Favorite outdoor bulb.

[vavet]

Do you have a favorite bulb for outdoor light fixtures? I’m talking about just the standard screw in type bulb. An A12 base, I think it’s called.
we moved into this house about 6 years ago. I tried a dusk-to dawn sensor in the single bulb fixture over the garage door initially with a cfl bulb. That bulb lasted only a few months. I removed the sensor and put a new cfl bulb in. That same bulb is still in there and burns 24/7 for 5 years!
My detached garage was built in 2017. There is a single bulb fixture on either side of the roll up door that I leave burning 24/7 with CFLs. The first one of those failed last week after 4 years. I replaced both of them with led bulbs because I didn’t have any more cfls.
Was the first early failure a fluke? Related to the dusk to dawn sensor?
is it just the on/off cycles?
on and off cycles in the cold temps?
we also have a lamp post in the yard that we leave on all the time. I don't think that bulb has failed yet.

 

[Bert_]

This is one place I have no trouble using an led. I like the all glass A19 lamps, I run a 100W equivalent from dusk to dawn by my back door. Been in there a couple years.

Open vs enclosed fixtures will make a huge difference in lifespan. An led or cfl is not tolerant of heat build up.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have three fixtures on my house and three more on the garage, all six are newer, but styled after the old gooseneck lights that were on gas stations. I run 100 watt replacement led corn lamps in them. I know corn lamps aren't all that great, but I get them in 2200k. I like the amber high pressure sodium color.

 

[Boatman62]

Just an FYI.... if you install an LED near a garage door opener it will give RF interference and mess with the opener remote operation. This drove me crazy for a couple weeks. They make LED bulbs that are garage door opener friendly.

 

[yeldogt]

I have moved my outdoor fixtures that use traditional bulbs over to 2700 - 3000k bulbs. IMO buy Cree or the ones from Ikea .. none of the others last as long IMO. I have many properties and lots of lights.

 

[yeldogt]

I have moved my outdoor fixtures that use traditional bulbs over to 2700 - 3000k bulbs. IMO buy Cree or the ones from Ikea .. none of the others last as long IMO. I have many properties and lots of lights. The 60w 2700 Ikea -- match a nice typical incandescent. The daylight 5000k are weird and too harsh on the eyes. I use the 75 in a few of the more frosted fixtures and 100w on a dimmer with stuff around the pool and other areas where I may want more light for cleanup. The new LED dimmers are needed --- mine run to a timer

 

[Solpainter]

I have used Cree on all my outside lights for at least seven years. I do have some no name candelabra porch lights. No failures. What I did find is the base gets minor corrosion ( I live in humid NC). Once a year I take the bulbs out to clean the various fixtures glass. The first year some bulbs would not turn and the bulb would come off the base leaving the electronics stuck in the base. Had to use pliers to remove.
I applied a light coat of dielectric grease to the bulb threads when reinstalling, the next year they came out without an issue. I repeat this process each year.

 

[csp]

Two of the three coach lights on my garage are CFLs that have been in use since 2007 every night from dusk to dawn.

One did burn out two years ago and was replaced with an LED.

 

[cpttuna]

I have a lamp post in the front yard. A standard 60 watt bulb lasts 3 months. I have a 60 watt LED going on 6 years.

 

[The Bean]

Over the years, I went from 'rough service' 130V incandescent to 'custard swirl' CFL to A19 LED. You have to keep up, eh? Besides, you can't beat the convenience and cost savings. What I always tried to insist on, though, was brass screw shells. The aluminum corroded and could come loose from heat expansion. The new LEDs have nickel plated shell best I can tell. Make sure you use a lamp suitable for damp location and dimmable if your circuit is dimmed. There are a lot of choices out there, and they're getting better all the time