Thread: Residential LED lighting

Originally Posted by BobH

I don't know how your utilities bill you but it seems here that saving energy past a certain point will gain you nothing. I mean it seems like there is a minimum monthly charge so if you reduce usage below that you gain nothing and the utility gains by not having to build more capacity and profits go up. Yea, and as a bonus the cost to do this is pretty steep to the user.

Bob

The other advantage is that the life expectancy of an led fitting is around 50,000 hours (for something decent) but realistically could be a lot longer, so start factoring in the cost of at least 10 incandescent lamps, and the convenience of not spending every other saturday up a ladder changing incandescent downlights and the comaparative costs start looking not too bad.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

The other advantage is that the life expectancy of an led fitting is around 50,000 hours (for something decent) but realistically could be a lot longer, so start factoring in the cost of at least 10 incandescent lamps, and the convenience of not spending every other saturday up a ladder changing incandescent downlights and the comaparative costs start looking not too bad.

+1 - the quality and quantity of light
They run so much cooler
And I am not on the ladder at least 1x a month.

We had been looking at spending a lot more on re-doing all of the lighting in the house when this kit showed up.
You can try a single fixture - pick out an area that bugs you.
As you get older this seems to be more and more of an issue...(sigh)

I am in my mid thirties and poor lighting annoys the heck out of me, i want to be able to see, esp in kitchens,bathrooms and studies.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

The other advantage is that the life expectancy of an led fitting is around 50,000 hours (for something decent) but realistically could be a lot longer, so start factoring in the cost of at least 10 incandescent lamps, and the convenience of not spending every other saturday up a ladder changing incandescent downlights and the comaparative costs start looking not too bad.

That could very well be true. You have to consider that if you have enclosed lighting fixtures they may not last as long as they do need some air circulation. I am talking about the screw in Philps lamps I bought and I put then in overhead globe ceiling fixtures so we will see. They apparently do generate some heat, not from the lamp but the transformer in the lamp unit. No fire hazard is stated only possibly shortening of the lamps life.

It still gripes to give the utility a possible free bonus at my expense though.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

That could very well be true. You have to consider that if you have enclosed lighting fixtures they may not last as long as they do need some air circulation. I am talking about the screw in Philps lamps I bought and I put then in overhead globe ceiling fixtures so we will see. They apparently do generate some heat, not from the lamp but the transformer in the lamp unit. No fire hazard is stated only possibly shortening of the lamps life.

It still gripes to give the utility a possible free bonus at my expense though.

Bob

Well yes thats true suppose, though decent LED's will have suitably sized heatsinks built into them, and that is where a purpose designed LED fitting would perform better, the fitting can be made with heat dissipation in mind.

I use LED bulbs, initial cost is high but if they last as long a advertised, then it is worth it.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Well yes thats true suppose, though decent LED's will have suitably sized heatsinks built into them, and that is where a purpose designed LED fitting would perform better, the fitting can be made with heat dissipation in mind.

Yes, they do have heat sinks built in I believe, not certain, but the heat would still need to be dissipated from the heatsinks. At my age I am not going to the expense of all new purpose designed lighting fixtures. That would cut into the shaving budget too much. On a new build that is the way to go for sure. I guess it would all depend on your age and how deep your pockets were.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, they do have heat sinks built in I believe, not certain, but the heat would still need to be dissipated from the heatsinks. At my age I am not going to the expense of all new purpose designed lighting fixtures. That would cut into the shaving budget too much. On a new build that is the way to go for sure. I guess it would all depend on your age and how deep your pockets were.

Bob

I reckon you've got at least 20yrs left bob, so you would probably never need to change them again, but lets hope that you do

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I reckon you've got at least 20yrs left bob, so you would probably never need to change them again, but lets hope that you do

Nice of you to say so but ya gots to be realistic as there are no guarantees especially after age 50.

Bob

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Unfortunately I need the light on the second level down from the roof.

I have the solar tubes, too. Had them installed as combo units with the bathroom fans, they work great.

From the guys who installed ours, they can be run on floors below the roof, since the light is "funneled" along polished conduit, they can run 90 degree bends. So, if there's a surface on the outside of the house to mount a housing, you can conceivably have a skylight on any floor.