It's that time again: LED bulbs - recommendations?

[m47een]

I have bought the amazon ones before and they have been very good. only had one or two failures in the 2 years I have had them.

[cptwhite_uk]

Just spotted your reply watercooled, thanks for the info!

[guido123]

maplin do some good ones got a G9 for £1

[roberto89]

DDY, these inductors are there to limit the amount of current that can flow through as soon as the LEDs are turned on. The ICs regulate the power going to these LEDs. Although, they generally have some externally connected or inbuilt resistance to limit the amount of current flow but there is generally a huge pulse of current in which case an inductor works are a solenoid. The inductance of the inductor is selected very carefully for such purposes.

pcb assembly

[DanceswithUnix]

DDY, these inductors are there to limit the amount of current that can flow through as soon as the LEDs are turned on. The ICs regulate the power going to these LEDs. Although, they generally have some externally connected or inbuilt resistance to limit the amount of current flow but there is generally a huge pulse of current in which case an inductor works are a solenoid. The inductance of the inductor is selected very carefully for such purposes.

Actually, the inductor will be part of a switched mode power supply built into the lamp. The power regulation needs to be as efficient as possible else you will lose more power there than the LEDs use and overall efficiency becomes rubbish (and you have more heat to get rid of). Switched mode regulators mean inductors.

You only get current inrush is there is a cold element to heat or a big capacitor to charge. Neither applies here.

[Abby123]

What is your budget? Most of the lights on Amazon are still guaranteed, but the life of energy-saving lamps is not very long.
You can choose more brands to compare, I hope to help you.

[Apex]

Necro post......

Anyway my own 2p on this

I can only really recommend 2 brands - Philips (well duh) and when they made them the Ikea GU 10 LEDS.

I've tried a number of other brands (LAMP / odd ball brands on amazon) and never been impressed with the quality of build or the light given out.

Still a bunch of halogen lights to cycle out but they are proving to be longer lasting but i guess that's because they are the least used in the house (unlike the hall wall and kitchen lights which i swapped out like 3+ years ago )

[GoNz0]

Used to be a fan a Phillips, also Samsung are a good brand as they did a bulb that could run off AC 12v when I converted some IKEA 12v halogen wire lights that had an AC transformer.

I have osram to replace my normal lights and Screwfix for my GU10 in the bathroom and kitchen

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[AGTDenton]

Homebase do a good brand of bulb. TCP or something along those lines.
My other brand is Ikea though if what Apex says is true I'm gutted. They were the best I've ever had for GU10

I will say if anyone lives near a Clas Ohlson to check out their shop, they have a myriad of bulbs on display. Because they are all housed in their own box it gives you a good indication as to the light you will get as you can see the reflection on the sides etc. Very good setup for bulb shopping. Most shops will have bulbs on display but next to other bulbs or just in the open, it makes it hard to judge the type of light to expect. I find the lumens and k rating to be pointless.

P.S. was wondering why people were recommending Maplin then realised this is way back in 2015 hah

[peterb]

You would be hard pushed to find a Homebase these days.

I tend to use Lumilife lamps from Led hut (www.ledhut.co.uk) or B&Q own brand.

[Apex]

Homebase do a good brand of bulb. TCP or something along those lines.
My other brand is Ikea though if what Apex says is true I'm gutted. They were the best I've ever had for GU10

I will say if anyone lives near a Clas Ohlson to check out their shop, they have a myriad of bulbs on display. Because they are all housed in their own box it gives you a good indication as to the light you will get as you can see the reflection on the sides etc. Very good setup for bulb shopping. Most shops will have bulbs on display but next to other bulbs or just in the open, it makes it hard to judge the type of light to expect. I find the lumens and k rating to be pointless.

P.S. was wondering why people were recommending Maplin then realised this is way back in 2015 hah

Just checked and Ikea still do the GU10's but they look to have changed supplier so they arn't the same, for the price i paid i am well happy with them and they are close to the 2700k the box said they where; the new ones i carn't comment on.

[Apex]

You would be hard pushed to find a Homebase these days.

I tend to use Lumilife lamps from Led hut (www.ledhut.co.uk) or B&Q own brand.

Have bought from there I've been less then impressed with the light from them, even the 2700k ones seem more like daylight 3000k + and a few of them have failed very quickly.

[peterb]

Have bought from there I've been less then impressed with the light from them, even the 2700k ones seem more like daylight 3000k + and a few of them have failed very quickly.

Hmm - not my experience at all - I have some MR16 and GU10lamps that are over 5 years old and still seem OK. If you are using 12v lamps it is important to use a proper electronic ballast - transformers for 12v halogen tens to have poor regulation,

[watercooled]

Hmm, I thought I'd already mentioned this but it must have been in another thread: I've found Diall brand LED bulbs from B&Q are decent; good colour temp, seemingly decent CRI (not actually tested but colours seem OK under them), no perceptible flicker, etc.

[Ttaskmaster]

I tend to use Lumilife lamps from Led hut (www.ledhut.co.uk)

Same here.
Plus a whole bunch of folk on some professional workshop forums. No problems so far... Most of us are using their fittings too, though, in case that matters?

[AGTDenton]

You would be hard pushed to find a Homebase these days.

Ah I still have 2 near me. Hadn't realise they were suffering but actually looks pretty dire!