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replacing CFLs with LEDs

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by dhanson865, Jul 24, 2013.

  1. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Physics, not Peace. 2014.
     
  2. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    For me I simply don't like the quality of light coming out of florescent bulbs. Really as costs continue to come down we will have native led wiring in houses and cheaper bulbs. Dimming is an issue as many want a color shift as they dim like incandescent bulbs and this is doable with leds.

    I was slow changing mine. Like my mom, always did, turning off lights is way better in effiency, and this doesn't cut down useful life of led.

    For home energy efficient HVAC including insulation is the most important. Then appliances finally light bulbs come into play. The push for light bulbs has been so strong because it is fast and easy, but ... most of my home energy dollars go for gasoline, then for airconditioning, others for heat, unless you are in a very moderate climate.
     
    #182 austingreen, Feb 1, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2015
  3. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I love the pure, white light of the latest generation of LEDs. Older white LEDs used phosphors, as do fluorescent tubes and old television screens.
     
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  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    In my case, it is the florescent flicker. I haven't tested commercial LEDs but the lower voltage makes a flicker filter more practical. Hopefully P-factor requirements have also reduced electrical noise.

    Bob Wilson
     
  5. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    For LEDs which are DC devices flicker is entirely do to improper driver design. I'm not sure which bulbs or dimmers have flicker but the ones I am using are flicker free.
     
  6. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    Puget Sound Energy often has deals for things like LED bulbs.

    I think we're down to 2 CFLs in the place now. I also jumped into indoor gardening, and decided to take the deep plunge and go LED for that.
    300w LED grow light. Plants are way healthier looking under it than they were with the 5500K full-spectrum grow CFL I had before.

    I just got cheap LED puck lights for under the kitchen cabinets that have a warm, natural looking light. I'm really glad that technology has been improving in this.
     
  7. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Yes, entirely due to poor circuit design.
     
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  8. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

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    Comparison Assistant



    So it looks like they came out with a Gen2 version of the cheapest LED bulb I've bought.

    Shaved off .2 watts from 6.5 watts stated to 6.3 watts stated. I haven't bought one to see if the power draw is measurably less on my killawatt meter. If it is really only .2 watts that might be close to the margin of error / accuracy of the meter.

    Item # and Model #
    625157 LA450830LEDG2 15,000 hours 6.3W
    557094 LA450830LED 18,000 hours 6.5W

    oh so it's the same lumens, different heatsink, shorter rated life.
     
  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    LED's in our applications seem to hold up better under mild vibration. CFL's in our garage door opener (cold in winder advantage too) suffered high mortality - LED's ... we're well into our 2nd year now, and they're holding up so far.
    .
     
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  10. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    It should be fairly easy to build LED bulbs that last 20 years and are vibration resistant. They probably cost a little more. Normal outdoor cold and heat shouldn't hurt any of them.
     
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Opps. Wrong thread.
     
    #191 bwilson4web, Mar 5, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2015
  12. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I bought several CFLs for bathroom, I think 11W, round vanity types. I thought they were poor: The first ones started dimly, then brightened over 30 s or so. Bought a couple GE Reveals, brightened much more quickly. But they all seemed to burn out pretty quickly (year or so).

    Bought 1 LED bulb for vanity. It snaps to life in a split second and is brighter than several CFLs combined. It cost $15, but if it lasts long, well worth it. I kept receipt right above vanity. If it goes out, i go for free replacement.
     
  13. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

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    Shop Utilitech 6.5-Watt (40W Equivalent) 3,000K A19 Medium Base (E-26) Warm White LED Bulb at Lowes.com

    Looks like the good 18,000 hour type are on clearance right now for $2.48 a piece. I've got some set aside for me to pick up tomorrow.

    I don't recommend these for enclosed fixtures but any kind of swivel or can light is a good fit. I'm putting them in the bathroom and kitchen fixtures and ceiling fans that use standard bulbs in a cone shaped glass cover. They'll work in a pinch for bare bulbs placements as well. Drop lights, lamp without a shade, wall or ceiling socket where you have a bare bulb. Anything that lets at least some air flow by the bulb.

    Nice starter bulbs for those that haven't gotten over the 2700K to >3000K transition yet.

    I'm hoping to see more 3300K to 4000K bulbs still so I can mix them in with my 3000K bulbs as I transition into a more natural non yellow light.
     
  14. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    The local "Ganahl Lumber" has a utility subsidized sale on LED's that I hope to take advantage of on the way home from work today . . . 10watt 800 lumen warm /normal shaped bulbs ... just $3.99 !! No limit - I'll be all over it.
    .
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You can still buy 4-packs of incandescent light bulbs up here, for about that price. We're mostly switched over to compact fluorescent bulbs now, no light emitting diodes yet. The main use for the old-school incandescents is a few lamps with clip-on shades, and an older pit lamp. With the latter a compact fluorescent seems risky, and they don't seem to provide the same brightness, regardless of brightness.

    Gotta say, it seems an ongoing lemming stampede, always trampling on to the latest and greatest.
     
  16. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

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    Well at 10 cents a kWh and about $5 per LED bulb I'm at break even for buying LEDs vs CFLs. Now that I'm buying them at $2.50 a bulb I'm making a profit of at least $2.50 over the of the LED bulb and the profit may be greater if the cost of electricity increases.

    I'm also getting better light quality. My so called 6 watt LED bulb has better color temp and light distribution than my so called 13 watt spiral CFL. In fact it gives me more light in the room at lower wattage.

    Even if the cost per hour used was the same I'd prefer to use the LED bulbs due to the whiter color temp and the increased durability (I've broken a number of CFLs over the years, never broken a LED bulb).
     
    #196 dhanson865, Jun 11, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2015
  17. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    I have not been impressed by the reliability of the cheap LED bulbs but the improved light quality over CFL keeps me buying the more expensive brands.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm the first to admit I grumble about everything, but I really think compact fluorescents have an identity crisis. I mean, couldn't it say "light bulb", or something along those lines, somewhere?

    image.jpg

    And yeah, all the other sides are similar.
     
  19. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    :)

    At ~ 70 lumens/watt (and not getting better,) I'm not surprised. Crap LEDs can be bought in that range too, but I'm hopeful that near term we will see 100 lumen/watt at < $5 USD/bulb. Oh, and without 'minimal' Hg too.

    Brand LED bulbs have at least 10 year warranties that one could rely on if the receipt is kept.
    If a CFL is used 6 hours a day and electricity costs 14 cents a kWh, over $18 USD in electricity costs is saved over the warranty period by using an LED that outputs 100 lumens/watt instead. Put another way, you can pollute less for no more than you spend today. What is not to like ?

    Addendum:
    These Phillips
    Philips 60W Equivalent Soft White (2700K) A19 LED Light Bulb (2-Pack)-455576 - The Home Depot
    Are $2.5 USD a piece at HomeDepot and emit 94 lumens / watt.
     
    #199 SageBrush, Jun 11, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2015
  20. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

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    I'd point out that lumens per watt is stable for LED in comparison to the dimming an old CFL will see. You ought to see how dim some of my 10 year old CFLs are now. They don't put out half the light they did when new.