Techman Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 CREE recently released an updated line of their A19 LED bulbs in 40 and 60 watt equivalent . The new bulbs eliminate the heat sink and have slightly higher lumens. They also now have a Zigbee compatible A19 bulb. The new bulbs were priced about $8 at Home Depot which is about $2 less than the previous version. They work flawless with the ISY and Insteon products www.creebulb.com A19P Series 4Flow LED Lamp Spec Sheet.pdf
Xathros Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 CREE recently released an updated line of their A19 LED bulbs in 40 and 60 watt equivalent . The new bulbs eliminate the heat sink and have slightly higher lumens. They also now have a Zigbee compatible A19 bulb. The new bulbs were priced about $8 at Home Depot which is about $2 less than the previous version. They work flawless with the ISY and Insteon products www.creebulb.com I wonder if the Zigbee ones work with Hue. -Xathros
paulbates Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 Thanks for the write-up, testing and confirmation Techman. The 40 watt version only pulls 6 watts!
Techman Posted March 7, 2015 Author Posted March 7, 2015 I wonder if the Zigbee ones work with Hue. -Xathros Here's the compatibility specs. Not sure about HUE
Techman Posted March 7, 2015 Author Posted March 7, 2015 Thanks for the write-up, testing and confirmation Techman. The 40 watt version only pulls 6 watts! I use the higher wattage versions and dim them, that way I always have more light if I need it. They also have 75 and 100 watt equivalent bubs. I have them all and have never had an issue
danbutter Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 They can work with hue... https://gigaom.com/2015/01/28/how-to-add-15-cree-lights-to-your-pricey-philips-hue-system/ The GE link bulbs from home depot also work and I've heard the osram lighify bulbs do too. zatznotfunny.com/2015-01/philips-hue-and-zigbee/
paulbates Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 I use the higher wattage versions and dim them, that way I always have more light if I need it. They also have 75 and 100 watt equivalent bubs. I have them all and have never had an issue I've had good luck with Crees as well. I use them inside in lamps and have the warmer color model. I have 4 original ecosmart 40 watt equivalents from HD outside for premise lighting, and they've work well too.
Teken Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 So for those of us who don't have one of these Cree (Zigbee) enabled bulbs. What controller is this thing using to control the lights?? The ISY does not support Zigbee HA or other standards only the Energy protocol. Please tell me I won't have to rely on a Wink, Smarthings, or that stupid dumb box from Staples!
Xathros Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 They can work with hue... https://gigaom.com/2015/01/28/how-to-add-15-cree-lights-to-your-pricey-philips-hue-system/ The GE link bulbs from home depot also work and I've heard the osram lighify bulbs do too. zatznotfunny.com/2015-01/philips-hue-and-zigbee/ Sweet!! I'll need to look for some of these at the Depot. -Xathros Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
paulbates Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 So for those of us who don't have one of these Cree (Zigbee) enabled bulbs. What controller is this thing using to control the lights?? The ISY does not support Zigbee HA or other standards only the Energy protocol. Please tell me I won't have to rely on a Wink, Smarthings, or that stupid dumb box from Staples! I think you use a hue bridge, plugging it into your lan, talk to it from the network module
danbutter Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 So for those of us who don't have one of these Cree (Zigbee) enabled bulbs. What controller is this thing using to control the lights?? The ISY does not support Zigbee HA or other standards only the Energy protocol. Please tell me I won't have to rely on a Wink, Smarthings, or that stupid dumb box from Staples! The Philips hue hub is what I was talking about.
Techman Posted March 8, 2015 Author Posted March 8, 2015 So for those of us who don't have one of these Cree (Zigbee) enabled bulbs. What controller is this thing using to control the lights?? The ISY does not support Zigbee HA or other standards only the Energy protocol. Please tell me I won't have to rely on a Wink, Smarthings, or that stupid dumb box from Staples! The non Zigbee CREE bulb works with all the Insteon switches and dimmers, they're available in 40,60,75, and 100 watt equivalent. The newer CREE bulbs are a bit smaller, a bit brighter and more closely mimic the standard incandescent bulbs. The CREE Zigbee is about $15, the others start at $8 for the 40 and 60 watt models.
