Cor blimey, strike a light guv'nor!

[Cormac135]

I've switched over to LED lightbulbs after hearing good things about them, they're not that much more than the old lightbulbs maybe £1-£1:50 more, while reading the front of the box it states that they last for 15 years, can this be true and if so wouldn't it almost kill the lightbulb industry ?

Have you switched over to LED ?

 

[Alistair]

Im still working on the compact fluorescents. About 10 years ago the electric company here had a deal where you could get a bunch free. The kit came with a bunch of bulbs, an electric strip that shut the power off to the outlets if they weren't drawing full power and a couple LED night lights. I still have 2 or 3 bulbs left.

I'll switch to LEDs when I need to buy more.

 

[me203]

No, I haven't switched. Partly too poor. Partly because I haven't needed to buy light bulbs recently. But I suppose when I do buy them again, I may have little choice--I've noticed that LED seems to be all I see. Although I haven't aggressively checked all places that might sell light bulbs.

And I have to admit I'd be curious to try one. I'm still using incandescent light for my bedside reading light. I didn't like CFL for whatever reason--although it may have been a factor of the specific maker, not the technology as a whole. I'd be curious to see if I like LED better.

As for lasting 15 years...we'll see... I suspect that real world numbers might not be so good. But then maybe I'm cynical.

 

[Kahaih]

Wasn't there talk of ending the production of incandescent bulbs entirely?

Can they still be found in the stores?

~~~~~

I have a couple LEDs in outside fixtures that have been going strong for at least ten years.

Been using LEDs all over for many years.

 

[me203]

Wasn't there talk of ending the production of incandescent bulbs entirely?

Can they still be found in the stores?

Not sure. I do remember that new incandescent bulbs basically ceased to be available here in the US for the most part. The only bulbs that remained were specialty (e.g., for appliances). But even that might have changed--or will change with LED.

 

[Kahaih]

Oh, and mind the colours. I prefer bright/white, but others like warm/yellows.

Dimmable LEDs also need a different type of dimmer switch that can add to the expense.

I've taken to using several types of USB LEDs around the house. Amazon has all sorts.

 

[Kahaih]

Im still working on the compact fluorescents. About 10 years ago the electric company here had a deal where you could get a bunch free. The kit came with a bunch of bulbs, an electric strip that shut the power off to the outlets if they weren't drawing full power and a couple LED night lights. I still have 2 or 3 bulbs left.

I'll switch to LEDs when I need to buy more.

Did you notice a difference in your electric bill?

LEDs are even better.

 

[Vannie]

Once you go white....

Been using bright white LED bulbs for a while. I can see!

 

[Alistair]

Did you notice a difference in your electric bill?

LEDs are even better.

I've always been on a budget plan so my monthly bill is always the same. I usually only pay a very small amount on the last month.

So basically I can't say

 

[me203]

I've always been on a budget plan so my monthly bill is always the same. I usually only pay a very small amount on the last month.

So basically I can't say

If the bills show power use, then you could still get an idea. Although, of course, you're assuming all other factors remain the same, which is not an assumption I feel comfortable with if I were trying to figure something like this out. But then I show stunning lack of consistency. So is the lower power use this year due to all new light bulbs? Or did I use more power last year because I had a moment of unusual ambition, and cooked more?

In my case, I'd say light bulbs aren't a huge factor. The place where I live is all electric--so the biggest power use isn't a reading light. It's the water heater, the electric furnace, etc.

 

[HoodedRat]

All my lights have been l.e.d. for years.

I live in a block of Council flats and they gave me a load of free bulbs for all the main lights, to reduce electricity usage.

They are still going strong years later.

All the other lighting and lamps in my flat are also l.e.d.s

I didn't know that they still sold incandescent bulbs here in UK.

 

[LeicsDom]

I've switched over to LED lightbulbs after hearing good things about them, they're not that much more than the old lightbulbs maybe £1-£1:50 more, while reading the front of the box it states that they last for 15 years, can this be true and if so wouldn't it almost kill the lightbulb industry ?

Have you switched over to LED ?

I think 10 years is a more realistic life span
The quality is much better now than when they were first forced on us by the EU

- - - Updated - - -

I didn't know that they still sold incandescent bulbs here in UK.

No, you can sometimes find old stock in corner shops, though

 

[rareboy]

Well, LED lighting is the future....although it is harder to get the same quality of warm light...but generally they are wayyyyyyyyyyy better than CFL.

We have hoarded our incandescent light bulbs and should have enough to last out our lifetime, but they are becoming really difficult to find anywhere now.

 

[unloadonme]

^ Pretty much the same here. I use some LED bulbs, but I bought and have hoarded a good supply of old fashioned bulbs which I particularly like to use in the lamps in my bedroom. I don't know about a lifetime's supply (maybe if coronavirus gets me), but my stash will most likely last for several years.

 

[me203]

I also hoarded incandescent light bulbs as they were being phased out. I'm not sure I have a lifetime supply, but it'll probably last me a good long time... It helps that I don't use them in many applications now. The biggest thing I use them for (which I mentioned above) is a reading light. And they get used for some ceiling lights that aren't used too much.

 

[Kahaih]

I prefer to be as fuel/energy efficient as I can be, but I will admit that I miss the 'instant on' of the incandescent bulbs for places such as a bathroom, laundry room, pantry, etc.

Because of the way fluorescent lighting works, CFLs are not as efficient when they are turned on and off a lot. And in cooler weather/rooms it takes them a few seconds to warm up to full on.

 

[Alistair]

^ I like the CFLs for that reason in the bedroom. No blinding light when you turn them on. The utility room and the garage, not so much.

 

[PrinceCory]

I've switched over to LED lightbulbs after hearing good things about them, they're not that much more than the old lightbulbs maybe £1-£1:50 more, while reading the front of the box it states that they last for 15 years, can this be true and if so wouldn't it almost kill the lightbulb industry ?

Have you switched over to LED ?

If you take a look at the fine print on the package it will say "based on average of 3 hours use per day."

What is not to like about a LED bulb that costs 9 cents to run for 1 year at 3 hours a day!

 

[roadtripboy]

I've had several go out already. Just like any kind of light bulb a power surge will take them out. I don't think they'll last fifteen years. The CFLs I was using before did not last 10 years. Maybe five tops.

 

[Kahaih]

To me, CFLs seem to have turned out to be sort of a stepping stone/transition to LEDs. Now that LEDs are more available and more accommodating to my needs I won't be buying any more CFLs.