Are LEDs a big con?

[d000hg]

We switched out all our old filament/halogen bulbs for LEDs 2 years ago. They're supposed to last longer but we do not have a single room where at least one hasn't failed. In our hall, 2 out of 5 have failed. In our living room, an entire set of 5 failed within a few weeks of each other at about a year old.

Just replaced them and decided to go Phillips rather than a cheap brand. They ALL buzz. Quite loudly. Going back or in the bin. These things ain't cheap. Previous LEDs didn't buzz in the same fitting.
At this rate I'm just going back to halogen!

Wondered what people in the trade reckon. Am I just unlucky or is this "thousands of hours" claim nonsense? Any advice where to get good ones... Ours are mostly b22?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Very cheap to run is their only advantage - but it is a big one.

 

[d000hg]

Very cheap to run is their only advantage - but it is a big one.

that and environmental benefits they say...
Not either you have to replace them all the time!

 

[JohnD]

what size (yes, size) are you using?

 

[AndyPRK]

I love energizer ones.

Except g9

 

[d000hg]

what size (yes, size) are you using?

A few kitchen GU10 spots.
Most of the house are normal/traditional bulb shape and size, not even sure what that's called but like for like from the days of 100w... That plus a mix of candle ones the same height 5" ish.
No giant or tiny globe ones, if I've understood the question

 

[ajohn]

It seems to be a matter of luck when they are bought. We had some Philips fail rather quickly but not being able to get anything else bought some more and they have lasted well so far. They wont last for ever and prices keep coming down.

Main thing to watch is colour temperature - the high ones put out a lot of blue light as our eyes aren't very sensitive to it. More and more makers are producing warm white and believe it or not that is seen to be more eye safe.

 

[flameport]

They ALL buzz. Quite loudly.

Are dimmers involved?

They should be silent if not.

 

[d000hg]

Are dimmers involved?

They should be silent if not.

Nope. And the last lot in this fitting were silent... Till they bust.

I'd be tempted to spend more on a top brand but I'm nervous they'll do no better unless I can find a cast iron warranty.

 

[cwhaley]

In my job, I led a project to replace the existing lighting in 500 High Street stores with LED lighting. The result of that project (which completed 4 years ago) was a massive reduction in energy consumption and maintenance. We did of course pay for high quality kit (and being the company we are, probably paid too much), but it has proven itself so definitely worth it.

 

[flameport]

If they buzzed with no dimmer, there was something very wrong with them.

For general use I normally buy these: https://www.toolstation.com/led-gls-lamp/p39839
and for GU10 it's these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-gu10-led-light-bulb-345lm-4-7w-50-pack/632fh
none of which have ever made any noise.
Failures - just an odd one or two from many many hundreds installed.

Add - About 10 years ago when these things were very new, I purchased 10 of the Philips 9.5W BC LED lamps, at the time they were over £10 each.
One failed after a few years, the rest are still in daily use.

 

[AndyPRK]

Wonder if they were fakes ?

You won’t regret energizer ones

 

[JohnD]

I've had no trouble with mine. I usually go for GLS (or 100mm globes for open shades), but I have a couple of golfballs, and candles in the cooker hood. I don't trust the mini spots.

The 100mm globe on the landing failed within a year, which is odd, though it runs a lot of the time, especially in winter. I don't recall any other early fails. I usually get mine in Wickes own-brand, but the globes on fleabay.

Never had buzzing.

 

[d000hg]

The only other time I had buzzing or whining was with the mini spots but I think that was fixed by replacing the low voltage transformer for a modern one, which IS a classic LED issue.

Maybe these WERE fakes; Amazon deal of the day.
My older LEDs came with 5 year warranty but the seller went bust (though they just relaunched under a new company and didn't tell anyone until I tried to claim and found they'd dropped all their warrantees).

So now I'd be looking for manufacturer warranty if possible.
Any recommendations where to source them?

 

[SUNRAY]

We switched out all our old filament/halogen bulbs for LEDs 2 years ago. They're supposed to last longer but we do not have a single room where at least one hasn't failed. In our hall, 2 out of 5 have failed. In our living room, an entire set of 5 failed within a few weeks of each other at about a year old.

Just replaced them and decided to go Phillips rather than a cheap brand. They ALL buzz. Quite loudly. Going back or in the bin. These things ain't cheap. Previous LEDs didn't buzz in the same fitting.
At this rate I'm just going back to halogen!

Wondered what people in the trade reckon. Am I just unlucky or is this "thousands of hours" claim nonsense? Any advice where to get good ones... Ours are mostly b22?

We decorated our hall, stairs and landing December 2017 replacing the 3 pendants at the time with triple GU9 fittings and 3w WW LEDs. Purchased 10 for £18 from Ebay. When we got down to 2 in each fitting I purchased 10 Phillips WW 2W for £35 at Screwfix. We are currently down to 5 Phillips and 1 ebay. So in 27 months we have had 14 fail.

I got into the habit of writing the date on bulbs when we had a problem with mains supply and the 3 original consisted of a 60 GLS with no date so predated 1994 (when we moved here) and 2 CFL's dated 2001 & 2004.

Costs?
OLD:
Assuming bulbs = 100W for 2 hours per day for 27 months = 0.1x2x27x30KVA = 150KWH @20p =£30

New:
Assuming 20% of original power = £6. Cost of LEDs = 14/20 x £53 = £37. Total outlay in the period is therefore a minmum of £43

Hmm some savings.

And of course this does not take into account the hour or so spent changing LED's and the trip to screwfix and the time spent on Ebay, probably a total of 2 hours at £25/h.