Topic: Light Bulb Ban...It's Here (Thanks, Idiot Republicans)

[Glock32]

I went by Home Depot on the way home from work tonight, and they now carry Cree brand LED bulbs, $12.97 for a 60 watt equivalent. I know Cree is one of the leaders in LED technology (they make the LEDs in the awesome Fenix flashlights mentioned elsewhere on the forum) so I picked one up. It has a glass outer body just like an incandescent bulb, with a rubber covering like a rough service bulb. Light output is good (800 lumens) and at this price LED is starting to become a feasible option. I certainly like them better than the CFLs.

[Libertas]

Interesting, will keep an eye out for those.

[Weisshaupt]

I went by Home Depot on the way home from work tonight, and they now carry Cree brand LED bulbs, $12.97 for a 60 watt equivalent. I know Cree is one of the leaders in LED technology (they make the LEDs in the awesome Fenix flashlights mentioned elsewhere on the forum) so I picked one up. It has a glass outer body just like an incandescent bulb, with a rubber covering like a rough service bulb. Light output is good (800 lumens) and at this price LED is starting to become a feasible option. I certainly like them better than the CFLs.

Yeah, I saw those yesterday.. but stayed with my tried and true..please report back on how good the Cree's are. The Phillips have been dropping in price- and it may well be  because there is finally a decent competitor for their wares.  Capitalism strikes again.

[Pandora]

I went by Home Depot on the way home from work tonight, and they now carry Cree brand LED bulbs, $12.97 for a 60 watt equivalent. I know Cree is one of the leaders in LED technology (they make the LEDs in the awesome Fenix flashlights mentioned elsewhere on the forum) so I picked one up. It has a glass outer body just like an incandescent bulb, with a rubber covering like a rough service bulb. Light output is good (800 lumens) and at this price LED is starting to become a feasible option. I certainly like them better than the CFLs.

Yeah, I saw those yesterday.. but stayed with my tried and true..please report back on how good the Cree's are. The Phillips have been dropping in price- and it may well be  because there is finally a decent competitor for their wares.  Capitalism strikes again.

OH NOES!!!   

[Libertas]

I went by Home Depot on the way home from work tonight, and they now carry Cree brand LED bulbs, $12.97 for a 60 watt equivalent. I know Cree is one of the leaders in LED technology (they make the LEDs in the awesome Fenix flashlights mentioned elsewhere on the forum) so I picked one up. It has a glass outer body just like an incandescent bulb, with a rubber covering like a rough service bulb. Light output is good (800 lumens) and at this price LED is starting to become a feasible option. I certainly like them better than the CFLs.

Yeah, I saw those yesterday.. but stayed with my tried and true..please report back on how good the Cree's are. The Phillips have been dropping in price- and it may well be  because there is finally a decent competitor for their wares.  Capitalism strikes again.

OH NOES!!!   

Alert the crony capitalist protection team, ASAP!!!

[Weisshaupt]

I went by Home Depot on the way home from work tonight, and they now carry Cree brand LED bulbs, $12.97 for a 60 watt equivalent. I know Cree is one of the leaders in LED technology (they make the LEDs in the awesome Fenix flashlights mentioned elsewhere on the forum) so I picked one up. It has a glass outer body just like an incandescent bulb, with a rubber covering like a rough service bulb. Light output is good (800 lumens) and at this price LED is starting to become a feasible option. I certainly like them better than the CFLs.

Yeah, I saw those yesterday.. but stayed with my tried and true..please report back on how good the Cree's are. The Phillips have been dropping in price- and it may well be  because there is finally a decent competitor for their wares.  Capitalism strikes again.

Picked up the Cree Brand 60 Watt equivalent at Home Depot today to give it a try.... and wouldn't you  know it, the basement stair light went out just as I got home.  I really like the rubber coating - and the color spectrum  is very close to the what you would want ( Really this seems to be very similar to the 50 Watt Siemens equivalent, but brighter,  and that rubber coating helps to hide the "yolk" of the yellow filter inside the glass.. ) 

The only downside is slightly higher power draw - 9.5 Watts instead of the Phillips 8  -  but the more standard look and form factor make this my new favorite.  From now on I will be buying the Cree's..  PLus I don't have to fight with the stupid Philips blister pack ...

[Libertas]

I think I like the Cree better too, going to pick some more up.  The Philips aren't bad, and the blister packs are easily defeated by my serrated segment of my pocket knife, but I think I like the throw of the light better with the Cree's.

[warpmine]

I think I like the Cree better too, going to pick some more up.  The Philips aren't bad, and the blister packs are easily defeated by my serrated segment of my pocket knife, but I think I like the throw of the light better with the Cree's.

