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New, Improved! LED Light Bulbs Save a Century’s Collection of Light Fixtures

For over 100 years, the medium base lamp has been the standard light fixture. Ballrooms and bars, farmhouses and roadhouses, gas stations and police stations all have dozens of medium base lamps in them. Generations of people all over the world grew up in the warm glow of these incandescent lights. After a century of service, a challenger has arrived in LED light bulbs. Limitations in early LED light bulbs slowed their adoption, but recent improvements make them an excellent choice, with very real advantages over the competing compact fluorescent light bulbs.

The medium base was standardized before WWI, and there are now over 100 years of accumulated light fixtures made for it. While some may be just old junk, many others are handsome and well-made, good for decades more useful service. Some are genuine works of art, adding grace and beauty to our lives, including the famous Tiffany lamps. Most homes and offices contain dozens of medium base light fixtures, prohibitively expensive to replace. LED light bulbs can extend the life of these fine old lamps into a new century and beyond.

LED light bulbs offer advantages and choices not available with either incandescent or compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. The low energy use of LED light bulbs (a fraction of either of the other two), and their very long life (several times that of a CFL and 10 or more times that of an incandescent), are well known; but LED light bulbs also provide more choices. They come in a variety of light colors, from the warm white familiar to us in incandescent lights to the daylight white similar to the fluorescents of the office space and various colors. They are also available in a variety completely different from anything incandescent or fluorescents are capable of: color changing. Perfect for parties or just to add interest to a room, there are several LED light bulbs available which can change through the spectrum of colors in programmed patterns, or just shine in one selected shade.

Recent innovations have made LED light bulbs an even more attractive choice. True 75W and 100W equivalent bulbs are now on the shelves. Better, these high output bulbs are omni-directional, meaning they shine in every direction except through the base itself. Now, LED light bulbs really do cover the range of the common incandescent bulbs we all grew up with.

All LED lights have several advantages over CFL’s. LED’s last several times as long. Their lives are not shortened by being switched on and off (CFL’s are). LED’s do not contain mercury, and so may be safely disposed of. They come on at the flick of a switch, with no delay; and they have a consistent color, with no off color tones.

Taken altogether, the advantages of LED light bulbs are conclusive. The best way to bring millions of perfectly sound old light fixtures into the 21st century is to screw in an LED light bulb to replace that trusty old incandescent.

Contributor: Joel Zenzic
Posted By: Mary Wecker

By Mary at 10:09:39 PM - Comments

Flexible LED strips are Flexible!

With just a bit of imagination and ingenuity, flexible LED strip can be used for a host of applications. Skateboards, scooters, sailboats, stairs, cabinets, chairs, gazebos, decks, eaves, porches, mood lighting and task lighting: this is a far from complete list of the applications flexible LED strip has been put to. With a low cost per LED, a sturdy yet flexible mounting with a sticky backing, dimmable, bright LED’s, a very low profile, a simple, inexpensive waterproof option, and easily cut to length, flexible LED strip is the go-to option for a multitude of projects.

Flexible LED strip has been used as accent lighting on a host of vehicles. Since most vehicles run on 12 volt power, LED strip is a natural match. Campers, shells, and cabs are brightened; color-changing strip adds a party atmosphere to limos and vans. Waterproof strip provides a similar service to vehicle exteriors. One customer ran waterproof color-changing strip all the way around the cabin of his 30 foot pontoon boat.

Kitchen cabinets are a natural fit for flexible LED strip. Mounted right behind the front lip, the strip’s low profile (less than an eighth of an inch) leaves it effectively invisible; yet it thoroughly illuminates a counter. Coupled with a dimmer, the light may be adjusted from full work light to gentle night light. For those who love a warm, peaceful kitchen, flexible LED strip in warm white (3000K°) light evokes traditional incandescent-like tones. Those who prefer an efficient, bright workspace may like daylight (5000K°) LED’s, with their whiter, more revealing tone.

Workshops and offices use LED strip in much the same way. On the ceiling, along tool shelves, and anywhere a bit of strip can be stuck, LED strip lights up a work surface. In sensitive locations, the fact that LED’s themselves produce almost no heat can be a real plus.

Anywhere in the house or office, flexible LED strip is excellent for indirect lighting. Its narrow width and low profile fit behind much smaller moldings than any other type of light, yet sheds more than ample light. The sticky backing makes it a breeze to install on almost any surface, whether crown molding, cabinet top or bookshelf.

