolerable. I use tungsten bulbs where I need heat, or they are going to be cycled frequently, and left off most of the time. Closets and Doghouses, etc... |
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Cree FTW!!!
Just bought my first house. As I update fixtures or have money I replace my bulbs with leds. I tried a few brands and the Cree line is by far my favorite and it's usually the cheapest. Cree 60watt "soft white"(2700k) 800 lumens. It puts out the exact same color as a 60w incandescent, but throws a bit more light for ~$6!!! All the bedrooms and normal light fixtures have these. Cree 75watt for my outside lights Cree 65watt for the pot lights in the kitchen Cree 40w for my chandelier And Cree 100w for the garage. All their lights have a 10 year warranty. I pay $18 a month for electricity. 
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Some dimmables don't work well with dimmers, unless you buy new, led-compatible dimmers. Crees are in this camp. Test one with your dimmers before buying more. You may have to buy new dimmers.
Most warn you not to use them in enclosed fixtures, because they will overheat and have a severely reduced lifespan. Almost all of my bulbs are in enclosed fixtures, dimmable, or both. I bought a 6-pack of cree 9.5w (60w equiv) bulbs on Amazon for about $45. That's $7.50 each. I do have some places they can go. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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This^ - the 5k 100W lights are insanely bright, I bought four of them for a bathroom that always seemed dimly lit - now it's like high noon on the equator in there. They will be moved to the garage and other outdoor fixtures and replaced with the 2k 100W lights. ETA: wattage Quoted:
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<snip> The ones that I have are I think the daylight temperature, 5K? In any case they are BRIGHT! They light up those gray cinder block walls and concrete floor in a major way. Compare the different bulbs to see what suits your eyes and application. This^ - the 5k 100W lights are insanely bright, I bought four of them for a bathroom that always seemed dimly lit - now it's like high noon on the equator in there. They will be moved to the garage and other outdoor fixtures and replaced with the 2k 100W lights. ETA: wattage Cree. Bought one from my sons room and it was very harsh. Moved it to the post lamp outside and OMG the whole front of the house is lit up. I prefer the soft white for inside. |
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Cree, Phillips, or...... 60 watt bulbs? Any experience or recommendations are greatly appreciated since my old bulbs are starting to die and I need to have some replacements in the closet for when they do. Thanks for any help. I recently tried out some of the Cree 60w replacements in a lamp. Far more impressed with them than I was the CFLs They fit, feel and throw light out more like an incandescent. Pricey, but should last a long damned time. |
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Quoted: Cree. Bought one from my sons room and it was very harsh. Moved it to the post lamp outside and OMG the whole front of the house is lit up. I prefer the soft white for inside. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: <snip> The ones that I have are I think the daylight temperature, 5K? In any case they are BRIGHT! They light up those gray cinder block walls and concrete floor in a major way. Compare the different bulbs to see what suits your eyes and application. This^ - the 5k 100W lights are insanely bright, I bought four of them for a bathroom that always seemed dimly lit - now it's like high noon on the equator in there. They will be moved to the garage and other outdoor fixtures and replaced with the 2k 100W lights. ETA: wattage Cree. Bought one from my sons room and it was very harsh. Moved it to the post lamp outside and OMG the whole front of the house is lit up. I prefer the soft white for inside. I bought a Cree 5K Daylight bulb to try out. I didn't like the color inside. Too harsh. It worked great in my shop, though. I just bought some 2.7Ks for the house. Haven't tried them yet, though. I may put that 5K in my porch light. I want brighter in the shop. |
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I bought a Cree 5K Daylight bulb to try out. I didn't like the color inside. Too harsh. It worked great in my shop, though. I just bought some 2.7Ks for the house. Haven't tried them yet, though. I may put that 5K in my porch light. I want brighter in the shop. Quoted:
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<snip> The ones that I have are I think the daylight temperature, 5K? In any case they are BRIGHT! They light up those gray cinder block walls and concrete floor in a major way. Compare the different bulbs to see what suits your eyes and application. This^ - the 5k 100W lights are insanely bright, I bought four of them for a bathroom that always seemed dimly lit - now it's like high noon on the equator in there. They will be moved to the garage and other outdoor fixtures and replaced with the 2k 100W lights. ETA: wattage Cree. Bought one from my sons room and it was very harsh. Moved it to the post lamp outside and OMG the whole front of the house is lit up. I prefer the soft white for inside. I bought a Cree 5K Daylight bulb to try out. I didn't like the color inside. Too harsh. It worked great in my shop, though. I just bought some 2.7Ks for the house. Haven't tried them yet, though. I may put that 5K in my porch light. I want brighter in the shop. Yep I think the 5Ks are great for outside and the garage! |
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Cree. Made in USA. You can get them a little cheaper buying them from homedepot.com in a 6 pack. Your electric utility may even be subsidizing them to make them cheaper.
The 2700k seems a little green to me but I still like them....way better than CFL for sure. I've heard the TW series have better color but I haven't been willing to pay the extra to try them out. |