LED Light Recommendations
- Thread starter scriptx
- Start date
I have 120v door switches, but was leaning towards low voltage strips or flush mount pucks.
Here is one site I have used:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/
They have many options for modules and pucks for a "DIY" low voltage installation.
Do you think LED's will pay off in the long run being used in a closet?
Maybe something like this would be a better bang for your buck.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3766605
I not trying to talk you out of LED's but it could get pretty costly for lighting that is only on several minutes out of a day.
It would be pretty cool with LED's though...
http://www.superbrightleds.com/
They have many options for modules and pucks for a "DIY" low voltage installation.
Do you think LED's will pay off in the long run being used in a closet?
Maybe something like this would be a better bang for your buck.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3766605
I not trying to talk you out of LED's but it could get pretty costly for lighting that is only on several minutes out of a day.
It would be pretty cool with LED's though...
rusgrafx
Member
I've been using Ikea's DIODER lights for a while now, they are fine. I have 4 strips glued behind wall-mounted HDTV (on all sides), so whenever I turn TV on in the evening it has a nice halo around it. 
Ikea has several models with different shapes (strips, pucks) and colors (white only and with fluidly changing colors).
On other occasions I was using generic tube lights that are 120V, dimmable and really cheap. They work for over 2 years now, every day, at least 8hrs a day - no problems so far.
Ikea has several models with different shapes (strips, pucks) and colors (white only and with fluidly changing colors).
On other occasions I was using generic tube lights that are 120V, dimmable and really cheap. They work for over 2 years now, every day, at least 8hrs a day - no problems so far.
Thanks! I am leaning towards low voltage simply for ease if installation since this is a retro fit and will require less drywall patching. Plus, I should be able to light most of the closets with one PSU using LED.
All are great options. I'll do some research and post the results.
All are great options. I'll do some research and post the results.
Quixote_1
Active Member
I ordered some 128-LED white light strips from them a couple of years ago and they are fantastic. Very bright and 1 amp at 12v dc. They heat up a fair amount, but so far they have held up. However, I just ordered some red ones and there were WAY too many dead LEDs on arrival on the strips to be acceptable. I filed a return claim with them the other morning and I am just waiting to hear back from them about how to proceed. The one out of the 5 that I ordered that works perfectly is beautiful. Also, it took a month to receive them so now I guess I have to wait another month before I can finish my project. :angry:
Quixote_1
Active Member
Just an update:
I finally received an email from the customer service department of DealExtreme after 5 days. 100% satisfaction guaranteed my @$$. lol
Here is the email:
There is virtually nothing posted about the LED strips in question in the forum already and no reviews at all, which shows that they did not even check themselves before suggesting that I do so. Not impressed. Translation: "It's not our product. We just sold it to you. Try to figure out how to fix the garbage we sold you and as a last resort, we may try to appease you by doing the bare minimum required to shut you up."
I've replied and we'll where this leads when they feel like getting around to responding:
Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but I feel it's important to reward good business practices and punish poor/incompetent ones. *cough*Smarthome*ahem*
:axe:
I finally received an email from the customer service department of DealExtreme after 5 days. 100% satisfaction guaranteed my @$$. lol
Here is the email:
There is virtually nothing posted about the LED strips in question in the forum already and no reviews at all, which shows that they did not even check themselves before suggesting that I do so. Not impressed. Translation: "It's not our product. We just sold it to you. Try to figure out how to fix the garbage we sold you and as a last resort, we may try to appease you by doing the bare minimum required to shut you up."
I've replied and we'll where this leads when they feel like getting around to responding:
Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but I feel it's important to reward good business practices and punish poor/incompetent ones. *cough*Smarthome*ahem*
:axe:
Quixote_1, I think it is on topic. A company that shirks support like that isn't somebody I want to deal with in the long run, I'll pay a bit extra out the door.
With that in mind, I ordered Super Bright LEDs these today. I chose these for a few reasons:
1. I plan to put three of them along the height of the door to provide even lighting throughout the closet interior. With three lights I should have ~33% of a 60 watt bulb. For bigger closets I'll use six, three on each side of the door.
2. Low voltage wiring doesn't require routing out huge holes in the door jamb you need if wiring 120v. I bought the 120v switches, but will pop out the small switch part which will install into the door jamb with nothing more than a drill bit.
3. I chose LED because 120v recessed puck lights are not much cheaper. Plus, using recessed lights, the hole I drill for the light is big enough to grab the wire using a fish line so I have no drywall to repair when this is done (a really big motivator for me).
I'll let everybody know how they turn out.
