C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED

*Est. $15
Reviewed
February 2008
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C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED

Pros
  • LED the most energy efficient
  • Contains no mercury
  • Turns on immediately
  • Lasts up to 60,000 hours
Cons
  • Dim compared with other types
  • Expensive
 
 
Where to Buy
 
 
 

LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs contain no mercury, have long lives and are energy-efficient, but the upfront cost is high, and they don't deliver much light. Owner reviews of the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED are divided. Positive owner reviews say the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED is fine when the light is focused narrowly, such as in a desk or reading lamp, or when multiple bulbs are used to illuminate a larger area. But other reviews say it is dim, producing only 60 lumens compared with about 1,600 from a 60-watt incandescent bulb. The C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED combines 36 little LEDs into one bulb and can last up to 60,000 hours -- six times more than an average fluorescent bulb. The bulb lights instantly, and one owner review suggests it as one way to initially aid lighting in a garage while brighter fluorescent lights gradually kick in. The bulb comes with a two-year warranty.

We found a very detailed owner review of the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED in the reader responses to a CNET article explaining various forms of lighting. We also found some owner reviews at Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com and the blog Green Home. Reviews are scarce, probably because LED bulbs have only a small niche in the home market.

Where To Buy
 
 
CC.Vivid Plus 36-LED Light Bulb

 (45 reviews)
Buy new: $29.95 $9.77   2 New from $9.77

In Stock.

 
 
 

Our Sources

1. CNET

This CNET article is an overview of lighting, not a review. But reader James Anderson Merritt posts the most detailed and balanced review of the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED bulbs that we found anywhere. He says the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus gives him about the same light as a 25- to 40-watt incandescent bulb.

Review: FAQ: 21st-Century Guide to Indoor Lighting, Elsa Wenzel

2. Amazon.com

About a dozen owner reviews give the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED an average consensus score. Most of the complaints concern the bulb's dimness.

Review: C. Crane Co, Inc. VVP Vivid Plus 36 LED Light Bulb, Contributors to Amazon.com

3. Green Home

This positive owner review is reasonably detailed, the gist being that the initial high cost is justified by energy savings in the long term.

Review: C. Crane CC VIVID PLUS LED Light Bulb Review, "Green Hybrid", April 21, 2008

4. HomeDepot.com

We found just a couple of owner reviews for the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED, both complimentary but not very detailed.

Review: 120V 36 LED Color-Changing Light Bulb, Contributors to HomeDepot.com

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