JHZR2
Staff member
Some of the bulbs in one kitchen fixture have started to fail (100W-equivalent CFLs) after about five years of pretty consistent use. That is, somewhere around three to six hours of use per day.
I put the CFLs in shortly after we moved in just to save electricity versus the incandescents that were in there before. The fixture is a ceiling fan with four lights that have solid, opaque surrounds. The actual bulb holders/surrounds look something like this one (forget the base and vertical part):
So the light has to be fairly one-directional, and/or stick somewhat out from the fixture.
Ive been playing around with LEDs in many places in my home, and have a lot of them in use. Many spots that have CFLs will not as they burn out. For this specific application, Ive tried some PAR 20 LEDs which focus the light well. Problem is that they are only 50W equivalent, get REALLY hot on the metal heatsink, and are too short so the beam doesnt spread right. I tried some more standard LED bulbs, but they only go to around 60W equivalent at a decent size and price, and dont put out enough light.
I'd say that the 50W equivalent PAR20 bulbs are almost as bright as a 100W CFL in this application.
so... Good quality 100W equivalent CFLs like GE reveal are around $10 for two. LEDs in that PAR20 size are around $20 each (these are HD/Lowes prices, may be somewhat cheaper on Amazon). Benefit goes to CFL, because at the price and typical life, we are doing pretty well... Even if I have to replace them more. If the PAR20 at haf the energy use works well, there is electricity savings to be had, but it is somewhat diminishing returns.
Here's the thing, I have always had 2700K CFLs, and generally dont like the yellowness of the light. I dont like daylight type high color temp bulbs either. Many of the CFLs Ive bought recently are 3000K, and I like that light a lot more. The 3000K diffused bulbs are wonderful, and the 3000K PAR20, if a tad bit harsh, still is nice task and working light.
I see that the reveal bulbs are around 2500K. Ive never used/owned them. It seems that the blue coating adds enough of certain wavelengths to make it more whitish, but is this really the case? Especially for their CFLs? If so, Im inclined to stay with CFLs for this since they stick out a tiny bit and throw light well from these fixtures (downside they dont dim). Or will I be disappointed compared to the 3000K light that I seem to enjoy?
Has anyone compared the two? Is reveal true white or does it add red or still retain yellow? Im not a fan of the 5000-6500K daylight bulbs in most applications...
My kitchen is Benjamin Moore Philipsburg Blue, with whitewashed wood cabinets and a light countertop, FWIW.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/philipsburgblue
Economics of acquisition aside, should I consider the Reveal CFLs or dig more with the PAR 20 3000K bulbs (e.g. get some A19 base extenders or something else)?
Thanks!
I put the CFLs in shortly after we moved in just to save electricity versus the incandescents that were in there before. The fixture is a ceiling fan with four lights that have solid, opaque surrounds. The actual bulb holders/surrounds look something like this one (forget the base and vertical part):
So the light has to be fairly one-directional, and/or stick somewhat out from the fixture.
Ive been playing around with LEDs in many places in my home, and have a lot of them in use. Many spots that have CFLs will not as they burn out. For this specific application, Ive tried some PAR 20 LEDs which focus the light well. Problem is that they are only 50W equivalent, get REALLY hot on the metal heatsink, and are too short so the beam doesnt spread right. I tried some more standard LED bulbs, but they only go to around 60W equivalent at a decent size and price, and dont put out enough light.
I'd say that the 50W equivalent PAR20 bulbs are almost as bright as a 100W CFL in this application.
so... Good quality 100W equivalent CFLs like GE reveal are around $10 for two. LEDs in that PAR20 size are around $20 each (these are HD/Lowes prices, may be somewhat cheaper on Amazon). Benefit goes to CFL, because at the price and typical life, we are doing pretty well... Even if I have to replace them more. If the PAR20 at haf the energy use works well, there is electricity savings to be had, but it is somewhat diminishing returns.
Here's the thing, I have always had 2700K CFLs, and generally dont like the yellowness of the light. I dont like daylight type high color temp bulbs either. Many of the CFLs Ive bought recently are 3000K, and I like that light a lot more. The 3000K diffused bulbs are wonderful, and the 3000K PAR20, if a tad bit harsh, still is nice task and working light.
I see that the reveal bulbs are around 2500K. Ive never used/owned them. It seems that the blue coating adds enough of certain wavelengths to make it more whitish, but is this really the case? Especially for their CFLs? If so, Im inclined to stay with CFLs for this since they stick out a tiny bit and throw light well from these fixtures (downside they dont dim). Or will I be disappointed compared to the 3000K light that I seem to enjoy?
Has anyone compared the two? Is reveal true white or does it add red or still retain yellow? Im not a fan of the 5000-6500K daylight bulbs in most applications...
My kitchen is Benjamin Moore Philipsburg Blue, with whitewashed wood cabinets and a light countertop, FWIW.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/philipsburgblue
Economics of acquisition aside, should I consider the Reveal CFLs or dig more with the PAR 20 3000K bulbs (e.g. get some A19 base extenders or something else)?
Thanks!