Anyone using LED's in their shops/garages?

[Wilbur]

I haven't seen much in the way of LED's in industrial uses but I know some manufacturers exist (like below- and no I have no tie to them just found them in a google search)

http://www.albeotech.com/home.html

I know the technology is just starting to emerge for uses like this so it may well still be cost prohibitive v. fluorescent but figured I would ask.

I have to think over time they would save money on electricity but it may be a few years before there are enough versions (competition, efficiency, etc.) out there to be cost effective from a purchase perspective.

Just curious. Thanks!

 

[Wilbur]

Just found a calculator that (allegedly) shows the breakeven of LED. It doesn't seem cost effective for a retrofit for sure and will still take a while in a new build but I imagine it will get better over time...

http://www.superbrightleds.com/energy_savings_calculator.php?prod=HB-120W-VA

 

[Exceller8]

I use LED's for my outside lighting and for my grinder light. When the prices come down a bit I'll add even more. Some of the LED's really ****, so make sure to checkout the specs before you buy.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Prices are getting better, I think it's just a matter of time before they're commonplace.

 

[rwhite692]

I would wait. Prices are still high and reliability / service life of the power supplies which drive the LEDs is still not great. Manufacturers still have a long way to go in terms of improving their resistance to voltage transients while being able to bring them to market at a reasonable price.

 

[Exceller8]

There are some deals out there but I'm waiting as well. If they get in the $3-$5 range and the quality is there, that's probably when I'll make the switch.

 

[ForceFed70]

Last time I looked, the ROI on LED overhead lighting still isn't there yet (it costs you more or your are lucky to break even after 20years).

It may come. I'm also interested to see if the LED lamps actually last as long as the lifespan they advertise.

 

[ddawg16]

I just installed my first LED bulb....put it in the bathroom...wanted something that was full brightness when I turned on the light....8w = 75w....$24 at HD.

I also agree with all the above statements....the ROI is not there yet...additionally, I don't think LED's are the holly grail of lighting....I think it is still waiting to be found.

LED is ideal for low voltage...especially cars...but houses? Just not there....at least for the cost.

With that said...I am looking at using LED's in a couple places in our house where we want to have them dimmable....yes, you can get dimmable CFL's....but they cost almost as much as the LED's...and the LED's are smaller....

 

[trainer]

I've replaced a few outside CFL's with LED's. The light is a nice bright white colour and they don't attract bugs at night.

 

[gatchel]

I've replaced a few outside CFL's with LED's. The light is a nice bright white colour and they don't attract bugs at night.

A lot of people don't know that...That alone is worth a couple hundred bucks when you're sitting outside at night getting swarmed by bugs because of traditional lighting.

 

[Laredo]

I tried out a couple in a bathroom where the lights tend to get left on. Weird lighting tint - the wife hated it. One burned out after only 3 months. Expensive experiment.

 

[acer66]

A lot of people don't know that...That alone is worth a couple hundred bucks when you're sitting outside at night getting swarmed by bugs because of traditional lighting.

I was one of them until now, that is very good to know.

 

[Jefe]

I've replaced a few outside CFL's with LED's. The light is a nice bright white colour and they don't attract bugs at night.

Wow that's good to know. Did you use a regular a19 style bulb? I've been looking for some for the garage and house but they all say "indoor use" on the packaging.

 

[klaw]

I have replace a couple outdoor lights that had a tendency to fail early due to vibrations of door shutting a side benefit was the lack of attracting bugs.

I will wait for the next price drop and then start to replace the lights as they fail

 

[trainer]

Wow that's good to know. Did you use a regular a19 style bulb? I've been looking for some for the garage and house but they all say "indoor use" on the packaging.

I used a style made to replace par 38 type floods in some soffit-mounted pot liight fixtures. I think Indoor bulbs would be ok as long as your fixture protects them reasonably well.

At work yesterday I swapped out some old t-12 48" bulbs in 4 bulb troffer fixtures for 15 watt 4' led tubes.
The bulbs were around $40 each. There was some wiring to by-pass the ballasts and feed 120v directly to one end of the fixture. I added a new chrome eggshell-type cover.
So for under $150 each, I have the latest in lighting.

