Can't find 3-way 150W-max-equiv LED bulb supposedly at Lowes

I read an article in LEDS magagine (http://ledsmagazine.com/news/10/11/13) that says:

"Intematix enables 150W-equivalent LED lamps with new remote-phosphor optic. Feit has already delivered a three-way 150W-equivalent LED lamp, through retailer Lowes, that utilizes the new Intematix optic, adding to lower-lumen packages announced earlier. Phosphor specialist Intematix has added to its remote-phosphor optics family for LED-based retrofit lamps, delivering a new model that can enable 150W-equivalent products. The new ChromaLit Contour product enables lamps with output to 2200 lm with power consumption of 30W."

I called Feit, and they told me that they do indeed make such a bulb, and that they made it specifically just for Lowes under the Utilitech label. They even gave me a SKU number, 424733. Feit says this is not the same as their new dimmable 150W LED bulb, that it is an actual 3-way (presumably 50-100-150, since it's 150W-equivalent max).

I couldn't find it at the Lowes website. I called Lowes, and they checked both their online system as well as products available in their stores, and they couldn't find it.

Does anyone know anything about this bulb, and how to get it? Thanks. / Rav

Possibly they are just test marketing it at a few stores. Or maybe building up warehouse stock to meet demand before launching it.

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At the Lowes near where I live, they put the Feit/Utilitech LED 3-way bulb next the normal incandescent 3-ways rather than with all the other LED bulbs. It has a big, yellow ring at the top (remote phosphor) and is very tall.

yuandrew said:

At the Lowes near where I live, they put the Feit/Utilitech LED 3-way bulb next the normal incandescent 3-ways rather than with all the other LED bulbs. It has a big, yellow ring at the top (remote phosphor) and is very tall.

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Same here. I was just by the store today and they had two different styles - 30/70/100 equiv (600/1100/1600 lumen) and 50/100/150 equiv (800/1600/2200 lumen). Price was $35 and $40 respectively. They were sitting next to the CFL 3-ways (50/100/150 equiv with a choice of 2700k/3000k/5000k at $10/each). SKUs for the two bulbs were #424732 and #424733.

Thanks for the replies. wws944 and yuandrew, it looks like both of you are in California. Perhaps, as inetdog said, they're test marketing it in your area (i.e. west coast). The next time you're at your Lowes, would you mind checking the maximum length and width of the 424733 (50/100/150-equiv) and letting me know? I wish I could find info online about it but can't find any. Thank you!

ItzRav said:

Thanks for the replies. wws944 and yuandrew, it looks like both of you are in California. Perhaps, as inetdog said, they're test marketing it in your area (i.e. west coast). The next time you're at your Lowes, would you mind checking the maximum length and width of the 424733 (50/100/150-equiv) and letting me know? I wish I could find info online about it but can't find any. Thank you!

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Here is a photo I took with my cell phone when I was over there yesterday. Maybe it will give you an idea of their sizes. The photo was taken at the store in San Jose, California (on Coleman by SJC airport):

Tried searching for "424733" on Lowe's web site, no dice.

Figures, a real first and they make it as hard as they possibly can to actually purchase/evaluate the product.

Anyone actually get one, and is there any indication of CRI on the packaging?

Edit: just dropped Lowe's a line and asked when I'll be able to check inventory online and if they have a spec sheet on these little guys. Will advise response...

wws944 said:

Here is a photo I took with my cell phone when I was over there yesterday. Maybe it will give you an idea of their sizes. The photo was taken at the store in San Jose, California (on Coleman by SJC airport):

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If you have a Menards store in your area, they also carry these high lumen LED bulbs. About a month ago they had about all their LED bulbs on sale for great prices. BTW, what's with the bulb on the right for $16.98. Lowes in this area (SW OH) stopped carrying it earlier this year. For the last couple years, it has sold under $10 and as low as $8 on sale. I guess things are more expensive in CA.

JohnR66 said:

... BTW, what's with the bulb on the right for $16.98. Lowes in this area (SW OH) stopped carrying it earlier this year. For the last couple years, it has sold under $10 and as low as $8 on sale.

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Guessing it is due to the GU24 base.

I guess things are more expensive in CA.

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No need for guessing about that.

