LED bulbs - why not mandatory or subsidised

[Teddy Lop]

p1esk said:

V6 Pushfit said:

ambuletz said:

try telling most people 'spend £100 to replace all your bulbs'. I get that it could save you money in the longrun..but who's really going to do that unless you have a high disposable income for something that many would consider frivielous.
lights are one of those things.. people will only replace once the current one dies.

Exactly - Govt raises awareness big time and introduces subsidies to encourage.

That's the word I like: encourage.

In my view, while some of it is appropriate and justifiable, we already have too much regulation and mandatory compliance - especially when it relates to what we can/can not have, or can/can not do in our own homes.

The government should be producing and issuing advice, guidance, suggestions, recommendations, and backing it up with incentives, and leaving it at that.

Yeh, cos anything the guberment sticks it paws in is so damn efficient aye?

I mean you can already buy led bulbs for like 80p...

[98elise]

rykard said:

we've tried to swap to LED bulbs. Mostly not very well. It's interesting to read the other comments on here about voltages and transformers etc. Surely if you want everyone to swap to LEDs then there should be some sort of grant to fix the electrics in the older houses that aren't 'compatible' and the bulbs should last a lot longer than they seem to be doing

It's nothing to do with age. 12v Halogens are a relatively recent invention, and all you need to change the transformer to an LED driver. They can be bought for as little as £3.

I don't think I've had a single LED fail, and I paid about £2 per lamp. When we're in the range of things that cost £2-3 there really doesn't need to be a grant.

[anonymous-user]

Teddy Lop said:

Yeh, cos anything the guberment sticks it paws in is so damn efficient aye?

I mean you can already buy led bulbs for like 80p...

Where from?

And how do you get the millions who don’t seem to realise they exist to buy them?

In the meantime our lifestyles are being forcibly changed to save less CO2 than changing over to LED bulbs.

[rxe]

98elise said:

It's nothing to do with age. 12v Halogens are a relatively recent invention, and all you need to change the transformer to an LED driver. They can be bought for as little as £3.

I don't think I've had a single LED fail, and I paid about £2 per lamp. When we're in the range of things that cost £2-3 there really doesn't need to be a grant.

I've had lots of cheap ones fail. Never had one made by a "reputable" manufacturer fail.

The shift is happening. Go to Screwfix and try and buy and old fashioned 500W spotlight - you can't get one. They're all LED. It's pretty hard to buy an incandescent bulb in B&Q as well.

[ElectricSoup]

98elise said:

rykard said:

we've tried to swap to LED bulbs. Mostly not very well. It's interesting to read the other comments on here about voltages and transformers etc. Surely if you want everyone to swap to LEDs then there should be some sort of grant to fix the electrics in the older houses that aren't 'compatible' and the bulbs should last a lot longer than they seem to be doing

It's nothing to do with age. 12v Halogens are a relatively recent invention, and all you need to change the transformer to an LED driver. They can be bought for as little as £3.

I don't think I've had a single LED fail, and I paid about £2 per lamp. When we're in the range of things that cost £2-3 there really doesn't need to be a grant.

I have 12 GU10 halogens in my kitchen ceiling, and would like to replace with LEDs. Your comment makes me think that they may not work. Is that right? Is there some reason they wouldn't work? And if so, how do I check before I buy any?

[FlipFlopGriff]

We're just changing the 400w metal halide lights in on of our warehouses (50,000ft2) and the payback is just over 12 months. Savings are over £50k pa on electricity plus the saving on CO2 (789 tonnes pa). I've been trying to get them done for 4.5 years but struggled getting senior mgt sign off, due to lease and contract renewal dates not aligning, but finally got it. I've changed ALL our house bulbs and external lights to LED years ago - I don;t think they are expensive at around £5 a bulb but recently been buying some at Poundstretcher (or is Home Bargains) and they have been £2 a bulb. So a 10W LED v 100w bulb is a big saving plus the light is much better - mainly gone for warm in the house with some cool white where I need the extra light. Started with 5-7w and have upgaded some to 10 or 12w to provide more light where needed. Just checked here (first google site that come up) and they are cheap.
https://www.ledbulbs.co.uk/collections/e27-led-bul...
FFG

[techguyone]

V6 Pushfit said:

Where from?

And how do you get the millions who don’t seem to realise they exist to buy them?

