LED bulbs for barn lights? Tricky stuff

[TONE]

Okay, here is an odd one. We have a home office with a fairly tall ceiling in it. I installed two barn type hanging lights a few years ago. They are the type that have the jelly jar type coverings over the bulb along with a cage. Looks great and very pleased.

The tricky part is that I initially just slapped in 100watt incandescent bulbs as that is the max the fixture can take and I need it bright since these two fixtures are the primary lighting for the room. The rub is they burn out fairly often and I need to haul out a ladder to get up there to change them.

Both of these lights are controlled with a dimmer switch is something I need to add here.

Anyway, I cannot find an LED bulb or any other type of bulb (besides incandescent) that can be put into an enclosed fixture along with being able to accept a dimmer switch.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[captaindiode]

I don't know how expensive these are:

http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/na/solutions/led-lamps-and-modules/general-purpose/led-a21-fully-enclosed-fixture-rated-lamps.jsp

 

[Solanaceae]

The thing I noticed with dimmable LED lamps is that they act strange on a lot of dimmers. They seem to drop out at about 20% and when you turn the summer all the way down but not off, the bulb will emit this slight flash, due to the majority LEDs having capacitative ballasts and not inductive like linear and some compact fluorescent.

 

[Falcon67]

Should be pretty common now - this one says good for enclosed.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_667607-3-79160___?productId=50373456&pl=1&Ntt=dimmable+led+bulbs

I've been buying other brands at Lowes for $5~$6 depending on wattage. They work well with the issues noted above on dimmers. The more expensive BRxx bulbs seem to do better on the full range of dimming. The less expensive incandescent look-alikes tend to **** out at the lower end of dimming. If you get one like that, buy a couple more and try them. They don't all act exactly the same on a dimmer.

 

[joe_padavano]

Or, just get these:

http://www.hubbelloutdoor.com/products/vbgl_vwgl_wet_location_led_vaportites

 

[thickhead]

How about these?:
G.E. LED17DA21/BX
G.E. 13909
Cree BA21-16050OMF-12DE26-1U10
Philips 459107

All seachable on HD online as "100 led dimmable"

 

[cybrdyke]

So, you have two issues, dimming and enclosed fixtures.
Whichever bulb you choose, you'll likely need a dimmer that's compatible. If you dont have one already, look for a Lutron dimmer with a "CL" in the part number.
But before you run out and buy a new dimmer, just TRY the one you have. It's not unusual for folks to luck out and find that the existing dimmer will work OK. Worth a try.

The advancement in technology has opened up accessibility to lamps that work in enclosed fixtures. Alot of the new models have passed the UL tests. Philips 459107 is one and it has a unique feature called "warm glow". This means that the lamp will get more golden in color as it dims down, like an incandescent lamp does.
If you find a lamp that doesn't work in an enclosed fixture, just take the glass globe out of your fixture. Keep the guard on for that "look" that it has, but with plastic LED bulbs, the glass globe is no longer necessary.
CD

 

[My Old Tools]

Almost all of the bulb manufacturers have compatible dimmers listed on their website. Most of them are compatible with the Lutrons mentioned above.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Anyway, I cannot find an LED bulb or any other type of bulb (besides incandescent) that can be put into an enclosed fixture along with being able to accept a dimmer switch.

CFLs and LEDs require a special dimmer switch.

Your biggest problem is find a "bright enough" bulb that will fit inside the "jelly jar" !



(Anyone know of any 3 way CFL bulbs that will fit inside of a standard table lamp harp ?)

 

[cybrdyke]

(Anyone know of any 3 way CFL bulbs that will fit inside of a standard table lamp harp ?)

No, but there are 3 way LED bulbs available in a standard bulb shape.
CD