@therealjrn if they were Apple HomeKit compatible, we could say they were a bright iDeal; alas…

@yakkoTDI It will be lit!!

/showme chatty translucent governor

@yakkoTDI Here’s the image you requested for “chatty translucent governor”

@mediocrebot @yakkoTDI Very good politician, but it looks more like the mayor from Jaws than a governor.

@cengland0 Also, there are drop-down specifications up there on this page. Most list lumens.

@cengland0-I asked Googled ‘How many lumens is an 8.5W, 5000k bulb’ & Google said they’re 800 Lumens

@1DisabledWarVet @cengland0

@therealjrn I didn’t notice those triangles were dropdown specs. There were no indications that you could click on them such as being in blue or any other hint they were links. I thought meh was using the triangle as a fancy bullet point shape. But thanks for pointing that out to me so I’ll know for the future if I see specs listed like that again.

@cengland0 Your welcome. I had seen similar triangles on the Woot! boards which turned out to be drop downs. I don’t think meh and Woot! are using the same software so maybe we’re just supposed to know.
The person that set this light bulb sale up had oodles of tedious work to put all that information in eh? That wasn’t very mediocre of them!

@therealjrn Sorry, this deal contains 16 unique items and I’m not sure which one you want. You can review how to pick one, or just try ordering from the checkout page.

@mediocrebot pfft. Be that way.

@therealjrn I applaud you for trying to use the forum command on a listing this complex. Shame on @mediocrebot… so mediocre.

@An_Onion CRI90 is visible in one of the pics

@spacemart Thanks for pointing that out. I also see that there are a few that say 80, so I’d guess the rest are low-CRI. I’ve been hunting for some nice 2700k CRI90+ bulbs for a while. I’ve bought Bulbrite, but they be pricy.

@An_Onion at 2700k, all you’re going to get out of these bulbs is yellow light anyway so CRI isn’t that important.

Yellow light is basically red and green without much blue. #FFFF00

I’d love to challenge people to see if they can tell a difference between a CRI 80 vs 90 on a 2700k bulb. My bet is they couldn’t tell the difference. On a “daylight” or 5000k+ bulb, my bet is off.

@cengland0 I can definitely tell the difference between low-CRI and the ones I get from Bulbrite. It’s not as much as 5000K, but it’s definitely there.

@An_Onion Instead of CRI, I have different concerns when buying bulbs.

1. Are they omnidirectional or do all the leds point forward and then use the diffuser to light the room unevenly.

2. When dimming are they flicker free.

3. Do they get hot when on because some of my bulbs go into sealed enclosures and many bulbs state specifically not to do that.

4. Are they ceiling fan rated so they can handle the vibrations without premature failure.

5. Cost

6. Color temperature (I prefer 5000K - 6000K)

7. Lumens. I prefer high lumens and then can dim them if too high. All my overhead lights can be dimmed. Hard to find 1100 Lumens in candelabra sockets. I have one ceiling fan that takes them. I’m considering on replacing the entire fan just to use different E27 sockets so I can increase the brightness in that room. Project for a different day.

CRI is low on my list of concerns when buying bulbs. If I had a studio and did video or still photography, I might be more concerned but that’s not me (not anymore).

On a ceiling fan you can usually just swap out the light kit. Replacement light kits are surprisingly modular. No need to change the entire fan.

@therealjrn Here’s the image you requested for “bitter-tilted-hound”

@mediocrebot Aw, someone needs a snack!

@txag96 Here’s the image you requested for “fuzzy-wrinkled-beast”

@hubbird asks: “Do the Google smart bulbs need a hub or gateway or can they connect directly to a wireless router?”

GPT-4o mini answered:
Energetic Lighting smart bulbs typically do require a hub or gateway to function. These bulbs often rely on a Zigbee or Z-Wave protocol, which necessitates a compatible hub to manage communication between the bulbs and your home network.

