LED Bulbs - Need recommendation for reliability

3 years ago

I have switched most of the bulbs in my house to LEDs. I have soffit lights outside that are on 12 hours a day. They were installed in January 2015. I have chandelier bulbs in the entry sconces that burn 24 hours a day that were installed in March 2014.

But the bulbs (BR30) that I put in the can lights in the kitchen, the LR, MBR, and two halls are all burning out very quickly. Also, the bulbs that are in the bathroom vanity lights are burning out quickly. By quickly, I mean they are not lasting 6 months.

I have no idea what brand the most recently purchased bulbs are. The bulbs I bought for the sconce lights are Cree, I think. In 2014, it was hard to find an LED chandelier bulb and that is all that was available. I remember they were $40 each.

The exterior soffit lights came from 1000bulbs.com. I have no idea what brand.

Have you found a brand of BR30 dimmable bulbs in 3000K-3500K that are reliable? I also need ordinary light bulbs, dimmable, to use in other places in my house, again 3000K-3500K. Replacing bulbs every 6 months is driving me nuts. And, of course, even though I try to be consistent with temperature, there is a slight difference from brand to brand.

Featured Answer

bbstx
Original Author

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

@cawaps, The only ceiling bulbs where I have LEDs on a dimmer is the kitchen. About a year or so ago, I had the dimmer in the kitchen switched out to one that is LED compatiable. I’m pretty careful to buy dimmable bulbs.

@lascatx, color temperatures that don’t match drive me nuts! That is what I was talking about with the vanity lights in my bathroom. There are 4 bulbs over each sink. They are all the same ”wattage” and supposedly all the same temp, but there are slight variations in blueness from manufacturer to manufacturer.

ETA: somewhat off topic, I found some lamps that I loved and the price was fantastic. But, they weren’t dimmable. I bought Feit Smart bulbs for them. I love the smart bulbs! While it isn’t necessary, I connected them to Alexa. All I have to do to turn them on or off is give Alexa the command. I can also adjust the temperature of the light. And I can change the color of the light totally, but I really don’t need or want to do that.

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Comments (7)

Bookwoman
3 years ago
I use Philips, and have found them to be very good. We installed them in our kitchen ceiling a number of years ago (as well as elsewhere around the house, but the kitchen probably has the lights on more hours than any other room) and have yet to have one burn out.
bbstx thanked Bookwoman
Trapped
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I've just used the ECOsmart from HD in 3000K and I have some BR40 can lights and A19 (regular light bub) that are about 3 years old. They are cheap. A 4-pack of the A19 is $11 and you can get BR30 2 pack for about $11.

I used to use the Phillips incandescent BR40 and I had some that lasted 10 years.
bbstx thanked Trapped
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Oakley
3 years ago
We use Great Value from Walmart and I'm very pleased. took a look in the closet and saw that DH bought some new canned lights that are LED. Check each box and make sure if you can use a lightbulb on a dimmable socket or not. I wrote on one box for 60 watt not to put in a dimmable socket.

This is all confusing to me. DH did something that gave me a good laugh. I noticed one of our ceiling lights seemed darker than the others and apparently he put a chandelier bulb in it. Sigh...a handyman he's not.
bbstx thanked Oakley
lascatx
3 years ago
We started out with Cree with some Ecosmart, but I think our newer ones are mostly Feit. Most of them have lasted well with just an occasional dud. I try to buy a brand I recognize, but I'm pickier about color than brand. It bugs me to walk or drive past a house and night and see three or more colors of light inside the house. I think that would drive me bonkers. Do many people not see the differences?
bbstx thanked lascatx
cawaps
3 years ago
Are the lights on a dimmer? The short life is surprising (as Lascatx said, you can expect an occasional dud, but your problem seems to go beyond bad luck), and I'm wondering if you have a dimmer incompatibility problem.
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User
3 years ago
I buy mine @ Home Depot. Ecosmart. 4 years...and I haven't replaced a single one. ❤️