LED bulbs have shaken up the world of electric lighting in a big way. For one thing, they’re extremely efficient compared to old-school incandescent bulbs. You can get the same amount of light output for only 14% of the power input. This has been great news for the environment, but it’s also been good for people’s budgets. Even city governments are getting into the game, replacing old street lights with LEDs.
But LED bulbs also have their share of issues. Most of them are directional, meaning they only shine in one direction. This can be problematic when you install one in a fixture that’s designed for an omnidirectional bulb. You might find yourself compensating by using a more powerful bulb, negating some of your power settings. An LED corn light bulb is the solution to this problem. It shines in all directions, so you can keep using your old fixtures.
Today, we’re going to review four of the best LED corn light bulbs we could find. To find out which one is the best, we’ll need to take a close look at each of our options. We’ll talk about the physical construction, light quality, and other important details. Once we’ve given them all a thorough once-over, we’ll be ready to deliver a fair verdict. Let’s see how they stack up!
1. TSEXES LED Corn Bulb
Key features:
- Available in 100, 150, 250, and 300 watts.
- 5000K daylight white.
- E39 base.
The TSEXES 300W LED Corn Bulb is large and barrel-shaped. It measures 13.85 inches long in total, with a diameter of 4.72 inches. The sides as well as the front of the barrel are packed with 1,404 individual tiny LED diodes. As a result, light is emitted in all directions relatively equally. The diodes themselves are covered by a transparent plastic shell, which provides a measure of protection.
If this sounds like a big bulb, that’s because it is. Rather than a standard household E26 base, it’s designed to screw into an E39 base. E39, also known as a “mogul” base, is used in larger-scale applications, mostly commercial. It’s the most common form factor for old-school high pressure sodium and metal halide bulbs over 100 watts. You probably don’t have any in your house. But if you have a barn or shed with a large overhead light, there’s a good chance it’s E39.
The TSEXES bulb is available in four wattages: 100W, 150W, 250W, and 300W. Keep in mind that LED bulbs are roughly 10 times as bright as an incandescent bulb of the same wattage. So even the 100-watt bulb is more or less comparable to a 700-watt incandescent bulb. That’s pretty powerful! All four sizes provide 5,000K daylight white light, which is a very natural color. It won’t tint your environment red or blue like some bulbs.
The LEDs are rated to last for 50,000 hours, which is more than 5 ½ years. You also get a three-year manufacturer’s warranty, which will protect you in the event of a premature failure.
2. DuuToo Super Bright Corn LED Light Bulb
Key features:
- Available in 25, 35, 50, 54, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200, and 240 watts.
- Available in 3,000K warm white or 5,000K or 6,500K daylight white.
- E39 base.
The DuuToo Super Bright Corn LED bulb is another big, beefy bulb. It has a diameter of 5.47 inches at the widest point, and measures 14.41 inches long. The main housing is barrel-shaped and constructed from transparent plastic, which covers 1,196 LED diodes. The base is silver-grey, and is designed to screw into an E39 mogul base.
This bulb is available in a wide variety of wattages. All told, you can buy it in 25, 35, 50, 54, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200, or 240 watts. That’s a lot of options, so you can choose the exact wattage that you’re going to use.
In addition, you can order it in different color temperatures. There’s a 5,000K daylight white and a slightly bluer 6,500K daylight. Or you can go for a softer look with a 3,000K warm white bulb, which has a yellowish cast to it.
DuuToo backs their bulb with a five-year warranty. That’s almost as long as the bulb would continue to operate if you left it turned on 24/7.
3. RuggedGrade LED Corn Light Bulb
Key features:
- Available in 36, 54, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200, and 300 watts.
- 5,000K daylight white.
- E39 base.
- IP64 weather-resistant.
The RuggedGrade 150W LED Corn Bulb is a barrel-shaped bulb with a transparent plastic housing. It measures 5 inches in diameter and 14 inches long, with a white E39 mogul base.
As with the previous two options, you’ll have your choice of wattages. It’s available in 36, 54, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200, and 300 watts. So you can use one in a smaller or larger space depending on your lighting needs. All wattages provide excellent color clarity, with 5,000K daylight white light.
What really makes this bulb stand out is its weather-resistance. It carries a rating of IP64, which is pretty impressive. The “6” is the highest possible level of dust-resistance. So if you’re lighting a dusty warehouse or barn, it’s not going to cause your bulb to fail. The “4,” meanwhile, means that it’s splash-resistant. This makes it suitable for use in outdoor fixtures, where it could be exposed to moisture.
As with the DuuToo bulb, the RuggedGrade bulb is backed by a five-year warranty. It’s also rated for 50,000 hours of operation.
4. Auzilar 40W LED Corn Light Bulb
Key features:
- 40 watts.
- 6,500K daylight white.
- E26 base.
- Comes in a 2-pack.
The Auzilar 40W LED Corn Light Bulb is noticeably smaller than the others. The transparent, cylindrical housing has a diameter of 3.1 inches, and measures only 6.2 inches long. Unlike our other options, there’s only a single wattage: 40 watts, or a rated 280-watt equivalency. It provides a 6,500K daylight white, which has a slight blueish tinge.
