Come for a visit and we'll have a beer to discuss.
Posted on 02/16/2014 10:23:31 AM PST by EinNYC
Well, one of the 3 CFL bulbs in my kitchen ceiling fan light fixture has now burned out. The 2 still-functioning bulbs are candelabra-base dimmable CFL bulbs with the teardrop at the end. They lasted about a year or two. I am wondering if this burned out bulb is an opportunity for me to finally take the plunge into LED bulbs as a replacement.
What experiences have FReepers had with candelabra-base omnidirectional LED bulbs with a 40W incandescent equivalence, in the 2700-3000K range (so it looks natural and not like the kitchen is under an interrogation light)?
I heartily thank all contributors to my knowledge base in advance!
That is what I have seen, the outdoor lights we do not turn off actually lasted with CFL.
Just got a Sylvania LED from Lowes. A PAR 30 style for the can light over the sink. 825 lumens, around 19W electric consumption, dimmable, and indoor/outdoor rated with 50K hrs. Projected lifespan.
They call it a sunset model or some such. The light gets warmer as you dim it. The sink can light doesn’t dim, so I can’t comment on that.
The display at Lowes had a working can light I could reach, and it was warm, not uncomfortably so, to the touch, but not hot in any way. Price was $25.
I imagine this was an introductory display for a new line. I expect the price will drop.
Seems like a good light so far, and we do burn that light a lot in the evening.
Ha! I just took the plunge and bought two 60 watt replacements for my daughters’ rooms, because they leave them on all night. The wife and kids hate CFLs, so I replaced them secretly. Nobody noticed last night. They’re supposed to give a warm light, and I couldn’t tell the difference in a side-by-side comparison with an incandescent. $12 each at Lowe’s. They use 25% of the energy.
I was going to post the exact same thing. I had such great luck with them outside, and in other constant on applications, that I put them in just about every socket I could. Although I am a big fan of CFL's, they do have their drawbacks.. Turn on time till full illumination is still long. In a bathroom or hallway that might see less than a couple of minutes of illumination at a time, its a waste and greatly decreases the life of the bulb.
My bathrooms have gone back to incandescent.
I am not dabbling in LED, bought a nice CREE 60watt equivalent light. $10, very nice bulb. However, I think its something of a myth that LED's are much more efficient than CFL's. Going from 60 watts down to 13 watts (CFL) was a major gain. Going down again to 9.5 watts, not so much. LED's are just now coming to the price point where they start making sense in certain applications, but for me, in an application where the light wont be on much, its hard to beat incandescents.
Gosh! Burst into flame? What brand, may I ask, did that? I don’t want to have to keep a fire extinguisher in every room with CFL bulbs!
The brightest candelabra LED bulbs I’ve found are 40W which I find too dim. If I could find them in 60W AND warm white I’d buy them in a heart beat. I have made the mistake of buying LED bulbs that were bright white and hate the color but will be living with them forever. They do last a long time and for that reason I use them in hard to reach spots. I don’t think they do well in moist environments.
When CFL’s first came out, there was confusion about how they were to be treated when broken. A few of the first unfoturnates crossing this uncharted territory sometimes wound up in news reports stating that when the homeowner called and asked what to do with a broken bulb given it contains mercury, the “official” response was to require them to pay for advanced “hazmat” type services to come to their house and remove the “toxic” waste appropriately” (One homeowner’s EPA spec cleanup bill I recall was over a thousand dollars)
The big issue was the rules in place at the time for cleaning up mercury. Mercury is particularly damaging to children and there were strict laws in place and those laws were applied to broken light bulbs. With a revolt growing among consumers stung by exacting requirements, “New Rules” were devised advocating airing out a room etc. A bit cavelier but apparently there was no feasible way to introduce (Force) CFL’s to the public. SO forget child health concerns, open a window and put on gloves etc. But at least consumers were not required to call the environmental swat team$$$$
So my opinion of CFL’s was not good, and then I read this article about CFL’s which have little breaks in the protective coating which allow harmful UV light:
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2012/07/harmful-uv-radiation-for-humans-from.html
So I absolutely refuse to use them in desk lamps or reading lamps. I will burn through my stash of incandescents and hope that LED’s are ready by the time I am all out.
