dukegrad98
04-03-2023, 10:48 AM
I know FastGuyEddie is a lighting expert around here, and I've benefitted from a lot of advice and suggestions he has given me in that area over the years. I stumbled across this article over the weekend and thought it was pretty well written and might be of interest to FGE and perhaps others as well.
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/led-light-bulbs-investigation.html
Cheers, John
NiceGuyEddie
04-18-2023, 11:05 AM
Fantastic article, I read the whole thing.
It's important to understand that there is a huge difference between specification-grade products and consumer-grade products. I design specification-grade products, these can usually only be bought through an established lighting firm and/or through an architectural firm.
The biggest problems with consumer-grade LEDs for the home are:
1. Cheap stuff from China - the specs are never what they say, and they often don't last very long. By the time you try for a warranty claim, that bulb is no longer made.
2. Dimming - it's often poor even when using an "approved dimmer" on the box. Flicker, "popcorn startup" (bulbs go on in different intervals). Plus, they do NOT dim-to-warm like incandescents do.
3. Color shift over time - some of your 3000K bulbs may shift to 3500K or even 4000K after only half a year.
The best part of consumer-grade LEDs are:
1. The "Lighting Facts" label - this label is not regulated or audited in any way, it's voluntary on the manufacturer's side but it does help with CCT & CRI
2. In a room such as a kid's playroom, it saves loads of money if for example you had 8 x 100W incandescent bulbs on 12 hours a day.
3. Most of them will last long, for example landscape lighting and recessed ceiling lights.