Cree CR6 LED Downlight

[mitch672]

ok then, glad I could save some of you some money...

I just installed the other (4) in the kitchen, which has the GE Zwave dimmer, works great, no pulsing, very smooth dimming also...  It will pass the "WAF" (Wife Acceptance Factor), for those of you with that issue

On another note, Radio Shack has again reduced the price of the GE Zwave modules, the plug in lamp and appliance are now $9.97 (was $14.97), the dimable 3 way and standard are $14.97 (was $19.97), the 2 GE controllers are also down to $9.97 as well (the simple one used to be $19.97, the LCD version that can control Zwave thermostats used to be $21.97), both are now $9.97

Also, the outdoor appliance module is also down to $9.97 (again, was $14.97)

looks like they are trying to clear it all out...

http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3249672&allCount=22&fbc=1&f=Brand%2F1000204%2F&fbn=Brand%2FGE+&filterName=Brand&filterValue=GE+

Mitch

[JimMac]

I have been looking at this 9w LED GU10 to replace my 50W halogen.
http://www.ledlightscanada.com/index.php/LED-Replacement-Bulbs/GU10-9W-Dimmable-LED/yagendoo_VaMazing_2.tpl.html
I'm not sure if the bulb has any heat issues but it does have a 2 year warranty.

[markiper]

Thanks JimMac,

Funny you mention this, I just went to a Chili's restaurant last night, and I saw the exact same form factor but no branding other than a sticker from CREE.  The bulbs were a little hot, but nothing compared to the heat than a 50W halogen will generate (I was able to take the bulb out of the socket with my bare hands, and I am pretty sure it must have been on for most of the day ..  I had to do this to see who the manufacturer was, but nothing other than a CREE sticker on the bulb itself.)

Expensive, but very good alternative; especially in terms of power savings.  If I order any of them, I will post some sort of a quick review (I wish they were just a little less expensive, so I can just order some of them without feeling guilty).

[markiper]

Here is another online retailer (also in Canada) that has 9W GU10 dimmable LED replacements for the 50W halogen bulbs.

http://www.ecolumenation.com/products/9-Watt-Dimmable-GU10-CREE-LED-Light-Bulb.html

If any of the forums readers lives in Canada and could check them out and report on their products, it will be fantastic.  I think LED is still an evolving technology (1 - 2 years before it really catches up to consumer market); but the energy savings can be significant compared to halogen or incandescent.

[myk]

I just bought 10 of these in NH - pricematched to the Mass price of 19.97 and there is a NHsaves.com $10 mail in rebate on each one as it is a complete lighting fixture - end price $9.97 each, no tax!

I just replaced a bunch of my recessed lighting with them, they are AWESOME! Brighter than the 65W BR30's that were in the cans already, and the same warm incandescent light!

I only wish I had more recessed lights to get more of these

[JimMac]

markiper

I talked to the supplier and they have a good guarantee.  They mentioned that they only ship within Canada.  I was able to get a better price so I order 2.  They are shipping me two lens kits so I can change from the 30 degree to a 45 depending on how high my ceiling is.  Apparently they dim down to 5%.  I should have them by mid week so I will try them out next weekend.

[tbever]

I just bought 10 of these in NH - pricematched to the Mass price of 19.97 and there is a NHsaves.com $10 mail in rebate on each one as it is a complete lighting fixture - end price $9.97 each, no tax!

I just replaced a bunch of my recessed lighting with them, they are AWESOME! Brighter than the 65W BR30's that were in the cans already, and the same warm incandescent light!

I only wish I had more recessed lights to get more of these

I just bought one of these at HD and installed it.  It took a total of about 5 minutes and I agree it looks great!  Unfortunately there are no sales here in TX at this time, so I paid the 49.99.  Who did you ask in the store regarding a price match?  The stores are so big it is hard to find anyone to help you, and when I did ask about a price match it was like I was from the former planet pluto!  I want to get at least 6 more of these for the kitchen but if I can get them for 19.99 I would get an additional 10.

[mitch672]

I just bought 10 of these in NH - pricematched to the Mass price of 19.97 and there is a NHsaves.com $10 mail in rebate on each one as it is a complete lighting fixture - end price $9.97 each, no tax!