Waterproof flexible LED strip renders similar service outside the house. Decks, stairs, balconies, eaves and gardens all benefit from an LED glow. For a festive atmosphere, make the strip color-changing RGB (red/green/blue) and add a color controller box. The programmed color changes from the controller liven any occasion. Strip wound around trees and among the shrubbery bring the garden right into the party.

A complete description of all the uses flexible LED strip has been put to would fill volumes. Its cost effectiveness, thin profile and simplicity make it a candidate for almost any project, indoors or outdoors. No matter what you need lighting for, take a look at LED strip.

Contributor: Joel Zenzic
Posted By: Mary Wecker

By Mary at 9:20:43 PM - Comments

LED Traffic Safety Products

Road flares and battery operated incandescent lights have been used for many years, alerting drivers to hazards. Plastic cones fitted over flashlights glow in the dark, guiding pilots and drivers. The standard traffic safety devices have worked well; but they have important limitations. LED traffic safety products do the job just as well, and overcome many of the drawbacks.

Road flares are more than bright enough to warn drivers; but they have three problems. One is that they are strictly single use; once lit, they can’t be reused. Two, burn time is limited to minutes, not hours. Three, they have a very hot flame, not recommended if fuel is pilled. Incandescent lights solve these problems in part; but have a run time limited to a few hours at most. LED traffic safety products solve all three problems. They may used for many years; one set of batteries will last for a day or more of continuous use, and they produce almost no heat.

Traffic safety professionals are turning to LED warning lights for all these reasons. Especially in the case of hours-long road blockages, lights that do not need watching and pose no fire hazard at all are very attractive. They take up no more room than half a dozen flares, and need no maintenance beyond checking the batteries every few years. Small weighted stands can be added to lift the LED traffic safety lights above the roadway and increase the distance at which they may be seen, yet take up only a few more cubic inches.

Traffic control batons are a familiar sight to anyone who has ever watched an aircraft guided into an airport terminal at night; they are also seen everywhere from crowded stadium parking lots to school crossing guards. For decades, batons were made by fitting a colored plastic cone over an ordinary flashlight. This worked well enough; but in LED batons the LED lights are mounted directly in the wand itself, not the handle, so the light is used more efficiently. The major drawback to incandescent light bulbs is that they drain batteries in just a few hours. Over a year the cost will be in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. LED traffic safety products do the very same job better amd use a small fraction of the batteries, resulting in hundreds of dollars of savings.

From emergency services personnel looking for lights they will use every week or every day, to a driver wanting an improvement for the old road flares sitting in the trunk, LED traffic safety products are the way to go. Safer, more cost-effective, and much longer-lived, LED lights shine a better light in an emergency.

Contributor Joel Zenzic

Posted by: Mary Wecker

By Mary at 6:34:56 PM - Comments

LED Cabinet Lights

Barbie dolls to rare first editions, model trains to Dresden figurines, 45 rpm vinyl records to ancient Egyptian artifacts: the treasures we keep are displayed in cabinets. LED cabinet lights make the most of showing our treasures off; and do not contribute to material fading, since LED cabinet lights do not emit ultra-violet light. LED Cabinet lights come in bars, halogen replacement fixtures, individual LED’s and flexible strips. Whether it’s lighting up an entire compartment, picking out one special object, drawing attention to individual features, illuminating book and album titles, or adding color changing lights just to be pretty, there are LED cabinet lights just right for the purpose.

Light bars are the most familiar looking, similar in appearance to the small fluorescent fixtures used in cabinet lighting for years. Some light bars mount directly to the cabinet; others use spring clips or even magnets. LED light bars are good at lighting an entire compartment. Spot lighting has long been done with halogen lights. LED Halogen replacement bulbs also look very similar to their older cousins; but they provide clear, focused light with none of the scorching heat of the halogen. Halogen replacement LED cabinet lights spotlight objects on a shelf while staying cool enough to remove with bare fingers.

The most innovative LED cabinet lights are flexible LED strips. This lighting system is flexible both literally (it can be folded to make a 90° turn) and figuratively; it has a multitude of uses. LED flexible strip has either 30 or 60 LED’s in each meter (3 feet 3 inches), and can be cut every 4” (30 LPM) or 2” (60 LPM). With a bit of planning, flex strip can be used to front light, backlight, indirect light, or floodlight a compartment. Flex strip also comes in RGB (red, green, blue) color changing lights. Combined with a color controller, RGB strip adds a dynamic, eye-catching light show to a cabinet.

