LED vs Halogen

[Dennis93]

So I've been looking at some recessed lighting fixtures to place in my soffit. Except every light that I buy as an LED costs a **** ton, AND the bulbs are sodered into the trim piece usually. So if I had to replace the bulb the entire trim piece is trashed.

My question is why doesn't everyone use LED lights in halogen fixtures???? It seems the smartest way to go since the halogen fixtures cost less and you can swap out leds like regular light bulbs.

Forgive me for being skeptical, I bought into the CFL thing a couple years ago, and after a few years switched back to halogen since the damn things didn't last any longer IMO, had mercury, and cost a little more.

 

[Highbeam]

I am a cheap engineer. I have recessed halo IC rated cans in the house with regular edison bulb bases. I installed the CFLs from the get go for 6-7$ each and hated the slow warm up time but the light quality was great.

Just last week I found the ecosmart LED BR30 bulbs at HD for 10.88$ each. They are 650 lumens and I am very impressed. These things are awesome with instant on, dimmable, 9 watts, no mercury, 5000 year life, etc. Do not buy CFLs for your cans, the LEDs are now cheap enough to make CFLs obsolete.

In my kitchen I will be putting in 6 or so more cans and I will be using LED twist in bulbs and not a full LED permanent trim ring.

 

[hh76]

So I've been looking at some recessed lighting fixtures to place in my soffit. Except every light that I buy as an LED costs a **** ton, AND the bulbs are sodered into the trim piece usually. So if I had to replace the bulb the entire trim piece is trashed.

My question is why doesn't everyone use LED lights in halogen fixtures???? It seems the smartest way to go since the halogen fixtures cost less and you can swap out leds like regular light bulbs.

Forgive me for being skeptical, I bought into the CFL thing a couple years ago, and after a few years switched back to halogen since the damn things didn't last any longer IMO, had mercury, and cost a little more.

I wonder if it has to do with heat dissapation. With the trim being a part of the bulb, they may be able to use it as a heat sync as well.

 

[ddawg16]

I wonder if it has to do with heat dissapation. With the trim being a part of the bulb, they may be able to use it as a heat sync as well.

You are partially correct.

Chances are, the user will tire of the look of the trim long before the bulb goes out....

I'm using a bunch of 3" recessed cans in my new 2-story addition...they have the GU-10 Halogen bulb...and I'm replacing those with LED versions.

In my garage I have 6" cans with Edison bases and stuffed with CFL's. Half the CFL's are the old slow start types...the other half light up just fine...the slow start is not slow enough for me to worry about replacing them. It's going on 5 years and none have gone out yet.

Just so you know....if you look in a typical 6" can with an Edison base, you will see that it's clipped to a holding plate....you can pull that out...cut off the wires and wire in a GU24 base.

A GU24 looks just like a GU10...but bigger...What ever is available for Edison in LED's is usually available in GU24....your just not going to find them at HD...I've had good luck with Amazon.

Personally...I won't use halogen in my house...too hot....and if you want them so you can dim them....then you loose the benefit of Halogen....and it becomes another incandescent bulb...

 

[Dennis93]

Sorry, I meant incandescent. Oops, I use them interchangeably.

So I would be the same cheap engineer if I bought regular fixtures with an Edison base and used an LED.

Highbeam- I agree, they are cheap enough, and I'd have to get a 20 ft ladder out to change them so I am getting LED, just debating what matters if I get the LED fixture or not.

HH76- Interesting, but I figure since an LED runs cooler anyway than an incandescent, whats the harm?

Ddawg16- So are you changing the fixtures or just the base? And the problem is, I'm not going to tire of it. I just can't really spend $50 and know that when the bulb dies, it's going to be another 50 for another trim. I do believe the LED's last longer, but the problem is my CFL's were supposed to last longer and they dont. I don't have a single CFL in my house that has lasted longer than 2 years. And I have tried different brands and everything. I think that the same thing is going to happen to these LED's they sell at the big box stores, nowhere near the quality of the leds say like in your TV which will actually last that long.