Sir Topham Hatt Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I've been looking at some household bulbs recently. My house current has a lot of these: They are about ?1 each, I haven't had to replace many in the time that I have remembered. But I have been looking at LED versions: At ?6 each they are expensive... but use way less energy (my main concern) and last longer. I'd be buying around 14 of them, so it'd be around ?100, a lot for just a few bulbs but the saving in energy over the life of the bulb would be worth it. However what has thrown a big spanner in the works is these: While I understand they aren't LED, they are a lot cheaper at ?4. They question is, what do I pick. For Asda, I can get 5% off the total price so am leaning towards those. I'm not too bothered about the low energy factor, it's more a saving of money for me. I could just replace the bulbs as they break but I'd rather do it all in one go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soldiers33 Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 the energy saving bulbs save a few pounds a year so not really a lot. I would count the costs of savings vs the cost of the bulbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUTZIFER Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Well it's not a matter of actually being better, it's about power savings. LED uses very little electricity, so although more expensive than regular bulbs and compact fluorescents, you do save a ton in the long run. Compact fluorescents used to be really expensive at one time too, but now are dirt cheap, and LED will too eventually. garwin 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggis Veteran Posted April 2, 2013 Veteran Share Posted April 2, 2013 I love these LED bulbs i use the same ones wiring in our house is very old and the normal bulbs kept blowing so a bulb was only lasting about a month before blowing I bought 3 of these as a test to start with and they have been in the same fitting now for almost 3 years never had to replace one yet 3 of them were about ?18 compared to replacing 3 bulbs every month which was ?36 a year lol Pygmy_Hippo 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenMartian Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Most of the LED lighting I've seem seems a bit directional (i.e. will light up things below it, but not much else). If you have a large-ish room, LEDs might not be suitable. Buy one and try it first? DConnell and Sir Topham Hatt 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUTZIFER Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Most of the LED lighting I've seem seems a bit directional (i.e. will light up things below it, but not much else). If you have a large-ish room, LEDs might not be suitable. Buy one and try it first? That's one thing I've kinda been wondering about. I've never actually used or even seen the light from LED bulbs, but I know anything else that's LED, is bright, but the light doesn't go anywhere. Like LED flashlights for instance, they are super bright, but don't shine very far. But I still think just for power savings alone, they are the best choice, especially when they come down in price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Montage Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Want a laugh about lights and bulbs? I just bought my new place and it was specced up with GU10 downlighters throughout, rather than hanging pendant lights. Great. When you buy a place, a survey is done and a report telling you it's energy efficiency - which allows space for any suggestions. Seeing as my place is new-build, it's REALLY efficient, but the jobsworth filling the form felt he had to put something in the "Recommendations" section. He recommended that swapping out all my downlighters for hanging pendants with low-energy bulbs could save me... 12p per month! Wow. What an awesome suggestion. Don't get me wrong, 12p per month over a year would be ?1.44! Nice savings. But wait... I'd have to buy the bulbs, which would cost me over that. And the pendant fittings. Oh wait, I'd have to have the downlighters stripped out, my ceiling re-skimmed, looking at about a grand or so there... What a tosser! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami- Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 lol... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123456789A Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I'd be curious to know, how much heat do the LEDs create compared to regular bulbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggis Veteran Posted April 2, 2013 Veteran Share Posted April 2, 2013 Well as i say i have them in my kitchen the light i have have 3 directional swivel heads on them Your right in saying LED is a directional light source it wont spread as much as a normal bulb will but the light is fantastic it more than lights up our whole kitchen get a few and try them out I'd be curious to know, how much heat do the LEDs create compared to regular bulbs? In response to this very little one of those little halogen bulbs will take the skin off your hand with the heat they generate the led one can be on for hours and its still cool enough to take out with bare hands :) philcruicks 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger H. Veteran Posted April 2, 2013 Veteran Share Posted April 2, 2013 Yeah as Haggis said, halogen bulbs are SUPER hot, they use those things in kitchens to keep food warm you know? LOL. LEDs on the other hand are basically