On Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at 6:02:14 AM UTC-7, raykeller wrote:

Everywhere in the world is converting to LED bulbs. LED bulbs are longer
lasting and more fuel efficient. However, the US light bulb
manufacturers have strong aversion to LED bulbs. They probably conspire
to deliberately make or import lousy LED bulbs to buck the trend.

No, it's worse than that. Everyone wants LEDs, so they're being churned
out to fit into existing fixtures that are completely inappropriate for LED technology.

Incandescent bulbs tolerate elevated temperatures, and radiate in 4pi steradians.
They work on high voltage AC.
LEDs last long at low temperatures, and radiate in 2pi steradians. They work
on low voltage DC. But, the 'LED' items in the store are intended to screw into
incandescent bulb sockets.

So, (1) heat dissipation is poor (you can't get 3k lumen LED lighting into this form factor)
(2) every AC-powered lamp must convert the voltage down OR must put so many LEDs in series
that reliabilty suffers, (3) there is a host of incompatibiiities with dimmers, lighted
switches, and RF interference being problems. For some (actually very good)
LED lamps, a few years' use will lower the efficiency BUT you can't replace the
dim LED; you have to buy an entire new fixture.

Probably in a decade we'll see ballast-plus-lamp systems that let you use a DC converter
(like a ballast) with replaceable lamps, that get good illumination coverage in
area lighting, task lighting, spot lighting, etc. The 'compatible' screw-in LED
items won't be the best LED lighting available.