For more pragmatic applications, LED bars and flexible strip provide excellent illumination of book, DVD, or CD titles and other written material. LED cabinet lights also light up the controls on stereos and other electronic equipment; photo, coin and stamp albums; and any other material. LED cabinet lights also work well for cove and alcove lighting, display cases, and jewelry cases.

LED’s have many advantages, besides shedding far less heat. LED’s last many times as long as incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescents (CFL). Where CFL’s contain small amounts of mercury, LED’s have no toxic materials. And, of course, LED cabinet lights use a fraction of the energy of other lights, half that of even efficient CFL’s.

The cabinets that display our treasures deserve the best lights, whether flood or spot, direct or indirect. Efficient, safe, and with endless creative possibilities, LED cabinet lights show off displays in the very best light.

Contributor: Joel Zenzic
Posted by: Mary Wecker


By Mary at 9:46:45 PM - Comments

Install LED Downlights and Save on Your Energy Expenses

LED lighting has changed the way we light our homes and work. Each year, more and more people are saving energy by switching to power efficient LED’s. The lower monthly electric bills soon pay for the greater initial cost of LED lighting, and add up to real savings.

LED downlights are a good choice for all the same residential and commercial applications incandescent downlights are used in. They provide warm and pleasant light at a fraction of the energy cost, about one-eighth that of incandescent, and one-half that of fluorescent. Adjustable LED downlights are particularly good for task lighting or highlighting an object.

LED replacement bulbs are available for standard light cans, as well as complete LED downlights for new builds or renovations. These LED downlights, whether replacement bulbs or new fixtures, come in both a cool white light very similar to that provided by the standard fluorescent, and a comfortable warm white like the familiar incandescent.

LED downlights are available which shed either narrow spot-like beams for illuminating a particular spot, or broad flood-like beams to light a whole area. Some LED downlights are fixed, others can be adjusted to aim at different locations. Whatever conventional downlights have been used for in the past, there is an LED downlight ready to do the same job and save a lot of energy in the process.

Be sure to research the alternatives and find the right LED downlight for your application. Choose carefully. Compare warm white and cool white lights and consider will be nicer to live with. Look at the room: is a narrow or broad light better, should the light be fixed or adjustable. Consult a local electrician and take advantage of their experience. Remember, LED lights can be expected to last many times as long as incandescent and fluorescent lights. Take the time to find the right LED downlights.

Posted By: Mary Wecker

By Mary at 9:35:48 PM - Comments

LED Floodlights Light Up the Night

In both landscaping and architecture, floodlights have been used to showcase homes and businesses for decades. Whether illuminating an entire building or one special tree, floodlights pick points of beauty out of the night. LED floodlights shed brilliant light on the landscape, yet use less power, generate less waste heat, and last far longer than traditional lights.

So much energy is saved by LED floodlights that more than twice as many floodlights can be installed while still cutting energy use in half. Most LED floodlights are 120-277 volts, just like conventional lights, except for drawing less power, and can easily be fit into existing landscape wiring. The best of these lights are UL Listed with 5 year warranties.

Another option exists in 12 volt or 24 volt floodlights. Low voltage lights offer some real advantages for outdoor use: low voltage cable doesn’t need to be buried as deeply, is less dangerous if accidentally cut, and power consumption is low enough to consider using a solar power system. The disadvantage is the need for a 12 (or 24) volt transformer which must be housed in a weatherproof location, and may wear out and need to be replaced before the LED’s.

The much lower energy costs and very long life of LED’s lead to a real savings over time, despite LED floodlights having a higher original purchase price. There is also the less obvious saving in labor. Instead of changing out bulbs every year or two (if you’re lucky), LED lights will not usually need to be changed for 7-10 years. The highest quality LED floodlights last 20 years running 12 hours a day.

LED floodlights are available in both replacement bulbs for existing features and new, dedicated LED fixtures. Replacement outdoor LED bulbs come in various sizes, light color and lumens (lighting power) to fit different floodlight fixtures and uses. New LED floodlight fixtures are available in many sizes, shapes, and colors to fit almost any décor; and they also come in a wide variety of lumen output from soft accent lights of 100 lumens to powerful 6,000 lumen building illuminators.

