Making a Gradual Conversion to LED Light

[MineralMan]

After finally getting my entire house equipped with compact fluorescent bulbs by replacing burnt-out incandescent bulbs, I'm now replacing those with LED bulbs as they fail.

I've been watching the prices of LED screw-in bulbs drop steadily. I've noticed that various outlets are now offering four-packs of 40w and 60w equivalent LED units for less than $2 per bulb, so I've been buying them when they're on sale. As the older CFL bulbs fail, I'm replacing them, one at a time, with LED.

I figure it's going to take about a year or so to finally screw in the final replacement. I like the LED light quality better, along with the traditional light bulb shape that lets me put them in laps that have shades that clip onto the bulb again. The LEDs also use even less electricity the the CFLs and have no delay when you switch them on.

It's all good, I think, except that the CFLs have to be disposed of properly, which means putting them in box until I have time to take them to some place that has a bin for them. That was always their big drawback, I think.

Thomas Edison would approve, I'm sure. What's really interesting is that he died only 14 years before I was born. We've made this transition in a relatively short span of time, really.

[Wounded Bear]

1. K & R ......good job!

I think I have two fixtures left with Flourescents and they are tubes.

Went all LED years ago, went directly from incans to LEDs in most cases.

Humorous side note: Shortly after I moved in, the heat lamp in my bathroom failed. Since those tend to be pricey, I called the landlord. The maintenance guy came in and replaced it with an energy saving LED bulb. Sure it provides light, but kind of defeats the purpose of having a heat lamp in the bathroom to fight moisture, etc. I notice it especially on those cold winter mornings.

Anyway, congrats on going green. Trump is disabling or government's ability to fight Climate change, it is up to all of us.

[RKP5637]

2. I've been slowly putting in these. They are dimmable and can also be used in a

fully enclosed fixture. They also produce a soft white light. Philips 60w (9.5w LED) Dimmable A19 Bulb. "Soft White Light."

[meow2u3]

3. I use LED bulbs in all my lamps

Even though I have incandescent bulbs in my fixtures, I don't use the overhead lights very frequently. When they go out, they're being replaced with LED bulbs.

LEDs also reduced my electric bill to the point where I can pay my bill in full and on time every month.

I've been watching the prices of LED screw-in bulbs drop steadily. I've noticed that various outlets are now offering four-packs of 40w and 60w equivalent LED units for less than $2 per bulb, so I've been buying them when they're on sale. As the older CFL bulbs fail, I'm replacing them, one at a time, with LED.

I've seen 60W equivalent LED bulbs at Wally World for $5 per package of 4 (unless they've gone up in price). I also have a 3 way LED in my living room lamp. Not only are they going down in price, but also they last up to 9 years, so even if they're expensive at first, they're cheaper to use in the long run.

[thesquanderer]

22. They will get dimmer as they age, though...

...so you still may end up replacing them before they actually give out.

[doc03]

4. Same here they make much better light. Every hotel I check

into still uses those CFL bulbs hate those tihings you turn on every light and still can't see anything.

[HAB911]

5. 98% LED here!

only the lights that are never used are still CFL, no incandescent anywhere.

[USALiberal]

6. 100% LED bulbs here, started too soon when they were like $10. But still glad I did it. n/t

[NutmegYankee]

7. I've switched nearly every light to LED.

I like the warmer (low Kelvin) bulbs, it reminds me of the old incandescent days and helps me get to sleep easier.

[Phoenix61]

8. One of my favorite things about the LEDs

I have several lamps that say don't use a bulb over 40 watts. Not sure if it's a power issue or a heat issue but a "100" watt LED only uses 14 watts and doesn't produce any heat. Neat way to get a lot more light out of old lamps.

[MineralMan]

17. Yes. You can safely use a brighter LED in those lamps.

It's a heat issue, really. That's why there were those lower wattage limits. There's no problem with the LED's which use far less electricity (wattage). LED bulbs get a little warm, but never hot.

[miyazaki]

9. I still remember the day coming in to work in the mid nineties

and telling an engineer friend about the breakthrough made in Japan of the blue led. He was a big experimenter
with laser diodes and seemed a little miffed.

The breakthrough by lone engineer Shuji Nakamura led to the solid state white light that has changed the world.
The book "Brilliant!: Shuji Nakamura And the Revolution in Lighting Technology" is one heck of a read of this mans story.
For years he was scorned and ridiculed during his struggles of hope and despair, busting his ass all alone at a small company
anyone hardly knew of. The payoff, a new life in America and a Nobel Prize.

[Adrahil]

11. I remeber that too.

I am an R&D engineer, and I remember a group of us talking and saying.... this will change everything in electronics. It really did.

[dalton99a]

13. Yep. Nakamura deserves a ton of credit

[SHRED]

10. I have recessed (can) lighting in my kitchen

They are dimmable 45W flood lights and they get HOT!

What is a good quality LED that doesn't make a buzzing noise? I have read that is a common complaint.

[Adrahil]

12. It's an issue between the dimmable power supply and the dimmer....

Most dimmers installed in houses were made before LED lights and their power is a little "dirty." Check your led bulb box and see if they recommend a dimmer and replace the dimmer with a compatible model (most modern dimmers should be okay).

[SHRED]

14. Thank you!!

[dalton99a]

15. It's a driver issue:

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-buy-dimmable-led-bulbs-that-wont-hum-flicker-or-buzz/
How to buy dimmable LED bulbs that won't hum, flicker or buzz
Not all LED bulbs are created equal. Here's how to be sure the ones you spend money on are dimmable.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

19. The Cree brand at Home Depot seem to be more forgiving.

We installed a whole house full when they were $40 bucks a piece. No problems.

I had a customer I was doing some work for who tried to cheap out and by Home Depot's house brand that was $5 or 10 bucks cheaper. They buzzed like crazy. We switched them out with the Cree brand and no problem.

The Cree are like $13 bucks now with an instant discount from our power company, ComEd. That includes the integral lens and trim.

Still a little more expensive than a bulb alone. But a lot of times those trim ring have yellowed over time anyway.

[lastlib]

16. Began converting last year.

Put two LED bulbs in a bedroom last July. Normal incandescent bulbs may last a couple months--I don't expect to change the LEDs for a decade.

[hunter]

18. LEDs are subsidized by the power companies here in California.

Good quality bulbs are a dollar. The power companies don't subsidize cheap, poor quality bulbs.

We're very very slowly converting to LED from compact fluorescent in our own home. We abandoned incandescent bulbs the 'nineties. Some of our compact fluorescents are ten years old or more, a few approaching twenty, and it's not because they are rarely used. Some of the Philips and Panasonic bulbs were very well made.

I quickly learned not to buy the cheap compact fluorescents which would only last a few years at most. I think the cheap, poorly made compact fluorescents may have soured a few people on all compact fluorescents.

Cities are rapidly converting to LED streetlights too. I feel nostalgic sometimes for the old high pressure sodium yellow streetlights.

[raven mad]

20. We're lucky - my husband is in the electrical trade.

We went to fluorescent for a bit, then LED hit - we have all LED's throughout the house. Our power bill has dropped by about 40% per month.

Well worth it.

[ileus]

21. I've lost several of the cheap LEDs but nearly the whole house if LED now.