skool me on PAR led bulbs

**james t** · 06-07-2010, 10:42 PM

Okay, here's the deal-

My house is kinda weird. The kitchen, dining room, and living room are all one giant room. I have 5 recessed lights along the drop down portion of the ceiling around the kitchen that lights up the entire room. I run 50w in these, PAR30.

These lights are the only lights in the house that are on all the time if someone is home. I would love to replace these with something more efficient- also the halogen bulbs give off quite a bit of unwanted heat.

Im finding LED's in the $400-500 range (for 5) and that has me kinda bugged out. That's a HUGE commitment for friggin light bulbs. Im scared to sink $500 in some stinkin light bulbs and then hate them.

Will the light be equal to what i have now? WTF is the difference between 2000k and 6000k color? I dont want crappy looking CFL lighting...

i know i need to clean the kitchen, Brandy has been out of town...

**BrooklynBay** · 06-07-2010, 10:50 PM

Do you like warm (orange), white (cool) or white-blue color? 2K is warm & 6K is very white. Philips started to make LED bulbs less than a year ago.

*techieman33* · 06-07-2010, 11:03 PM

If you want a similar color to what you have now you'll want something in the 3000k-3500k range, anything much lower will look yellow, and much higher will start to have a blue tint to it.

**james t** · 06-07-2010, 11:31 PM

Thanks for the color info guys.

I guess im scared sh!tless, the idea of dropping $500 on some bulbs and one burning out at random in a month.

**section525** · 06-07-2010, 11:32 PM

These bulbs are $100 each?

**james t** · 06-07-2010, 11:35 PM

$70-110 from what ive been seeing...

**BrooklynBay** · 06-08-2010, 12:14 AM

It's possible to get these bulbs for a lot less: http://www.heartlandamerica.com/brow...9&BC=S&DL=SEH3

*techieman33* · 06-08-2010, 12:32 AM

I don't think it's quite time to make the switch yet. Phillips is supposed to be releasing a new bulb later this year that actually puts out comparable light to a 60 watt light bulb. Most of the ones I've seen looking around tonight are only putting out 500 lumens or less. A standard 60 watt bulb puts out a little over 800.

*Mbrooks420* · 06-09-2010, 12:24 AM

I work with LED's for a living, and Techieman is right. LED's might be the light of the future. They aren't quite there yet. LED's are VERY directional. They can be very bright, but the usable viewing angle is weak.

**james t** · 06-09-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mbrooks420

I work with LED's for a living, and Techieman is right. LED's might be the light of the future. They aren't quite there yet. LED's are VERY directional. They can be very bright, but the usable viewing angle is weak.

Ah, well they are not for me then (not yet). I need wide flood to help light the rest of the room.

Back to the drawing board.

*Mbrooks420* · 06-09-2010, 01:09 PM

They are getting there. They are coming up with convex bases, and better lenses on the LED chips, but they still have a way to go. If LED's caught the hype of the toxic CFL's they'd be there.

**james t** · 06-09-2010, 04:35 PM

We have 1 CFL in the house, its used in a lamp we leave on at night... only because i want to be able to see in the house in case we need to get up and they're really efficient. The light color is hideous and i refuse to use them for anything important.

*Mbrooks420* · 06-09-2010, 06:07 PM

The one good thing about LED's is the color. There can be over a million colors with a full color(Red Green Blue, like an old school tv pixel ) ) LED. LED's are great for adding color or accent. They will probably be the best light bulbs in a few years. For now too much $$$ for what you get.

*techieman33* · 06-09-2010, 07:10 PM

We are starting to get some really nice led instruments in the theatrical industry that is as bright as the conventional light they replace. The big problem is the cost, they're 5 or 6 times what a normal light is.

06-07-2010, 10:42 PM	#1
james t moderation Texarkana AR/TX 94 SAS sport Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 11,257 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	skool me on PAR led bulbs Okay, here's the deal- My house is kinda weird. The kitchen, dining room, and living room are all one giant room. I have 5 recessed lights along the drop down portion of the ceiling around the kitchen that lights up the entire room. I run 50w in these, PAR30. These lights are the only lights in the house that are on all the time if someone is home. I would love to replace these with something more efficient- also the halogen bulbs give off quite a bit of unwanted heat. Im finding LED's in the $400-500 range (for 5) and that has me kinda bugged out. That's a HUGE commitment for friggin light bulbs. Im scared to sink $500 in some stinkin light bulbs and then hate them. Will the light be equal to what i have now? WTF is the difference between 2000k and 6000k color? I dont want crappy looking CFL lighting... i know i need to clean the kitchen, Brandy has been out of town... Attached Images __________________ my rebuild

06-07-2010, 10:50 PM	#2
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,681 Vehicle Specs	Do you like warm (orange), white (cool) or white-blue color? 2K is warm & 6K is very white. Philips started to make LED bulbs less than a year ago. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

