Change CFL kitchen lights to LED?

[AznAnarchy99]

My kitchen has those 4 pin connection recessed lighting. Thinking about replacing all 6x of them with this

GE 96689 LED 4-Pin Vertical Plug-In Light Bulb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016WNLLJM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hXoCAbE4SRBH7

$72 though.. I bought a pack of 6 of the CFL ones a year ago sitting in the drawer. Guess I could leave them for backup.

Is the $72 worth it in terms of electricity and look?


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[Greenman]

CFL's suck. They were a bad idea that never improved. Change to LED, well worth the cost.
The bulbs in your link are 3500 degree, that's a little harsh. 3000 degree is the sweet spot.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

CFL's suck. They were a bad idea that never improved. Change to LED, well worth the cost.
The bulbs in your link are 3500 degree, that's a little harsh. 3000 degree is the sweet spot.

3000K for $1 more. https://www.amazon.com/GE-96775-4-P...rd_wg=cdhei&psc=1&refRID=25HMJW3RXKP7M43HF6JJ

I forgot to mention that this is for my kitchen. You think 3500 is too harsh for that setting? Feel like 3000k might be too warm for a kitchen.

 

[Greenman]

I always install 2800 or 3000. Everyone seems to like it.

 

[Micrornd]

This is something I feel strongly about. When we converted the whole house to LEDs, we switched out all kitchen lighting to "daylight", much higher than 3500k, and never looked back.
We found that it gave us a much more accurate "look" at what we were cooking, without the "warmness" of lower temp bulbs and distortion of actual colors.

We also increased the amount of lighting in the kitchen, both fixtures and lumens, as just about all kitchens are deficient in lighting in the food prep and cooking areas. People have just become accustomed to this and don't realize it until they see a kitchen lit properly (as in full sunshine)
Kinda like the difference in what food looks like grilled outdoors and what it looks like when you bring the same food inside.

Changing the hood lights to "daylight" really made a difference in perception and made a difference in cooking style and taste of the food (as a lot of cooking is done by sight).
I can't really explain it and I know it sounds "goofy", but at least try the hood or stovetop lights as "daylight", they are cheap enough to change out later if you don't like them.
I think once you can see what your food really looks like when you are cooking it, you won't want it any other way.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

This is something I feel strongly about. When we converted the whole house to LEDs, we switched out all kitchen lighting to "daylight", much higher than 3500k, and never looked back.
We found that it gave us a much more accurate "look" at what we were cooking, without the "warmness" of lower temp bulbs and distortion of actual colors.

We also increased the amount of lighting in the kitchen, both fixtures and lumens, as just about all kitchens are deficient in lighting in the food prep and cooking areas. People have just become accustomed to this and don't realize it until they see a kitchen lit properly (as in full sunshine)
Kinda like the difference in what food looks like grilled outdoors and what it looks like when you bring the same food inside.

Changing the hood lights to "daylight" really made a difference in perception and made a difference in cooking style and taste of the food (as a lot of cooking is done by sight).
I can't really explain it and I know it sounds "goofy", but at least try the hood or stovetop lights as "daylight", they are cheap enough to change out later if you don't like them.
I think once you can see what your food really looks like when you are cooking it, you won't want it any other way.

Yeah I cook a lot so I definitely know what you mean. I've actually been pretty satisfied with the 4100k CFL color temp I've had. I hope the 3500K is good enough but it's hard to find any LEDs at a decent price with the GX24 4 pin socket.

 

[Greenman]

This is something I feel strongly about. When we converted the whole house to LEDs, we switched out all kitchen lighting to "daylight", much higher than 3500k, and never looked back.
We found that it gave us a much more accurate "look" at what we were cooking, without the "warmness" of lower temp bulbs and distortion of actual colors.

We also increased the amount of lighting in the kitchen, both fixtures and lumens, as just about all kitchens are deficient in lighting in the food prep and cooking areas. People have just become accustomed to this and don't realize it until they see a kitchen lit properly (as in full sunshine)
Kinda like the difference in what food looks like grilled outdoors and what it looks like when you bring the same food inside.

