Light buld replacement that doesn't suck

[slackerinabox]

So I've tried many different incandescent light bulb replacements and have not been happy with any - compact florescent give me headaches (awful light, flickers, etc.) and the leds that I've used (admittedly pretty cheap ones) just don't seem to give off much light (They're bright, but it's concentrated brightness and not room filling). I could just be using crappy brands, any recommendations?

 

[JEDIYoda]

have you tried candles...or oil lamps??

 

[NFS4]

I replaced about 80% of the bulbs in my house over the weekend, and I've been amazed the instantaneous light and overall brightness/color tone. I'm fed up with Fluorescents. I had replaced my entire house with CFLs four years ago and they take about a minute to reach full brightness, and I've had to replace about 12 of them in that time period (I thought they were supposed to last for years and years? BULLSHIT!).

I got 20 of these 60w Phillips LEDs for $2.50 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204780591&R=204780591

I then bought 5 of these for the kitchen at $11.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204366182&R=204366182

I plan on rounding out the rest of the house (garage, outside lights) with these at $4.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W...ght-Bulb-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-2U100/204592770

That will just leave maybe 8 or so candelabra LED bulbs that I will need to buy for our ceiling fans.

 

[slackerinabox]

I replaced about 80% of the bulbs in my house over the weekend, and I've been amazed the instantaneous light and overall brightness/color tone. I'm fed up with Fluorescents. I had replaced my entire house with CFLs four years ago and they take about a minute to reach full brightness, and I've had to replace about 12 of them in that time period (I thought they were supposed to last for years and years? BULLSHIT!).

I got 20 of these 60w Phillips LEDs for $2.50 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204780591&R=204780591

I then bought 5 of these for the kitchen at $11.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204366182&R=204366182

I plan on rounding out the rest of the house (garage, outside lights) with these at $4.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W...ght-Bulb-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-2U100/204592770

That will just leave maybe 8 or so candelabra LED bulbs that I will need to buy for our ceiling fans.

Very cool! How'd you get the bulbs so cheap?

 

[Markbnj]

I read "Light build replacement that doesn't suck," and came in to recommend a Core I-5.

 

[NFS4]

Very cool! How'd you get the bulbs so cheap?

The Philips bulbs, I saw a thread over on Slickdeals about those. It was supposed to be a Washington state-only deal, but somehow was extended to the whole country for a short time.

http://slickdeals.net/f/6768242-4-p...00k-a19-led-light-bulbs-10-free-store-pick-up

However, those lights can't be used in an enclosure (or outside), which is why I'm gonna get some of those $4.97 Cree LED bulbs to replace the CFLs that I currently use.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/General-El...-Bulb/29391011

http://www.walmart.com/ip/General-El...-Bulb/29391020

Got a couple of these a few weeks back. First LED bulbs I tried. I love them. They are just like the old bulbs to me.

 

[gorcorps]

I replaced about 80% of the bulbs in my house over the weekend, and I've been amazed the instantaneous light and overall brightness/color tone. I'm fed up with Fluorescents. I had replaced my entire house with CFLs four years ago and they take about a minute to reach full brightness, and I've had to replace about 12 of them in that time period (I thought they were supposed to last for years and years? BULLSHIT!).

I got 20 of these 60w Phillips LEDs for $2.50 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204780591&R=204780591

I then bought 5 of these for the kitchen at $11.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204366182&R=204366182

I plan on rounding out the rest of the house (garage, outside lights) with these at $4.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W...ght-Bulb-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-2U100/204592770

That will just leave maybe 8 or so candelabra LED bulbs that I will need to buy for our ceiling fans.

