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Started By
Message
What light bulbs have you found to be the best?
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:23 am
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:23 am
I'm on a quest to find a 3,000k light bulb that works and lasts at least half as long as it should. Most LEDs claim to last 50,000 - 100,000 hours but I feel like I'm changing them out way too often. I'm not looking for a specialty bulb, I just need a bulb that won't crap out after a few months. It seems as though every time I replace a bulb another one starts flickering. I've never been through so many bulbs in my life. Anyone find a bulb that lasts?
I've used traffic signal bulbs in the past with good results but I don't know how energy efficient it would be to have those throughout the house as opposed to LEDs. My electric bill is already over $500/month in the summer even with new windows and two new a/c units so I would like something efficient.
I've used traffic signal bulbs in the past with good results but I don't know how energy efficient it would be to have those throughout the house as opposed to LEDs. My electric bill is already over $500/month in the summer even with new windows and two new a/c units so I would like something efficient.
7
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:54 am to Cage Fighter Trainee
quote:
Most LEDs claim to last 50,000 - 100,000 hours
aka there's at least one last little led diode clinging to life at 99,000 hours
i have all but given up on a19 led bulbs and opt for fixtures where the LED is part of it whenever possible. these seem brighter and longer lasting than putting led bulbs into old sockets and also don't suffer from 'pulsing' whenever the washing machine is going.
eta and this includes, you HUE
screw your $50 bulbs that have some burned out LEDs so the 'white' no longer matches from 2 bulbs in the same room. This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 9:55 am
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:55 am to Cage Fighter Trainee
I’ve never had a store-bought LED bulb fail and I have a lot, mostly Wal-Mart or HD store brand and mostly the clear, decorative type.
I can say the Cree smart bulbs and some GE ones tend to stop being smart but the light still works.
I’ve only had the massive 50w Amazon corn cob LEDs in the garage actually “burn” out to <50%.
I can say the Cree smart bulbs and some GE ones tend to stop being smart but the light still works.
I’ve only had the massive 50w Amazon corn cob LEDs in the garage actually “burn” out to <50%.
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 10:00 am
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:20 am to Cage Fighter Trainee
Usually just buy the Feit brand ones from Costco with great success. Majority of my house switched to those about 6-7 years ago with just a few failures.
The edison bulb design is not great for LED bulbs since the heat is all trapped in the base. Switching to fixtures designed for LEDs tend to last longer since they design for heat dissipation
However then you are stuck switching the whole fixture a lot of times when it fails
The edison bulb design is not great for LED bulbs since the heat is all trapped in the base. Switching to fixtures designed for LEDs tend to last longer since they design for heat dissipation
However then you are stuck switching the whole fixture a lot of times when it fails
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:28 am to Cage Fighter Trainee
I would stick with the higher end name brands. I’ve gone cheap and those fail fairly quickly. I don’t think I’ve ever had the good stuff fail.
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:45 am to CoolHand
I've been using these but they just don't last. I've tried to avoid the no name brands because the name brand stuff doesn't even work well. I didn't think of the fixture being the cause of the failure.
I type this as the slightly different colored LEDs in my home office are pulsing while the washing machine runs
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:51 am to UltimaParadox
quote:
Switching to fixtures designed for LEDs tend to last longer since they design for heat dissipation
This has to be the answer. Never had one failed and never used a closed fixture.
Posted on 10/7/24 at 12:46 pm to Dallaswho
We used to buy the Wal Mart brand but they crapped out too often (shocker) so we switched to Philips brand on Amazon and they seem much more consitent and last considerably longer.
Philips LED bulb
Philips LED bulb
Posted on 10/7/24 at 12:48 pm to UltimaParadox
quote:or your wife changes her mind.
However then you are stuck switching the whole fixture a lot of times when it fails
<-- follow me for more tips on frequent light fixture changing
Posted on 10/10/24 at 8:16 am to Cage Fighter Trainee
The only brand that has zero fails for me is CREE. Kitchen ceiling lights are still good at 5 years heavy use.
The simpler the LED bulb the less likely early failure is, however, even the simplest ones have power-conditioning circuits that fail long before the light emitting diodes go. Add to that circuits for remote control, diming, color balance, etc and you can have a very temperamental gadget.
