Buy Martek Electric A19/DM/LED 3.5 Watt High Performance Dimmable A19

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List Price: $19.95
Sale Price: $16.95
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

perfect match to a 40 watt in light and color.

some led lights are a crazy color that you will not like, but this one is spot on !

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I just took delivery of this bulb on May 7, 2013, and I like its lighting quality very much. However, there's one small glitch that folks need to be made aware of.

Although it's spec'd as being fully dimmable, when I first screwed this bulb into place and tried it out, I noticed that it would not dim to a low brightness level. It dims only midway down. And at the full brightness level, the bulb's lumens appear to be closer to a 25W level, instead of 40W as specified but still I can use it as it is.

The task lamp I use it in is hooked up to a Leviton plug-in table lamp dimmer box, which has a slider box at one end of a 6-foot cable and a piggy-back AC plug at the other. At full brightness, the bulb does what I will need it to do for general tasks, but at about halfway down it flickers slightly and then gets slightly brighter at the lowest dimmer setting. I suppose that has something to do with the fact that LED light bulbs are still in their early development stage. But then, like I've said, that's okay by my standards, since I am using it to light up the work surface of my PC/audio desk. The lamp head is also positioned right above my turntable, and provides just the amount of soft light I need for archiving my LP and 45-RPM vinyl records to digital MP3-320kb/sec format but that's a different story altogether.

I now know that the only way I could get a full dimming range is to return to using incandescent bulbs. But over the years, I've also learned that old-technology bulbs get MUCH hotter and don't last near as long when used in the base-up position such as in a task lamp or ceiling fan light fitter/fixture. My Westinghouse A19 130V commercial service bulbs last a long time, but due to their design their bases get very hot and highly discolored when used base-up. Thankfully, they don't get hot enough to melt inside the socket. This is why I chose to begin using modern LEDs or CFLs in base-up lamps or fixtures.

And, believe it or not, this bulb here also replaced a much brighter PAR30 flood/reflector bulb I was using previously. That older LED was just too bright for the work I was doing, despite having that same dimmer control in use. It drew 15W to produce a 75W output equivalent, and it made my turntable so doggone bright to look at it was like looking directly into the SUN! This new A19 bulb is much easier on the eyes for the work I do. However, unlike my older PAR30, which I'm now saving for an outdoor lighting task, I can't use the new bulb in my desk lamp as a high-end night light as I had been able to do with the PAR30. Oh, well.

I hope and plan to order more bulbs like this one in the future, for use in the five other dimmable lamps I have in use, but they're gonna have to come down a bit more in price, though. They'll also have to be made available in brighter wattage, such as 20W (100W-equivalent) or 30W (150W equivalent) for my bigger lamps that are used to light up large areas. Until then, I am making do with what I've got and will adjust accordingly while technology improves. My only worry now is the fear of my older bulbs being outlawed and eventually confiscated by the Feds. YIKES!!

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I've been migrating to LED bulbs for all the lights in my house that are on for significant amounts of time. A primary concern -and one that is significant since you'll be living/working in it -is the warmth and aesthetic appeal of the light. Also as in the case for buying this bulb, is the physical look itself when used exposed.

This bulb delivers on both fronts. If you did not know it was an LED you would never tell unless you touched it. The setup inside the bulb even emulates filaments and the frosted glass carries this illusion.

At the current price point on Amazon this is also a good value. I have just recently purchased this, but look forward to many years of service. I will update this review if anything fails prematurely and is not resolved. In conclusion, the quality of manufacturing appears superb and made to last the bulb's life.

These bulbs are made in the USA.