Changing the hood lights to "daylight" really made a difference in perception and made a difference in cooking style and taste of the food (as a lot of cooking is done by sight).
I can't really explain it and I know it sounds "goofy", but at least try the hood or stovetop lights as "daylight", they are cheap enough to change out later if you don't like them.
I think once you can see what your food really looks like when you are cooking it, you won't want it any other way.

I hear what you're saying, but damn those 5000k lights are harsh. I haven't had a client yet that wanted them.

 

[stormkroe]

Yeah I cook a lot so I definitely know what you mean. I've actually been pretty satisfied with the 4100k CFL color temp I've had. I hope the 3500K is good enough but it's hard to find any LEDs at a decent price with the GX24 4 pin socket.

More than likely, what you're experiencing is a better CRI (color rendering index), as color temp has little to do with accuracy at about 2500k and above. I usually shoot for 3k in hotels and houses, although i love 5k or even 6.5k (as close to actual summer sunshine as you can usually get) in my work spaces. Incandescents had great CRI, that's the x factor missing from CFL light quality that people couldn't quite put their finger on, and LEDs have improved tons in that area.
New model 3k LED in your kitchen, you'll throw those left over CFLs away.

 

[mindless1]

Can't stand daylight hue bulbs in kitchen, bath, bedroom or living room. Garage, basement, workshop or outside, fine.

 

[Micrornd]

I hear what you're saying, but damn those 5000k lights are harsh. I haven't had a client yet that wanted them.

They do take getting used to, but as stormkroe mentioned, LEDs have a vast improvement in CRI.
We selected 5000k with a CRI of 91 minimum and felt they were harsh at first.
Within 3 days, we couldn't imagine a kitchen without them.
We also added enough lighting to eliminate shadows and make it as bright as a summer's day in the kitchen.
(Everything is dimmable of course )

The biggest difference we noted was in baking (we changed the oven light also). When opening the oven to check pastries or pies for that "flakey crust done-ness", we found the new lighting to be so much more "real" (not the "warm glow" of lower color temp lights or shadowy appearance of more than really doneness) that the crusts were actually flakier, rather than just appearing so, if that makes any sense.
With stove top cooking or frying, "golden brown" actually is now and the taste is better.

And, yes, I know how it sounds, but until you actually try it yourself for a few days, there is no way you have anything to compare to.

 

[Micrornd]

Yeah I cook a lot so I definitely know what you mean. I've actually been pretty satisfied with the 4100k CFL color temp I've had. I hope the 3500K is good enough but it's hard to find any LEDs at a decent price with the GX24 4 pin socket.

Have you considered converting them to a different bulb type?
https://www.amazon.com/15-pack-Converter-15-5mm-Adapter-Holder/dp/B00XVR2YG2

 

[lxskllr]

5000K lamps would make me angry. I mean literally rage level, rip the lights out of the ceiling, and smash them with a hammer angry. I wouldn't use anything over 2700K, and most of my lamps are edison style leds @ 2000K if I remember right.

I also like the idea of changing the fixtures to something normal, whatever color you want. It's easy, and probably cheaper over the long term.

 

[Micrornd]

5000K lamps would make me angry. I mean literally rage level, rip the lights out of the ceiling, and smash them with a hammer angry. I wouldn't use anything over 2700K, and most of my lamps are edison style leds @ 2000K if I remember right.

I also like the idea of changing the fixtures to something normal, whatever color you want. It's easy, and probably cheaper over the long term.

