# Switching over light bulbs: Where are you on the continuum? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2014, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942 "2014-04-25T10:38:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/41 "2014-04-26T01:56:51Z")
I have a mix of incandescent, halogen, CFL and LED. I dislike the CFLs, and only use those in places where the quality of light doesn’t matter. They don’t seem to live up to their claims of output or lifespan. LEDs are pretty good. Other than cost they seem to have none of the disadvantages of CFLs. Recently I found that certain wattages have reached a price where it’s cost effective to buy them as a replacement for halogen and CFL, at least for lights that tend to get left on for hours every day. I have one in a lamp for reading and I like it. Hopefully LEDs won’t start dying prematurely like CFLs do. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/42 "2014-04-26T01:58:56Z")
A mix of IB and CFL. Incandescents for any fixture that is on only for a short time and that isn’t gong to be on long enough for a fluorescent bulb to warm up. CFL for almost everything else. There are a fixtures in this house that are rated for bulbs 60 watts or less, and iI like having the option to pop in a CFL that gives off a decent amount of light without exceeding that limit. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/43 "2014-04-26T02:09:54Z")
Mixed bag. Main lights gone CFL(\*), which get replaced by LEDs upon failure. A number of fixtures and lamps where you cannot cram in a current-standard CFL or LED so there I get to use an incandescent. At best have a couple spares of each, if the light for some important place burns out and I don’t have a spare I can always drag a lamp there or cannibalize a lamp for the bulb until Monday morning. So far I have not had trouble finding the incandescents I need. I’m at the ready to spend my cash with whoever comes up with an energy-saving bulb the exact proportions of the old-standard incandescent and that I can just dump in the regular garbage/recyclables without having to worry about hazmats. It’s taking a whole damn longer than I expected. (\*except for one that uses the old-school 7" circle fluorescent, which shall remain there until it no longer works and then we’ll just replace the fixture) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/44 "2014-04-26T03:09:42Z")
I still have a few incandescent bulbs installed, but no more spares. I just bought and put in place a bulb style light called an “energy saver halogen” I despise the nanny state and the businesses that don’t give us a choice any more. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/45 "2014-04-26T08:56:23Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I’m at the ready to spend my cash with whoever comes up with an energy-saving bulb the exact proportions of the old-standard incandescent and that I can just dump in the regular garbage/recyclables without having to worry about hazmats. Wouldn’t that be the halogen incandescents? They look just like a traditional light bulb but are about 25-30% more efficient (you use a 43 watt to replace an old 60 watt). That 25% is enough to meet the new government standards so they’re still on the market. The halogen gas and a coating inside the bulb causes the vaporized tungsten filament to resettle on the filament itself instead of on the glass and reflects heat back into the bulb requiring less electricity to heat the filament. Or so I understand it. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/46 "2014-04-26T13:44:38Z")
We’re just about to get [some of these](http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod640011&categoryId=cat550006) installed. Not sure where that puts us. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/47 "2014-04-26T14:14:25Z")
Mostly CFLs. I prefer the LEDs, but they’re pricey. Don’t give a shit about incandescents. They’ve improved the quality of light from the CFLs enough that I can’t tell the difference. The earlier CFLs I hated, but now? Makes no difference to me at all. The problem with the CFLs I have is they don’t last anywhere near as long, in my experience, as they’re claimed to. They seem to burn out all the time on me, nowhere near the 4-8 years life expectancy. And there is a very, very slight lag on them that still throws me off a little bit (plus they take some time to get to full brightness.) I find LEDs better on all accounts. But they’re still a bit too pricey for me. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/48 "2014-04-26T15:41:56Z")
I’m really not sure. Most of the bulbs are in covered fixtures, so I can’t tell. I think I still have a couple of fixture which will hold only incandescents - the base of the newer bulbs are too large. Most of my bulbs are covered, and that rather than the bulb itself sets the color tone. We buy only compact fluorescents, though. They’re no more of a pain to get rid of than batteries. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/49 "2014-04-26T18:15:57Z")
I find CFLs dim and uncomfortable to work by. I use them in areas like the garage. They also don’t last at all as long as advertised, whether in my house or my shiny new office in another part of town, so it’s not my wiring. I don’t like bringing potentially poisonous bulbs into my environment as I get older and clumsier. I’m hoping LEDs get better before I run out of CFLs. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/50 "2014-04-26T19:33:20Z")
