Guide to LED Light Bulb Types & Choices for Lighting Fixtures
     

• LED lighting & bulb types, choices, installation, measurements, standards, for interior or exterior use
  • Properties of LED light bulbs for lighting fixtures
  • LED Bulb Brightness - Measured in Lumens
  • Replacing Halogen-type Bulbs with LED Lamps
  • Examples of Warm-Color-Temperature LED Lamps in Conventional Lighting Fixtures
  • Table of Current LED Bulb Prices & Properties for common building light fixtures
• Questions & answers about LED light bulbs & lighting types for use inside or outside of buildings
• References

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As manufacturers ramp up production quantity prices of LED lamps can be expected to fall. In 2012 we paid as much as $35.00 for a quality LED type light bulb used to replace an incandescent, halogen, or compact fluorescent bulb.

In January 2013 we purchased similar capacity bulbs for under $15.00 and other LED replacements for standard light bulbs were under $10.00 and promised cutting energy savings over incandescent (or some halogen) light bulbs by a factor of ten and increasing life by about a factor of ten as well..

The savings in energy use and expected life, depending on bulb model, can be substantial and costs are expected to continue to fall.

At left our photo shows mini track light fixtures that we converted from halogen to LED lamps. The halogen bulb is on the right is a GE-made BAB/CG constant-color 20W, 12V, MR 16 flood lamp rated for three year life. .

• LED Bulb Availability - in most parts of the world at least some LED type bulbs are available from home & building suppliers, hardware stores, etc. as well as by ordering on-line. But not everywhere. And even when a type of LED bulb is available, in some communities you may find that choices of wattage and lumens are limited unless you can order for delivery from an online supplier.
• LED Bulb Base or connector type - available in just about every type of connector base;
• LED Bulb Brightness - expressed in lumens. Larger lumens numbers mean that the bulb emits more light than a lower-lumens numbered bulb. Our table below illustrates typical lumens ratings for various LED bulbs.
  Watch out: two LED light bulbs may look just alike but have significantly different light output levels.
• LED Bulb Color temperature - The color temperature of light output from LED bulbs includes both warm shades and bright cool whites. Color temperature of bulbs (lamps) is explained at Bulb Color Temperature and CRI for Indoor Lights and at Bulb CRI SCALE Rates & Definition
• LED Bulb Cost - About $10. U.S. for an LED light bulb that is equivalent in brightness to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. This price is considered a "tipping point" at which more consumers will consider changing to LED light bulbs. [1] For details see our Table of Current LED Bulb Prices & Features for building light fixtures.
  
  By January 2012, LED light bulbs were still priced at 20 times a comparable (in light production) incandescent bulb and at about ten times a comparable (or a bit brighter) Halogen or Compact Fluorescent light bulb. However as reported in The New York Times, prices were falling as both production and marketing of LED light bulbs increased rapidly, marking "all the growth" in bulb sales. [1]. The Times reported that the the sale of A-type LED light bulbs will outsell incandescent bulbs in North American in 2014.
  
  A plot graphing the lifetime cost of an LED bulb against other bulb types must consider purchase cost, operating cost, and replacement cost. Given the availability of equivalent color temperatures and features, when those curves cross one would expect the sale of other bulb types to remain low.
• LED Bulb Dimmable features - If you need to use a bulb with a dimmer switch check your LED bulb specifications; not all LED bulbs work with dimmers.
• LED Bulb Estimated Energy Cost (annual) - given on the bulb package is the manufacturer's estimate of estimated annual energy cost for the particular bulb. Comparisons among bulb types of similar brightness and design can be impressive. A 400-lumen mini flood GU10 halogen bulb with an estimated annual energy cost of $6.02 U.S. can be replaced with a 320 lumen mini flood GU10 LED bulb that has an estimated annual energy cost of $0.72 U.S. - about one tenth of the halogen bulb's energy usage.
  
