How are led lightbulbs?

Question

Anyone ever buy an led light bulb?

They seem cheaper than the energy saving light bulbs.

Do they use even less power?

Are they brighter?

Can you get some that go right into a regular light socket?

Answer 1

LEDs are probably the light of the future, but not yet. They are still too expensive.

Answer 2

Our garden lights are LEDs.  They are not bright enough for routine indoor use, but we use them for night lights and emergency lights, at times.  Since they are also solar powered, we've found them to be very convenient and mobile.

Answer 3

For lighting a room, they suck. LEDs put out light in a very directional manner, so they look super-bright in flashlights (or on a Christmas tree) but they just don't perform well when their light is being spread across an entire room. Most of the standard base LED bulbs out there are only as bright overall as a 20-watt or so incandescent bulb, despite what the manufacturers try to claim.

If you're looking to light a whole room and save electricity, compact fluorescent bulbs are still the way to go. LEDs are a very promising technology, but they just aren't there yet.

Answer 4

They look AWESOME for christmas lights! The blue is phenomenal looking, almost kind of trippy actually. That is ll I will use next year to decorate-f-ing fabulous.

Answer 5

mook

since my house is completely on solar / wind and we REALLY need to watch usage, every light is fitted with s***w type (typical 110v lamp socket style) LED bulbs. They emit the same luminosity (typically 45) but at only 1watt rather then a 45w compact or 10w CFL. However they usually cost twice as much as CFLs which is twice as much (or more) as compacts. Still LEDs would be the way to go by far.

If you want to really lower you utility bill I have a step by step guide that would walk threw everything you need to do. You can find it at http://www.agua-luna.com/offgrid_guide.h... or feel free to contact me.

http://www.agua-luna.com/guides.html

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at http://www.agua-luna.com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Retired Boeing Engineer now living 100% Off-the-Grid with my family, using Alternative Energy & loving every minute.

for more info visit agua-luna com or email me at [e-mail]

http://www.agua-luna.com

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Answer 6

Did you hear the good news on light bulbs? Check out this article -

http://sattlerclothing.com/blog/2008/01/...

Answer 7

The link below is where I have bought LED substitutes for regular light bulbs.  They are not for every application, that's for sure.  I bought the nightlight bulbs for around the house and these are great and use about 1/10 of a watt!  I also bought one for outside my front door.  It was $24 but incandescents only lasted like 6 months and burned a lot more electricity.  CFL's don't light up well in super cold weather.  My LED I leave on all the time for 2 watts.  It does make an eerie glow, though.  Go for the warm white if you can.  Use indirect lighting techniques and good light diffusing shades to overcome the issues mentioned above.  LED lighting saves a lot of electricity and the bulbs will pay for themselves in the long run in lower energy and saved replacement costs (vs. incandescent or CFL).