I bought one months ago and put it in the light most used. Satisfied thus far with the natural light.

[Glock32]

Yeah I am liking the Cree too.  I put mine in the entryway on a little foyer table in a timer controller lamp and have virtually forgotten that it's not a normal incandescent bulb. The light is about the same color and intensity, and the bulb looks just like an incandescent. I need to pick up a few more. I think they will be a very good choice for lighting when I have to run off of generator power, pulling only 9-10 watts.

[Weisshaupt]

Yeah I am liking the Cree too.  I put mine in the entryway on a little foyer table in a timer controller lamp and have virtually forgotten that it's not a normal incandescent bulb. The light is about the same color and intensity, and the bulb looks just like an incandescent. I need to pick up a few more. I think they will be a very good choice for lighting when I have to run off of generator power, pulling only 9-10 watts.

for the $12 they are running, I think they are a good deal pretty much anytime you loose an incandescent. Its time to buy them now before they are widely accepted and planned obsolescence takes over.. just like it did with incandescent ( which could be engineered to last many more years than they do) .  Even if you only get half what they say, its still less than $2 a year of lighting - not to mention the energy savings on top.

[Weisshaupt]

Just tried the Feit Electric "performance LED" 3000K color temperature bulb - My local Ace Hardware had them on sale for $10.  Uses 9.8 Watts.
As good as the Cree - but with better light dispersion-- the whole bulb lights up.. and there are no hot spots..

This is my new favorite.. too bad my Ace only had a couple left..

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=28686516

Sale ends Jan 31st..  but $10 is a good price for what you are getting here.  Feit was my brand for incandescent bulbs back when- they lasted longer..

[oldcoastie6468]

Are these lights still all made in China?

[Libertas]

Yeah, the Feit's are made in China, I know that, I think the Philips might be as well.  Will have to look at the Cree's to know for sure.

Most things are made over there now...

[oldcoastie6468]

AFIK, all the new bulbs are made in China. I avoid - at all costs - buying anything from China.

[Weisshaupt]

AFIK, all the new bulbs are made in China. I avoid - at all costs - buying anything from China.

Yeah, don't worry, you will get your wish. Once the dollar goes you will be unable to afford any products from China, or anywhere else for that matter.  I believe  China is going to be the new dominant Super Power for  decades to come.  They will take over most of the Pacific - either militarily or economically. These Islands in Japan are a test. Soon they will just invade, and the US will do nothing- because china has us by our Treasury Bonds, and they can sink this ship overnight.

[richb]

Anybody tried this guys incandescent bulbs?   

http://www.newcandescent.com/

Evidently heavy duty bulbs are exempt from the ban.   Thank goodness for loopholes.....................

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/12/24/a-manufacturer-found-a-loophole-around-that-incandescent-light-bulb-ban/

I am thinking of ordering from there.    He is claiming longer service life then a typical incandescent.    Maybe that due to being made better?  Plus they are made here in the USA.   

I cannot use CFL's as they give me headaches due to the flickering and the buzzing noise they make.  Even if they didn't do that,  I still think the light is awful, turns everything green  and makes reading nearly impossible.    I think the marketplace would have rejected them completely,  so its probably why they had to ban the good bulbs.......

Most halogens bulbs are still on the market too,  even though they are technically incandescent.   Halogens have probably the best and most natural light (sun like) you can get from a light bulb.   The main problem with them is the heat that gets cast off,  though on a freezing cold day like today I don't mind it. 

[Glock32]

Yeah, the Feit's are made in China, I know that, I think the Philips might be as well.  Will have to look at the Cree's to know for sure.

Most things are made over there now...

The Crees are made in the USA (in NC to be exact).

[oldcoastie6468]

The Crees are made in the USA (in NC to be exact).

Thanks! Now then - to find some place that sells them.

[Libertas]

The Crees are made in the USA (in NC to be exact).

Thanks! Now then - to find some place that sells them.

Home Depot should have them.  Usually sell 40's and 60's, at least that is mostly what I see available.

[Weisshaupt]

Home Depot should have them.  Usually sell 40's and 60's, at least that is mostly what I see available.

The 40 and 60 Watt replacements are reasonably priced-- there are 75 and 100 Watt replacements, but they are not worth the $35-50 to buy them. I have seen them both at Home Depot and at Lowes on occasion.

The Crees are a great bulb - (watch the color temperature though! They have a "cool" version that is too blue for me) I have replaced nearly half the lights in the house with them and I am very pleased with them. The Feit is better from appearance ( no hot spot and good light dispersion)  and, at least on sale,  its cheaper. The Crees are usually $12-13 around here.