Security Light - Exterior -

[BetterDays]

I just purchased a budget floodlight combo from HD (two floods, dusk til dawn, 240° range, Model # SL-5318-WH)

I am thinking about running 2 LED floodlights with the DualBrite function. However, I have to wonder how long it will take me to save the additional investment for LED Spotlights ($30/each) and if the unit would operate on them, as they don't operate on CFL's.

Your thoughts on using an LED Floodlight?

 

[Stuart in MN]

How many watts are the regular floodlights and how many watts are the LED floodlights? With that information, along with what you pay for electricity (** cents/kilowatt-hour, it should be on your electric bill) you can figure it out.

 

[Gary S]

Are you sure the fixture won't operate on CFL's? I have a photocell operated dusk to dawn fixture with two CFL flood lights in it and it works perfectly. I know of no reason yours shouldn't too. The CFL floods are quite cheap, and they are 26 watts compared to about 100w for similar light from incandescent or halogen, so they do pay their way.

100-26=74x12=888, or almost a kw saved per day per bulb.
2 bulbs=1776watts x 7 cents per kw= 12.4 cents per day saved.
12.4x365= $45.37 saved annually for one fixture.
I get about 5 years runtime on the CFL lamps.

LED would run even cheaper, so it would save you even more.

Edit
I just looked up that model number on Home Depot's site. It doesn't appear to be a true dusk to dawn light. It appears to be a motion sensing light with dusk to dawn limiting so it doesn't come on in the daytime. CFLs are not good for motion sensing lights that are switched on and off a lot, so that is probably why they aren't recommended.
My light has no motion sensing. It is strictly a photocell dusk to dawn light. It comes on at dusk, stays on all night, and shuts off in the morning.

 

[64merc]

I use CFL flood lights outside on the desk til dawn setting and they work fine. They just take a few minutes to come up to full brightness.

 

[Scotto]

Are you sure the fixture won't operate on CFL's? I have a photocell operated dusk to dawn fixture with two CFL flood lights in it and it works perfectly.

This model uses DualBrite, which lights the bulbs a little bit at dusk - that won't work with a regular CFL and I've never seen a dimmable outdoor flood CFL. No clue if it would work with a LED bulb. I didn't even know they existed for floods.

 

[64merc]

This model uses DualBrite, which lights the bulbs a little bit at dusk - that won't work with a regular CFL and I've never seen a dimmable outdoor flood CFL. No clue if it would work with a LED bulb. I didn't even know they existed for floods.

I'm confused because my CFL's light up just a little bit at dusk, and they don't have any fancy setting. I guess that DualBrite system is designed more for regular flood light bulbs, versus the CFL's that naturally start out dim at dusk. Who knows, maybe I'm missing something here.

 

[Falcon67]

The dimable featuer is probably what kills the CFL part. All of our motion lights here can use CFLs as all are on/off sensor types. The CFLs work, I just don't use there in places where I'd want light "right now" as they take a minute or so to go full bright. LEDs should outlast just about anything and should pay back. Can't tell you how many floods I've bought in the last 11 years here, but it's a bunch. Our drag strip uses LED bulbs that face the starting line and as far as I know, their have been no replacements in the last 5 years. At $50 a shot, better not LOL.

 

[Mr_fixit]

I don't think LED technology can compete with incandescent output or fluorescent, yet. If you find an LED bulb, it's likely going to be substantially dimmer than either other type. Give them a couple years, then LED might be a real choice.

 

[Steevo]

Another consideration with CFL bulbs is that their life expectancy is initially higher than incandescent bulbs, but that every on/off cycle reduces that advantage by some percentage, as the cycling is apparently hard on the electronics. I do not have personal experience to cite here, just articles I have read that state that every on/off cycle shortens the life span of a CFL.

 

[Falcon67]

"5 Year" flourescents and CFLs seem to last about 2 years around our house in switched applications. At one time I had a 22W Circuline light on the corner of a house that was on a non-switched socket - yes, on all the time. It lasted almost 9 years and only quit because it took a hit by hail and blown rain that got around the pie pan weather shield.