larryllix Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 I have used several of the Cree bulbs for months now and I find them beginning to flicker with dimming after months of usage. They didn't do this at first but are becoming more annoying as time goes on. It would seem the power supply capacitors do not age well. I read this months back but at the time the bulbs were newer and did no exhibit this behaviour. I use them in my BR at about 18% and 80% in an attempt to avoid severe flicker at the 50-60% I really wanted on a LampLinc Dimmer. I don't find Cree any better than other cheaper brands. YMMV.
danbutter Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 I don't find Cree any better than other cheaper brands. YMMV.Have you tried the GE link bulbs?I wish they could dim a little bit more, but they don't flicker at all. I've only used them with the almond plus so far. I hope to find time to get them on the hue hub tomorrow.
larryllix Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Have you tried the GE link bulbs? I wish they could dim a little bit more, but they don't flicker at all. I've only used them with the almond plus so far. I hope to find time to get them on the hue hub tomorrow. No I have not tried the GE Link bulbs. I assume they require another hub to use them. I have added a Phillips Hue hub and am trying to avoid more intermediate paraphernalia to my system. The Philips Hub was one more than I wanted already. Having said that, I found the Hue bulbs so disappointing and ridiculously expensive that I now own some MiLight bulbs, mostly for the LED strips. The colours are quite good, much better than the Hue bulbs. They can produce real blue and green colours. They are less brightness and use a MiLight bridge, which I didn't want to expand further to, but wanted the LED strips and necessary hardware. I am finding these bulbs randomly get lost and have to be relinked. At least one out of four each day. Very poor and insecure interface. So far all the colour lighting equipment seems to have one problem or another. To make a long story short I am trying to avoid smart bulbs and foreign protocol hubs except in colour where this has seemed necessary so far. None of the Hue or the MiLight 8W bulbs flicker whatsoever at any brightness so far.
larryllix Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 They can work with hue... https://gigaom.com/2015/01/28/how-to-add-15-cree-lights-to-your-pricey-philips-hue-system/ The GE link bulbs from home depot also work and I've heard the osram lighify bulbs do too. zatznotfunny.com/2015-01/philips-hue-and-zigbee/ I am not too sure I would take the writer's statement as fact. He reported they were coloured bulbs and had to backpeddle to correct it. That's a fairly large error to report. Obviously just another editorialist trying to make a name for him/herself reviewing an item he has never seen.
JWBDolphins Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 I have 15-20 or so Cree bulbs (from Home Depot) and I've noticed a couple of them are starting to flicker too. I've been burned by some of the early LED bulb$ so I kept all my receipts for the Crees in case I needed to call in Cree's 10 year guarantee. I had one bulb that started flickering and then would just go out after a couple minutes - but they exchanged it no problem and the replacement has been fine. But now I have 2 more that are starting to flicker, one bad enough I'll be exchanging it too. Hopefully this is just a temporary rough patch because overall I really do like them.
danbutter Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Well I can confirm the GE link bulbs work with the hue hub/bridge. I removed them from my almond+ and added them to the hue using these directions: ---------------------------------------------- :: Connect GE-link to philips hue bridge :: Turn Off power to GE-Link bulb In the App Philips Hue go to Settings >> My lights Click "Connect new light" Turn on power to GE-Link bulb it should be connect now If that doesn't work you need to reset GE-Link bulb :: How to reset GE-link bulb :: Turn off the light and wait 3 seconds. Turn on the light and wait 3 seconds. Repeat turning the light off and on (around 5 times) until the bulb flashes once. As soon as it flashes once, it is reset. _------------------------------------------------------------------- I did notice that they don't really flash though... They dim down and then come on again.
larryllix Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Another caveat that should be mentioned is that most smart bulbs (so far) exhibit the X10 problems. Since users do not want to get out a mobile phone, initiate an app and make a few key presses in the dark, just to turn on a light, they have installed the "flick the light switch off and back off" control to bypass the high tech methods. You guessed it ! After every power blink or failure you come home to all your lights on permanently. (ISY to the rescue?)
