Feit battery backup LED bulb review: keeping a ceiling light or lamp working for the first evening of an outage

This is a research-based review, based on manufacturer specs and published data. We do not test products. Specs come from Feit Electric's product page and specification table for the 8.8W A21 LED Bulb with Battery Backup (OM60927CABATG2LEDIRP), checked November 1, 2026. Safety guidance comes from the CDC.

Most emergency lights live in a drawer until you need them. A battery backup bulb lives in the fixture you use every night. Feit's version works as a normal 800-lumen, 60 W replacement LED bulb, charges a lithium-ion cell inside its base while it is on, and keeps shining for up to 3 hours after the power fails.

There is one behavior to understand before buying. Feit says that when the power cuts out, you push the power button on the bulb to switch to battery power. It does not take over by itself, so someone has to reach the bulb.

Who should buy it

• Households that want the main kitchen or living room light to keep working through the first evening of an outage.
• Renters who cannot install hardwired emergency lighting.
• Anyone in an area with short, frequent outages, where 3 hours covers most events.

Who should skip it

• Enclosed fixtures. Feit's spec table lists the bulb as not rated for enclosed fixtures, which rules out many ceiling domes and some porch lights.
• Dimmer circuits. Feit lists it as not dimmable.
• Anyone who wants light that comes on automatically. The Energizer 38511 and Eton Blackout Buddy Swivel switch on by themselves.
• Multi-day outages. Plan lanterns such as the Energizer WeatheReady for that.

Strengths

• Real room light. 800 lumens at 2700K, the output of a 60 W incandescent bulb, from the fixture already in the room.
• Charges itself. Feit says it charges while used as a regular bulb, so it is full when the power goes out.
• Standard fit. E26 base and A21 shape fit ordinary lamps and open fixtures.
• Good color. 90 CRI, which Feit says makes colors and skin tones look natural.
• Efficient day to day. 8.8 W in normal use, with a 15,000-hour rated life.

Drawbacks

• Not automatic. Feit says to press the button on the bulb to switch to battery power. In a ceiling fixture, that means a step stool in the dark.
• Three hours. Up to 3 hours of emergency light, per Feit. It covers dinner and bedtime, not the night.
• Fixture limits. Not for enclosed fixtures and not dimmable.
• Embedded battery. The 18650 cell is built in, so when it wears out, the bulb's backup feature ends with it.
• Wall switch habits. Feit's page does not say what happens if the wall switch is off when the grid fails. Read the instructions in the box before you rely on it.

How it compares

The Feit bulb against other lights that are ready when a blackout starts. Figures are from each manufacturer's page, checked November 1, 2026.

Using it in a long outage

Choose the fixture

Put the bulb where light matters most in the first hours: the kitchen, where people gather and cook what is in the fridge, or the living room lamp. A table lamp is the easiest choice because the button is within reach. Avoid enclosed globes, dimmers and outdoor fixtures exposed to rain (it is rated for damp, not wet, locations).

When the power fails

1. 01Use a flashlight or power-failure night light to reach the bulb.
2. 02Press the button on the bulb to switch to battery, as Feit directs.
3. 03Use the 3 hours for the jobs that need good light: cooking, medication, getting children to bed.
4. 04Switch to lanterns before the bulb runs flat, so you are not changing light sources in the dark.

Lithium-ion inside a fixture

The backup cell is a single 18650 lithium-ion battery. Feit's page does not list a cell replacement procedure, so treat it as part of the bulb. Use it within its ratings: no enclosed fixtures, where heat builds up, and no wet locations. If a bulb ever looks swollen, cracked or scorched, switch off the fixture and remove it once it is cool.

When power returns, the bulb resumes normal use and starts recharging. For the rest of a long outage, see our emergency lights guide and the lanterns and flashlights chapter.