room temperature (maybe a little more obviously). Halogens kick off probably 150F (50C) easy (depending on the size). I use CCFL (I know I know) but got some LEDs for certain places and they work great. Counter lights in the kitchen look awesome with LEDs because of the narrower beam they cast, have that reflecting over a stainless steel backsplash and it looks great :p Sorta like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majortom1981 Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Led lights are better then cfls for one reason. they are instantly turned on to their max brightness. Cfls have to warm up for max brightness. I have them all over my house. Roger H., Brandon H and Dick Montage 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Eternal Tempest MVC Posted April 2, 2013 MVC Share Posted April 2, 2013 I like led lights, however, I bought several for my dinning room chandler (on/off - Not dimmer), however they all failed within a few months. I suspect it was related to power fluctuations in my apartment or I got a bad batch. As other people pointed out Use the least amount of electricity compared to other bulbs No Mercury (CFC's have trace amounts of it, some more then other's) Long Lasting LED use to have issues with not being bright, but that has improved. On the flip side CFC's have improved to decrease / eliminate the warming up period. CFC do still struggle when there are very cold, I have one on my outside porch and it takes a few minutes to get to full brightness in winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggis Veteran Posted April 2, 2013 Veteran Share Posted April 2, 2013 At ?6 each they are expensive... but use way less energy (my main concern) and last longer. check here pack of 4 for ?14 ish http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GU10-Led-Bulbs-50w-40w-30w-Bulb-Brightness-SMD-Technology-4-8-10-20-Pack-sizes-/321086271291?pt=UK_Light_Bulbs&var=&hash=item4ac23baf3b Sir Topham Hatt 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OOOOOOOO Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I'm kitting my new place out in Philips Hue bulbs :p Pygmy_Hippo 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurë Veteran Posted April 2, 2013 Veteran Share Posted April 2, 2013 We swapped our halogen spotlights for LED ones. The halogen ones were breaking too frequently but the LED ones have been fine so far (I think it's been a year now). I don't think the LED ones were *that* expensive, either, especially compared to the cost of constantly replacing halogen bulbs. The LED lights are nice and bright, "instant on". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Topham Hatt Posted April 2, 2013 Author Share Posted April 2, 2013 Thanks for the input :) We're probably going to get some to test what they are like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Praetor Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 the big question is: for the price LED bulbs cost, is it worth the savings (cost)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xendrome Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Led lights are better then cfls for one reason. they are instantly turned on to their max brightness. Cfls have to warm up for max brightness. I have them all over my house. The new CFLs are all instant on, so that isn't true anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisj1968 Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 we get those energy efficient jobs here in the US. But heaven forbid they pop. A hazmat team has to clean your home out due to the toxic killers in these Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iascoot Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I recently installed LED bulbs in my house from http://www.limitlessled.com Pretty cool, can control with an app on your phone or the remote Coloured bulbs are not as bright when using them for white, but my son loves using the coloured bulb in his room and just picking a colour Using the White bulbs in most rooms LUTZIFER 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUTZIFER Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Awhile ago I heard that CFLs were about to be banned, or being worked on being banned, here in Canada anyways. I guess it's not happening. At least they are fairly cheap now. I just bought a 4 pack of cheapies. 15 bucks. Better than 25 bucks for 1 bulb that they used to be a few years ago. Last I seen, the LED bulbs cost 25 bucks each, that was almost a year ago, but I don't see them around most places yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xendrome Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 we get those energy efficient jobs here in the US. But heaven forbid they pop. A hazmat team has to clean your home out due to the toxic killers in these http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted April 3, 2013 Member Share Posted April 3, 2013 ...12p per month! So how much did this genius get paid to save you all of that money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUTZIFER Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 I recently installed LED bulbs in my house from http://www.limitlessled.com Pretty cool, can control with an app on your phone or the remote Coloured bulbs are not as bright when using them for white, but my son loves using the coloured bulb in his room and just picking a colour Using the White bulbs in most rooms That'd be sweet!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts