Energy effient light bulbs.

[digicol]

(Efficient...)

Each bulb was supposed to last for years and years etc.

I must keep getting duds as they are absolute pants!!!!!!

Each bulb is pathetic when it comes to giving out light (I know the watt % ratio to an old bulb) so considering each bulb is pathetic when it comes down to lifespan, I personally think these are another gimmick and total BS!!!!

Anyone else sick of these bulbs? Or is it my house?

 

[nozzer]

(Efficient...)

Each bulb was supposed to last for years and years etc.

I must keep getting duds as they are absolute pants!!!!!!

Your definately getting the duds or there's something seriously wrong with your supply. I've never changed a single one of these bulbs and the oldest had been in over 5 years now.

Each bulb is pathetic when it comes to giving out light (I know the watt % ratio to an old bulb)

I notice that they seem to take a few minutes to get to maximum brightness and the colour tends to be a softer yellow glow than standard bulbs but not really noticed that they are too much dimmer. Must admit though, I do tend to use the next equivelent size up (ie replace a 60W incandescent with a 100W equiv energy saver).

so considering each bulb is pathetic when it comes down to lifespan I think these are another gimmick and total BS!!!!

The initial prices were way too high but they seem to be very affordable now that they are mainstream. Other than that, the only real problem with them is that they aren't dimmable which means I can only use them in half the lamps around the house.

Anyone else sick of these bulbs? Or is it my house?

lol, Your probably going to have to get used to them. Hasn't Ireland just banned (or is about to) incandescent light bulbs.

You can be sure our Govt will be looking at that very closely. If they can get out of building another power station then i'm sure similar rules will be applied here soon enough

 

[hurdy]

yea energy saving bulbs suck. The light quality is rbbish from them.

 

[kevans]

I use them where I can, but not being dimable is a problem. As most of the house has dimmers fitted.

Anyone know if any dimmable one's will be available sometime.

 

[Curly]

Anyone know if any dimmable one's will be available sometime.

The only way to dim a flourescent light is to alter the supply frequency or use special electronic ballasts with a 0-10V input connected across a pot.
Neither of these methods are suitable for a compact flourescent lamp due to size constraints.


I have a few of these lamps at home and they last for ages.
I even have energy saving spotlights (R63) in the kitchen.
All my outside lights, a couple of table lamps, a picture light and the fittings on the hall/landing are all low energy.
I think it depends on which you get when it comes to colour. Mine are colour 840 (around 4000K) which is more of a brighter white.

Curly

 

[Penners]

I think they are great only thing to be aware of is buying the really really cheap ones as I tend to find these do not perform as good as the higher priced ones.

Also i'm not sure if its just my numb fingers but I have smashed a few just by screwing them in Although more my fault than the build I think as I was holding the glass bit when I was screwing them in
:banana:

fancy a dansing banana ??

 

[digicol]

Also i'm not sure if its just my numb fingers but I have smashed a few just by screwing them in Although more my fault than the build I think as I was holding the glass bit when I was screwing them in
:banana:

fancy a dansing banana ??

Yeah that happened last night as well, I went to remove the one from the dining room to put it in the kitchen and the sod smashed in my fingers!!!!

 

[Matt-LivUniSkydivers]

They are quite lame. I think the technology has improved recently though. I remember having quite a few when they were a fairly new concept, and they'd die after a few weeks/months thus costing you a bloody fortune.
They're also rubbish in that you basically need to leave them on, as otherwise you walk into a dark room, flip the switch, and have to wait about 20 minutes before they get bright enough to see anything.

...I'd also be careful if you keep smashing them, and when throwing them away, as they contain mercury and need to be disposed of in the correct manner.

 

[pipsqueaker]

The light output is crap.
Since they've got cheaper, they don't last like they are supposed to.
They've got gas in them which is not very good for the environment. A complete waste of time and money.

 

[canary32]

roud:my are fine so far

 

[Kris]

Nearly all energy saving lights in my place here. Couple of them are really annoying and take a good few minutes to light up fully but I can't say any of them have failed but not been here a year yet even!

It was the landlord that put them in but personally I wouldn't buy them. They're expensive and not guaranteed to last. I remember when I worked in an electrical shop and a very irate customer came back with one that he bought two weeks earlier that had failed. The bulb was selling at about £7.99. He didn't like it when I said I couldn't change it because it wasn't guaranteed to last as long as it said on the box!

 

[gooroo]

I think Tesco where doing these at 1p each not so long ago!!!

Regards, Simon

 

[ekwat]

Megaman do dimmable energysavers but they don't work with dimmer switches. They have a few levels of brightness and work by turning the switch on and off iirc.
I have several different type of energy saver. Some give full light instantly ( The megaman) some take a short while ( Ikea and B&Q ) and some take forever ( GE ). I think the Ikea ones are the best value but the best quality and the most expensive are the megaman.

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/GU10-Dimmable-Megaman-White-watts/dp/B000SAKHW8"]Dimmable Megaman example[/ame]

And I've never had to replace an energy saver.

 

[willjordan7]

I'll have to change the whole house over in 09 as "normal" bulbs will be banned from sale over here in Ireland next year,the joys of having the green party as part of government.

 

[TravelHead]

Low energy light bulbs are subsidised - aren't they? Nowadays all the supermarkets seem to have offers on, so can pick up 3 for a pound. I even managed to pickup a box of 10 for £2 at Asda recently.

Waiting for led technology to improve and get cheaper - when will that happen!

 

[Akers]

They last for a long time, but don't produce even light. Plus its horrible white light.