Dimmable LED light bulbs seem more economical than halogens. But they're really expensive. Will they quickly come down in price, so I should wait? Or will they come down slowly, so I might as well start saving?
Also, how good is the dimming? I tried dimmable CFL's, but they don't seem to dim past 50%.
posted by musofire
on May 9, 2013 -
13 answers
I'm looking for a nice, inexpensive task lamp to put on my desk at work. It should have adjustable brightness (low/high is fine) so that I can have either a little or a lot of light, as required. Free-standing, not clamp-on. $30 or less would be ideal. Help?
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posted by Scientist
on Apr 9, 2013 -
8 answers
We had lots of wiring replaced recently, including two lamps connected to a dimmer switch; the dimmer was also replaced. Yesterday we noticed that the dimmer was now only allowing fully on or off. Today the light went off with a loud popping sound and a visible spark from one of the lamps, though both bulbs themselves work fine. What happened and how do I fix it? Is it likely just a faulty dimmer switch? Do I need to turn off the circuit (which has many other lights on it) as a precaution?
posted by parudox
on Mar 25, 2013 -
8 answers
I have converted the top half of our hall closet into a little standing dressing area that holds my jewelry box and mementos. There is a mirror over my jewelry box on the back wall of the space. How do I light it?
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posted by michellenoel
on Feb 19, 2013 -
6 answers
I'm designing a show this week (Iolanthe) which is far from my first lighting design, but I've never really gotten to experiment much with different gel color combinations. Which are your favorite combos (front, fill, back, side, etc.) for different set-ups. I'm looking for both the classic standards and less common combinations you've come across and enjoyed. I'm going to have a bit of free reign with this, so I'm curious to see what new (to me) things I might want to try. Rosco colors preferred.
posted by Navelgazer
on Feb 12, 2013 -
6 answers
Most SAD therapy lights are somewhere between utilitarian and ugly in terms of design. I want one that is beautiful, such that you could actually design a room around it. I think I would probably need to have it custom made, but I don't even know what sort of person I would begin trying to talk to. Let's ignore the question of cost for the time being, where would I find a person with the requisite skills (lighting, electrical, design, etc...) to build this for me?
posted by mmmmbobo
on Feb 12, 2013 -
4 answers
I'm looking for tips and recommendations to improve the audio/video quality of online meetings.
We already have good connections/machines for online meetings - but as I'm doing more and more of those, I'd like to specifically improve experience of everyone - especially for sound & video.
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posted by motdiem2
on Jan 21, 2013 -
8 answers
What kind of equipment could I purchase within a $300 budget for the backdrop and lighting? My house is naturally very dark. I use white plates and minimal props for the food. My camera is a Canon 40D. I don't have much time lately so I'll spend a little more for convenience.
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posted by sunnychef88
on Jan 17, 2013 -
15 answers
Last week my boyfriend replaced the wall mounted sconces in our living room. Today one of them is buzzing intermittently - it sounds sort of like it has a fly caught in it.
There is no fly in it. I have taken out the light bulb. I have flipped the switch in the fuse box in the basement that powers this light.
It is still doing it and it is freaking me out! Any idea what is going on and if it could be dangerous?
I will be out for a few hours tonight and then will be alone in the house till very late and would rather not have a fire start in my living room wall.
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posted by Sabby
on Dec 1, 2012 -
16 answers
What is the best way to outfit an office in an apartment with quality lighting for studying?
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posted by jModug
on Nov 25, 2012 -
7 answers
Potentially-nonexistent-product-filter: Is there such a thing as a light system that emulates dawn-to-dusk daylight? Something that brightens and dims relatively closely following actual sunlight?
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posted by erst
on Oct 15, 2012 -
11 answers
Help me find the basics for indoor macro photography. I have a DSLR and Macro lens. I need cheap lighting and a set. Preferably small or easily storable when not in use.
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posted by 2oh1
on Sep 6, 2012 -
6 answers
My friend got
this hanging bronze chandelier. In the online catalog, it looked the pretty much the same lit up (it is now not available). But once delivered and installed it lights up
very orange...
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posted by maya
on Aug 3, 2012 -
8 answers
I want to organize all my email+calendar+tasks On & Off line. What is best setup for Thunderbird+Lighting+Gmail+Google Calendar sync?
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posted by curiousleo
on Jul 11, 2012 -
1 answer
I would like to use LED lighting in my apartment and be able to change colors and brightness. how do I go about that?
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posted by krautland
on Jul 5, 2012 -
10 answers
Under what lighting and landscape conditions are aperture priority vs. shutter priority more appropriate for capturing motion in water?