Perhaps these would be more appropriate for you - http://coolglow.com/13-Inch-LED-Oly...MI65mg94eH2QIVUrbACh2jSQeAEAYYASABEgIOjfD_BwE

 

[lxskllr]

Perhaps these would be more appropriate for you - http://coolglow.com/13-Inch-LED-Oly...MI65mg94eH2QIVUrbACh2jSQeAEAYYASABEgIOjfD_BwE

Kind of a cheesy presentation, but I'd love a couple of those in the bedroom. My main light in the bedroom is a xmas candlestick with a c7 incandescent lamp. I haven't found a led in that size which has the color I like. If I could get some decent leds, I'd add a couple more candlesticks, and just leave them running all the time. The amount of power they use is trivial, and they last a long time.

 

[PastTense]

You can do the math of how many hours you use the bulbs, what electricity costs your per kwh and how many watts for CFL vs LEDs to find how many years it would take to pay for the bulbs in electricity savings. When I looked at the math only a small fraction of my bulbs were worth converting.

 

[mindless1]

Perhaps these would be more appropriate for you - http://coolglow.com/13-Inch-LED-Oly...MI65mg94eH2QIVUrbACh2jSQeAEAYYASABEgIOjfD_BwE

Battery powered would get annoying, though since it's designed to run off 4x AA you could probably rig it to run off an old AC/DC USB phone charger at 5V.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Blah. The socket is super deep into the can and it doesn't look like they sell 4 pin extenders.


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[AznAnarchy99]

Have you considered converting them to a different bulb type?
https://www.amazon.com/15-pack-Converter-15-5mm-Adapter-Holder/dp/B00XVR2YG2

What does it mean when it says it needs to bypass the ballast?


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[mindless1]

^ While I have no GX24Q lights, it looks like it is designed with just tubes, maybe a heater element too in the replaceable bulb and the ballast to generate a few hundred volts is in the fixture.

That would mean the LED replacements are designed to run off 110VAC and you need to rewire the fixture by removing the 110VAC mains connection to the ballast input and wiring it direct to the bulb socket for those particular bulbs.

Keep in mind that I think Micrornd is off his/her rocker and we should just be happy that Micrornd is happy and choose a different solution... to be kind.

 

[Micrornd]

What does it mean when it says it needs to bypass the ballast?

Yes, but it also means that once that is done you have a much greater choice in bulbs, cheaper bulbs, including greater color temp range, color changing, wireless dimming and Alexa or android controlled, etc..

Cook and plate something under 2700K lighting and then take it outside on a sunny day to compare the differences in colors.
Color temps are not a clear choice, but with the price of bulbs dropping so fast, it's easy to try a several color temps for two weeks each (a couple days is hardly enough to change a mindset or adjust to seeing the real color of things) before automatically reverting back to a color temp that actually changes the color of objects and foods.

The point with "daylight" color temp is, you may love it, you may hate it, but until you give it a fair try, you really don't know whether it works for you or not, it's all just hearsay.
The choice is, and always should be yours, just actually make the choice yourself, eh?
The world has more than enough lemmings and luddites, no need for more.

BTW - I don't have a rocker, just a recliner

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Just placed an order for 6 of these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M328OZH/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

4000k temp so it'll be a decent clear white.

 

[Rifter]

CRI more important than color temp IMO.

Id take 90+ CRI in 4000-6000k over 70-80CRI in sub 4000k all day long.

When i look at things i care much more about how well the colors are seen/defined and if they look like they should vs what color temp the light source is.

 

[Mike64]

CRI more important than color temp IMO.

Id take 90+ CRI in 4000-6000k over 70-80CRI in sub 4000k all day long.

When i look at things i care much more about how well the colors are seen/defined and if they look like they should vs what color temp the light source is.

I agree that CRI is more important - a lot more important - than basic color-in-Kelvins, but there's no way in hell I could deal with 6000K lighting in living areas, at any CRI. At least not unless those rooms were already fairly brightly lit by natural light for most of the day...

As an aside, 5000K is the nominal color of sunlight at noon, when the sun gets relatively high in the sky (i.e., in the temperate zones, from mid-Spring to mid-Fall), but it's warmer-to-much-"warmer" in color for most of the hours in most days of the year except on, or relatively close to, the Equator...