Quality Long Life Yard LED Floodlights?

[JRobyn]

I have 5 double-head outdoor floodlight fixtures up on the high eaves of the house. Currently 100w halogen in each of the 10 heads. Except for 1, they are all quite difficult and dangerous to get to. When we built the house 6-7 years ago, LED exterior lighting was just really becoming available and was still astronomically expensive. So I thought I was doing the best thing going with halogen - thought they might last longer. I am beyond disappointed. The OEM bulbs (120w) lasted maybe 200-300 hrs. Obviously crap. I have been replacing them them with what I hoped was better quality, 130v-rated, 100w bulbs. Now I get maybe 500 hrs. I think the basic problem is that the housings are "compact" so they just get too hot. This is despite their typical usage of being on for 10-30 minutes a night for dog walks, or occasionally on for a few hours at a time. So less than 20 hours/month.

I'm going to replace them, and hope to never have to access them again, at least for many years. LED sure seems like the way to go. Has anyone used any of the commonly available LED bulbs or fixtures for long enough to KNOW if their life is really as good as advertised? Screw-in PAR38 bulb replacements in an inexpensive "regular" fixture? Or a dedicated aluminum heat-sunk LED fixture? I should only need about 100w-150w equivalent for each one (15w-30w LED). I'd like about 3000k, about 1500 lumens. Something more than the typical 40 deg beam pattern would be nice. But needing 10 of them, I really can't go with $100+ ea "industrial" fixtures.

I notice that SuperBrightLEDs, which I tend to trust, doesn't really have much in the way of PAR-type bulbs, so maybe they should be avoided? Most of the dedicated LED outdoor fixtures I see, even those at SB, don't overwhelm me with quality, particularly since their ad copy is written in Chinglish.

Maybe I just need to suffer with the halogens for another couple of years?

 

[newbury]

You need to gauge the tradeoff between waiting and the cost of your halogens. Par 30 65 watt are FINALLY coming down in price Amazon has them for $30/6pack.

 

[mddorange]

In my barn I use 3 fixtures of 12,000 lumens, 120 Watts each spaced equally in my 100' x 36' barn. I choose the 5,000K to get daylight inside the barn. They work great and replaced ten 1,000 Watt bulbs. At only $129.99 a fixture including bulbs, what a savings. Outside on the barn corners, I use 100 Watt Metal-Halide fixtures.

 

[lostcreekranch]

In my barn I use 3 fixtures of 12,000 lumens, 120 Watts each spaced equally in my 100' x 36' barn. I choose the 5,000K to get daylight inside the barn. They work great and replaced ten 1,000 Watt bulbs. At only $129.99 a fixture including bulbs, what a savings. Outside on the barn corners, I use 100 Watt Metal-Halide fixtures.

Do you have info on your fixtures?

Thanks!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I put 19 LED bulbs from Lowes ($25 each) in my house (can light fixtures) and each bulb had its own heat sink. They worked fine for 6 years and then the ones used the most (about 15-18 hours per day so about 30,000 hours) started getting really dim. All the LEDs were still burning but the transformers must have been going out. I replaced them with some cheap Chinese made ones from Walmart for $6 each. Only time will tell how long they work.
Look for Cree LED in your lights. They are supposed to be the best. My neighbors brother sells industrial grade light fixtures and he says that a good LED industrial grade guaranteed for 30 years will cost over $100 each so I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[Sysop]

I'm using these > Hyperikon PAR38 LED Bulb, 14W (100W equivalent), 1240lm, 4000K (Daylight White), CRI 90+, Flood Light, Medium Base (E26), Dimmable, Energy Star, Pack of 4 - - Amazon.com
In this housing > Designers Edge L-164WH Decorative 3-Watt Incandescent Double Floodlight with Bulb Shields, White - Flood Lighting - Amazon.com

I've got them on a programmable switch that comes on at dusk and goes off at dawn, seven days a week. Installed at the beginning of 2015 and have been flawless.

 

[dstig1]

Fighting with LED floods in my cans lately. I had one go bad within a few months in and warranteed it. The warranty on Sylvania is 3 yrs (at least on mine). These are 65W equivalent BR30 that use 11-12W, dimmable. Funny thing is the cfls still seem to have a 7 yr warranty on them (though I hate them and won't touch them anymore). I thought LEDs were supposed to be better and longer lived? Makes ya go Hmmmm.... So then I have this one LED that keeps cutting out. I wiggle it/screw it in and out slightly and it goes back on. Fixture or bulb? Dunno yet, but I may change the bulb and see if that fixes it, permanently. And then there is the flickering that just started the past month or so. I have the main lights on Dimmers. The bulbs are dimmable, and the dimmers are rated for LEDs and both are major brands. Had been fine for a year, but now there is massive flickering at anything below full power, and still some lesser flickering at full power. I had a spare, so I replaced one dimmer tonight, and lo and behold - that light group doesn't flicker anymore. Lifetime warranty on the dimmers. That is about to get used and abused! Very disappointed overall with all this. I built new to minimize maintenance for at least a few years (and hopefully more...)

 

[Sysop]

LEDs themselves do have better lifespans. It is the power supplies built into them that is the common failure.

 

[mddorange]

Do you have info on your fixtures?

Thanks!

For the barn: EnviroLite Model # EVHBA6T2050 4 ft. 6-Light T8 LED High Bay Light with 2000 Lumens LED Tubes.

 

[forgeblast]

I bought mine through ace hardware when they were having a buy one get one 50% sale. I love them instant on is great!