In the meantime our lifestyles are being forcibly changed to save less CO2 than changing over to LED bulbs.

You know, many incandescent bulbs are simply not available to buy anymore, this will only get more so, I'd expect halogen to go the same way too given time. Eventually you'll get to the point where LED is the only choice, it won't matter then who is or is not aware they exist as they'll simply be the only thing you can get...

[Gren]

ElectricSoup said:

98elise said:

rykard said:

we've tried to swap to LED bulbs. Mostly not very well. It's interesting to read the other comments on here about voltages and transformers etc. Surely if you want everyone to swap to LEDs then there should be some sort of grant to fix the electrics in the older houses that aren't 'compatible' and the bulbs should last a lot longer than they seem to be doing

It's nothing to do with age. 12v Halogens are a relatively recent invention, and all you need to change the transformer to an LED driver. They can be bought for as little as £3.

I don't think I've had a single LED fail, and I paid about £2 per lamp. When we're in the range of things that cost £2-3 there really doesn't need to be a grant.

I have 12 GU10 halogens in my kitchen ceiling, and would like to replace with LEDs. Your comment makes me think that they may not work. Is that right? Is there some reason they wouldn't work? And if so, how do I check before I buy any?

GU10s should be fine. They are mains voltage and have the fatter pins. It's the GU5.3s with the thinner pins that may have problems

[ElectricSoup]

Gren said:

ElectricSoup said:

98elise said:

rykard said:

we've tried to swap to LED bulbs. Mostly not very well. It's interesting to read the other comments on here about voltages and transformers etc. Surely if you want everyone to swap to LEDs then there should be some sort of grant to fix the electrics in the older houses that aren't 'compatible' and the bulbs should last a lot longer than they seem to be doing

It's nothing to do with age. 12v Halogens are a relatively recent invention, and all you need to change the transformer to an LED driver. They can be bought for as little as £3.

I don't think I've had a single LED fail, and I paid about £2 per lamp. When we're in the range of things that cost £2-3 there really doesn't need to be a grant.

I have 12 GU10 halogens in my kitchen ceiling, and would like to replace with LEDs. Your comment makes me think that they may not work. Is that right? Is there some reason they wouldn't work? And if so, how do I check before I buy any?

GU10s should be fine. They are mains voltage and have the fatter pins. It's the GU5.3s with the thinner pins that may have problems

Great advice, thanks. I've also got some under pelmet lights with halogen G4s in them. Would LED G4s be OK in those?

[rlg43p]

V6 Pushfit said:

5 x 50W is £13 a year based on 5 hours a day on.
The LED version at 5w is £1.30

So around 2-3 years. In a kitchen or a room where the light is on all the time it’ll drop to 1-2 years.

Edited by V6 Pushfit on Sunday 19th January 12:06

I don't get your maths......?

Why 2-3 years?

If we are talking GU10 bulbs these cost £2 each (https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-gu10-led-light-bulb-345lm-5w-10-pack/1402v)

So you have paid back the bulb cost in 2 months, not 2-3 years.

And that's ignoring the fact that you have to replace the halogens much much more frequently than LED.

[AB]

There's so much crap out there in terms of LED. It is a minefield.

Totally with the OP though, I started my business 4 years ago having worked in lighting for a few years at a time when LED was just becoming commercially viable.

We've converted most local larger businesses to LED but the demand just isn't there at the moment. We've done a few schools of late but people either really want to do it or are 100% against it.

We had to diversify in to other markets which turned out to be a really wise decision.

Greta needs to harp on about LED lamps!!!!

[Ean218]

foxbody-87 said:

That's not including commercial properties either. We converted our depot floodlights and office lights to LED and worked out it would pay itself off within a year.

I swapped out 300 fluorescent tubes for LEDs in December 2018. They were paid for by September 2019.

[Gren]

ElectricSoup said:

Gren said:

ElectricSoup said:

98elise said:

rykard said:

we've tried to swap to LED bulbs. Mostly not very well. It's interesting to read the other comments on here about voltages and transformers etc. Surely if you want everyone to swap to LEDs then there should be some sort of grant to fix the electrics in the older houses that aren't 'compatible' and the bulbs should last a lot longer than they seem to be doing

It's nothing to do with age. 12v Halogens are a relatively recent invention, and all you need to change the transformer to an LED driver. They can be bought for as little as £3.

