LED lighting goes mainstream! It's at Wal-Mart!

[ankit]

Wonderful. Can't wait until these come down in price a little more. Not only would they save energy, but they might be a nice conversation piece/energy statement when people come over. It would also show how accepting you are to change in technology for energy progress.

I just might have to check these out when I goto Walmart next time. Hopefully they don't blow out and stand up to the "100,000 hours" leds are supposed to last.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

Is this what your bulb looks like?

Matt's Blog: My First LED Light Bulb

[rgathright]

Would these lights work as security lights outside?

I leave four flood lights on at night to deter crime. I consume 400Watts per hour doing this and the bulbs crack from rain every 3 months. Saving power and consuming less resources sounds great to me!

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

I went to a different Walmart today, and they had some 7W GE brand narrow flood lights, with a mere 200 lumens -- for ~$36. I'm not going to spend that much for a light that seems like it will be pretty dim.

How many lumens on the on you got, Ben? This one had three large LED's behind a flat frosted lens. They did not list a color temperature on the package...

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

I bought an LED MiniMag flashlight which is more than double the price of a standard MiniMag and have returned it to the tool man 3 times now for replacement in less than 6 months. They seem just as unreliable as the Stylus Streamlight pocket flashlight.

My 2 cents on LED lighting.

I installed the Nite Ize LED converter on my MiniMag about three years ago and have used it for everything up to and including a tack hammer - mine seems to be holding up okay. My son switched his out for a single LED (mine is three) but with a so-called "smart switch," which permits two brightnesses and flash patterns. In my humble opinion, his is the better light. He's had his for over a year, too.

I'm a handyman - not a day goes by that I don't use my light for something. Sometimes it flickers, but I think that's a corroded spot from an old battery meltdown causing bad connection. A tap or two will bring it back.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hiya,

The E12 5-LED bulb in red makes a perfect night light:

Super Bright LEDs - Edison Screw Base Bulbs

Can someone who has found a warm white LED screw-in "Edison" light bulb for a reasonable cost, please post a link?

[bennelson]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

How many lumens on the on you got, Ben? .

Mine was a LIGHTS OF AMERICA brand, 5 watt spot/floodlight marked "bright white light" as the color.

It was $20.

I looked on the box and didn't see lumens listed anywhere.

The bulb was bright enough, but not quite as bright as a bulb that we typically would have had otherwise.

Glad I kept the box. The bulb quit working on us. I looked on the box, and it said there was a 2-year warranty. I am planning on taking it back and getting a new one.

[bennelson]

My Wal-Mart LED bulb has died! Gal-dern made in China piece of SH*T....

I saved the box, and it does list a 2-year warranty. Just return to the retailer. I stopped at Wal-Mart and got a new one, no questions asked.

While I got the replacement, I noticed they had a few new styles in too. One of them is a mini track-light type, which happens to be 12V! At $6, I think I have found something fun to experiment with in electric vehicles.

Here is a pile of photos that I hope answers some questions about these bulbs.





MORE PHOTOS HERE

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi Ben,

What sort of fixture did you have it installed in? Could heat buildup have been an issue?

[bennelson]

It was a recessed can light, which is what this style of light is designed to go in. It makes hardly any heat.

I think it was just a bad bulb.


Does anyone know if those little accent bulbs that are 12V are 12V DC or 12V AC?

If it's AC, and I power it with DC, will it just be dimmer?