Check out your first link, it made me giggle:

PRODUCT SOLD : Online Only

Item cannot be shipped to the following state(s): AK,AL,AR,AZ,CA,CO,CT,DC,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,IA,ID
,IL,IN,KS,KY,LA,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN,MO,MS,MT,NC,ND
,NE,NH,NJ,NM,NV,NY,OH,OK,OR,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN
,TX,UT,VA,VI,VT,WI,WV,WY

How the hell can you buy these then? :hmm:

 

[jaedaliu]

So I've tried many different incandescent light bulb replacements and have not been happy with any - compact florescent give me headaches (awful light, flickers, etc.) and the leds that I've used (admittedly pretty cheap ones) just don't seem to give off much light (They're bright, but it's concentrated brightness and not room filling). I could just be using crappy brands, any recommendations?

Nothing specific from me, but I read in the news ?last week? that bulb manufacturers are starting to sell higher lumens LED light bulbs. The manufacturers were having difficulty keeping the bulbs cool while providing so much light, but once 1 of them solved the problem, the rest of them probably reverse engineered the cooling solution.

Keep your eye on your retail shelves. If the brighter LED bulbs aren't there now, they should be soon.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Im really shocked to hear all of the negative reactions to fluro lights. Are you guys just buying cheap bulbs or am I lucky/not picky? I've yet to have any of the issues people complain about except slow warmup times which usually only occur when its cold in the house.

 

[richardycc]

with the recent LED price drop/war started by CREE, I've been trying to replace the 20 bulbs in a chandelier. it's a nightmare, the CREE 40w and 60w ones suck and would buzz like crazy if I try to dim them. They are supposed to be dimmable, I even replaced my dimmer with one from the approved list, they still buzz. I guess if your light fixture uses max of 4 bulbs, the buzzing might not be as bad and tolerable if you sit far enough. just ordered some Ecosmart ones, hopefully they won't buzz.

 

[TwiceOver]

They still look like shit.

I'd just go back to buying incandescent.

 

[OCGuy]

make your own, nancy

 

[pete6032]

I usually buy bulbs from Full Spectrum. Not sure if you want incandescent or CFL but I find their bulbs to be nice since they're full spectrum bulbs. Their CFLs take a while to warm up to full brightness.

http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/

 

[NFS4]

Check out your first link, it made me giggle:



How the hell can you buy these then? :hmm:

They put that disclaimer up after Slickdeals raped their inventory online

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Lol @ the first home depot link

PRODUCT SOLD : Online Only
Item cannot be shipped to the following state(s): AK,AL,AR,AZ,CA,CO,CT,DC,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,IA,ID
,IL,IN,KS,KY,LA,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN,MO,MS,MT,NC,ND
,NE,NH,NJ,NM,NV,NY,OH,OK,OR,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN
,TX,UT,VA,VI,VT,WI,WV,WY

 

[Scarpozzi]

My recommendation is to find a local light bulb distributor and walk in their door. Most of these places sell commercial and residential bulbs they order from China. What you get as a result though is they tend to carry semi-quality/proven bulbs that you can ask to see in the store.

Big box stores sell major brands and it's a mixed bag. I've spent $4 on a CFL and had it fail after the 3rd time I've turned it on. I've had others that have a noticable delay when they power on.... I've had really good luck with Sylvania lights. I bought a large pack of those from somewhere and realized they have fewer problems than the cheap ones I bought from Lowes.

You'll have problems with flicker if the voltage isn't constant. If you have a dimmer, for instance and don't give it 100% power, CFLs will flicker. LEDs don't flicker, but I'm not sure how good that technology is yet based on the cost per light and the sheer number of LEDs(per bulb) it takes to generate the light of a CFL or incandecent lamp.

 

[twinrider1]

I got 20 of these 60w Phillips LEDs for $2.50 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204780591&R=204780591

I then bought 5 of these for the kitchen at $11.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=204366182&R=204366182

I plan on rounding out the rest of the house (garage, outside lights) with these at $4.97 each
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W...ght-Bulb-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-2U100/204592770

That will just leave maybe 8 or so candelabra LED bulbs that I will need to buy for our ceiling fans.

Big thanks to the OP and NSF4. I wasn't aware the prices had dropped so much. Last time I checked the Home Depot CREEs were over $10 each.

