Light bulbs have become confusing to select
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
Eugene, Oregon
February 15, 2017 6:18pm CST
Most of us grew up with the old incandescent light bulbs. When one burned out, you bought another. They are still around, but won't be forever since they are not at all energy efficient. They are pretty cheap to buy though by comparison to some of the new ones.
I like three way bulbs for the lamp on my bedside table for reading purposes. I bought a new style LED bulb today, 3 way, long life, "guaranteed to last ten years at 3 hours per day." If it burns out in two years, will I recall how old it is? Maybe.
Looking at all the different kinds of bulbs made me want to grab one and get out quickly.
Have you tried any of the new LED or Compact Fluorescent bulbs, or is the old fashioned incandescent still your choice?
20 people like this
21 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
Right, even light bulbs are complicated these days.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35678)
• Canada
16 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic I know. And we have to each buy our own toothpaste and deodorant! There is too big of a selection to remember what the other prefers. 
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
16 Feb 17
Two LED that were supposed to last for 10 years did not last more than a year. Guess we will stick with the incandescent until something better really is available.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
That is not good to hear. When that happens, it makes me wonder if there is a short in the lamp or fixture where I put the bulbs.
@paigea (35678)
• Canada
16 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic Yes, it seems to happen only in a certain fixture in our house whereas in all of the other fixtures they really do last a long time. Another reason, I forget what to buy - it is so long between purchases.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
16 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic They do have a different calculation for the LED bulbs though. Instead of 60 watts, I think it is something like 19. I know that is a pain in the butt. But they do write on the box what the equivalent bulb is.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Feb 17
@inertia4 Yes, I noticed that, and it is a good thing too. I don't speak "lumens."
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
I am glad to hear that, since I am skeptical.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
16 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic We also have a mix now, but when the old ones go, I now buy only LED bulbs, usually at Ikea because it's the most inexpensive place where to buy the bulbs.
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
I think that the LED lights are better too, though we have all three kinds in use currently until the old ones are gone.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
Hmmm, not time at all, huh? I better write down the date I bought these.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
@JudyEv It does sound like a good idea!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325720)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic He is home now and says they are LEDs so maybe writing down the date of purchase would be a good idea.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Feb 17
We just buy the cheap ones. Our maintenance guy did give us a couple of the LED bulbs about a month ago.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
I know it seems weird to pay a premium price for bulbs that lower your electric bill. I wonder how long it takes to catch up?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
@teamfreak16 That is a good way to pay utilities I think.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic - I would have no idea. We pay ours as part of our rent, so we would have no way of keeping track.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
26 Feb 17
I had to shop about a month ago for a bulb and I felt overwhelmed by all the choices and changes. I could never use those cheap old fashioned lightbulbs in my house as every time I put them in they would blow within a few days. I blame it on being an old house with old wiring. I buy the flourescent ones and even now they have changed a lot recently. I am going to write down on the light and I change the bulbs just to see if I actually am using them as long as they are supposed to last which I do not think they are.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Feb 17
No, I haven't tried any of the new light bulbs. I am wishing sometimes that the old fashioned ones we have in would burn out quicker so we can get some of the new ones in.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
So far, we are liking the new ones we have tried.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic ......That's good. I will have to wait a while longer I guess.
@marguicha (215389)
• Chile
16 Feb 17
I´m slowly changing to LED. Today I bought 4. They will cost me nothing as I asked LED bulbs as birthday present from my closest family. Claudia owed me the present (my birthday was in June) as she wanted me to buy them.
I had at the garage the long life ones which are not LED, as I learned today. I never used them inside the house as I did not like them.
Since this evening, I have 4 bulbs that are of the old kind. I´ll use them in places where I don´t turn on the light often.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
That is not a bad birthday present.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
17 Feb 17
in my house, sometimes my kids throw balls and break lamps... so i hate the more expensive bulbs for the lamps. and mostly we have lamps.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205696)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic That's good news. Maybe I overuse them.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Feb 17
We have not, so far, had that problem.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
We bought the ones with "Energy Star" on the package, so they should be good.
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24495)
•
17 Feb 17
Yes, we have tried those LED bulbs at my parents' place. I have the old-fashioned ones at my place.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Feb 17
I am beginning to like the LEDs.
1 person likes this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
16 Feb 17
I just replaced my last incandescent bulb in my laundry room 2 months ago, lol. I actually bought 2 packages of the swirly led lights at Sam's Club 10 years ago, im still on the first package, and my whole house is on these things. So I think I got a good batch, lol
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
Wow, you got a good batch of bulbs there!
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
16 Feb 17
all of them have pluses and minuses-i've found some of the long life ones don't live as long as they say..at least not in my house..
i also found i had to replace some of my light sconces because the new "screw type" don't fit in them..
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
Yes, it is not one size fits all anymore.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73408)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Feb 17
Over here it is awful expensive to buy these bulbs. We have them in the bedroom and in the living room but already downstairs one has burnt out and it wasn't in use for more than a year but we don't replace it because of the expense. We have tried to find places that sell the good old bulbs but it appears they are not longer around because the stores here can get more money if people are forced to purchase the LED bulbs.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
Ohhh, well, I wonder then how many might be defective.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
16 Feb 17
I have and I hate them @JamesHxstatic . They're are like using a candle in the dark. And they're hard on the eyes.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Feb 17
It seems that the quality of the light varies widely.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
I think that is true too. Electric bills seem to increase all the time.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Feb 17
I agree, the whole aisle is covered with different kinds.
