Low Energy Light Bulbs

[Paul Bulpit]

I'm aware that there is a consensus of opinion regarding these (rubbish - here to stay) items - but what do others think about them?

I don't like the 'time to fire up' or the dimness - I have started stockpiling the old incandescent type at home.

But I have just had the job of installing a new light fitting, 250 miles away at my father-in-law's home. I found that the DIY sheds sell light fittings ('Max.60w') yet no longer sell '60w' bulbs. I bought 'equivalent' bulbs (pack of two) that just about did the job.

Tonight I came home and put the second (pack of two) bulb into an existing fitting (thinking, do my bit to save the planet) - it's rubbish! I have put the old bulb back in.

I spend a lot of time in Tenerife - everything is low-energy (DIM) over there. This must be the way that we are going, perhaps I should have an eye-test.

[Duncan Rounding]

I agree with you completely. The new energy saving bulbs are rubbish in comparision.

I have replaced most of the bulbs in the house with so called equivalents that certainly aren't. Since then I have changed some of them back again where possible.

They (Europe) have changed the allowable way in which the new bulbs can be advertised. They are no longer supposed to advertise the equivalent wattage but rather the lumens emitted which may stop these seemingly false claims.

I have yet to find a new energy saving bulb that has similar light output to the older (considerably better) 100W lamps. A client of mine who sells bulbs has a page on his site about it: http://www.ebulbshop.com/acatalog/Wa...mparisons.html.

Yours,

Grumpy.

[pinbrook]

Totally agree, I end up with 10 lights on rather than one. Luckily for me ages ago I stocked up on 100w daylight bulbs for photography, the site i bought them from made me buy in dozens so i have enough for a few years.

[JGLIGHTING]

I totally agree with you all, you will never beat the old bulbs.
When you buy bulbs from supermarkets and sheds, they provide cheap bulbs subsidise by the government, even though they are brand names they are still not good. If you go to wholesalers and electrical shops they are normally (well ours are) a lot better. They start up quicker,there a lot brighter and last a lot longer. We have over 7000 100W bulbs in stock if anyone is interested.

you can buy halogen replacement bulbs (GLS, Candles and golf balls) that are fully dimmable and the same brightness as the traditional bulbs.We are finding these are getting more popular. You save 33% on energy consumption, they are fully dimmable and look like normal bulbs. the government don't promote the halogen bulbs even though you are saving 33 percent.
Here is a list of the equivalent outputs:
28W = 40W
42W = 60W
70W = 100W
105W = 150W

Elliott

[Duncan Rounding]

I need to buy some daylight 60w bulbs - what's the equivalent for those now then?

[Mark H]

I used to dislike low energy but get on fine now, having realised that the problem is simply that the equivalences are woefully inaccurate. Anything less than a 20w low energy is a complete waste of time, even in a bedside light. 20w and above are easy to find on the internet, you still save electricity and they do last longer. The technology is still improving and they are quicker. Having said that, we'll all be LED in 5 years time.

[Sean Williams]

Agreed - anything less than a 20w low energy bulb is a waste of time.
Not so easy to find, but we use 30w low energy bulbs and even use two together to get some decent light output.
Going to try the halogens - thanks for the tip Elliott.

[Mike Hughes]

I agree. Compact Fluorescent bulbs are no where near as bright as they say. This test in the telegraph suggests they're something like 25-30% dimmer than the claimed equivalent. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...im-future.html

I find the easiest solution though is just to use the next step up. So use a 20W to replace a 60W (instead of a 12W) or a 30W to replace a 100W. You still save 70% of the electricty (instead of 80%) and have much better lighting.

I've also used 65W CFLs in some large rooms (325W equivalent) and even tried an 85W (425W equivalent) but that was bit on the bright side, even for me.

Mike

[Sean Williams]

Mike,
can you tell me where you found the 65W CFL - I haven't found anything more powerful than 30w?

TIA

[Mike Hughes]

here we go: http://www.ultimastore.co.uk/acatalog/4U.html an actinic site no less. I found they delivered quickly and they're prices are very good.

It looks like they've run out of the 65W and 85W bayonet fit bulbs which is a shame as they're really very good.

The bulbs were branded saverlamp http://www.saverlamp.com/products.asp but prices were about half what that page says.

There are modern spiral ones on ebay. The price seems to be about £10.99. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/65w-325w-Energ...item2c55e8a71b. That ebay seller also does 85W (425W) and 105W (525W) versions. The 105W must be blinding.

Mike

[Duncan Rounding]

Here's an A class energy rated heater that happens to emit light which fits into a standard Bayonet or Edison Screw fitting socket: http://heatball.de/

What a great invention - I might just buy a few to 'heat' up some rooms in the house.