LEDs are great BUT

Ivylog wrote:
For over six years I've had good luck with cheap China G4 LEDs to replace my halogen ceiling lights. At 1/10th the power and now less than $1/bulb it's a no brainer. Four years ago the ballast in one of my seven 18" florescent lights went out so I replaced the guts with four 48 LED 5050 panels at 1/2 the amps savings. Others are using LED strip lights to replace their florescent and here comes the BUT.

Five years ago I replaced the the lights at the bottom of my bathroom cabinets with LEd strip lights. The DW likes to have a night light so they get used 10 hours/day but after two years (3000 hours) many of the chips are no longer working and those that are seem dimmer than when installed. I have replaced these strip two times (3 total in five years). I recently checked the 5M strip I'd put on my awning and 1/4th of it is no longer working with less than 500 hours of use.

I have everything needed to replace my florescent with LED strips but I will not use them based on the poor service I'm getting out of the strip lights. At only 1/2 the energy savings I will replace the florescent bulbs and if the ballast goes out I'll use LED panels. At home six months ago I installed 50' of 110V LED strip lights above our kitchen cabinets... long story short. My $45 energy saving idea has two 10' sections that no longer work and those still working are not as bright.

IMHO DO NOT use LED strip lights, especially if you are going to use them a lot.