Slept through the incandescent bulb ban. Help please.

Dogfather

Dogfather

New member
I just came back from HD. I had no idea you couldn't get 100w bulbs anymore. I was very confused by all the expensive alternatives.
It's getting very difficult for me to see in my unfinished basement, attic, garage.
What's the best thing to screw into these 100w pull chain fixtures?
It's not easy adjusting to this age of diminishing liberties.
I just want to be able to match up a pair of socks while folding laundry.
That's all I ask.
Thanks.
 
CFL bulbs have come down in price significantly. LED has taken top spot for overpriced bulbs now. Now you have a choice of color (or K value) of your lights with CFL and LED bulbs. Want an incandescent color look for 3000k-4000k bulbs. the higher you go the whiter the light. Incandescent are extremely inefficient compared to CFL and LED. which is the major reason for them not really being available anymore. im not sure on exact numbers but a 100w replacement in CFL or LED will probably use less than 30 watts. Basically use like 75% less energy and pay for themselves in the long run. And LED bulbs will last forever. Like to the point where if you sell your home, take all your light bulbs with you
 
Dogfather -

I know what you mean... I was just there yesterday and am as surprised as you were..

Just go to Target or Walmart... Get GE Reveal incandescent bulbs in all sizes.. The Reveal gives better than the yellow spectrum bulbs we all grew up with... You will be much happier..

Yeah, the newer ones - they have a lot going, but do you really want to start all over again? And they cost a lot more... Maybe at some point we will all have to...

Until then - you know where to go.. :)
Dan F
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll just have to lurch uncontrollably into the 21st century. Those LED bulbs look interesting but jeesh, I'd hate to get stuck with a lemon.
I better pick up a glove and get in the game. My cellphone doesn't even have a qwerty keyboard let alone a touchscreen.
 
Just the government "solving one problem" and creating more without thinking.

This is also the reason that young girls will never have an easy bake oven
 
Stokdgs said:
And they cost a lot more...
Click to expand...

I know some manufacturers will give you a estimate for your return on investment for buying a LED bulb. When I shopped T8 tubes the ROI was around 2-3 years before they basically pay for themselves. Just have to look at how often the light is going to be on, and how often you will replace an incandescent bulb. LEDs typically have a life expectancy of 25000+hours
 
Shane,
Thanks for all the great infor - you are spot on !
I had to LOL when you talked about the T8's - I have 12 - 4 foot fixtures waiting for me to drag them all up to the top of the 10 foot ceiling in this garage...
Makes me tired just thinking about it... :)

But, if you Detail seriously, you absolutely need all the light you can get...
I totally see the good that can come out of LED fixtures especially for doing sides, but somehow, I have managed to turn out extremely clear, glossy, paintwork, especially in Black, using T-12's, T-8's, and the old fashioned 500w halogen butt warmers and the sun...

The ROI on the new technology lights, may or may not ever come into my bank...
Im getting on in years... perhaps I can just mentor, teach, etc... And still knock out some great work..,Im not done yet ! :)
Dan F
 
Stokdgs said:
Shane,
Thanks for all the great infor - you are spot on !
I had to LOL when you talked about the T8's - I have 12 - 4 foot fixtures waiting for me to drag them all up to the top of the 10 foot ceiling in this garage...
Makes me tired just thinking about it... :)

But, if you Detail seriously, you absolutely need all the light you can get...
I totally see the good that can come out of LED fixtures especially for doing sides, but somehow, I have managed to turn out extremely clear, glossy, paintwork, especially in Black, using T-12's, T-8's, and the old fashioned 500w halogen butt warmers and the sun...

The ROI on the new technology lights, may or may not ever come into my bank...
Im getting on in years... perhaps I can just mentor, teach, etc... And still knock out some great work..,Im not done yet ! :)
Dan F
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound like fun at all lol. in the case of T12 bulbs. Those aren't available anymore either. You are forced to convert to T8 when you cant find a bulb anymore. But converting to T8 requires you change the ballast too, as well as buy the T8 bulbs. IMO switching to LED T8 tubes is a no brainer when its time to switch from T12. most LED tubes don't require a ballast. So the price to buy say 2 LED T8 tubes is comparable to buying 2 T8 fluorescent tubes and a T8 ballast.

I hope to at some point actually light my garage with a couple 4ft fixtures. Remove the ballasts and just install the LED tubes.
 
I searched Craigslist when it came time to get done overhead lights. I got 11 four foot 3 bulb t8 fixtures for 180. I'm testing out bulbs now, I have one unit with 6500k bulbs and with 5100k I think. They came with 3k bulbs.

Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2
 
parttimer said:
I searched Craigslist when it came time to get done overhead lights. I got 11 four foot 3 bulb t8 fixtures for 180. I'm testing out bulbs now, I have one unit with 6500k bulbs and with 5100k I think. They came with 3k bulbs.

Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

Oh wow ! Depending on how big your space is and where you hang these bad boys, its going to be like daylight in there ! I love this !!!
Dan F
 
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