LED Lighting: Integrated LED?
barbinri
5 years ago
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mike_kaiser_gw
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Integrated LED Pendants vs Traditional Pendants with LED bulbs
Comments (3)This is good to know and exactly what we did. We returned our integrated LED sconces (since they were traditionally styled) and went with sconces that would accommodate LED bulbs. I just didn't want to risk having to change out an entire fixture, because the light goes dead. We've used LED bulbs for some time now and despite the promises that they last 5 years and longer, we've definitely had to change some bulbs out as soon as a year. So just not worth the risk for me right now. I'm thinking in the near future things will be more perfected and integrated LED will be more the norm. But I'll wait for that to happen before I go with it....See MoreIntegrated LED lamp
Comments (1)You have to be very careful about dimming LEDs. The driver for the LED has to able to dim, and they must state that in the spec sheets of the product. I would never buy anything integrated, especially since people think LEDs last forever, but it`s not the case. We can help at www.ilumigreen.com...See MoreIntegrated LED Recessed Ceiling Light
Comments (30)If you look closely at the photos of the fixtures, you will see that the Nora Cobalt is a "retrofit" type fixture (like the Halo the OP originally asked about) where the driver, heatsink and LED board are in one compact "trim" unit that is installed in a standard metal housing used for various kinds of fixtures. If the fixture fails, the "trim" unit would need to be replaced. The Lightolier LyteCaster L3 is a modular design with the driver (step-down transformer and current stabilizer) mounted in the housing and the light unit and heat sink fits into the "trim". If the fixture fails or the color dims, the appropriate part can be replaced. The parts can also be upgraded. These fixtures need a more substantial heat sink because the COB chips are more compact than the typical SMD chips. The Nora Cobalt is intended for residential use and the Lightolier LyteCaster L3 is intended for residential and light commercial use. I recommended them because they are both more powerful than typical LED recessed fixtures, are more deeply recessed, have an adjustable beam angle and use a superior COB LED. The L3 also has a great wall-washer for a more uniform light on a wall but it costs another $20+. There are no bargains in good lighting....See MoreFinding NON-integrated LED light fixtures?
Comments (12)Hi, I'm an electrician with 30+ years of residential experience; I don't really use Houz, but you can find me on Yelp. I'm going to leave this here for the next person who finds this thread; it's copy/pasted from a google doc I have written for my customers about lighting in which I discuss recessed lighting, but is relevant to any integrated lighting. I strongly recommend *against* Integrated (built-in) LED lights that are attached to trim. They are a scam. If their bulbs die in +/-10 years (as all light bulbs do) you will be stuck with trying to find a matching trim kit to fit in with the rest of the older recessed lights instead of changing a light bulb like a normal person. At the very least, there is likely to be some discoloration of the trim, so the new light will stick out like a sore thumb. You are stuck with what you got: Unlike a standard recessed light, you are stuck with whatever you got for the entire 10 years; you can't just change the light bulb to make the space brighter, change the color hue, or make a wider or narrower light beam. They are freaking expensive: Most folks don't think about the fact that it costs more to change the whole fixture than just changing the light bulb. In addition to paying the cost for the entire integrated light, most people end up having to pay the cost of an electrician to troubleshoot the broken light only to find that they need to essentially replace a light bulb ...and yet they still have to pay an electrician to do it. And since it's likely that the electrician won't have your exactly light and trim in their van, you will be paying for two visits. There's good chance you won't be happy with how that new light looks: When It does come time for a replacement, I can't tell you how many of these fixtures I have donated to thrift stores and the like because a customer wanted to change all their lights after they were installed and one light died...but they couldn't find a matching replacement for the other lights in the ceiling! These fixture styles are aesthetically limited and are really purposed for "flippers". Finally, I hate to be so nihilistic, but don't expect to find the same style after 10 years -I honestly believe that light manufacturers change the styles every few years so you can't find the same lights that you bought a few years ago. So you will end up with a mismatched fixture -and the manufacturers are counting on you to buy a whole new set when, again, you could have just changed the light bulb. This makes a lot of money for light manufacturers and the electrician you will call to replace the lights -at your expense. What about the environment? Besides the huge waste of your money, these are also just more junk for landfills. Don't let yourself get sold on this scam. LED light bulbs are great for the environment and that they use less electricity, but integrated LEDs are an environmental disaster....See Morebarbinri
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