We have heard lots of questions and comments about LED bulbs over the years and some of them are very humorous only because they show you how misleading statements can spread and cause confusion within the marketplace.
The most common statement or question that we hear is “I thought LED bulbs lasted forever” or “Don’t LED bulbs last forever?”.
LED bulbs do not last forever. Very few things last forever, especially a manmade object. Compared to other lighting types, such as metal halide, high-pressure sodium, or halogen bulbs, LED bulbs will last two to three times longer as these other types of bulbs and sometimes longer depending on location and usage levels. For example, LED bulbs installed inside of a residence or commercial building will last for very long periods of time for several reasons, but one of the primary reasons is because they are in a protected environment. LED bulbs used in landscape lighting environments are susceptible to the weather elements in some situations. The higher quality LED bulbs are engineered in a way to dissipate the heat and to repel water and some landscape lighting fixtures are engineered for LED bulbs, which help with the longevity of the LED bulbs. Not all LED bulbs or landscape lighting fixtures are equal.
“All LED bulbs are white, and I prefer the traditional halogen look”.
LED bulbs come in a variety of colors as depicted on a Kelvin scale. The spectrum of color temperatures is assigned numerical values, measured in degrees of Kelvin. These values are used to describe the color emitted from fixtures when working with lighting. The scale ranges from 2000K to 6500K.
The color ranges are as follows:
2000K-3000K: Gives off a warm white/yellow glow (candlelight hues)
3100K-4500K: Gives off a bright, cool white glow
4600K-6500K: Gives off a crisp daylight glow (white/bluish hues)
“LED bulbs are so much brighter”.
I believe that in some people’s perspective, this might seem true. LED bulbs are like other types of lighting bulbs in the aspect that they offer different wattages and brightness levels. The best way to compare LED bulbs to halogen bulbs is to contrast the LED that is equivalent to the halogen bulb in question. For example, if you are trying to find a LED replacement for a 20-watt halogen bulb, then look for a 3- or 4-watt LED bulb. This will be a very equal comparison and if you utilize a color around 2700K, it will be very hard to tell the bulbs apart. They should be very equal in brightness and color.
Exo Design utilizes LED bulbs in the color ranges of 2700K, 3000K, and 3900K.