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posted by netbros
on Jul 1, 2012 -
10 answers
I have an odd fascination with lighting. I want to learn how to rewire various consumer electronics into functioning lamps without electrocuting myself and/or burning down my apartment building.
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posted by krakenattack
on Apr 26, 2012 -
13 answers
Help me light up my garage. What are the best options for light output, cost, and power efficiency to illuminate a large space?
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posted by buckaroo_benzai
on Apr 9, 2012 -
23 answers
I'm putting together a presentation at a conference, and want to use a trick where a spotlight, after spinning seemingly randomly for a few minutes, will stop on cue at a particular point in an otherwise dark room. How can I accomplish this?
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posted by Unsomnambulist
on Apr 3, 2012 -
6 answers
In a typical office setting, how bright should a computer monitor be compared to the ambient/overhead/room lighting? How would one measure this and is there some chart or some guidelines for a good balance/ratio?
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posted by querty
on Mar 8, 2012 -
5 answers
Are there types of laser light, color or wavelength, whole beam can be seen in daylight conditions with a special eyeglass filter?
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posted by pallen123
on Mar 6, 2012 -
11 answers
I want to use my iPhone 4s to film a 15-30 minute event, indoors, just three people talking, dark-ish lighting. It doesn’t have to be perfect – this is for personal use, not commercial. What’s the best way to go about it?
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posted by t0astie
on Feb 21, 2012 -
7 answers
Can you explain to me how the lighting works for your average touring rock club show? Two specific examples for you to consider inside.
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posted by Admiral Haddock
on Jan 20, 2012 -
10 answers
I've recently obtained some lovely 70s teak G-Plan cabinets (
like these), which were wired, back in the day, for lights. I want to make them work again, but I don't know how or whether to start from scratch or use what's already there.
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posted by armoured-ant
on Jan 13, 2012 -
6 answers
Whats a good way to get hard, directional, intense lighting indoors? Preferably for not too much money.
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posted by Hither
on Dec 24, 2011 -
5 answers
Where can I buy 50W equivalent LED lights that work outdoors, operate at 120V, and are of the standard base type? I simply cannot find a bulb that meets all three criteria!
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posted by The Hyacinth Girl
on Dec 18, 2011 -
5 answers
What is the best direction to go in for LED accent lighting/throwies on a budget that demands maximum bang for the buck?
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posted by RolandOfEld
on Dec 17, 2011 -
14 answers
Antiques Metafiltershow: Can you help me identify any of these wild, weird, artsy household features?
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posted by raztaj
on Dec 13, 2011 -
4 answers
I am installing 2 remodel canister lights. Everything is wired up and ready to go except I can't get the clips to snap down.
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posted by rdurbin
on Dec 7, 2011 -
2 answers
Help me find or make a shade of some kind for my recessed kitchen LED lights.
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posted by kindall
on Dec 1, 2011 -
6 answers
Do any MeFis have any tips/experience as to installing accent lighting in trees? We have a tall and lovely pecan tree in our backyard, and would like to install lights shining up into the canopy both to highlight the tree (an effect that I've always loved) and to provide soft lighting for our yard. I'm interesting in hearing about any tips/warnings from those who've done the same. The tree is a Pecan, about 50 years old, ~60 feet tall, diameter ~ 2 1/2 feet. We'd be using a electrician to add the circuit.
posted by seventyfour
on Oct 31, 2011 -
6 answers
So we moved into a rental apartment intending to install my chandelier into the living room ceiling. Problem is, there's no "thing in the ceiling that a light fixture would be installed into." (Err...whats that called?)
Is there any way we can make it so that my chandelier can run to the electrical socket in the room somehow? If not, what terms do I search for (or what websites are good besides urban outfitters) to find ceiling light fixtures that work from a cord kit?
posted by skjønn
on Sep 14, 2011 -
9 answers
DIY-ers: Please help me find wall sconces with a built in switch. Special snowflake details inside:
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posted by librarianamy
on Jun 22, 2011 -
5 answers
What’s the cheapest way to make an unfinished basement work as usable living/working space?
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posted by victoriab
on Jun 3, 2011 -
11 answers
I'm getting tired of how my room currently looks. The walls cannot be painted. I want to pretty the room up with lights of various colors, patterns, and effects, so at night, when I enter my room, it feels like I'm entering a different space entirely. What ideas, suggestions, examples can you lend me?
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posted by Philipschall
on May 23, 2011 -
16 answers
Am I doing something wrong with my pull chain light fixture, and/or do they just tend to be really crappy? Broke two of them in short order...
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posted by rkent
on May 16, 2011 -
4 answers
