On Thursday, June 26, 2014 5:45:16 AM UTC-4, mike wrote:
On 6/25/2014 10:21 PM, Gary wrote:

Hi,



As mentioned in a previous post, we will replace some of the 85 halogen

bulbs (50W) in our house with LEDs. Despite all those bulbs the house is

seriously underlit. The standard 50W equivalent LEDs (4W) will not

likely cut it. We want to go to higher wattage or higher efficiency

bulbs. Electricity is very expensive here (Costa Rica) so the extra cost

of higher wattage or high efficiency bulbs will pay off. The bulbs will

need to survive the frequent power surges and the daily lightening storms.



I think you'd do well to install surge protectors.


Since lightning is a concern and he has all those LED
lights, I'd put a good whole house surge protector on
the panel.




I live in an electrically quiet neighborhood.

Had a bunch of CFL's fail over the years. As far as I can tell,

it's always the electronics that goes. Bulb is fine.

Same problem is gonna happen with LED.



That must be some huge house.

I light mine with three, count 'em three, 3W LED lights that run 24/7.

Turn on 13W where I am if I need to read something in small print.

Instead of adding more lights, how about just upping
the 50W equivalent ones? I've had recessed lights in several
homes over the years. I've always used bigger than 50W, typically
90W. And I have most of them, the ones in the most used areas,
on dimmers. So, while I may have 4 x 90W in a room, it's only
turned up as much as needed and can be changed.