LED bulbs

[MattF]

Just wondered if any had recommendations for suppliers, for the best quality to price ratio, for LED bulbs. The cheaper the better, but obviously don't want to be buying stuff which'll only has 5 minutes. SES golf ball & bayonet golf ball bulbs are the main ones I'm after, with probably some candle bulbs too.

 

[fizzy]

I tend to use TLS or screwfix.
In my experience the bulbs don't last as long as claimed. I have had them die in a year or less and they don't get a massive amount of user. I don't buy the cheapest either. Seems to be pretty much the same whatever brand I get.
Contrast that with the first Thorn 2d bulb I bought - left on for 10 hours every night and lasted for about 15 years - the new 2d bulbs I buy last about 1 to 2 years..........

 

[angellonewolf]

dont know about price of them but bought led bulbs off screwfix when i done my bathroom 4 years ago all still working fine and good light output

i belive most that go wrong have not got the air flow behind the light so heats up and kills them i used the fire covers in the loft i think that helps a lot but there not cheap

 

[MattF]

Last lot I got was from Screwfix, I believe. Just wondered if there might be somewhere slightly cheaper, as I need a good few of the SES bulbs.

 

[Cobbler]

Pound shop is cheapest. Can't vouch for the quality, but you know the price

 

[angellonewolf]

to be fair i bought 12 leds lights from poundland for the hallway been there 2 years none blown as yet but will say was in good packaging not the normal cardboard boxes so dont know if it was better quality ones i got

 

[Luke]

I've been using Screwfix/LAP LED bulbs for a couple of years now. Failure rate isn't zero, but isn't bad. Something like 1 in 15, at a guess.

 

[brightspark]

I've been using Screwfix/LAP LED bulbs for a couple of years now. Failure rate isn't zero, but isn't bad. Something like 1 in 15, at a guess.

there ok but not the brightest/. the light beam is only about 35 degrees angle as well . ok for bathrooms not much cop in kitchens

 

[armalites]

Don't sucked in buying cheap ones, I bought some for downlights on ebay and they lasted a few months. It got to the point I just removed the rest and replaced them. Major brands don't really cost that much more.

Places like LED HUT have a good reputation and list a good warranty but in this modern world the way the warranty is done just makes me think they know people won't bother(I didn't). You have to download a form, fill it in and send it off to get the warranty even though you order on line and have a full history trail.

I've had no isseus with anything I bought it Screwfix or Toolstation.

If they are for downlighters as @brightspark says you need to pay attention to beam angle.

 

[Luke]

These are the ones, the viewing angle is fine and I'd say they're about right for 60W. They're definitely not equivalent to 100W.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-bc-gls-led-light-bulb-806lm-9w-5-pack/3118t

The GU10s have a noticeable start-time of about half a second.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-gu10-led-light-bulb-345lm-5w-5-pack/3482v

 

[daedalusminos]

I've been buying the SES LED filament candle bulbs from China via eBay and not had a single one fail yet after 3+ years. GU10's are a different story and I'm pretty sure it's the overstressed electronic drives that give up rather than the LEDs themselves.

 

[Hitch]

Thanks for reminding me, I need to order a dose of SES ones... last time I ordered a load of various ones for around the house from Energybulbs.co.uk or something along those lines....

 

[fizzy]

GU10 Halogens should have been banned years ago. My new house had about 80 or 90 of them! 20 in the kitchen alone - one flouro tube would have done the same job!
All changed to LED now - 4kw in lighting was a tad much!

 

[rtbcomp]

I get mine from CPC, some have lasted years and and are on most of the day. One two have failed early, usually they give warning such as flickering.

If you use CPC they sometimes have them on offer, but you need to use the offer order code, this has a couple of digits on the end depending on the month.

 

[Mattuk]

Just wondered if any had recommendations for suppliers, for the best quality to price ratio, for LED bulbs. The cheaper the better, but obviously don't want to be buying stuff which'll only has 5 minutes. SES golf ball & bayonet golf ball bulbs are the main ones I'm after, with probably some candle bulbs too.

Where are they going ?

 

[brightspark]

its the lap gu10 led that aren't up to much light wise

 

[MattF]

Where are they going ?

Into light fittings.

Where in what regard?

 

[MattF]

I get mine from CPC, some have lasted years and and are on most of the day. One two have failed early, usually they give warning such as flickering.

If you use CPC they sometimes have them on offer, but you need to use the offer order code, this has a couple of digits on the end depending on the month.

Never thought to check CPC. Haven't used them for years. Wonder if my account will still be on their system.

 

[MattF]

GU10 Halogens should have been banned years ago. My new house had about 80 or 90 of them! 20 in the kitchen alone - one flouro tube would have done the same job!
All changed to LED now - 4kw in lighting was a tad much!

I did a quick workout of how much electricity would be used today, if all of the main light fittings were switched on, and using 25W to 40W standard bulbs, it added up to a fair whack. Not as extreme as your example, but not negligible either.

 

[grim_d]

Much like my lathe carbide holders I buy the cheapest highest wattage led bulbs I can on ebay. I've bought dozens now having converted most of 2 houses to led bulbs.

Never had a failure or a problem yet in approx 4 years.