I just replaced a bunch of my recessed lighting with them, they are AWESOME! Brighter than the 65W BR30's that were in the cans already, and the same warm incandescent light!

I only wish I had more recessed lights to get more of these

I just bought one of these at HD and installed it.  It took a total of about 5 minutes and I agree it looks great!  Unfortunately there are no sales here in TX at this time, so I paid the 49.99.  Who did you ask in the store regarding a price match?  The stores are so big it is hard to find anyone to help you, and when I did ask about a price match it was like I was from the former planet pluto!  I want to get at least 6 more of these for the kitchen but if I can get them for 19.99 I would get an additional 10.

Goto the customer service desk, tell them that at ALL of the Home Depot stores in "MA" (Massachusetts), they are on sale for $19.97, and Home Depots in "NH"  (New Hampshire) have price matched this price.

As an aleternate, I might be willing to pick some up and ship them to you, but then there will MA Sales tax (%6.25), and shipping to add in...

[FIST]

Just installed my first CR6. Super easy < 5min install.

I am very impressed by the amount of light this puts out. I realize it's a concentrated light, but looking straight up at it, it seems just as bright as the 100W it replaced. The "ambient" light isn't as much, but with 6 of these things I'm not going to be worried about the total light of the room.

The single one I installed isn't (yet) on a dimmer, so I cannot comment about the dimming functionality.

The boss isn't home yet, but I have no doubts that it will have 100% WAF.

Dudes that are buying the EcoSmart E26 from HomeDepot:
I noticed HDs website says they're good for 35k hrs.

The Cree CR6 website as well as the polar-ray.com website list the CR6 for 50k hours. I read on HDs website from a user comment that the construction quality isn't as good as the Cree CR6.

I can't say that the double-in-cost is worth the extra 15k hours, but I would like to know if the CR6 and the E26 are, in fact, the same product or different.

[mitch672]

Does it matter?  35,000 hours is 4 years of continuous on, @ 12 hour/day, it's 8 years, and at 8 hours/day, it's 12 years.  I think in 12 years, I would let someone else worry about the bulb life issue

[FIST]

I agree, but another thing a user on HDs website says that the build quality was less...

I do agree, though, the amount of time this thing is going to last is crazy long. It's not worth double the price for such small issues.

[mizzouguy77]

Thanks for the tip on this deal.  I purchased 8 of these from my local HD via price match and installed them last night.  The color temperature is great and they work perfectly with my dimmers.  Installation was very simple, only 3-5 minutes per can.  I ran our usage stats through an online calculator and learned that these will pay for themselves within 8 months.  We'll be saving $8-$16 per month on our electric bill depending on our average usage.

[CMRancho]

Yes, these can pay for themselves if you leave lights on at 100% for long periods every day. I use motion sensors, timers, and dimmers so I don't do that, so in my home these will take at least 4 years to pay for themselves, and that's at the fabulous price of $19.99.

Also, FWIW I have never had an LED bulb that lasted the rated number of hours. I wouldn't plan on getting anything close to 35,000 hours. My experience has been in the 5-10k range, and some have been below 5k hours.

[aa6vh]

Just a word of caution to whomever decides to try these lights - don't make the same mistake I did!

The Cree CR6 light (and also the Home Depot version) comes in two varieties of bases: The common "Edison" screw base, and the GU24 flat twist on type base. Naturally I picked up the wrong type.

I suspect that if the can (light fixture) originally held incandescent lights, you probably will have the Edison base. If the the can originally held fluorescents, then you may have the GU24 base. Be sure to check to see which kind you have before you purchase.

Other than that, I echo what others have said: These seem to be great lights.

[jgc94131]

Just got five of these at my local home depot in California.
They honored the in-store price from MA.
They were not on display, but in storage on the top shelf
in the bulb section.  The store staff was helpful once I gave
them the SKU.  I called the Brockton store and re-confirmed
that these are still on sale as of today.

SKU # 499485
Regularly $49.97 ea.
Brockton, MA store #2611 has them on in-store special @ $19.97