Lighting Science Group - Definity LED PAR30/95 3000K and Leviton VRI06 Dimmers

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

In @TimAll’s other thread on LED lighting, Dummy loads (etc):
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,9262.0.html

he suggested we each report back on our experiences with LED Lighting, and the various Z-Wave dimmers, so we can get some collective knowledge about how well each combination works.

I recently bought a batch of 8x used Lighting Science Definity LED PAR30 bulbs (15w ea, 3000K, model DFN 30 WW FL 120). See here for the specs:

http://www.lsgc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LSG_054_DFN2_Brochure.pdf

I plan to use these to replace a set of 5x 65w BR30 bulbs in a main entrance area, and have a few spares just in case. I believe the Lighting Science Group is the manufacturer of some of Home Depot’s EcoSmart line of bulbs.

For my initial test, I replaced 1x bulb to see how different the color temp was, and how it would generally react to being dimmed. The initial test left the other 4x bulbs in place.

Initial comments:

[ul][li]a) This thing is crazy-bright compared to the original bulbs[/li]
[li]b) The color is very white, esp at full intensity, when compared to the existing bulbs[/li]
[li]c) The ramp-up from the Leviton VRI06 Dimmer comes up lumpy/stepped on the LED Bulb[/li]
[li]d) At the lowest dimmer setting, the traditional bulbs glow a soft yellow, like a candle. The LED bulb won’t dim that low, it’s like leaving on a regular light at 30W or so, so still quite bright.[/li]
[li]e) Each bulb is physically quite heavy, due to the large heatsink…[/li]
[li]f) There was no flicker at any of the dimming levels[/li][/ul]

I’m planning to replace the others this weekend, and will give final results when they’ve all been put in… assuming I can find a ladder tall enough :wink:

2

@guessed.

I recently put 6 of them in my Kitchen with the Cooper 9534-N and 9542-Z switch. Your right they are definitely bright, intact my wife hated them cause they were so bright. They gave her a headache. I switched them out for the LSG 2700K 10W Cree based bulbs. I must tell you they are wonderful. These bulbs are the screw in type that have 3 tabs that fold out to keep them in the housing. Best part I paid 34 bucks a bulb!!!

3

Yeah, I’ll run the experiment this weekend and see how it goes. By buying the used ones, they were only $12.50 (shipped) each so I’m not too worried. Worse case I can use them for the external (under-eaves) flood lighting.

I’m 1/2 expecting to get a suntan from them 8)

4

Ok, lights installed. They definitely need a regular load on the circuit, or they’ll flicker incessantly, at all dim levels.

In my case, I had 4x Lights “up high”, and one below an overhang on the ground floor of the stairwell so it was fairly easy for me to just leave in an Incandescent BR30 to act as that load… at least without it looking too odd.

I’ll leave them in for a while and see how well (or not) they’re accepted…