With that in mind, I ordered Super Bright LEDs these today. I chose these for a few reasons:
1. I plan to put three of them along the height of the door to provide even lighting throughout the closet interior. With three lights I should have ~33% of a 60 watt bulb. For bigger closets I'll use six, three on each side of the door.
2. Low voltage wiring doesn't require routing out huge holes in the door jamb you need if wiring 120v. I bought the 120v switches, but will pop out the small switch part which will install into the door jamb with nothing more than a drill bit.
3. I chose LED because 120v recessed puck lights are not much cheaper. Plus, using recessed lights, the hole I drill for the light is big enough to grab the wire using a fish line so I have no drywall to repair when this is done (a really big motivator for me).
I'll let everybody know how they turn out.
Neurorad
Senior Member
FWIW, for 'Storage Areas', e.g. closets, the LED fixture should be 'listed' as permitted in a storage area, to pass code. I take that to mean UL-listed.
At least that was the case a year or so ago when I looked into replacing my closet fluorescents. I don't know how much of a problem it would be for an inspector. Some of these LEDs get pretty hot, too.
If someone knows more, please share.
At least that was the case a year or so ago when I looked into replacing my closet fluorescents. I don't know how much of a problem it would be for an inspector. Some of these LEDs get pretty hot, too.
If someone knows more, please share.
Quixote_1
Active Member
I ordered some more LED strips from a different site since DealExtreme didn't have any blue ones in stock. The site is goodluckbuy.com. I didn't like the name because it made me think that I will need to be lucky to actually receive what I bought, but I figured that it was only a language thing since it's a Chinese site.
The light strips arrived today and they were very well-packaged in a plastic case made to hold them securely. I tested the strips and there are no dead LEDs what-so-ever. It took a month for them to be delivered from the day of my order. There were no duty, brokerage or other associated fees.
The problem is that they did not send me any heat-sinks which are supposed to be included with each LED strip as pictured on the product listing web page. I have sent an email to customer service and hopefully they will be more attentive than DealExtreme.
Speaking of which, I have still heard nothing back from DX since I replied to them early yesterday (@12 AM, so it's been about 38.5 hours).
I'll keep you guys posted on my experiences with these companies and the LED strips.
-D
The light strips arrived today and they were very well-packaged in a plastic case made to hold them securely. I tested the strips and there are no dead LEDs what-so-ever. It took a month for them to be delivered from the day of my order. There were no duty, brokerage or other associated fees.
The problem is that they did not send me any heat-sinks which are supposed to be included with each LED strip as pictured on the product listing web page. I have sent an email to customer service and hopefully they will be more attentive than DealExtreme.
Speaking of which, I have still heard nothing back from DX since I replied to them early yesterday (@12 AM, so it's been about 38.5 hours).
I'll keep you guys posted on my experiences with these companies and the LED strips.
-D
DeltaNu1142
Member
I'm very interested to hear how this works out for you... photos of installation, and such, if possible! I have some really terrible track lighting in my kitchen. I'd love to use this type of lighting for primary kitchen illumination, but I'm not sure of the brightness.
Anyway, keep us posted.
Quixote_1
Active Member
I would just like to report my progress with DealExtreme. I had sent a couple of rather scathing emails because I felt that I was being ignored. I decided this afternoon that I would start the procedure with Paypal to attempt to get a partial refund. No sooner had I hit the submit button, I received an email stating that DealExtreme had granted me a full refund. I was very pleasantly surprised. Even though it will take some time to receive another order of lights, I am happy that they accepted responsibility for the faulty light strips and I will lose only time, but no money on this.
I have ordered 15 of the white light strips from them in the past with no problems, and I still use them today (some were left in a condo that I had installed them as under-cabinet lights, though, so I do not know how they are fairing).
All-in-all, I would say that I am happy with the resolution with DealExtreme.
Now I just have to see what will happen with Goodluckbuy.
I have ordered 15 of the white light strips from them in the past with no problems, and I still use them today (some were left in a condo that I had installed them as under-cabinet lights, though, so I do not know how they are fairing).
All-in-all, I would say that I am happy with the resolution with DealExtreme.
Now I just have to see what will happen with Goodluckbuy.
Quixote_1
Active Member
Ummm... sorry guys. False alarm. I received an email stating that my refund was successful, but upon contacting Paypal, there is no record of any refund. Nor is there any indication of a store credit on my account at DealExtreme.
This is really testing my patience.
I did get in touch with GoodLuckBuy customer service however. They say they will try to resolve my issue within 2 days. I guess then it will only be a question of waiting out the shipping period. Guess we'll see how that goes.
This is really testing my patience.
I did get in touch with GoodLuckBuy customer service however. They say they will try to resolve my issue within 2 days. I guess then it will only be a question of waiting out the shipping period. Guess we'll see how that goes.
