LED lightbulbs were not going
to be in my future, I thought. My concept was that LED was a bad idea. But as I climb ladders more often to replace
bulbs I am beginning to see advantages of longer life bulbs. Spirals are now commodities, and I like one
or two brands. Some I can hardly tell
any difference from normal bulbs. They
are especially good in goose neck desk lights, as they don’t generate any heat.
But, LED reviews in Consumer
Reports and other magazines have started to come on strong. Spiral bulbs often have warnings against
using dimmers, and against putting them in sealed fixtures. I have a number of
sealed fixtures in my home. As far as I
know LED’s are fine in sealed areas.
LED’s have had, in the past,
some strange qualities in addition to terribly high prices. Some of them look
strange, and some send most of the light up, not around and down. And wavelengths
were very white. But now, Cree, a North Carolina
manufacturer might be about to take the LED market by storm. For under $13 (exclusive for the moment at
Home Depot) Cree has a 60 watt (light output) bulb that burns only 9
watts. Is warm white, mimics the look of
the normal lightbulb, and is dimmable. Will last for 23 years under normal 3
hour a day use. In two years it would pay for itself in electricity saving. After that, it saves massive money over the
remaining 21 years. I gather than the
reviewers liked it best of all LED bulbs tested, light went normally around,
not just up.
Phillips makes a build called
A-19 420240, it was OK similar specs to
the Cree, but it throws the light up, I will pass on that one. Also looks more
like halogen light, not warm white.
Ecosmart A19 Bright White 400674
is another dimmable LED, in the bright white spectrum. Price has dropped from
$26 to about $14 in recent weeks. So,
you can see where this is going – soon they will be so competitive people will
buy them in mass
Cree has not yet received certification
for utility rebates, but I am sure it will.
Then it will be even less than $13.
I will buy a Cree this week
and test it. Look for a Blog update when
I have actual happiness (or not) with my first LED bulb. Note this link on Forbes .. worth a read, that's for sure.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2013/05/22/how-cree-perfected-the-20-year-lightbulb/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2013/05/22/how-cree-perfected-the-20-year-lightbulb/
