Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 1/25/2014 4:34 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/25/14, 4:17 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:

I need to correct some info I previously posted about LED light bulbs
and specifically the ones made by Cree.

I installed what I *thought* were two, 60 watt (equiv.) LED bulbs made
by Cree in the loft recording studio I recently posted about. I was
wrong. They are not Cree bulbs. They are the 800 lumen (60 watt
equiv.) LED bulbs being sold exclusively by Walmart. I forgot I bought
them there.

I discovered this because I just bought two more at Home Depot that
*are* Cree's. There is a big difference. The Cree bulbs have a
sticky,
polymer coating on them unlike the Walmart version.

I also discovered that although the package says they can be dimmed
using any standard dimmer, the Cree bulbs are very noisy when dimmed.
The ones from Walmart are silent at all settings.

As far as light goes, the Cree version looks more like an incandescent
from a distance and has a "warm white" color (2700) The Walmart ones
are a brighter white but are also advertised to have the same 2700
color
temp.

The "warm white" Cree bulbs have dropped in price at Home Depot. They
were just under $8 for the warm white but still over $13 for the
"daylight" color temp.

Of the two, which ones do I like better? The Walmart versions, mainly
because the dim with no noise. The manufacturer is not identified on
the packaging, only that they are made in China. They have the same
lifetime ratings of over 22 years and the same power use of 9.5 watts
however the Walmart version is warrantied for only 3 years whereas the
Cree is warrantied for 10 years.



WalMart is selling Cree knockoffs? Made in a different part of China?
The Cree packaging implies they are made in North Carolina, but I
wouldn't bet on that.

I just checked the packaging for the Cree bulbs I just bought. In one
place it says, "Manufactured by Cree, Inc., Durham, NC". In another
place it says, "Assembled in USA".

So what does that mean? I think it means the that the individual
components are likely made off shore but final assembly is in the USA.

Some guitar manufacturers do this, I know. Martin, Fender, Guild (and
several other manufacturers) have some models where the necks,
bodies, fretboards, etc., are all made overseas and the parts are
shipped to the USA for final assembly. Martin made a less expensive
version of their D-28 many years ago called the "Shenandoah". Final
assembly took place in PA. They got in some trouble though with the
Department of Commerce because they were not disclosing the country of
origin and the Shenandoah line was dropped. Putting "assembled in
USA" apparently satisfies whatever disclosure statement is required
because many companies do it now.




Not unlike a car. They can be assembled in the US from parts sourced
all over the globe.