Never saw this before - my mistake

[wdfifteen]

I think my time in this world is past. The world is changing too fast for me.

I needed a 3-way light bulb, saw these on the shelf and grabbed one. It's a newfangled LED - new technology, but LEDs work fine in most applications, whatever.



I should have looked more carefully.

It's not a "3-Way" bulb the way they have been for 100 years. It's "3 LEVEL" bulb that you choose the light output level by turning a switch in the base with a screwdriver. It's the only lightbulb I've ever owned that required an accompanying screwdriver. I guess it could be useful in some circumstances, but none I can think of off the top of my head. Sometimes I think manufacturers come up with new crap just because they can.



I'm on the lookout for 60 watt incandescent bulbs for my garage door opener. Every LED I've tried caused my radio to buzz.

[Dixie]

I honestly have no clue why someone would want that feature.

[stevej37]

That's new to me also.
Every 3 level lamp that I've owned...the switch controls the level.

[KFC911]

MICD .... has replaced KISS

Make It Complicated Dumbass ...

[wdfifteen]

If only it had an app ...

Think of it! To turn the light on you just find your phone, plug it in for a while to charge it, find the app, update the app - and 20 minutes later you can push a button and turn your light on!! Progress!!!!

[masraum]

Because why would you want to buy a bulb in the "correct" wattage/output from the start?

To be useful, it would have to be possible to change the output on the fly while the thing is screwed in.

That's silly, and I assume more expensive than a regular LED bulb that has one output.

[wildthing]

Product guy was bored and made up a slideshow... management was bored and greenlit production.

[stevej37]

It may not be possible to do it 'the old way' with an LED light and switch.

I tried using a dimmer switch with my LED chandelier....and it would flicker continuously.
Had to ditch the dimmer.

[HobieMarty]

I guess this just shows that there's more than one way to swing a three-way.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[oldE]

On the other hand, you likely have bulbs of different output levels in various areas of your house. Rather than have to stock three types of replacement bulbs, these allow you to simplify your spare stock.

Best
Les

[E Sully]

Many LED fixtures have brightness options. Some are set with a switch, one we have will change brightness with a quick on-off flick of the light switch.
As mentioned before, you need a dimmer designed for LED's, while some LED bulbs are not dimmable. I had to change 4 dimmer switches in my house.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

It may not be possible to do it 'the old way' with an LED light and switch.

I tried using a dimmer switch with my LED chandelier....and it would flicker continuously.
Had to ditch the dimmer.

Nah, original 3 way bulbs have 2 contacts on the bottom of the bulb instead of 1 contact like a regular bulb. So a 3 way bulb is 2 filaments in a single bulb, you can have a dim filament lit, or the bright one, or both.

There are definitely 3-way LED bulbs.



It's also possible to have an LED on a dimmer, BUT you must get a dimmable LED bulb, and there are also dimmer switches that are designed to work with LED bulbs.





Interesting, here's a bulb that's got the dimmer built in (and can be done on the fly without having to use a screwdriver after removing the bulb). This is potentially useful, if you've got a lamp you may want to be able to dim the lamp, but lamps are generally on or off.

[Scott Douglas]

I think I used an oven bulb in our garage door opener. Figured it could take the increased vibration of the opener as well as the heat of being in that small enclosure better.

[dad911]

Bulbs always die in the opener. Screw in a socket adapter and plug in a 4' shoplight.

As to dimmers, I've been installing smart switches instead.

"Hey Google, kitchen light on 30%" with the added benefit of setting up timed scenes for the smart lights.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by dad911

As to dimmers, I've been installing smart switches instead

There are also wi-fi capable bulbs controlled directly by smartphone.
Bulbs with adjustable different color spectrums and brightness.
Switches with motion sensors and timers.
All of that good stuff. Robot maid not included.

[Alan A]

Economy of scale. Probably cheaper than stocking 3 different bulbs for different wattage combos. Same with the color ones. One bulb vs 5.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by dad911

Bulbs always die in the opener. Screw in a socket adapter and plug in a 4' shoplight.

This is an EXCELLENT idea! I have a 4 foot shop light just sitting around.

The three-way bulb I am replacing is an LED with old school type three contacts that goes in a lamp socket with the three positions, so I know they make them.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I accidentally bought one of those too. Stupidly over complicated. It’s right up there with WiFi and Bluetooth enabled lightbulbs. Because I really need another item in my house to spy on me and then prematurely break.

While I’m ranting, anybody notice that LED bulbs never seem to get anywhere near their lofty target life numbers? But at least they’re twice as expensive.

[wildthing]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I tried using a dimmer switch with my LED chandelier....and it would flicker continuously.
Had to ditch the dimmer.

There are dimmable LEDs. I got these for my bathroom: https://www.homedepot.com/pep/304117103 and these for my office: https://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-50-Watt-Equivalent-R20-Dimmable-ENERGY-STAR-LED-Light-Bulb-Soft-White-3-Pack-R20-1D-7W-E26-120V-2700K/315870710

[stevej37]

^^^ This lamp takes four downward flame tip bulbs. They are the small E12 or B10? base.
I remember looking for them...no luck. (but that was about 4 years ago.)