[time-nuts] the end of light bulbs as we know it was Re: Safe power-up. was (Solartron 7075 ...)

[Mark Sims]

I now have my house converted over completely to LED bulbs...  over 300 of them (mostly PAR16/PAR20/PAR30/PAR38 bulbs)!   At retail the cost would have been over $15,000 dollars!!!   Totally insane...  I have a large closet totally dedicated to light bulbs.    When incandecents/halogens are no longer made  I'll sell all the ones that I have removed and become stinkin' rich.

Then I found an Ebay seller that was selling "used" bulbs for dirt cheap (like <$5 for a PAR20 and $10 for a PAR30...  actually less than the halogens cost).  They are apparently store/utility company returns (Bubba buys a replacement bulb and can't figure out how to install it so returns it to the store).  I was replacing a couple incandecent bulbs every week (many times they killed a $35 dimmer when they blew).  Only one of the LED bulbs has failed in the last year.

I did have to build 32 custom fixtures to replace the 900 lumen/50 watt/12V halogen MR-16 bulbs.   The brightest MR-16 LED bulb available is around 300 lumens. 

If you use PAR20 bulbs in your house check out:   http://www.ebay.com/sch/new_life_electronics/m.html?_nkw=led&_trkparms=65%253A15%257C66%253A1%257C39%253A1&rt=nc&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14.l1513&_pgn=1
These are some of the best PAR20 bulbs out there and the lots of 10 usually go for less than $60.  The exact same bulbs sell for $40 each a Lowes.