replacing CFLs with LEDs

The prices haven't changed much at all in the last year on those bulbs. Apparently I missed a new bulb at lowes this spring

Utilitech 6.5-Watt (40W Equivalent) A19 Medium Base (E-26) 3000K Warm White LED Bulb
Item #: 557094 | Model #: LA450830LED

My local lowes has them for $5, I haven't gotten one yet but they have a 3 year store return only warranty.

SunSun is 3 years 25,000 hours rated at $8
Utilitech is 3 years 18,000 hours rated at $5

I figure at 8 hours a day that is so many years down the road (6-8 years) I'm better off buying the cheaper bulb assuming the light quality is similar and buying better bulbs if*/when they die.

* for example I put the sunsun 5000K bulb in my refrigerator, at 5 minutes a day or whatever I use it, I'll die before the bulb does. I'm sure there will be other locations I'll put a bulb that gets used 1 or 2 hours a day that may last decades.

I'd buy more of those G7 Power Carson bulbs if there were $2 or $3 each but the power difference is so small between those and one of the "6.5w" alternatives I'm better off just buying the cheaper bulb that uses a couple of watts more.

 

so the utilitech bulbs are non dimmable and 18,000 hour rated vs dimmable and 25,000 hour rated SunSun. I don't use dimmers and the price per bulb being $3 less makes me willing to buy the cheaper bulb.

So far I only have 1, oh yeah, I need to put it on the killawatt meter and see if it uses more or less power than the SunSun.

 

ironically the turn on is quicker with this new bulb I'm trying than on any of my other LEDs and faster than the CFLs on the same circuit (using in kitchen can lights with 4 bulbs on one switch).

 

do you know the SKU/model number for that?

the one I got was 6.5W spec and read 4W on my killawatt meter.

part# 0557094
barcode 17801 99247
model #la450/830/LED

 

I took the liberty to add the rated life of the bulb in your quote section, let me know if that isn't correct.


that's a noticeable power penalty for the reliability/color temp/dimmability change vs the much cheaper bulb I'm using. I'm thinking I'll head back and get some more.

 

I've found after some use that bulbs below 80 lm/watt spec overheat in my computer room ceiling fixture (upside down dome of frosted glass covering a flat plate on the ceiling that has two sockets horizontal to ceiling facing 180 opposed to each other). I don't have a way to accurately measure lumens so I'm using spec.

Note the CFLs and incandescents don't overheat in this fixture and live a normal lifespan, its just inefficient LEDs with insufficient heatsinks that are an issue.

~50 lm/watt spec, 11W used, 13W spec CFL 2700K (OK in enclosed fixture, no issues)
~50 lm/watt spec, 8W used, 10W spec CFL 2700K (OK in enclosed fixture, no issues)

~69 lm/watt spec, 4W used, 6.5W spec Utilitech LED 3000K 450 lm (overheated in enclosed fixture, using in kitchen can light now)
~74 lm/watt spec, 4W used, 6.5W spec SunSun LED 3000K 480 lm (overheated in enclosed fixture, using in freezer now)

~85 lm/watt spec, ?.?W used, 7W SimpleEnergyWorks LED 3000K 600 lm (on order, haven't tested yet, assuming it will be OK)
~88 lm/watt spec, 3.5W used, 7W SimpleEnergyWorks LED 4x00K* 615 lm (OK in enclosed fixture, no issues)
~89 lm/watt spec, 3W used, 6.5W spec SunSun LED 5000K 580 lm (using in refrigerator now, wasn't left in enclosure enough to test heat issue)
~83 lm/watt spec, 1W used, 3W spec G7 Power LED 3000K 150 lm (using in floor lamp, haven't tested in enclosed fixture)

The weight difference between the sunsun and the simple energy works is significant. Amazon lists the package for the SunSun at 1.6 ounces and the Simple Energy Works at 3.2 ounces. The empty box for both weigh 0.85 ounces on my scale. The extra mass is used to pull heat away from the electronics allowing the bulb to handle the waste heat better. It's that old saw of the one that weighs more was probably made better.

After overheating the SunSun started to flicker, the utilitech seemed to have a thermal shutdown. No light, but after it cooled off I moved it to another socket and it works again. I've moved both to the kitchen can lights and I've seen some flicker from the SunSun from time to time but I haven't used the utilitech long enough after the thermal shutdown to know if it is degraded or damaged by the experience.

I like the looks of the smooth silver on the SunSun but apparently it isn't enough mass for general use. If they can't reduce the wattage they'll have to up the mass to spread the heat more or add fins to increase the surface area (or a combination of both).

*OK about that color temp. Simple Energy Works lists the color temp for their bulbs as

5500-7500K / 6000K
3700-5500K / 4000K
2600-3500K / 3000K

I don't know if they use the same number of LEDs and have half of one K and half of another K or if the ratio is different. I can't tell you if the middle bulb is truly 4000K or if it is more like 4200K or 4400K.

Also Simple energy works bulbs are down to $8 on amazon. The price drop makes these a clear win vs sunsun. You get more lumens (light), more mass for the heatsink, for the same price. It's still non dimmable and I'm not crazy about how the mark the color temperature* on the box/website but I'm going to test the lower color temp bulb and if there is no change before next summer the Simple Energy Works will be high on my list of bulbs I want.

 

The G7 power 3W is no longer in stock on Amazon, may be a discontinued item?

The SimpleEnergyWorks is down to $8 and has stayed there.

The Utilitech was $5 before but went down to $4 the last time I was at Lowes. I wouldn't be surprised to see these on sale next spring for $3.

 

edit: this darn site keeps eating my amazon URL, amazon.com/PacLights-Ultra150-Performance-Equivalent-Replacement/dp/B00F9FP7BS

test

interesting configuration, I'd trust active cooling but the watts and dollars there are insane.