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BULB DISCUSSION BOARDS => Christmas Lighting => Topic started by: Yulelights76 on September 16, 2013, 04:17:21 pm

Title: Retrofit LED bulbs for C7 and C9 sets?
Post by: Yulelights76 on September 16, 2013, 04:17:21 pm

Has anyone tried the retrofit LED bulbs for the old C7 and C9 light strings yet?
These are bulbs that look like the traditional cone shaped incandescent bulbs but with modern LED technology.
Here is an example of one type with satin finish : http://www.christmastopia.com/LED+Christmas+Lights/C7+Sized+Replacement+Bulbs/C-7+LED+Multi+Satin+Retrofit+Replacement+Bulb+-+Set+Of+25.html (http://www.christmastopia.com/LED+Christmas+Lights/C7+Sized+Replacement+Bulbs/C-7+LED+Multi+Satin+Retrofit+Replacement+Bulb+-+Set+Of+25.html)

My first question is: how bright are they compared to incandescent? I like my Christmas lights to be nice and bright!
Actually they have to be the house is next to a streetlight. How do they look when lit? Can these new bulbs duplicate the soft glow of a ceramic finish? I didn't care much for the faceted look.
The C7 and C9 equivalent sets I have seen at Wal-Mart couldn't hold a candle to traditional bulbs.

Another question is how well the new bulbs stand up to weathering. A big problem with incandescent bulbs is the paint finish flakes off when exposed to icing. This was not a problem years ago when the color coating was fused to the glass, but now all bulbs are painted.
The LED bulbs don't have that problem but they may fall victim to corrosion since they are designed to last for 10 years or more.
If no one else has tried retrofit bulbs I may buy a set to try them out.

Title: Re: Retrofit LED bulbs for C7 and C9 sets?
Post by: jonathan cassiday on September 17, 2013, 10:30:40 pm

I have tried the diamond cut type retrofits, and the light is good for most colors, yellow was a little weak compared to red, blue green and violet. the diamond cut versions almost have a piercing light, and for that reason it is hard to integrate them in displays. These are previous generations so they may have been able to get yellow to equal the brightness of the rest. I would really like to see the ceramic versions of these in person as I prefer the ceramic or opaque look to the translucent in larger bulbs.