Most LED floodlights come in a choice light colors. The most common are “warm white” around 3000K (light color is often measured in degrees Kelvin, or K), similar to the color of an incandescent; and “daylight”, around 5000K with no golden hue. Daylight is more like what we have been used to seeing in a standard fluorescent tube. Other tones are available to suit a wide variety of applications.

As with all LED’s, LED floodlights do not contain toxic chemicals. Considering this absence of pollutants, their very long life, and low energy use, LED floodlights are by far the environmentally friendly of all floodlights.

Floodlights are a brilliant way (pun intended) to draw attention to the best and most important features of homes and businesses. Environmentally friendly, long lasting, cheap to run, the many advantages of LED floodlights make them the obvious and best choice for every landscaper, whether professional or DIY, to light up the night.

By: Mary Wecker

By Mary at 11:22:17 PM - Comments

LED Cabinet and Under Cabinet Lights

Interior decorators are choosing LED under cabinet lighting more and more often; and so are many do-it-yourself decorators. The reasons are not hard to understand. LED under cabinet lights come in a variety of styles, from simple one LED “pucks” to light bars in many lengths to flexible LED strips. All of these come on instantly and provide flicker-free light; and most are easy to install.

Flexible LED strip provides interior decorators with exciting new cabinet lighting options. It is so thin and flexible it can be installed in spaces where no conventional light could possibly fit. It is often installed on top of cabinets as indirect lighting, as under cabinet lighting stretching along the entire countertop, and, increasingly popular, behind the toe-kick panel as a floor accent light. In kitchens with a translucent counter top, LED strips can be used to make the countertop glow, accenting the countertop and bathing the kitchen in a beautiful glow.

Many LED under cabinet lights are dimmable. Some are built to work with wall dimmers; others utilize low voltage dimmers. Both are an excellent way to achieve a night light effect in the kitchen and other rooms.

LED under cabinet lights produce a pure light which contains no ultraviolet. Unlike fluorescent lights, LED lights will not contribute to the fading of paintings or fabrics.

Most LED under cabinet lights come in a choice of warm white or daylight. Warm white is similar to incandescent light, enhancing the warmth of wood and earth tones, and daylight, similar to fluorescent in color, gives a bright, efficient light for the working kitchen.

Like all LED lights, LED under cabinet lights consume much less energy than other lights, half that of fluorescent lights and one-eighth that of incandescent lights. In addition, LED under cabinet lights produce less waste heat than incandescent, an important feature when located next to sensitive articles.

LED under cabinet lights do cost more than incandescent or fluorescent lights. However, their lower energy consumption leads to significant savings in energy bills. Since quality LED lights can be expected to last far longer than other lights, they are actually less expensive over the life of the light.

For everyone concerned about the environment, LED lights have an additional benefit. Unlike fluorescent lights, LED’s contain no toxic materials. Fluorescents contain small amounts of mercury, while LED’s are just as safe as incandescent lights.

Interior decorators choose LED under cabinet lighting because LED’s just make sense; and they make just as good sense for anyone wanting to improve their home lighting.

By Mary at 5:04:13 AM - Comments

Install LED Downlights and Save on Your Energy Expenses

LED lighting has changed the way we light our homes and work. Each year, more and more people are saving energy by switching to power efficient LED’s. The lower monthly electric bills soon pay for the greater initial cost of LED lighting, and add up to real savings.

LED downlights are a good choice for all the same residential and commercial applications incandescent downlights are used in. They provide warm and pleasant light at a fraction of the energy cost, about one-eighth that of incandescent, and one-half that of fluorescent. Adjustable LED downlights are particularly good for task lighting or highlighting an object.

LED replacement bulbs are available for standard light cans, as well as LED downlight fixtures for new builds or renovations. These LED downlights, whether replacement bulbs or new fixtures, come in both a cool white light very similar to that provided by the standard fluorescent, and a comfortable warm white like the familiar incandescent.

LED downlights are available which shed either narrow spot-like beams for illuminating a particular spot, or broad flood-like beams to light a whole area. Some LED downlights are fixed, others can be adjusted to aim at different locations. Whatever conventional downlights have been used for in the past, there is an LED downlight ready to do the same job and save a lot of energy in the process.

Be sure to research the alternatives and find the right LED downlight for your application. Choose carefully. Compare warm white and cool white lights and consider will be nicer to live with. Look at the room: is a narrow or broad light better, should the light be fixed or adjustable. Consult a local electrician and take advantage of their experience. Remember, LED lights can be expected to last many times as long as incandescent and fluorescent lights. Take the time to find the right LED downlight.

