First dumb question of 2022: Dusk to Dawn bulbs - dimmable, non-dimmable, photocells

[UTUSN]

Last edited Sun Jan 2, 2022, 01:13 AM - Edit history (1)

Disclaimer: Pisces here, easily confused.

* Need *YELLOW* bug light, dusk to dawn, porch.

* Local outlets are short on the yellow. Needing to order on the internet.

* On the internet, all sorts of side issues - "dimmable" - "non-dimmable"????? Since the porch aiin't a "mood" place, non-dimmable is it, no?

* Photocell on the bulb vs installed photocell in the fixture?


********So somebody not-available-now installed a wired photocell onto the fixture. Am seeing bulbs WITH photocells. Can both photocells co-exist? Or will the fixture photocell operate NON-photocell bulbs?

Tia

[Kali]

1. if you have the photocell on the fixture you don't need it on the bulb

just get whatever is a decent price (not the absolute cheapest, you know what that will get you). if dimmable is a better price, it won't matter, but regular is probably best bet. let me know if you find incandescent 60 to 75 watt, the wiring around here isn't great for fancy new bulbs and I have two spots that need yellows in the summer.

[UTUSN]

2. "incandescent" means "regular"?! Am seeing those on "the usual" (Amazon). Thanks.

[Kali]

3. to me it does, but many are moving to LED bulbs now

cooler, much more light for the watts, last longer (unless wiring is old) etc, but also cost more. incandescent are the old style bulbs we grew up with, run hot, use more electricity, and don't last all that long (especially now that they are being phased out and all that is available are old stock or cheaply manufactured off-shore items)

when I said regular in my earlier reply I meant non-dimmable.

for yellow bug lights, I prefer incandescent. (with no scientific basis, LOL)

[TreasonousBastard]

4. A 60w incandescent bulb uses 60 watts, whie you get the same...

light output from a 15 watt LED lamp. Some difference!

You rarely see light output mentioned on colored bulbs because the light is filtered, which throws calculations off. Any old antibug light should do. The technology is changing rapidly, though, so who knows what will be around this summer.

If you have an outlet that shuts the light off automatically, don't waste money on an automatic bulb. If the bulb is dimmable and the same price, don't worry. Not using the dimmable function costs nothing.

[UTUSN]

5. "any old antibug light should do" - Thanks.

So. Am going to get "any old" for the fixture that has its own photocell AND a photocell bulb for the fixture that *doesn't*.

[sl8]

6. This gentleman suggests that "warm" LED bulbs are best:

https://aaas.confex.com/aaas/2016/webprogram/Paper17736.html

Light Pollution and Insects: Insect Attraction to Various Types of Residential Lights

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Michael Justice, Unaffiliated, Lynchburg, VA

Background: The widespread use of electric lamps has created artificial light ecologies and light pollution. The crucial roles played by insects in ecosystems and agriculture may be impacted by their attraction to artificial lights. Previous research has focused on streetlights; little attention has been paid to the more widely used and lower-wattage "area" lights designed for porches, paths, façades, and yards. For such purposes, the basic types of lamps in common use are incandescent, CFL, halogen, LED, and yellow "bug" lights, the latter marketed as reducing insect attraction. The purpose of this study was to compare the potential impact of these various lamps on insect ecologies. Methods: Each night for a summer, one of six types of light bulb was used in a baffle/funnel insect trap. Bulbs were scheduled so that the moon's irradiance was equalized across treatments. Meteorological variables were somewhat equalized by bulb scheduling and otherwise partialled out as covariates. Mean capture rates of total insects and several insect Orders were compared between the bulb types using ANOVA. Results: A total of n = 8887 insects and spiders were captured. The incandescent bulb had the highest capture rate, followed by CFL, halogen, LED with a cool color temperature, and the "bug" light. An LED with a warm color temperature had the lowest capture rate. Similar patterns held for individual Orders. A notable exception was the "bug" light captured significantly more Dermaptera (earwigs) than all other bulbs and significantly more Hemiptera (true bugs) than the warm LED bulb. Conclusions: This is the first study to directly compare all the major types of bulbs designed for exterior residential use. A widespread shift to LED lamps could greatly reduce the impact of light pollution on insects. From an ecological perspective, LEDs with a warm color temperature should be favored because they attract the fewest insects, their lower emission in the blue spectrum should reduce their contribution to light pollution, their directional technology allows for more precise lighting, and they have favorable energy conversions and life cycle assessments.

[UTUSN]

7. Will need to re-read to digest. So (besides least light pollution), the yellow I want are indeed the

least "capture" and "attract"?

[sl8]

8. Well, he says the yellow "bug" lights are second best, after the "warm" LED. n/t

[intrepidity]

9. Unless you like earwigs

A notable exception was the "bug" light captured significantly more Dermaptera (earwigs) than all other bulbs and significantly more Hemiptera (true bugs) than the warm LED bulb.

The bottom line is: go with warm color LED bulb

[UTUSN]

10. Crux is: Is the "warm color" YELLOW?

[intrepidity]

11. Details, details

But a good question. Since the article didn't specify, I would say they meant regular white leds but the "warm" kind.

[UTUSN]

12. UPDATE: Issues clarified/solved::

* Answer: "Any old bulb will do" - for the *fixture* that *HAS* a photocell.

* Answer: Will need a *bulb* WITH photocell for the non-photocell, regular fixture.


The yellow is easier to find locally without a photocell. Need to go internet for the yellow WITH photocell.

Thanks to all with the patience to deal with my low tech, confused status. Even answers that aren't DIRECT, clarity ensues from mulling things over.