Which LED light bulb?

[Carson Dyle]

It's time to start buying LED bulbs. I have a desk lamp with 60W bulb in my office that's on at least 16 hours a day. Often, I just leave it on 24x7.

I've read good things about the Cree LED bulbs at Home Depot, but there are a number of different bulbs. I'd prefer something warm, so it doesn't have to show 'natural' or daylight colors.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

If you have an Ikea near you, they recently dropped the prices on their LED bulbs to $5 apiece. I bought one from them earlier this year (it was $9.99 and a 60W equivalent) and have been pleased with it. I think the next time I go there, I'll buy a bunch of bulbs and start replacing all my lights. Here is their selection:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/20514/

 

[Mixolydian]

Cree ftmfw!

 

[LegendKiller]

We pretty much have all Crees so far, about 10 65w floods and ~20 60w A19s (both 2700s) and love them so far. Can't even tell the diff between them and incandescents.

 

[Wyndru]

I have a ton of those utilitech pros from Lowes, they seem fine to me. They are all dimmable, warm colors and dirt cheap. Hopefully my house won't burn down in a few years though...

 

[alzan]

Second the motion for Cree; I've had good results with them.

They're also made in the US if that kind of thing is important to you.

 

[Jimzz]

I get mine from Costco. If they go bad in the first couple years take them back for a new one.

Prices also came down recently as well. That and extra good if they have a power company sponsoring them.

 

[esquared]

Not all LEDs are equal.

Most Crees seem to be in the 80-90 lumens/watt category. Which is good.

The cheap ones, are like the Ikeas above give low lumens per watt.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20255364/
This one give 600 lumens for 10 watts (60 lumens/watt)

I have several of these below:
Cree 60W equivalent is the 800 lumens which uses 9 watts. Its 88 lumens/watt.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W...9-08050OMF-12DE26-2U100/204476611?N=5yc1vZbol

The cheap LEDS are generally just less efficient.

Cree 75W equivalent is 81 lumens/watt (13.5 watts for 1100 lumens)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-75W...9-11027OMF-12DE26-1U100/204715054?N=5yc1vZbol

The 100W equivalent is 89 lumens/watt (uses 18 watts fro 1600 lumens).
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-100...27OMF-12DE26-1U100/205054835?N=5yc1vZbm79Zbol

Costco has FEIT brand, but they are also in the low 60 lumens/watt category.
http://www.costco.com/led-light-bulbs.html

Philips brand is also good (lumens/watt) but they're a little more expensive than the Crees, and their lumens/watt are a bit lower. And I haven't seen any Philips 75W or 100W equivalent bulbs at Home Depot. A19s or A21s.

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Electric...ht-Bulbs/Philips/A19/N-5yc1vZbm79Z15bZ1z0vvrd

Cree has a range 40-100W equivalents in A19 and A21 sizes. from
http://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Light-Bulbs-LED-Light-Bulbs/Cree/N-5yc1vZbm79Zbol

Plus, they have a 3-way 30/60W/100W for 21.97.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-30-...27OMF-12WE26-1U100/205226208?N=5yc1vZbm79Zbol

They claim these specs:
Brightness: 320/820/1620 lumens
Energy used: 3/8/18 Watt (equivalent to a 30/60/100 Watt standard incandescent light bulb)
Lumens per Watt: 107/103/89

 

[XJustMeX21]

We have installed several hundred at work, All seem to be decent with my favorites being the Phillips and Cree, We have a few GE types they are all good except the par20 spot lights.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Lumens per watt is probably the least important thing to me.

From what I'm reading, the Cree TW series, with a CRI of 93 is well-regarded, but at $16 for the 60W Soft White, it's double the price of their less color-accurate (80 CRI) 60W bulb.

 

[Imp]

Lumens per watt is probably the least important thing to me.

That's fine, just remember to check out the total lumens each bulb gives out. Compare it to what an old incandescent puts out if you want to match the old watt ratings.

I have Ikea and Philips bulbs. Ikea ones, due to their lower total lumens, make for good desk and table lamps. Philips match incandescent brightness steppings better, so better for lighting entire rooms.

 

[John Connor]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2392599

 

[Micrornd]

Just an aside, but when we converted to all LEDs here, we also switched color temp to daylight, rather than warm white.

It did take a short time to adjust to the non-yellowish colors we were used to from the incandescent and CFLs we had prior, but now we are very happy with seeing things indoors in their real colors (and the wife's outfits look the same colors inside as outside, so you know that makes life easier if she's happy, eh!)

 

[irishScott]

I'm replacing my CFLs and incandescents with Utilitech (Lowes Brand) LEDs and have zero complaints so far.

 

[lxskllr]

I've been using HomeDepot's house brand, as well as some one-offs that I got on sale, and they've all looked/worked well. Crees are nice because they're assembled in the USA, but they haven't had the type I want when I've been to the store.

 

[blankslate]

I've read good things about the Cree LED bulbs at Home Depot, but there are a number of different bulbs. I'd prefer something warm, so it doesn't have to show 'natural' or daylight colors.

I have a Cree LED bulb from Home Depot. It's very nice & easy to read by. Most people who walk into the room with it on have no idea it's an LED bulb.



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