The ultimate solution is impractical... rewire house with 12 or 24V DC and buy lights appropriately. I did this on a limited scale to light 3 dark closets with LED strips.
The simpler the LED bulb the less likely early failure is, however, even the simplest ones have power-conditioning circuits that fail long before the light emitting diodes go. Add to that circuits for remote control, diming, color balance, etc and you can have a very temperamental gadget.
The ultimate solution is impractical... rewire house with 12 or 24V DC and buy lights appropriately. I did this on a limited scale to light 3 dark closets with LED strips.
Posted on 10/10/24 at 8:35 am to Cage Fighter Trainee
They never last as long as claimed, that 50,000 - 100,000 hours is based on running in a lab not the real world. Also, that only applies to the LED itself and not the driver module which is what usually craps out. LEDs don't like heat, so for certain things that I have I still use incandescents like enclosed fixtures outside and my bedside table lamps.
Posted on 10/10/24 at 9:19 am to Clames
Amazon Link
I put some of these in my workshop and it has been a game changer. I am adding two more in my shed over my toolbox and work bench.
I put some of these in my workshop and it has been a game changer. I am adding two more in my shed over my toolbox and work bench.
Posted on 10/10/24 at 10:13 am to Cage Fighter Trainee
I've had good results with Sunco LED bulbs
Posted on 10/10/24 at 10:20 am to Clames
quote:
They never last as long as claimed, that 50,000 - 100,000
You guys are making up numbers. Most LED's in stores are 5,000-10,000 hours not 50k-100k.
I don't know how accurate those numbers are, but they do have estimated life spans. Most of them in the big box like I said including the GE brand are 5,000-10,000.
I order bulbs from 1000bulbs but there maybe a better website, and I only order the ones that are 25,000+ hour rated. How accurate that is, I have no idea but ordering them online from there is generally cheaper than the big box stores.
Posted on 10/10/24 at 12:51 pm to baldona
quote:
You guys are making up numbers.
Wrong, can look up any number of LED fixtures and bulbs advertising 15,000 hours, 25,000 hours, 70,000 hours, 100,000 hours, etc. of life. It doesn't matter as even at 5,000 hours it's a gross over-estimation in real world useage. Better brands like GE, Phillips, Sylvania are certainly going to last longer than HDX and Walmart brands but for the most part most LED's last about as long as older, quality incandescents. Can they make LED's that last as long as what they are often advertised as? Certainly, the Dubai LED bulbs are proof but those bulbs aren't sold elsewhere because it's obviously not in the best interests of these companies' bottom lines.
Posted on 10/10/24 at 4:33 pm to Clames
of course YMMV, but I've had it with GE & Phillips A19 (standard) bulbs. Just don't last. Period. either don't work or permanent flicker.
I just boughs some more HDX R30's. Have had no issues with the first 6 and the light is indistinguishable from the incandescents. Still early yet, though.
I did however buy some GE LED wafer retrofits to go in some porch recessed fixtures. Bats and wasps kept building nests in the traditional ones.
I just boughs some more HDX R30's. Have had no issues with the first 6 and the light is indistinguishable from the incandescents. Still early yet, though.
I did however buy some GE LED wafer retrofits to go in some porch recessed fixtures. Bats and wasps kept building nests in the traditional ones.
This post was edited on 10/10/24 at 4:35 pm
Posted on 10/11/24 at 12:16 pm to Clames
quote:
quote:
You guys are making up numbers.
Wrong, can look up any number of LED fixtures and bulbs advertising 15,000 hours, 25,000 hours, 70,000 hours, 100,000 hours, etc. of life
Yes I'm well aware, please read my post again. Like I said, and I buy $1000 or so of LED residential style bulbs a year. I've never seen a standard A19 bulb that's rated for more than 30,000 hours in a retail store. I'm not saying they don't exist, I'm saying they are absolutely not common.
Most of the bulbs that are sold at your standard Ace, Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart are usually 5,000-10,000 hours with the occasional bulb up to 25,000.
Even most of the GE brands are 10,000.
I'd be happy to be wrong, but I'd love someone to show me a bulb at Lowes that's rated for 50,000-100,000 hours so I can buy it. This is why I order most of mine online in bulk.
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