By Mary at 3:33:12 AM - Comments

Power Savings in style through LED Products

What was once thought of as a space age technology and which could never be commercially viable is now slowly making its way deeper into the everyday lives of people all around the world. LED products have now grown to such popularity that they have started replacing conventional lighting solutions at home with LED lights, and to much better effect than the previous lights!

Why LED products?

People have started to wonder about all the hype that surrounds LED lighting solutions and why they are being touted as the next big thing in energy efficient lighting. The main selling point when it comes to LED lighting is its efficiency and its flexibility. Because of the science behind the technology of LEDs which has been subject to years and years of innovation and continued refinement, present day LEDs and most energy efficient and offer better lighting than the regular lights.

Also, conventional lights needed sockets, plugs and holders etc. to use them, and frames and choke to mount them and start them. But when it comes to LED lighting, there hasn't been a more elegant system developed to date! Because of their small size and relatively less wiring, LED lights can be seamlessly integrated into the décor, even to such an extent that their presence is unnoticed till they are actually lit up! Such is the versatility of these LED products.

Power savings! How much are we talking about?

Because of the difference in the mechanism of light production, and its inherent small size, LEDs are capable of running on a fraction of the power that regular light bulbs, CFLs and tube lights need to run on. This being the case, they are about 80-85% more economical when compared to the traditional lighting solutions, and hence these can significantly cut down the electricity bills of a building, especially so if it's a big structure like a multi-storied building, where power consumption is the topmost expense that one has to monitor.

LEDs are too expensive, how can I invest so much and expect to save money?

LED products are still new in the industry, and their production is still not up to speed to match the demand that they have created. LED products may always be more expensive than traditional lighting products, perhaps even double their cost for the time being. But, the incentive that these lights give in money saving are only appreciated in the long term, when they show the customer that they have been saving significant amounts of money in energy expenses.

Patience pays off when it comes to LEDs. And if you have the concern for our environment that many of us do, just think about the impact consuming less energy and


By Mary at 10:40:32 PM - Comments

Shining Some Natural Light on Your Outdoor Space

Solar LED lights are the upcoming lighting solution for spaces around a building such as lawns and patios. Adding light to your outdoor spaces adds that little bit of extra suave and sophisticated atmosphere to your home and provides a calm and serene setting for your family to enjoy.

The Sun: the Energizer battery of the solar system
For as long as man can remember, the sun has been the symbol of unlimited, inexhaustible continuous and ubiquitous power for the Earth and for a long time to come it will still be the same way. But in the industrial and post-industrial era, the power race became so intense that people woke up to the fact that fossilized fuels will not last. Man looked to the sun and for a means to harvesting its vast energy. With the demonstration of the photoelectric effect, the possibility that the sun could be used to harvest and produce electrical energy became a reality. But as all scientific initiatives come across roadblocks along the way, such was the case of solar energy development. Research and innovation lead to the development of the present solar LED lights which are becoming increasingly popular all over the world.

How does this work?

These lights work on the physical law of photoelectric effect. The challenges though, to make this possible were immense, as solar radiation consists of different types of radiation of different wavelengths, a large percentage of which were incompatible to be utilized for energy production. But with continued innovation and research, we have the present lighting system.

These lights are powered by batteries, which in turn are charged by the solar radiation that bears down on the solar panels that they are connected to. This charging process occurs through the day. At dusk, when the intensity of solar light decreases, the solar LED lights turn on automatically by means of a light sensor, and remain on through the evening and night. In the morning as the sun rises, they turn off automatically by the same light sensor.

How long do these last?

Generally speaking, when the solar panel is able to collect sufficient sunlight during daylight hours, your solar LED lights will last for about 12-14 hours. This, of course, depends on the number of and characteristics of the lights you install, the number of solar panels you have, and the size and number of storage batteries in your system. It is important to locate your solar panels so they won’t be hampered by leafy trees or building shadows. LED garden lights are low voltage and consume very little battery power. This makes them the optimum choice for use with solar power. Keep in mind that although dawn to dusk controls are popular, you can also use a timer to limit the number of hours your lights draw energy from the battery.
You can enjoy an abundance of well placed, tasteful landscape lighting effects without spending a penny on electricity, thanks to the power of the Sun.


By Mary at 8:42:17 PM - Comments

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