Light bulbs for outdoor use

[Argo]

I'm looking for a light bulbs for outdoor use, with emphasis on cost. The bulbs will not be exposed to elements, but will be in the colder climate (high 30s in winter)

My initial thought was CFLs, but I'm not sure if they will last long enough in the cold to become cost efficient. Any other types I should be looking for?

 

[olds]

Splurge and spend the $3 for a heavy duty light bulb.

 

[Raizinman]

We have outdoor lighting around our house. Each lighting fixture takes two standard bulbs and there are 15 fixtures, which means 30 bulbs. We use to use 30 or 40 watt bulbs and they lasted about 2 or 3 years. We have these lights go on every night starting at dusk until well into the night. We switched to CFL a few years ago and the light is brighter, the wattage is almost nothing, and they, so far, appear to last much longer. The come on also in zero degree weather. The colder the weather, the longer it takes for them to achieve full brightness. Sometimes a much as 2 or 3 minutes.

 

[Mark R]

CFLs would be fine, as long as they are kept suitably enclosed. Heat is the biggest killer of these; cold shouldn't be that much of a problem, as long as the temperature isn't so low that the tube can't reach correct operating temperature.

If the weather is likely to be very cold, then you can get low-temperature rated CFLs, which enclose the tube inside a plastic shell, to prevent wind/draughts from causing excessive cooling of the tube.

 

[Minerva]

30s no problem for those bulbs. They will start out dim but warm up in a few minutes.

 

[Argo]

Thanks, everybody.

 

[RossMAN]

We've had one of these as our porch light for the past year or so, we've been very happy with it. We found them on sale for $5 at our local FredMeyer so I bought about 4 of them. They're also available at Target but cost around $9-$10. If they last at least 2-3 years each I'll be happy, hopefully by then LED's will be bright, better and cheaper. Don't let the few negative Amazon.com reviews fool you, buy one locally and see if it suits your needs.

It's partially covered (top and sides only) which is better than being fully exposed to the elements. The porch light is always left on and the bulb is connected to a dusk to dawn sensor.

 

[DrPizza]

I'd love for the LEDs to come down a bit in price. I use the CFLs in the barn, and since I don't want to wait 5 minutes this time of year for the lights to get bright enough, I simply leave them on 24/7 during the winter. Several of the lights currently in the barn are at least 4 or 5 years old, so I'm getting quite a few hours out of them.

 

[RossMAN]

I'd love for the LEDs to come down a bit in price.

I'm also waiting, I wonder how much longer it will be? The technology is here but I'm not interested in shelling out $30-ish per bulb x 20 or so = $$$

Just waiting for the technology to mature and prices to drop.

I'd also like to see technology like LIFX become vastly more affordable, watch the video it's a geeks dream.

 

[Argo]

Thanks Ross - I never thought that bulbs with photo elements are actually affordable. Ended up buying these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WV9PI0

 

[Imp]

Last I read, and this was years ago, CFLs are not really designed for use outdoors. They don't like the huge fluctuation in temperatures or something. They'll work, they just won't last that long. So unless your place has banned incandescents, go with those. LEDs might be okay though.

 

[RossMAN]

Thanks Ross - I never thought that bulbs with photo elements are actually affordable. Ended up buying these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WV9PI0

You're welcome and thank you I didn't even know CFL's with built in sensors existed.

I'll wait for your review before placing an order, I wonder if my local Home Depot/Lowes has these?

 

[Argo]

You're welcome and thank you I didn't even know CFL's with built in sensors existed.

I'll wait for your review before placing an order, I wonder if my local Home Depot/Lowes has these?

Well, the verdict is in after 3 days. If you live in PNW save your money and get regular CFL. I basically never gets bright enough here for lights to shut off....