(On a side note, as incandescent disappears, I wonder if the Electric Code will be updated to allow more fixture on a circuit. I'd love to free up a few spots in my electrical panel).

 

[ElFenix]

i got one of those CREE bulbs NFS4 linked for $7.97 (regular price, texas don't believe in commie solutions such as subsidized efficiency) and it's nice.

i've had good luck with the CFL bulbs home depot sells (sold?). it's been years since i bought any though. the costco feit brand bulbs i got years ago weren't so good.

edit: bulbs from home depot were n:vision brand. there's some posts on the internets claiming that the ecosmart brand is the same

 

[Scarpozzi]

Big thanks to the OP and NSF4. I wasn't aware the prices had dropped so much. Last time I checked the Home Depot CREEs were over $10 each.

(On a side note, as incandescent disappears, I wonder if the Electric Code will be updated to allow more fixture on a circuit. I'd love to free up a few spots in my electrical panel).

They still are high... When you get into recessed light bulbs PAR20/30/38, etc...I've seen those go for $17-30+ each.

$10 a bulb is pretty pricey since the failure rate can potentially be high.

LEDs typically don't fail, but the rest of the circuit is taking standard 120V,15amp feed and stepping it down with a few resistors....that's typically where the heat is coming from. Most of those circuits have a few resistors/diodes/capacitors in line before getting to a string of LED's in series... The requirement of most LEDs is just 12V and an amp or two max.

 

[disappoint]

Lol @ the first home depot link

PRODUCT SOLD : Online Only
Item cannot be shipped to the following state(s): AK,AL,AR,AZ,CA,CO,CT,DC,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,IA,ID
,IL,IN,KS,KY,LA,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN,MO,MS,MT,NC,ND
,NE,NH,NJ,NM,NV,NY,OH,OK,OR,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN
,TX,UT,VA,VI,VT,WI,WV,WY

What the...? There are 53 states there. Aside from the fact that at first glance that seems like 3 too many states until you realize they probably put Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in as states wouldn't it be easier to list the states it CAN be shipped to? Which by the way would be 0 if I'm not mistaken. Then shouldn't they just say online purchase for in store pickup only? Derp.

 

[Thebobo]

Im really shocked to hear all of the negative reactions to fluro lights. Are you guys just buying cheap bulbs or am I lucky/not picky? I've yet to have any of the issues people complain about except slow warmup times which usually only occur when its cold in the house.

I agree real old bulbs had the slow start but none I have seen for years.

 

[tortillasoup]

So I've tried many different incandescent light bulb replacements and have not been happy with any - compact florescent give me headaches (awful light, flickers, etc.) and the leds that I've used (admittedly pretty cheap ones) just don't seem to give off much light (They're bright, but it's concentrated brightness and not room filling). I could just be using crappy brands, any recommendations?

Seriously when was the last time you bought bulbs? Also where do you shop?

Check out any of these bulbs, they're all excellent quality:
http://www.homedepot.com/s/cree?NCNI-5

 

[Jeff7]

Im really shocked to hear all of the negative reactions to fluro lights. Are you guys just buying cheap bulbs or am I lucky/not picky? I've yet to have any of the issues people complain about except slow warmup times which usually only occur when its cold in the house.

Beats me.
I'm using Litetronics Neolites.

Yes, they take several seconds to warm up to maximum brightness. I don't like that during the day, but I do like it first thing in the morning, when my semi-conscious brain is still trying to remember how bipedal locomotion is supposed to work.

Anything with an electronic ballast shouldn't flicker unless it's really cheap junk, or you've got awful power lines, or the world's fastest eyeballs.
Those 2700K Neolites look just like an incandescent lightbulb, and have a decent color rendering index rating.

 

[OutHouse]

Seriously when was the last time you bought bulbs? Also where do you shop?

Check out any of these bulbs, they're all excellent quality:
http://www.homedepot.com/s/cree?NCNI-5

the incandescents i used to buy were excellent quality as well and cost less than a dollar each. fucking politicians and their retarded micromanagement.