The 100 watt equivalent CFL bulbs are getting better and are quite bright. All CFLs that I have used begin to dim after a couple of years.
CFL bulbs also can’t be used in a cold area. They burn out quickly and never reach full brightness.
I’m surprised to see someone say that LED bulbs get hot. They don’t, do they?
Come for a visit and we'll have a beer to discuss.
I am not one who sees new technology and criticize it because it does not work exactly as 'I want it to.' About 10 years ago I decided to try the CFLs for the lighting part of my electrical budget, which generally is about 20% of total electrical use. My lighting expense has been reduced about 80%. The cost of the bulbs are not appreciably more than the old incandescents.
The CFLs have been improved over time. I am happy with the switchover, but I don't need "decorative" bulbs of any kind.
I have never had 'interference' problems. I suppose if I really tried, I could generate some.
My needs are simple : ambient lights and reading lights.
My bulb costs are no more than the old incandescents. I shop at Costco and the dollar stores..
7W CFLs bulbs are more than enough for ambient lights just about anywhere. For reading lights a 15W CFL is more than enough.
For the last year or so, LEDs have become reasonably priced for use as reading lights. Two non-fancy desk lamps for $10 is reasonable, whether they last 2 years or 10.
On average I replace one CFL every year, out of 22 in use indoors and out.
Brand name seems to be irrelevant.
I have no complaints.
Color temperature is important.
2700 K - your typical yellow light is considered warm and inviting but makes one feel sleepy in the winter.
6500 K - true daylight - is bright white - great for the winter blues but for a lot of people it comes across as cold and clinical in a residential setting.
4100 K - the happy medium - nice bright white light without the yellows and the blues.
I’ve seen two catastrophic failures of CFL bulbs. Black scorching on the stubs left in the base where the tubes exploded away. No way will I have those things in my house. Fred Upton should be horse-whipped.
I once tried to unscrew one of those new fangled curly bulbs and the GD thing broke in my hand, sending sharp shards of glass into my fingers...If I find the SOBs who came up with these bozo bulbs I’d choke um.
In PA CFLs are subsidized so a 4 pack was about $1 at Costco. Maybe I’ve replaced 1 in three years. The disappointment was the on 100w (equivalent) CFLs the threaded part was too short so they wouldn’t draw current.
My CFLs burned out like regular bulbs. And I didn’t like how dim they where when first turned on.
I’ve since tried two LEDs and have been happy with both. Nice natural color and one has been going for over a year in a room where it’s on for several hours per day. I think I paid about $8 for each at Walmart. These are standard 60 and 40 watt equivalent types.
I have no idea what brands they were.
Just got off the phone with FEIT ELECTRIC concerning one of their LED 60w bulbs.
I replaced the bulb in my bedstand lamp w/ a LED 60w. Tried to listen to my weather radio, can’t, the RF destroys reception.
Replaced the LED w/ a CFL and tried an incandescent, no problem.
FEIT customer service says there is a disclaimer on the package stating the bulb may cause interference. Yes, it’s there on the back in the lower left corner. (small type)
On the plus side, the light is very bright very white. Instant on full bright.
I’ve tried a 25w candelabra bulb in a fixture. Again a Feit bulb. Dimming it merely reduces the output, not the color. Too sterile white for any kind of relaxing ambiance.
All these bulbs were purchased at Costco, excellent price.
I wonder if the longevity of CFLs has anything to do with the quality of the sine wave of the electricity supply.
People from various parts of the country have varying accounts of how long they last.
I’m with you - mine never lasted much longer than an incandescent, and some quit sooner.
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