Does anyone have a recommendation for a CFL to replace the incandescent bulb in a Halo H7ICAT?
Would something like this Feit R30 reflector work or could I do better?
*edit- I forgot to add that these bulbs will not be dimmed or on a photocell or anything like that.
Edited 6/13/2009 10:44 pm ET by JonBlakemore
Replies
I have 5 H7ICATs in my living room. As the 65W incandescent bulbs burn out I am putting in these R30 bulbs:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=22419-371-60061&lpage=none
Looks like the same thing you were looking at but different (cheaper?) brand.
Of the two that have been replaced, once they warm up the color matches almost exactly to the incandescents and they don't look out of place.
One thing that you need to look at is the lumens or light output that they produce.
I notice that one only produces 750 and say it is equivalent to a 50 to 65 watt bulb.
I have a Sylvania Instant On 13 watt that produces 825 lumens. However, it won't work in your application. It is Spiral with a candleabra base.
If you look at Lowes and HD there common lines comes in Soft White, Bright White, and Warm White. IIRC they are made by the same company, but have different names. If you look at the specs you will find a lot of difference between the light output for the same input power among the different "whites".
Personally, while I use 2700k where I don't have a choice I think that they are 2 yellow and prefer the 3500k bulbs.
And while I like EFI and have ordered from them I think that unless you are looking for something very specific and different, and that is not one, you should get them locally and if you have a problem or just don't like them you can return them.
And if you want something that is not available in either the local BB stores or EFI try some specialty lighting suppliers. There are often local ones that you don't normally hear of.
And many of them are also online. Here is one that is local to me.
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/CTGY/CompactFluorescent
And if you want more light out then the "60 watt" equivalents TCP makes a series of reflectors that will work with their Spring Bulbs (spirals).
Here is one.
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/PROD/SpiralAll/101R30
That will work a some of certain ones of their bulbs from 9 to 27 watts.
However, TCP makes 3 different types of reflectors and an adapter and it is not clear which combination will work. So I am going in person to mix and match until I get what I need.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe