Feit Electric PAR38 120W Equivalent 5000K Flood Lamp

The Feit PAR38DM/1400/950CA delivers 1400 lumens of daylight-bright illumination while drawing only 15.5 watts — an 87% energy reduction compared to the 120-watt incandescent it replaces. At 90.32 lumens per watt, this bulb outperforms most LED floods on efficiency alone. But the real story is the 90 CRI rating. That’s professional-grade color accuracy in a bulb that costs less than lunch.

Skip it if you need warm lighting for living spaces. The 5000K daylight color temperature works great in workshops, security fixtures, and commercial settings. It’ll make your garage feel like an operating room. Some folks hate that clinical look indoors.

Technical Performance

The efficiency numbers matter when you’re burning lights 12 hours a day. At 15.5 watts replacing 120 watts, you’re looking at approximately 87% energy savings. On Montana’s electric rates, that adds up fast for security lighting that runs dusk to dawn.

Specification	Value
Actual Wattage	15.5W
Equivalent Wattage	120W
Brightness	1400 lumens
Efficacy	90.32 lm/W
Color Temperature	5000K (Daylight)
CRI	90
Beam Angle	40 degrees (Flood)
Lifespan	25,000 hours
Estimated Years	22.8
Base Type	E26 (Medium Base)
Dimmable	Yes

The wet location rating changes the game for outdoor installations. No more worrying about moisture intrusion in exposed fixtures. Universal burning position means you can aim these any direction without affecting lifespan — sideways in track heads, straight down in cans, or angled up for landscape accent lighting.

Color Rendering and Light Quality

The 90 CRI puts this bulb in different territory than typical 80 CRI floods. Colors look right. Wood grain shows true. Paint matching actually works under these lights. For retail spaces, display lighting, or anywhere accurate color matters, that 10-point CRI bump makes a visible difference.

SMD LED technology delivers consistent light output across the beam pattern. No hot spots. No dark edges. Just even illumination across the entire 40-degree spread. The 5000K daylight temperature might feel harsh in living rooms, but it’s perfect for task lighting, security applications, and commercial spaces where you need to see details clearly.

Energy Star Certified, CEC Title 20 Compliant, CEC Title 24 JA8 Compliant — the certifications that matter for commercial projects and rebate programs. UL Listed covers the safety basics.

Real-World Performance

Customer reviews average 4.5 out of 5 stars across 120 reviews. Users consistently praise the brightness and color quality. Common complaints include occasional early failures and potential flickering with older dimmers. That dimmer compatibility issue is real — these LEDs don’t play nice with every rheostat from the 1980s.

The 5-year limited warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship. Nothing exceptional, but adequate for the investment.

The verdict? This bulb excels where daylight color and high CRI matter — workshops, retail displays, security lighting, high-bay commercial fixtures. The efficiency gains are substantial, the wet rating expands installation options, and the color rendering beats standard LED floods by a meaningful margin. Just know what you’re getting with 5000K — it’s bright, it’s crisp, and some people find it too clinical for residential spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the actual energy savings compared to incandescent? This 15.5W LED replaces a 120W incandescent, delivering approximately 87% energy reduction. On a 12-hour daily burn, that’s over 450 kWh saved annually per bulb.

Will this dimmer-compatible bulb work with existing dimmer switches? The bulb is dimmable and compatible with most incandescent, halogen, and LED dimmers (Leading and Trailing edge). However, flickering may occur with incompatible older dimmers according to user reviews.

Can this bulb handle outdoor Montana weather? Yes — it’s both Damp and Wet rated for outdoor use. The bulb can handle direct moisture exposure, making it suitable for exposed fixtures, eave-mounted security lights, and landscape applications.

Is 5000K too bright for indoor residential use? The 5000K daylight color temperature creates bright, clinical lighting that some users find too ‘cool’ or ‘blue’ for indoor living rooms. It’s ideal for task areas, garages, and commercial spaces but consider 3000K alternatives for living areas.

How does 90 CRI compare to standard bulbs? The 90 CRI rating significantly outperforms typical 80 CRI LED bulbs. You’ll notice more accurate colors, better skin tones, and true material appearances — especially important for retail displays or color-critical work areas.