  LED bulb brigtness in lumens and energy costs are at our Table of Current LED Bulb Prices & Features. Lighting efficacy (effectiveness or brightness) and lighting efficiency (light output for watt of energy input) are detailed at Lumens, Definition, comparisons
• LED Bulb Flashing capability - not all LED lighting supports automatic rapid on-off flashing, while some models are specifically designed for that purpose. Many other bulb types do not support rapid on-off flashing or may have a short life in that application. However advances in compact fluorescents include a cold-cathode fluorescent also suitable for on-off flashing and providing low heat output. See BULB & LAMP TYPES GUIDE.
• LED Bulb Functions, electronically controlled - some LED light bulbs offer a variety of electronically-controlled special features such as color changes, dimming, or automatic on-off switching. Contol of LED bulbs may be throuigh a home automation system, a persona computer, smartphone, or a smart room-thermostat (e.g. the Nest Thermostat), and may be effected wirelessly using bluetooth.[2]
• LED Bulb Heat-output - it becomes quickly obvious that most LED lamps operate at lower temperatures than incandescent and halogen lamps. This feature is important where heat from lighting can be a problem in a building or where heat build-up in an enclosed light fixture is troublesome.
  Watch out : However be sure to read the specifications on the LED bulb as well, since some products indicate "not for use in enclosed fixtures".
• LED Bulb Location Usage - permitted in dry only locations or permitted in damp or wet locations; in some cases bulbs permitted in damp or wet locations include an instruction that outdoors in wet or unprotected locations the bulb position must be with the screw-in connector base facing up so that water will not accumulate in the light bulb socket.
• LED Bulb Life expectancy - varies widely - read the bulb package. But typically LED light bulbs are rated for much longer life expectancy than other bulb types, with the greatest difference between LEDs and incandescent bulbs. Typically an LED light bulb will have a ten year life expectancy.
• LED Bulb Type - the number of types, including specialty bulbs, can be overwhelming, though manufacturer catalogs offer a bit of help in choosing the right LED bulb for your purpose. LEDs are available in a huge range of sizes, base types, bright nesses, color temperatures, dimmable, and suitable for indoor and outdoor use in dry or damp locations.
• LED Bulb Watt equivalent - this figure is given on most but not all LED bulb packages as two figures: the actual wattage drawn by the LED bulb and the wattage that would be drawn by an equivalent (in light output) incandescent bulb. We illustrate these light bulb wattage comparisons in our table below.
• LED Bulb Warm-up Speed - LED bulbs appear to reach their full light output brightness (and thus operating temperature) very quickly, or immediately for practical purposes. In contrast, compact fluorescent bulbs can be slow to warm up and thus slow to reach full brightness, requiring several minutes in some cases. Reaching full brightness output quickly can be important for example, if you want to switch on a light in order to dart into a dark room to look for something needed elsewhere.

The LED lamp (bulb) shown in my hand at left is a 20-Watt GU10 type used as a mini-flood or spot in individual light fixtures or in track lights. We like this Ecosmart bulb it's bright, at 320 lumens.

We replaced 50-watt 430-lumen Halogen bulbs with this LED version for a 10x reduction in annual energy cost.

A second advantage of the much lower wattage requirement of the LED bulb was that we could install additional track light fixtures in the same lighting track to provide more area illumination without overloading and without overheating the lighting circuit.

The photo at left makes clear, however, that many modern bulbs used in building lamps or light fixtures are available in a wide range of color temperatures. The bulb at far left is a "warm-color-temperature" fluorescent bulb, while the bulb at the right side of our photo is an LED lamp made by Phillips and offered in a bright-white color temperature.

LED floodlight bulbs

LED Light Bulbs for Lighting Fixtures, Table & Floor Lamps, &c, standard Edison base

LED Mini Floods MR 16 & GU10 Base twist-lock bulbs

7W

??

Candelabra type LED light bulbs

Notes:

1. Prices from Home Depot Stores, Poughkeepsie, NY May 2012, Home Depot Stores, Celaya, Mexico, Novermber 2012, & other sources if noted

2. Annual energy cost estimate for each of these light bulbs is based on an assumed usage of 3 hours per day and at an electricity cost of 11-cents per kWh. Actual energy cost for any electrical device depends on local energy rates, usage, and possibly other factors

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