I don't think I've had a single LED fail, and I paid about £2 per lamp. When we're in the range of things that cost £2-3 there really doesn't need to be a grant.

I have 12 GU10 halogens in my kitchen ceiling, and would like to replace with LEDs. Your comment makes me think that they may not work. Is that right? Is there some reason they wouldn't work? And if so, how do I check before I buy any?

GU10s should be fine. They are mains voltage and have the fatter pins. It's the GU5.3s with the thinner pins that may have problems

Great advice, thanks. I've also got some under pelmet lights with halogen G4s in them. Would LED G4s be OK in those?

Now these only may or may not work. GU4s and GU5.3s are pretty much the same and have transformers which may not be happy with LEDS. Try one I suppose? They're only a fiver

[bunchofkeys]

Can anyone recommend where i can buy replacement LED tubes, for the two 5ft florescent ones that i have in the kitchen of a rental.

It would probably be easier to just buy a twin 5ft LED batten, but i don't think that i can just go around and swap light units over, without consent.
Bulbs however, much easier, but it's trying to find them.

Had a look on Screwfix and they have a very limited stock of LED tubes.

[98elise]

ElectricSoup said:

98elise said:

rykard said:

we've tried to swap to LED bulbs. Mostly not very well. It's interesting to read the other comments on here about voltages and transformers etc. Surely if you want everyone to swap to LEDs then there should be some sort of grant to fix the electrics in the older houses that aren't 'compatible' and the bulbs should last a lot longer than they seem to be doing

It's nothing to do with age. 12v Halogens are a relatively recent invention, and all you need to change the transformer to an LED driver. They can be bought for as little as £3.

I don't think I've had a single LED fail, and I paid about £2 per lamp. When we're in the range of things that cost £2-3 there really doesn't need to be a grant.

I have 12 GU10 halogens in my kitchen ceiling, and would like to replace with LEDs. Your comment makes me think that they may not work. Is that right? Is there some reason they wouldn't work? And if so, how do I check before I buy any?

GU10 are 240v so are just a direct replacement.

It's the low voltage halogens that are a problem. They have a separate transformer which is sized to the halogen load. For 12v LEDs you need to replace the transformer as well.

Same goes for dimmers. Dimmers won't necessarily work with LED's. You need one that's suitable for LED's.

[FiF]

ElectricSoup said:

Great advice, thanks. I've also got some under pelmet lights with halogen G4s in them. Would LED G4s be OK in those?

Depends, most LED G4s are much bigger than capsule G4s and won't fit into the unit.

The nearest I have found are from Tool station. I use the Integral ones on this page the Philips ones are definitely too big, the Meridian ones were too big in diameter to fit in my units.

[techguyone]

bunchofkeys said:

Can anyone recommend where i can buy replacement LED tubes, for the two 5ft florescent ones that i have in the kitchen of a rental.

It would probably be easier to just buy a twin 5ft LED batten, but i don't think that i can just go around and swap light units over, without consent.
Bulbs however, much easier, but it's trying to find them.

Had a look on Screwfix and they have a very limited stock of LED tubes.

B & Q , Amazon too offer them, I'd expect eBay too, just make sure you get the sort with the led starter so it doesn't require any other jiggery pokery to get going.

[bunchofkeys]

brill, thank you

[FlipFlopGriff]

Ean218 said:

I swapped out 300 fluorescent tubes for LEDs in December 2018. They were paid for by September 2019.

My father was in Solihull hospital and the lights are on 24/7. Its amazing they still have tubes. The payback would be amazing and the light way better.
FFG

[Condi]

p1esk said:

That's the word I like: encourage.

In my view, while some of it is appropriate and justifiable, we already have too much regulation and mandatory compliance - especially when it relates to what we can/can not have, or can/can not do in our own homes.

The government should be producing and issuing advice, guidance, suggestions, recommendations, and backing it up with incentives, and leaving it at that.

Disagree; the rental sector in particular is terrible for investment and without government requirements it won't change. The landlord sees no benefit from his investment, while tenants are stuck with inefficient and expensive to run homes.

Ref businesses - the energy firms will often put energy efficiency measures in for no upfront cost, including the likes of LED lighting. This is then paid for over a period of time through your energy bills, before the benefit switches to the buyer. It is a bit of a no brainer.