@hubbird @therealjrn Maybe this company also makes Zigbee bulbs, but these boxes show Bluetooth logo ONLY (no Zigbee, ZWave, WiFi, Matter, etc)

@hubbird I hope you’re right as Dan’s jerk hand, @gleemer!

@Aetherwizard Here’s the image you requested for “uninviting-gritty-saturn”

@ironcheftoni if you have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, they sell used lightbulbs for like a quarter. I guess builders pull old light fixtures --which you can also buy there–and habitat also sells the bulbs!
Also, our friends at AMZN sell many much incandescent bulbs. Of course their seach sucks and will be littered with LED bulbs, but they are there!

@ironcheftoni
Appliance light bulbs are still sold at big box stores. They’re incandescent. They’re allowed because they’re “specialty bulbs.” Also, ceiling fan bulbs can be found. They usually are not high wattage, but if 40w will do, they’re on a store shelf near you.

@ironcheftoni During a bathroom remodel, my spouse talked me into springing for some fancy steam generator so she can pretend that the shower is a rainforest or something.

The only suitable installation location for the “steam generator” was the unheated attic so the first time that our winter temps got too cold, water in some valve in the device froze and broke (and I only knew about it because my wife told me no steam and I went to the attic and found a gallon of water on the decking on which the device sits).

I knew I had to come up with a way to keep this thing above freezing in the winter (and I didn’t want to follow our contractor’s idea of building a tiny heated room in the attic for it), so I bought a couple of these “Simple Deluxe Clamp Lamp Light with 5.5 Inch Aluminum Reflector” and “LUCKY HERP 75W Ceramic Heat Emitter, Reptile Heat Bulbs, Ceramic Heat Lamp for Reptiles, Amphibian, Chicken, Dog, Cat (2-Pack)” (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096TTB7B3) and had our electrician install a smart switch in the attic that controls an outlet into which I plugged in the above stuff.

Those “bulbs” point at each side of the stainless-steel cabinet and cook it to the point where some of the heat seeps into the innards and – so far – keeps its temps above freezing. (I fiddled with several different wattages before I found ones that – thanks to a little smart thermometer I put inside that cabinet – seemed to be hot enough, but not too hot.)

All of which is to say that maybe a lower-wattage version of these ceramic heat emitter things might help keep your pool equipment from freezing in the winter?

@therealjrn good to know, there is a habitat for humanity store not far from me.

@andymand what a pool maintenance guy reccomended was get a tarp and a couple of shop lights. I’m able to anchor the lights on the pipes, throw the tarp over the whole thing making sure it doesn’t touch the lights. Previous owners had a cute lattice fence around the equipment which I took down but the posts are still there so they come in handy for this. The big freeze of 2021, all my friends that had pools lost their equipment and had busted pipes because the freeze guard alone couldn’t handle the multiple day sub freezing temps we had.

You must have a huge bathroom to need a steam generator. I just shut the door on my tiny little bathroom.

@ironcheftoni Oh, tarp and lights is a great idea, thanks for sharing that!

It’s really a steam shower; it doesn’t steam the whole bathroom.

@psantora There’s a drop down menu above in the specs. But here’s some screen grabs.

@cfg83 Here’s the image you requested for “confused human in room full of light bulbs of differing shapes, sizes, colors, and intensities.”

@cfg83 Yeah, I finally settled on some, but it’s super confusing!

@cfg83 @Kyeh It’s a pretty good deal, assuming these bulbs last. I went light bulb long the last time Lowes had a deal so all I need is the dusk to dawn bulbs for some outside lights that are always on because reasons.

@cfg83 @Kyeh

but it’s super confusing!

