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Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 Compact fluorescent bulbs

Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 Compact fluorescent bulbs Review



Overall 3.00 of 5 (by 1 user)



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bkovacs
Annandale, VA
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Bright Yellow Light
3 star rating

budget-conscious, concerned about the environment, practical
Pros

    energy efficient, bright even light, inexpensive

Cons
    yellow light, average reliability

AUG
30
2007
 
 
 
My wife and I built a couple of rooms in the basement of our home and wanted good light that didn't use a lot of energy. The spaces were going to be used for detail-oriented hobby work, such as sewing and handicrafts, so we wanted good, even light. However, we didn't want light that made a lot of heat.

Right about this time, Costco put four fluorescent flood lamps into a single package for about $12, making the bulbs $3 each. I thought if the light was installed properly, it could do exactly what I wanted. Therefore, I bought several packages of Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 lamps at Costco

What it is

The Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 is a compact fluorescent light bulb with an integrated reflector. Inside the reflector housing is a typical spiral compact fluorescent light bulb, which are becoming increasingly common. The reflector housing creates a "flood" effect, spreading the light over a wide angle. It does not create a precise spot. There is a white plastic enclosure containing the electronics for the lamp, and a standard Edison base that screws into almost any light socket.

The Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 draws 15 Watts of power but makes light equivalent to a standard 65-Watt bulb. I put nine of them into the craft room ceiling and that makes for a LOT of light without making a lot of heat.

The Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 is for indoor use only. It should not be used in outdoor fixtures.

Using it

This is a light bulb -- there is no great secret to using it. It does take about 30 seconds to warm up and make its full brightness, and it is disconcertingly dim when first turned on. Once at full brightness, it's almost too bright to look at. The reflector spreads the light nicely and the lighting in the room looks pretty even. It does not cast strong shadows.

The Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 is yellower than I would like. I bought a couple of packs, then we built another room and needed more light bulbs. I went back to Costco and saw that there was a "new and improved" version of the Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 that said it was a whiter light. That sounded good to me, so I bought a couple of four-packs. When I installed the "new and improved" lights, they were just as yellow as the old ones. Side by side, I could not distinguish the light from an old one from a new one.

In the couple of years I've been using these, I've had two fail. That's a little disappointing, since compact fluorescents are often touted as lasting for seven years and are supposed to be much longer lasting than standard incandescent light bulbs.

Summary

The Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 is a good light bulb but not a fantastic one. I would like a whiter light and a little more reliability before I get really enthusiastic about it. However, it does make a lot of light for the buck, so I'd probably buy them again. In my basement application, they work pretty well.

Last edited on Aug 31, 2007


I_thumb_up Feit Electric BPCE15R30T/4 Compact fluorescent bulbs is recommended by bkovacs


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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about bkovacs’s Review



bkovacs wrote on Sep 4, 2007 at 9:55AM


Have you tried compact fluorescent bulbs, Cyndi? They've come WAY down in price and really do save on the electric bill. Costco sells a pack of six spiral compact fluorescents that sells for around $10... not much more than a decent-quality light bulb. Thanks for the comment! --Bob


bkovacs wrote on Sep 4, 2007 at 9:55AM


Have you tried compact fluorescent bulbs, Cyndi? They've come WAY down in price and really do save on the electric bill. Costco sells a pack of six spiral compact fluorescents that sells for around $10... not much more than a decent-quality light bulb. Thanks for the comment! --Bob


CyndiA wrote on Sep 3, 2007 at 8:24AM


My house is old, and when I buy the long life batteries the blow or pop out. Boom! I guess what I really need to do is an electrician and rewire. I sure go through light bulbs.