 

[lostcreekranch]

For the barn: EnviroLite Model # EVHBA6T2050 4 ft. 6-Light T8 LED High Bay Light with 2000 Lumens LED Tubes.

Thanks very much.

 

[EarPlug]

I have not purchased any of these, yet. But they look interesting.

LED Floodlights- Outdoor LED Security Lights | LE(R)

 

[JRobyn]

I'm looking at a fixture like this (but would prefer 3000k vs 6000) - LE(R) 2W Super Bright Outdoor LED Flood Lights, 2W Halogen Bulb Equivalent, Waterproof, 15lm, Daylight White, 6K, Security Lights, Floodlight - - Amazon.com

Thx Earplug, your post confirms that they are offered in either 6k or 3k color temp. Looks like Amazon (and SB) pricing is similar to direct from "LE".

Or bulbs like these - 6 PACK- PAR38 LED 13 WATT (12W Equivalent), 3K Warm White, DIMMABLE, Indoor/Outdoor Lighting, 15 Lumens, Flood Light Bulb UL & ENERGY STAR LISTED - - Amazon.com

But just who are "Lighting EVER" and "Sunco"? Can their life expectancy data be trusted? The LE fixtures appear to be exactly what SuperBright is selling.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I have not purchased any of these, yet. But they look interesting.

LED Floodlights- Outdoor LED Security Lights | LE(R)

I bought one of the 20 watt units for trial. Will put in several locations to determine if I need more watts.

Edit: I bought mine on Amazon too.

 

[lostcreekranch]

My first application is night lighting my two flag poles at night.



I'm think I'll have to use at least 2 X 30 watt lights.

 

[EarPlug]

I'm looking at a fixture like this (but would prefer 3000k vs 6000) - LE(R) 2W Super Bright Outdoor LED Flood Lights, 2W Halogen Bulb Equivalent, Waterproof, 15lm, Daylight White, 6K, Security Lights, Floodlight - - Amazon.com

Thx Earplug, your post confirms that they are offered in either 6k or 3k color temp. Looks like Amazon (and SB) pricing is similar to direct from "LE".

Or bulbs like these - 6 PACK- PAR38 LED 13 WATT (12W Equivalent), 3K Warm White, DIMMABLE, Indoor/Outdoor Lighting, 15 Lumens, Flood Light Bulb UL & ENERGY STAR LISTED - - Amazon.com

But just who are "Lighting EVER" and "Sunco"? Can their life expectancy data be trusted? The LE fixtures appear to be exactly what SuperBright is selling.

The "Super Bright" in the Description does NOT refer to superbrightleds.com.

If you look at the picture of the light, on the lower left corner you see the "LE". That is the logo for lightingever.com

And in this case they are sold by - Sold by NEON MART and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.

 

[Xfaxman]

I am using this style in the horse barn:

Installed one at each end two years ago, found it on eBay: outside led flood light -under | eBay

 

[wngsprd]

I finally picked up a 2-pack of these Feit Electric par 38 LED outdoor floodlights last month at Costco. Replaced some 100 watt halogens on the front corner of the house...I think these LEDs seem brighter. Can't help you on lifespan, since they've only been in a month, and I don't burn them very much. I still have halogens on the rear of the house but will swap those out, too.

Feit PAR38 Reflector LED | 9W Replacement | Uses 17W | 1,35 Lumens | 3,K Soft White | 25, Hours | 4-pack

 

[newbury]

I finally picked up a 2-pack of these Feit Electric par 38 LED outdoor floodlights last month at Costco. Replaced some 100 watt halogens on the front corner of the house...I think these LEDs seem brighter. Can't help you on lifespan, since they've only been in a month, and I don't burn them very much. I still have halogens on the rear of the house but will swap those out, too.

Feit PAR38 Reflector LED | 9W Replacement | Uses 17W | 1,35 Lumens | 3,K Soft White | 25, Hours | 4-pack

One request for all of you just getting into LED's

If you have a smartphone get an app that measures light such as Lux or some other light meter. Then measure brightness with the old light before you install the new light. Get hard data versus feel good data.

As far as life span - a story-
About 20 or thirty years ago SWMBO gave to a lot of charities. One in particular was always selling "5 year light bulbs". The darn things burned out quickly. So I got in the habit of writing the date I installed the bulb on it's base with a Sharpie. SWMBO got mad when I started showing her they 5 year bulbs were burning out in 1 year.

I continued that as we transitioned into CFL's and have not found many burning out quickly. I've done that with my new LED's and have a tube or two that burned out quickly.

 

[aczlan]

I'm looking at a fixture like this (but would prefer 3000k vs 6000) - LE(R) 2W Super Bright Outdoor LED Flood Lights, 2W Halogen Bulb Equivalent, Waterproof, 15lm, Daylight White, 6K, Security Lights, Floodlight - - Amazon.com

Thx Earplug, your post confirms that they are offered in either 6k or 3k color temp. Looks like Amazon (and SB) pricing is similar to direct from "LE".

Or bulbs like these - 6 PACK- PAR38 LED 13 WATT (12W Equivalent), 3K Warm White, DIMMABLE, Indoor/Outdoor Lighting, 15 Lumens, Flood Light Bulb UL & ENERGY STAR LISTED - - Amazon.com

But just who are "Lighting EVER" and "Sunco"? Can their life expectancy data be trusted? The LE fixtures appear to be exactly what SuperBright is selling.

I have 3 of the LE 20w lights and 4 50w lights in the pole barn (6000k color temps) and they are bright.
The apparent brightness (ie how it looks to me) is a lot brighter than the T8 florescent bulbs in the other barn.

Aaron Z