LED bulb dilemma
So, I have somewhat of a problem: I'm trying to replace a couple of CFLs in our basement hallway with LED bulbs, but am unable to find what I'm looking for. I have to say, I was somewhat unpleasantly surprised to see the meager selection of LED bulbs at the local Big Box stores. There are plenty of CFLs in all kind of sizes and shapes available, but when it comes to LEDs, the stores I visited seem to be very limited.
I'm looking for a 100-watt comparable flood light bulb, with an approximate 120 degree angle. It will go into a recessed light housing. I can find bulbs with those specs online, but would much prefer to buy them locally, so I can return them if they don't give off the light I need.
Any suggestions for a local source for LEDs in the size and kind I'm looking for? I would appreciate it very much.
I searched all over town for that exact kind of light bulb last year and never found anything. I ended up going with CFLs in flood housings. Really not happy with that solution, as they take a good 5 minutes to warm up enough have decent light output. Ours are in the entry way, 18' in the air. So if you come in late and didn't leave any lights on, even after flipping the switch you're stumbling in the dark for a couple minutes.
Even online it's going to be hard to find a comparable bulb... 100w incandescent bulb is ~950 lumens. The brightest LED flood I've seen is ~550 lumens. There are a couple lights that *claim* to come close, but honestly they seem more than a little shady in their listings. Little things like not listing any measurable quantifiers... everything is superfluous and subjective. Oh and they have the same "product shot" scenes, supposedly lite by their led bulbs, showing on both the 12x2 "200w replacement" bulbs, and the "60w replacement" bulbs.
Posted by: cabbey | February 22, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Cabbey,
thanks for the update - even though it confirms my suspicions. Yeah, it's the "warm-up" that's making me want to replace my CFLs with LEDs. When I want to go downstairs with our three-year-old, I have to turn the lights on first, then pick up toys and THEN go downstairs for bath time...
I had looked online, but - just as you describe - the offers there are just hard to compare. That's why I'm looking for something locally, where I can return the bulb if it's not what I'm looking for. Hey, we're talking about 30 or 40 bucks here!
I guess I have to continue my quest; maybe I need to expand to the North (Twin Cities), to see what's available.
Posted by: Stephan Jennebach | February 22, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Yes it is a mystery to me why the big retailers haven't jumped on the LED band wagon. The selection online is pretty big, just remember you get what you pay for with LED's
Posted by: Jeff Ransome | July 12, 2011 at 05:06 AM