This back has a white ballast and an E26 base. This is a standard household base that screws into a regular lamp or light fixture. It’s a drop-in replacement for your everyday home light bulbs.
It also comes in a two-pack. So if you’re outfitting a whole room, you can easily keep your light bulbs consistent. It’s rated for 50,000 hours, but there’s no warranty. Then again, regular household light bulbs seldom come with a warranty.
LED Corn Bulb FAQ
LED corn bulbs are a relatively recent invention. As a result, you might not be familiar with them. Before we conclude, let’s address some of the nagging questions you might have about these bulbs.
What is an LED corn bulb?
An LED corn bulb is a cylindrical bulb with rows of LED diodes down the sides. Many corn bulbs also have diodes on the end, so they spread light in all directions. There can be anywhere from dozens of diodes or more than a thousand, depending on the size of the bulb. These bulbs are most often used to replace older high pressure sodium and metal halide bulbs. They’re called “corn bulbs” because of the diodes’ resemblance to rows of kernels on a corn cob.
What is an E26 bulb?
The “E” in E26 is short for “Edison.” The Edison Scale, in turn, is a measurement of the size of a screw-in light bulb base in millimeters. So “E26” means a screw-in light bulb with a diameter of 26mm. This is the standard size for indoor light bulbs. Appliance and candelabra bulbs will have a lower Edison number, while larger bulbs will have a larger base.
What is an E39 bulb?
An E39 bulb is an Edison bulb with a 39mm base. These bulbs are also known as Mogul Screws, Goliath Screws, or just simply Large Screws. These bases are around an inch and a half in diameter, and can accept higher power wattages. You won’t find any E39 fixtures around your house. But if you have a barn or a large shed, you might have one there. They’re also common in industrial and commercial applications, as well as for road lighting.
How does the Kelvin color scale work?
White lights are measured on what’s called a Kelvin scale. A lower number indicates that the white is warmer, meaning it’s closer to the red end of the spectrum. As the number gets higher, you reach a pure white that’s more like natural daylight.
At 6,500K and higher, the bulbs start to take on a more intense blue tone. 3,000K warm white bulbs are best for homes or for any place you want a cozy environment. 5,000K daylight bulbs are best where you want to see colors as accurately as possible. Cooler bulbs are best when the quantity of light is more important then the quality.
Why are LED corn bulbs so popular?
LED corn bulbs are popular primarily because of their energy efficiency. If you’re replacing an incandescent, HPS, or metal halide bulb, it just makes sense to go with something more efficient. They also have very long lifespans, and can often run for 50,000 hours or more. As for why you might choose one over an ordinary LED bulb, they spread the light out better. If you need an omnidirectional LED, a corn bulb is the way to go.
What’s the difference between a 360-degree corn bulb and a flat corn bulb?
Flat corn bulbs are directional, with diodes on one side only. They’re often used in applications where you want to light u or highlight a small area. A 360-degree corn bulb is omnidirectional and has broader applications. All the corn bulbs we reviewed today are 360 degrees.
Can I use an LED corn bulb in an enclosed fixture?
Yes, usually. LED bulbs produce less heat than other types of bulbs, so cooling should not be an issue. That said, make sure there’s room around the bulb inside the enclosure. If there’s no way for air to flow through, you could have problems.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, these are all good quality LED corn light bulbs. But which one is the right fit for your situation? Here’s a quick summary of what we’ve learned today.
We started by reviewing the TSEXES LED Corn Bulb. This is a big, beefy bulb that’s designed for use in E39 bases and housings. It’s available in powers as high as 300 watts, which is pretty powerful as LED bulbs go. It’s also sturdy and well-engineered, and produces a pleasing 5,000K daylight white.
After that, we examined the DuuToo Super Bright Corn LED Light Bulb. This is the beefiest of the four, but will install in the same E39 mogul base as the last one. There are 10 wattages to choose from, ranging from a low of 25W to a high of 240W. You can also choose from 3,000K, 5,000K, or 6,500K color temperatures. As a result, it’s a bit of a chameleon. Depending on which version you order, it can be whatever you want it to be.
Third on our list was the RuggedGrade LED Corn Light Bulb. This bulb is also available in multiple wattages. There are eight choices in total, ranging from 36W to 300W, and the 5,000K daylight white provides good color clarity. But what really makes it stand out is the fact that it’s water-resistant. If you’re looking for an outdoor bulb, you’re looking at a great choice.
Finally, we looked at the Auzilar 40W LED Corn Light Bulb. This E26 bulb is the perfect choice for use around the house. It comes in a two-pack, and you can screw it into your home’s existing lamps and light fixtures. As a 280-watt equivalent, it’s pretty bright. But it’s great for lighting up larger rooms or spaces like bathrooms where you want a ton of light.
Meet Derek, “TechGuru,” a 34-year-old technology enthusiast with a deep passion for tech innovations. With extensive experience, he specializes in gaming hardware and software, and has expertise in gadgets, custom PCs, and audio.
Besides writing about tech and reviewing new products, Derek enjoys traveling, hiking, and photography. Committed to keeping up with the latest industry trends, he aims to guide readers in making informed tech decisions.