Advertised life is something like 10x that of t-8s, so throertically, I'll never need to touch them again.

The light quality is somewhat more directional, so personal preference would dictate your decision.

 

[RCStocker]

There is a company that is still making regular light bulbs for comercial use. I forget the name of the company off of my head. They are very good and will last a long time.
I like the LED lights. I put up 25,000 lights outside for christmas. My bill is huge with the old lights. My neighbors have the new LED and they do not draw much power.
My small mini LED flash lights are very bright. I just don't like the color of the light and how it makes things look. It is not as good of light in my opinion. I have had several customers wanted them but when they saw the cost they did not go with them.

 

[trainer]

RCStocker, LED technology is advancing almost monthly in terms of price, colour rendition and light output, so keep looking and dont be too quick to form an opinion based on what you have seen so far.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

At around $20 for a 40-60w bulb, it's not QUITE worth it, but getting there. I would have no hesitation to put one in hard to reach locations like a hanging light over a tall stairwell or other tricky spots.

CFL's were similar expensive when they came out, and now they are typically $1 at many places. I expect we'll see LED bulbs in the $5 range within 3 years.

 

[jonahbones]

I would caution that it is a different technology so avoid replacement bulbs and look to a complete fixture.
I have just installed 4 fixtures single led 16w 900lumen and excellent cri around 90 from memory about $100 aud each lifespan of 60000 hrs. each fixture has its own heatsink and powerfilter, they will also drop to 80% output when temp exceeds a certain level to cope with our peak summer temps +40 degrees celsius.
To date I have avoided cfl due to heat,(one melted the eighty year old wiring in the house), mercury content, cri issues, plus most on the market are at less than unity putting extra load on the grid.
so yes leds have definitely come of age, just not as globes, fixtures only.

 

[coolreed]

What are the average prices for 4 ft. LED Lighting light bar?

 

[AETD]

i have about 80x GU10 6500K 3W LED 270 lumen spots in my house. and i love them. (replace 35watt gu10's. so 2800watt vs 240watt & less than 440$ invested)

My wife works at home and everyone visiting her practice is loving the light. they all want details for own/home use.

got them for less than 5.50$ incl shipping from dealextreme

outside i have some 30W power led's. also bright white 6500K as in attachment. they are a little less bright than a 500watt projector. but as they are bright white you can see more (contrast is better imo)

 

[pauls340]

I sell both a Retrofit kit LED for streetlight and parking lot lights, gas station canopy lights and HighBay lights. I also have the best looking parking lot LED in North America and it is very difficult getting even one order because of all the "expanded truths" being told about LED's. IMO, LED ROI really starts when you replace 400w and larger lamps. I did a ROI calculator for a beer dist...100 highbays were 1000w on 24/7. ROI was 12 1/2 months !!! Still no order Also, when you think about manufacturing a product that might not be replaced again in my lifetime...why should these mfg's lower their price?

 

[lowell66dart]

My first ever LED fixture just showed up. This is going over the man door on my recently ordered soon to be erected pole barn. I'm gonna test out that no bug thing.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

outside i have some 30W power led's. also bright white 6500K as in attachment. they are a little less bright than a 500watt projector. but as they are bright white you can see more (contrast is better imo)

I just noticed a bunch of those on ebay, search for "LED Floodlight". They come in 12/24v DC versions and 85-265v AC from 10 to 100 watts, very cheap. I can think of a lot of uses for those little things, already ordered a couple...

I also noticed these 100w LEDs:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100W-Cold-W...1541961829096078915&pid=100009&prg=1004&rk=2&
That just about perfectly replaces a 100w metal halide bulb. And it's cheaper. You need a driver for it, but they're a lot cheaper than other ballasts too:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100W-High-P...939?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d009b2db

For general shop lighting, I think the cost is still too high, but I'm definately thinking about replacing the metal halides outside with LEDs.