There's plenty in stock in my central Iowa Lowes:



I've been looking for almost exactly this (I want a 3000k temp) but I was going to give it a try anyhow, knowing that I could return it if need be.

Why didn't I? There's a 2 year warranty. 2 YEARS on a $40 bulb. I'd expect at least something along the lines of the 6 year warranty my $5 Philips 830lm bulbs have.

Sorry Lowes, you have to do better than this.

Interesting, I was at Lowes yesterday looking at lighting and didn't see those.

As far as CRI, when a lighting product actually has decent CRI, usually the mfg company points it out on the package and in the press release. Since it isn't in the press release, it likely is below 80.

There is a well known trade off between CRI and rated efficiency, even though high CRI is often more important in seeing things than total lumens, at least in my testing.

I was wondering if they might not turn out to have a decent CRI as it seems to be in CA where these are turning up (reference: California quality lighting standards, and the Cree "true white" bulbs which seem to be ONLY sold in CA) it would actually make sense if they did as then they might qualify for various incentives or rebates...

I have not received a response to my inquiry yet BTW...

wws944 said:

Here is a photo I took with my cell phone when I was over there yesterday. Maybe it will give you an idea of their sizes. The photo was taken at the store in San Jose, California (on Coleman by SJC airport):

Click to expand...

Thanks for the pic. Whew, that looks pretty big. I have a feeling it won't fit within the 7-1/2" by 2-1/2" harp in my table lamp. I know I can get a taller harp, but then the shade would be too high. Even if it would fit lengthwise, the width looks like an issue (looks like at least 3"), especially since the harp curves inward (is less wide) at the top. Perhaps there's some sort of rectangular harp out there somewhere that it might fit in. Anyway, thanks again.

I found another thread on this forum which references the 424733 bulb (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...a-can-this-be-built-Adapter-for-3-way-sockets), in which it says that at the 150W-equivalent setting (2200 lumens) it takes 32 watts. That's about the same power requirement as the 50/100/150W-equivalent CFL I have (34W for 150W). So this 3-way LED is apparently hardly more efficient than my CFL. Given that, isn't this 3-way LED going to generate as much waste heat as the 3-way CFL? And if so, aside from the longer life, what would be the advantage of using the LED?

Instant on.

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That and the CFL lumens ratings are grossly exaggerated...

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Whoa. grossly exaggerated? Care to elaborate?

I've never had any luck noticing any difference in brightness with any CFL between the normal 21-23W range and higher wattages. The main difference seems to be slower warm up. I did have a couple "100W equivalent" ones in the basement of my last house before I installed shop lights in the unfinished area, those worked OK, I don't remember now what brand they were (provided by PO) but the 3-way CFLs have been uniformly disappointing. Recently I have been using some GE branded ones that at least function (some other brands did not, or exhibited noise, strobing, or missing levels and were returned) but they are a little on the dim side for a reading light.

Edit: even these LED bulbs seem to be overrated now that I look at the specs... from the other thread

For the 30/70/100 [A21 size]: Item# 424732, Model# LA30/100R/LE 0017801998832 600/1100/1600 lumens, 8/16/22 watts
For the 50/100/150 [A23 size]: Item# 424733, Model# LA50/150R/LE 0017801998849 800/1600/2200 lumens, 10/22/32 watts

but

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_bulb#Electrical_characteristics

says that a 120VAC 150W incan is more like 2850 lm - how is 2200 lm a 150W equivalent?

I'm not at all surprised that people have been having issues with 3-way CFLs. As I mentioned before, I was unhappy to find that this LED bulb has a paltry 2 year warranty. BUT it's better than the 3-way CFLs Lowes had that didn't state anything about a warranty at all! Compare that to the 100W CFLs under the same brand (Utilitech) that have a 2 year warranty. It's clear that the manufacturer expects the 3-way CFLs to perform poorly.

There is no point in having an LED bulb having a warranty longer than 2 years, because that is the typical life of an LED company. The power supply capacitors will fail after that point anyway, so unless you are willing to pay $ 100 per bulb, 2 - 3 years is a reasonable life expectancy.

It probably sounds odd, but long lifetime LEDs are cheap, making long life passives electronics, like capacitors are what drives up the cost.