For everyone who’s mentioned having to use incandesencts for enclosed fixtures, [Switch Infinias](http://earthled.com/products/switch-infinia-10-watt-800-lumen-60-watt-equal-dimmable-a19-led) are rated for fully enclosed applications, and are exactly the same size as a normal A19 incandescent. Still a little spendy, but if they really last 25 years like they’re supposed to, it should should even out. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/51 "2014-04-26T19:48:29Z")
> [@Silophant](#): > > For everyone who’s mentioned having to use incandesencts for enclosed fixtures, [Switch Infinias](http://earthled.com/products/switch-infinia-10-watt-800-lumen-60-watt-equal-dimmable-a19-led) are rated for fully enclosed applications, and are exactly the same size as a normal A19 incandescent. Still a little spendy, but if they really last 25 years like they’re supposed to, it should should even out. A note on these they are heavier since they are liquid filled and may not work well with more delicate light fittings or ones with a fair degree of flexing. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/52 "2014-04-27T02:33:40Z")
Not mentioned in your ‘poll’, is halogens. They are still legal, although a bit more expensive than IB, but the light quality they provide is equivalent to the old fashioned bulbs and they last longer than IBs. I don’t like the CFLs because of problems with them and the fact that they contain mercury. I don’t have any idea where to ‘properly dispose’ of these bulbs and I’d bet quite a bit that few of them are recycled which is simply going to lead to a buildup in mercury in landfills over the years. LEDs also have both a problem with color (most being bluish) and a problem because the light is directional rather than radiating evenly from the entire bulb. The halogens are readily available on, at least, [bulbs.com](http://bulbs.com) and I’m sure other sites. Bob ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/53 "2014-04-27T02:45:10Z")
> [@urban1a](#): > > LEDs also have both a problem with color (most being bluish) and a problem because the light is directional rather than radiating evenly from the entire bulb. This is untrue with the LED lamps (“bulbs”) from the big guys - Cree, Phillips, GE. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/54 "2014-04-27T02:50:23Z")
> [@Silophant](#): > > For everyone who’s mentioned having to use incandesencts for enclosed fixtures, [Switch Infinias](http://earthled.com/products/switch-infinia-10-watt-800-lumen-60-watt-equal-dimmable-a19-led) are rated for fully enclosed applications, and are exactly the same size as a normal A19 incandescent. Still a little spendy, but if they really last 25 years like they’re supposed to, it should should even out. I don’t expect the fixtures to last 25 years anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/55 "2014-04-27T03:19:36Z")
I refuse to allow CFLs or LEDs in my house, but I’m not hoarding incandescents as I find the halogen alternatives acceptable ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/56 "2014-04-27T03:45:19Z")
> [@j666](#): > > I don’t expect the fixtures to last 25 years anymore. Pretty certain _I_ won’t last 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/57 "2014-04-27T14:49:40Z")
We’ve been replacing incandescents with CFLs as they burn out, but we’ve also tried a few LEDs recently since the price has dropped a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/58 "2014-04-27T15:23:49Z")
The main light fixture in this apartment was burning out IBs at a rate of about one every two weeks. I got fed up and replaced them with dimmable LEDs, and I really like them a lot. They dim well, they hardly use any power, and so far none have burned out. I look at them as little heirlooms. We have a few CFLs here and there. As they burn out I’ll replace them with LEDs, but so far they seem to really last. The spare IBs are almost gone, so as they burn out those too will be replaced by LEDs. What can I say, I like the LEDs. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/59 "2014-04-27T15:42:20Z")
> [@Mdcastle](#): > > I refuse to allow CFLs or LEDs in my house, but I’m not hoarding incandescents as I find the halogen alternatives acceptable Price, performance, or politics? ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942/60 "2014-04-27T17:05:23Z")
Performance. I haven’t found a single LED bulb that will dim from 0% to 100% over the entire range of a dimmer, more like 15%-100% over part of a dimmers range, and let’s not even talk about “dimmable” CFLs. And while they finally made an energy efficient bulb that has passable CRI, the Cree TW still has a “pinkish” tint and the heatsink means there’s not a lot of light emitted towards the base. (By contract the Philips “UFO” bulbs have a tint that perfectly matches incandescents, but the color rendering is terrible and they look odd in a lot of fixtures) I’ll happily convert all my fixtures to LEDs when and if they get as good as incandescents. I’m not convinced that will ever happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-over-light-bulbs-where-are-you-on-the-continuum/686942.md?page=4)