Over the last few years we have been checking out LED bulbs, and replacing lights around our house with more efficient lighting wherever possible.
One significant problem area was the kitchen, where we had fittings for ses (Small Edison screw) lights. Until recently we used halogen spotlights, typically rated at 28-40W, and with 12 spotlights that represented a significant load in an area which is used frequently and for longish periods - around 350-400W. We did try some other lights, both LED and CFL, but the earlier LEDs had an unwelcome colour tint, and the CFLs were just not bright enough.
It has been possible to replace most of the other lights around the home with LEDs which are satisfactory, and I'm now phasing out the CFLs where it is cost effective to do so. CFLs or other lights sometimes present issues with startup time, light output, and overall perceived quality of the light output.
I noticed that B & Q have recently reduced the price on a range of Philips LED lights, including some with bayonet fittings, and as a result I have "invested" a modestly large sum in new LED lights. Some of the lights are dimmable, and called GLS, but the light output is good. The dimmable ones cost more, but at the current B&Q prices are not bad, and the dimmable ones can be used in regular switched circuits, but non dimmable ones cannot be used in circuits with dimmers. Another thing I noticed is that the advertised prices may not always match the prices on the shelves, and I was slightly disappointed the other day when I decided to purchase just a few of the more expensive dimmable GLS lights that the price shown (website?) was not reduced - £10 or so per light. However, when i go to the checkout the price came up at £5, so I immediately went back to buy more. At £5 each dimmable LEDs of this quality are a good buy, IMO.
It may be that B & Q will put up the prices on these in the near future, but at the indicated prices they are good, and I will try to get a few more as I noticed that one of our lights is on a dimmer, which I hadn't remembered.
Re dimmers, because of the way dimmers work, not all LED lights will work with all dimmers. Also, replacing incandescent lights or other forms of lighting with LEDs may cause dimming to fail, even if the LEDs are marked as dimmable, because some dimmers are designed to work with a moderate total load - say 50 -100 W, and replacing a few bulbs with dimmable LEDs may well take the total load below the load at which an existing dimmer will work satisfactorily. I did have to have one dimmer replaced because of a load issue a year or so back.
Lastly, the prices on such LEDs is gradually dropping anyway. A couple of years ago I bought 16 x GU10 LEDs for about £192 - £!2 each. At the current B&Q prices I could get them for about a quarter of that - £48.
If anyone else checks this out, note that not all LEDs from all manufacturers are similar. We think the Philips ones are good, and the light quality is fine, and maybe even perceived as brighter than the notional incandescant light equivalent, which is not always the case with other lights.
One significant problem area was the kitchen, where we had fittings for ses (Small Edison screw) lights. Until recently we used halogen spotlights, typically rated at 28-40W, and with 12 spotlights that represented a significant load in an area which is used frequently and for longish periods - around 350-400W. We did try some other lights, both LED and CFL, but the earlier LEDs had an unwelcome colour tint, and the CFLs were just not bright enough.
It has been possible to replace most of the other lights around the home with LEDs which are satisfactory, and I'm now phasing out the CFLs where it is cost effective to do so. CFLs or other lights sometimes present issues with startup time, light output, and overall perceived quality of the light output.
I noticed that B & Q have recently reduced the price on a range of Philips LED lights, including some with bayonet fittings, and as a result I have "invested" a modestly large sum in new LED lights. Some of the lights are dimmable, and called GLS, but the light output is good. The dimmable ones cost more, but at the current B&Q prices are not bad, and the dimmable ones can be used in regular switched circuits, but non dimmable ones cannot be used in circuits with dimmers. Another thing I noticed is that the advertised prices may not always match the prices on the shelves, and I was slightly disappointed the other day when I decided to purchase just a few of the more expensive dimmable GLS lights that the price shown (website?) was not reduced - £10 or so per light. However, when i go to the checkout the price came up at £5, so I immediately went back to buy more. At £5 each dimmable LEDs of this quality are a good buy, IMO.
It may be that B & Q will put up the prices on these in the near future, but at the indicated prices they are good, and I will try to get a few more as I noticed that one of our lights is on a dimmer, which I hadn't remembered.
Re dimmers, because of the way dimmers work, not all LED lights will work with all dimmers. Also, replacing incandescent lights or other forms of lighting with LEDs may cause dimming to fail, even if the LEDs are marked as dimmable, because some dimmers are designed to work with a moderate total load - say 50 -100 W, and replacing a few bulbs with dimmable LEDs may well take the total load below the load at which an existing dimmer will work satisfactorily. I did have to have one dimmer replaced because of a load issue a year or so back.
Lastly, the prices on such LEDs is gradually dropping anyway. A couple of years ago I bought 16 x GU10 LEDs for about £192 - £!2 each. At the current B&Q prices I could get them for about a quarter of that - £48.
If anyone else checks this out, note that not all LEDs from all manufacturers are similar. We think the Philips ones are good, and the light quality is fine, and maybe even perceived as brighter than the notional incandescant light equivalent, which is not always the case with other lights.
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