If LED bulbs are supposed to last for 10 years, why do I still need to replace them every 9 months? - eviltoast

I’m in a nasty frame of mind right now, and this is what my 'tism brain decided to laser focus on for several hours. I’m mad that my light bulbs cost 10x more than they used to, and don’t last any longer, and my power bill is higher than ever.

Yeah yeah, I know, it’s probably just capitalism shitting it up on purpose for profit. And bulb science is probably solid, I guess. I’m just pissed off that I just barely managed to scrape through this pay period with $2.78 left in the bank before I default on my mortgage.

Anyway, any lightbulb science comrades got any info?

  • Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 year ago

    There are a few reasons it could be happening so I’ll start with some the most common

    If your switches are dimmer switches and you’re not using dimmer bulbs they burn out faster

    If your light fixtures are sealed you need to get bulbs that are compatible with sealed fixtures

    Make sure you’re getting quality bulbs as lower quality bulbs will die faster

    If your area has less than stable power your bulbs will burn out faster, though higher quality dimmer compatible bulbs will handle the less stable power better (you don’t need a dimmer compatible light fixture to use dimmer bulbs)

    I use GE Reveal HD+ bulbs in my fixtures (basic apartment sealed domes) and they just keep on keeping on and they’re really color accurate.

    I started with store brand LED bulbs and they just kept burning out and the color accuracy would be best described as vague at best. Not to mention they’d burn out pretty much every year when the storms would roll in and my power would get flaky.

    • Tak@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      It’s wild how back in the day most of our appliances were good with AC current but now DC is starting to become more prevalent. It’d be wild if in 100 years you didn’t screw in a lightbulb but fixtures had a USB port to power the things.