I was asked - Hey , LED guy do you have any recommendations...

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Permalink Reply by David Meiland on September 20, 2012 at 7:52am

Dennis, I think most people would benefit from a short list of LED bulbs to be used in common situations. Example, if you are replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb in a typical paper-shaded table lamp, use a Toshiba 123xyz or a Phillips abc123. There are a lot of LED bulbs out there, and it's hard to choose correctly. Will my dimmers work with them? Will the individual LEDs show through my white opaque glass shade or will I get uniform light? Etc. etc.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis McCarthy on September 20, 2012 at 3:30pm

Hi David,

Too many variables,

In a sense, I can get you to the "parking lots" but not necessarily be able

to find which parking space is right - there are many variables like differences in whats

stocked by region. Or whether a 1 year warranty vs a iron clad 5 yr one is important, same

with how advanced a product or system is- its one thing to talk  - 3 in a under a

lampshade ap  - versus doing 300 premium retail PAR lamps, especially ones fitted with

addressable controls.  couldn't speak to what will work best in your stated circumstance,

 especially how well a given product will shine thru a opaque lense.

When it comes to optics and lenses it's again a whole different subset topic.

 

I can add that well engineered modern troffers don't suffer from lumen depreciation the way

standard 2x2 or 2x4 troffers do ,but discussing something as specific as the best current

2 x2is a  long  discussion, there are  numerous aproaches+ successes.Another proven product

 Cree troffers are great (the LR24)  the're vetted, PROVEN , IN USE and expensive.

A couple of these produce sufficient illuminance for a small to average room !!-

 

 Dave , if you were'nt half a continent away I'd fit you out with a house full of LEDs but

since you were looking for 1 or 2 specific recomends-  the L prize winning A-19 from Philips

is the light over my head right now - thats  the Endura 12 watt medium (e-26) base

 -the one available at Lowes or home depot - Who(btw) both do very Poor jobs of presenting

SSL products, they don't push 'em - they don't know 'em --- in time that will change or

they will lose their large market shares -( in hope and theory,) to LED distributors who

are energy effecient lighting specialist . as opposed to lowest pricing allure.

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Permalink Reply by Roch Naleway on September 21, 2012 at 2:45pm

I went to Light Fair in Las Vegas this year. Crazy amount of LED manufacturers. You have the big 5 companies for regular lighting needs. You have 4,000 LED manufacturers. We deal with a lot of LED streetlight fixtures at my company. We see a handful of decent companies that are producing utility/municipality grade lighting. The rest is junk.

As for residential lighting needs: GE, Phillips, CREE, and a few TCP (runs under the Ecosmart label) seem to be ok.

My recommendations: A19 lamps by GE and Phillips for table lamps. Recessed lamp fixtures by CREE and Ecosmart. BR30 lamps with white shade by GE and TCP. 

I am hesitant to recommend any other LED lights for other residential applications inside the home. I am 100% certain that the above products/manufacturers are doing a good job. I have seen them in action. If I can't tell what is installed in the socket or at the circuit that's a good thing.

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