Re: Latest advances in LED lighting
Some of the high end LED Disk lights for can installation such as the T67 from Commercial electric actually have a ground wire. I would say without a ground you are really rolling the dice for RF if that is important to you. These T67's meet Title 24 California energy requirements. 650 lumens 2900K and 95% dimmable. The Title 24 requirement is not just for electricity use but also for heat loss up into the ceiling. These are totally sealed. Really nice color and they also can be installed flush to a JB. Costco has a title 24 18 watt disc light is nicely priced as well but is ungrounded.
Unless you have sealed cans (expensive and rare) you would be amazed at the air that leaks up into the sealing. One house I was doing the solar on thought the can was a cooking exhaust fan with a light in it. Just sucking the steam right into the sealing and no electricity except the LED.... ???
Really enjoyed Glens vids and thanks Don for the referral.
Thanks for the LED info. We're looking for some.
You're welcome on the referral... I've mentioned your name and website to a couple of interested parties. :) Always wonder if things work out...
Being so we are living in an RV and traveling right now. We are on and out of RV supply stores a lot more. We are seeing a larger cross section of product available and seeing some new units or models as well. There their lighting is switching over to LEDs. One reason list is always less heat / no heat. This reducing some of the draw on A/C in the summer.
I'm planning on using about a dozen 6" cans in our new build. I bought a sample and put an LED in it, and am quite impressed with the amount and quality of light. An ICAT (Insulation Contact Air Tight) can is only $5.50 at HD, and the LED insert is $30 complete. It puts out the equivalent of 65W, while only drawing 9.5W. I did notice that the 'air tight' cans are far from it, with about a 1/8" gap in places. I'm wondering if you can safely seal the cans with aluminum tape or some kind of caulking? The LED's put out very little heat. The cans will also be buried under more than a foot of cellulose in the attic. Either that, or caulk the bezel to the ceiling, which would negate the gaps in the can itself.
Another great feature of LED's is the very long life. At 3 hours a day, the one I bought is rated for some 32 years!
I've read that LED's will be dropping in price over the next year or two. I'm torn between buying mine now, since $30 is a good price complete with the bezel, or take a chance that they will drop even more. I'll probably actually need them in about 6 months.
Any of you folks know if dimming an LED saves energy? If I run my kitchen ones at only 10% when not actually working in there, am I saving anything? My wife is in the habit of running our 160W of lights in our current kitchen all day long, whether she's in there or not!
Actually if you use the model I listed you do not need to buy the can and can mount right to a junction box. Looks just like a flush recessed light. The standard Lutron dimmers work down to about 95% dim and yes you do save energy when dimming. There is some loss thru the system but turning down the light does register on a power meter or inverter display system. It also has the CREE led component and circuitry which are a reputable brand that will be around. Some of this LED lighting is buyer beware! I always save the reciept and box on anything this expensive and have taken a few back to Costco. Awesome return policy!
Rain tonight and we need it!
As for LED lighting, I was thinking of installing something like this:
http://www.ecolightled.com/category/led_strip_light_tape
Anybody ever tried it? What I was thinking was to install it as indirect light. I am planning a typical 1.5-story cabin with a cathedal ceiling in the front. I would install these behind a 1x4 (or such) mounted a few inches from the wall right where the wall meets the ceiling. They would illuminate both the walls and the ceiling. I like a lot of like, but like it to be indirect. Thought this might work. They say that the ribbons would have to be fastened to something to dissipate the heat, so I would probably put a strip of aluminum offset from the 1x4 on the wall side for that.
Not sure how this would work. Any thoughts?
The units HD sells are Cree as well. I've heard good things about them. I'll take a look at the T67's, too.
Speaking of Costco, they have all of their LED's with an instant $10 off rebate from Pacificorp/Rocky Mtn Power, to where they are as low as $4 each and the flush mount ones are only about $12 or so, the same ones that are about 40 each at HD, these ones I believe.
I have not ever heard any issue of grounded vs. ungrounded, are you referring to the fixture or the bulb?
The commercial electric brand disc LED T67 I am referring to is sold at Home Depot. The bulb assembly has a ground wire. The LED from "my" costco is similar and does not have a ground wire. The nice thing about having the bulb assembly grounded is there is less chance for RF to be an issue.
Quote from: Dave Sparks on February 17, 2013, 07:54:40 PM
Re: Latest advances in led lighting (http://www.niceledlights.com)
Some of the high end LED Disk lights for can installation such as the T67 from Commercial electric actually have a ground wire. I would say without a ground you are really rolling the dice for RF if that is important to you. These T67's meet Title 24 California energy requirements. 650 lumens 2900K and 95% dimmable. The Title 24 requirement is not just for electricity use but also for heat loss up into the ceiling. These are totally sealed. Really nice color and they also can be installed flush to a JB. Costco has a title 24 18 watt disc light is nicely priced as well but is ungrounded.
Unless you have sealed cans (expensive and rare) you would be amazed at the air that leaks up into the sealing. One house I was doing the solar on thought the can was a cooking exhaust fan with a light in it. Just sucking the steam right into the sealing and no electricity except the LED.... ???
Really enjoyed Glens vids and thanks Don for the referral.
Really thanks for this very useful information.. I am looking to upgrade some lights and your experience will help me alot.. Thanks again