Teken Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 I too am like Larry I have an aversion in adding more crap to my home which in the big picture does not (currently) offer very much real world features given their huge initial cost, lack of color rendering, and so so interaction. I've purposely sat on the side lines watching from afar because this whole lighting along with LED bulbs really are still in their infancy which relates to their long term use which some of you have already mentioned here. I have been extremely lucky & fortunate the definity LED bulbs I have installed more than two years now have been rock solid and have integrated with my HA seamlessly on every level. Right now am waiting to purchase a few more higher output bulbs for areas that need more light output like my front foyer. Ideals are peaceful - History is violent
bipto Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 I picked up a couple of these this past week to test compatibility with my HA, dimming range, flicker, etc., and they seem every bit as viable as the 20+ Crees I'm currently using. Curious whether this new "budget" offering is intended to replace the glass design... It's also worth noting that the new plastics only carry a 3 year warranty vs. 10 on the glass...
Dale T Posted May 30, 2015 Posted May 30, 2015 At the moment I control the few lights that I do control using my X10 outlets and a couple Insteon modules. With the low cost Cree and GE wireless bulbs (and available at my local Home Depot), do you folks think it would be better to go the Cree/GE wireless bulb route vs. buying the more expensive (twice the price) Insteon bulbs? Home Depot has the GE/Link starter kit on sale for $25.00. From what I have read, I would need to purchase the ISY Network module as well as another compatible hub to control these bulbs. Amazon has the Hue (white bulb) starter kit available for $80.00 with two bulbs. $ 80.00 - Hue white bulb starter kit $ 25.00 - GE Starter kit $ 50.00 - ISY Network module ---------- $155.00 to get started which would give me 4 connected bulbs. With additional bulbs for $15.00 each (or two additional GE bulbs for $25.00 with buying a second starter kit). Network module I assume would offer additional functionality other than just the ability to add these bulbs. That same money would get me 5 Insteon bulbs. Additional bulbs are $30.00 each (unless on sale). Using Insteon bulbs would allow me to write scenes that store directly in the devices for possibly faster operation (from reading other posts on programs vs. scenes). I would use these light bulbs for closet lights, maybe bedside table lights, kitchen lights, etc. Most likely by use of time based programs and motion sensors. Thank you in advance for any recommendations / insights. Dale
Techman Posted May 30, 2015 Author Posted May 30, 2015 I don't think any of the X10 modules will support LED bulbs. The best bang for your buck are the CREE bulbs. They're one of the few LED bulbs that dim well with Insteon, don't flicker and don't buzz when dimmed. The only advantage of the Insteon LED bulbs is that the have a built in Insteon address so they don't require an additional device to control them. You just screw them into an always on socket. You don't need the Network module to control any of the above bulbs. I've never tried the HUE bulbs so I can't give you any guidance on them.
apostolakisl Posted May 30, 2015 Posted May 30, 2015 I wouldn't do that myself. You are looking at a lot of futsing around to get that to work and it is probably not going to work anywhere near as smooth as Insteon at least when using ISY and other Insteon stuff. Personally, I would get regular Cree light bulbs ($10/ea) and use Insteon lamplinc modules. Network module is a nice thing to have though. The GE bulb looks like it uses Zigbee. So perhaps the ISY with the zigbee radio would work directly with them. Not sure. The Hue bulbs don't say anything about a protocol. So perhaps the network module could be used to integrate depending on the details. But using the network module means using programs to control the bulb rather than scenes. This always has a lag.
Dale T Posted May 30, 2015 Posted May 30, 2015 I don't think any of the X10 modules will support LED bulbs. The best bang for your buck are the CREE bulbs. They're one of the few LED bulbs that dim well with Insteon, don't flicker and don't buzz when dimmed. The only advantage of the Insteon LED bulbs is that the have a built in Insteon address so they don't require an additional device to control them. You just screw them into an always on socket. You don't need the Network module to control any of the above bulbs. I've never tried the HUE bulbs so I can't give you any guidance on them. Hello Techman, Thank you for the feedback. I just don't like the $50.00 each price tag of the LampLinc modules. Since I do have some X10 lamp modules, I'll give them a try to see if they will dim the LED bulbs I already have. I wasn't thinking about using the X10 modules for this. Dale
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