06-07-2010, 11:31 PM	#4
james t moderation Texarkana AR/TX 94 SAS sport Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 11,257 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks for the color info guys. I guess im scared sh!tless, the idea of dropping $500 on some bulbs and one burning out at random in a month. __________________ my rebuild

06-07-2010, 11:32 PM	#5
section525 sextion525 Red Bluff, Ca 1975 Ford Bronco 4x4 Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 14,909 Vehicle Specs	These bulbs are $100 each? __________________ Support the Forum '13 3.5 Explorer '08 2.0 Focus '75 5.0 Bronco '04 6.0 Super Duty

06-07-2010, 11:35 PM	#6
james t moderation Texarkana AR/TX 94 SAS sport Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 11,257 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	$70-110 from what ive been seeing... __________________ my rebuild

06-07-2010, 11:03 PM	#3
techieman33 Elite Explorer Topeka, KS 00 V8 Mountaineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,222 Vehicle Specs	If you want a similar color to what you have now you'll want something in the 3000k-3500k range, anything much lower will look yellow, and much higher will start to have a blue tint to it.

06-08-2010, 12:14 AM	#7
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,681 Vehicle Specs	It's possible to get these bulbs for a lot less: http://www.heartlandamerica.com/brow...9&BC=S&DL=SEH3 __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

06-08-2010, 12:32 AM	#8
techieman33 Elite Explorer Topeka, KS 00 V8 Mountaineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,222 Vehicle Specs	I don't think it's quite time to make the switch yet. Phillips is supposed to be releasing a new bulb later this year that actually puts out comparable light to a 60 watt light bulb. Most of the ones I've seen looking around tonight are only putting out 500 lumens or less. A standard 60 watt bulb puts out a little over 800.

06-09-2010, 12:24 AM	#9
Mbrooks420 High Voltage. Erie, Pennsylvania 1998 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,090 Vehicle Specs	I work with LED's for a living, and Techieman is right. LED's might be the light of the future. They aren't quite there yet. LED's are VERY directional. They can be very bright, but the usable viewing angle is weak. __________________ 1998 Mounty 5.0 AWD TT/Shackles/rear AirLift springs 31x10.5 Kelly TSR's 1995 Subaru Legacy AWD Sedan RIP---Killed by an suicidal deer 1972 El Camino---Project Dirty Old Chevy---Fresh Marine Longblock .060 over, Forged crank RV Cam 454/th400 swap, Hooker Headers, fresh coat of white 1999 KTM 300exc RaceTech Suspension, Rekluse Slipper Clutch, single track killer

06-09-2010, 01:09 PM	#11
Mbrooks420 High Voltage. Erie, Pennsylvania 1998 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,090 Vehicle Specs	They are getting there. They are coming up with convex bases, and better lenses on the LED chips, but they still have a way to go. If LED's caught the hype of the toxic CFL's they'd be there. __________________ 1998 Mounty 5.0 AWD TT/Shackles/rear AirLift springs 31x10.5 Kelly TSR's 1995 Subaru Legacy AWD Sedan RIP---Killed by an suicidal deer 1972 El Camino---Project Dirty Old Chevy---Fresh Marine Longblock .060 over, Forged crank RV Cam 454/th400 swap, Hooker Headers, fresh coat of white 1999 KTM 300exc RaceTech Suspension, Rekluse Slipper Clutch, single track killer

06-09-2010, 04:35 PM	#12
james t moderation Texarkana AR/TX 94 SAS sport Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 11,257 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	We have 1 CFL in the house, its used in a lamp we leave on at night... only because i want to be able to see in the house in case we need to get up and they're really efficient. The light color is hideous and i refuse to use them for anything important. __________________ my rebuild

06-09-2010, 06:07 PM	#13
Mbrooks420 High Voltage. Erie, Pennsylvania 1998 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,090 Vehicle Specs	The one good thing about LED's is the color. There can be over a million colors with a full color(Red Green Blue, like an old school tv pixel ) ) LED. LED's are great for adding color or accent. They will probably be the best light bulbs in a few years. For now too much $$$ for what you get. __________________ 1998 Mounty 5.0 AWD TT/Shackles/rear AirLift springs 31x10.5 Kelly TSR's 1995 Subaru Legacy AWD Sedan RIP---Killed by an suicidal deer 1972 El Camino---Project Dirty Old Chevy---Fresh Marine Longblock .060 over, Forged crank RV Cam 454/th400 swap, Hooker Headers, fresh coat of white 1999 KTM 300exc RaceTech Suspension, Rekluse Slipper Clutch, single track killer

06-09-2010, 07:10 PM	#14
techieman33 Elite Explorer Topeka, KS 00 V8 Mountaineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,222 Vehicle Specs	We are starting to get some really nice led instruments in the theatrical industry that is as bright as the conventional light they replace. The big problem is the cost, they're 5 or 6 times what a normal light is.