@Pavlov Here’s the image you requested for “undulating-busy-mustard”

@dave It looks like some astronauts are stranded in space and are trying to cobble together some sort of apparatus. Hm…nothing comes to mind right away…

@dave me thinks “Sunshine” (apropos of today’s offering) – looks like that is Cillian Murphy with his right hand on the Sun igniter thingy…

@user43246789 According to the 1000Bulbs lighting blog, LED bulbs are very sensitive to heat and enclosed fixtures can drastically shorten their life. The blog notes that bulbs rated for enclosed fixtures will have that information printed on the packaging or spec sheet; if the value for “Enclosed Fixture Rated” is “no,” they shouldn’t be used in enclosed fixtures. Some Energetic A19 bulbs sold at big box stores are not enclosed‑fixture rated, so unless the packaging or data sheet clearly says they are, it’s safest to use them only in open fixtures. (GarbageAI knows its flaws, but this info is straight from a trusted source.)

Say, @GarbageAI, do you and @mediocrebot ever just hang out after work?

@AlexNoVA Alex No Go? Why Alex No Go? Do you need a push?

@yakkoTDI yes please

@AlexNoVA @yakkoTDI nudge

@AlexNoVA @werehatrack @yakkoTDI
/showme AAAAaaaaaahhh!

@therealjrn Here’s the image you requested for “AAAAaaaaaahhh!”

@indiebass Here’s the image you requested for “manifold-rolly-ghost”

@jeffreywsnyder asked: “Would a dimmable light rectify the issue?”

Answer: No because 3-ways interact with their socket differently than a regular bulb.

GPT-4o mini
How 3-Way Bulbs Work
3-way bulbs are designed to provide three different levels of brightness, allowing users to adjust the light output according to their needs. They are commonly used in lamps that have a 3-way socket, enabling more versatility in lighting options.

The Mechanism
Bulb Structure: A typical 3-way bulb contains two filaments (in incandescent versions) or multiple LEDs (in LED versions). Each filament or LED can be turned on separately or together, providing different brightness levels.
Socket Interaction: The bulb works with a 3-way socket that has three contact points. These points correspond to different settings: low, medium, and high brightness. The switch on the lamp cycles through these settings.
Electrical Functionality:
Low Setting: Only the first filament/LED is activated, resulting in the lowest brightness.
Medium Setting: The second filament/LED is activated, producing a medium brightness.
High Setting: Both filaments/LEDs are activated, offering the maximum brightness.
Control: The user typically controls the brightness through a rotary or push switch. Each time the switch is activated, it changes the setting, allowing for easy adjustments.
Benefits of 3-Way Bulbs
Versatility: Ideal for creating ambiance in a room by adjusting light intensity based on activities (reading, relaxing, etc.).
Energy Efficiency: In LED versions, 3-way bulbs consume less energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs while providing versatile lighting.
3-way bulbs are a convenient solution for adjusting the ambiance and functionality of a space while offering energy efficiency and flexibility in lighting options.

*AI may display inaccurate or offensive information

@therealjrn
That explaination begs the question:

If the lowest setting turns on some LEDs, what happens?

Nothing since the bulb is constructed as a one-way?

Same question for other settings.

IOW, does the bulb illuminate at the highest setting regardless, as an incandescent would? (And ignore the other two: remaining off).

Or does it “attempt” to turn on at any/all settings, possibly prematurely wearing out the bulb?

@therealjrn

And what happens if I put a dimmable bulb in a one-way OR a 3-way?

At these prices ($1/ea) that still be a good deal and would open more options.

Well, @jeffreywsnyder, have you ever used a one-way bulb in a three-way lamp? What happens is you go :click: :click: :light!:

It has to do with the structure of the socket, there’s only one position where it acts like a normal one-way bulb. I’m assuming the bulb will just burn at a regular level. So no, you aren’t putting stress on the bulb, but you’ll be clicking the switch 3 times each time you need it illuminated.

So I’m a little fuzzy on the color bulbs but perhaps you can control the on/off thru the app!

@jeffreywsnyder asked: If the lowest setting turns on some LEDs, what happens?

Nothing, UNLESS it is a LED three-way bulb. Which this sale has none. Yes, there are no 3-way bulbs here.

@werehatrack Saving the best for last.