"Economic" light bulbs
Discussion
This puts me in mind of the wonderful Tony Hancock sketch when he decided to change everything to gas, and having installed the lights with mantles he fell out with the Gas Board when he went in to buy a gas TV. However, I am aware as I get older that I am becoming a real Major Blimp and proud of it.
To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
I've never known any of the Compact Fluorescent lamps to last anywhere near the stated lifetime.
I recently "invested" in some LED lamps which claim to be even more energy efficient and long lasting but it remains to be seen if that's true.
I'm all in favour of lower energy bills but the CFL lamps are still quite expensive compared to ordinary filament lamps, not that you can get them easily any more.
Also, they always seem to take ages to warm up and reach full brightness.
I feel your pain OP
I recently "invested" in some LED lamps which claim to be even more energy efficient and long lasting but it remains to be seen if that's true.
I'm all in favour of lower energy bills but the CFL lamps are still quite expensive compared to ordinary filament lamps, not that you can get them easily any more.
Also, they always seem to take ages to warm up and reach full brightness.
I feel your pain OP
Have you tried decent quality LEDs rather than CFLs?
I've had a few decent ones and they seem to be bulletproof. Use less juice and a more pleasant light than CFL as well.
I've had a few decent ones and they seem to be bulletproof. Use less juice and a more pleasant light than CFL as well.
wilfandrowlf said:
Also, they always seem to take ages to warm up and reach full brightness.
That's just showing that you've been using poor quality CFLs. Decent ones are near enough full brightness straight away. Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 14th January 13:51
lowdrag said:
This puts me in mind of the wonderful Tony Hancock sketch when he decided to change everything to gas, and having installed the lights with mantles he fell out with the Gas Board when he went in to buy a gas TV. However, I am aware as I get older that I am becoming a real Major Blimp and proud of it.
To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
Your 100 watt lightbulb would cost you £70 to run for 5 years, the "economic" one, £10.To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
Three steps back indeed.
JD said:
lowdrag said:
This puts me in mind of the wonderful Tony Hancock sketch when he decided to change everything to gas, and having installed the lights with mantles he fell out with the Gas Board when he went in to buy a gas TV. However, I am aware as I get older that I am becoming a real Major Blimp and proud of it.
To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
Your 100 watt lightbulb would cost you £70 to run for 5 years, the "economic" one, £10.To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
Three steps back indeed.
f
king HATE low energy bulbs. budgie smuggler said:
Have you tried decent quality LEDs rather than CFLs?
I've had a few decent ones and they seem to be bulletproof. Use less juice and a more pleasant light than CFL as well.
Where can you get decent ones from?I've had a few decent ones and they seem to be bulletproof. Use less juice and a more pleasant light than CFL as well.
I've had some from Amazon (not cheap - about £6 each) & after the seller replacing them twice due to them failing I gave up & got some CFLs instead which despite not looking as good, at least do work.
It's the candle type I'm after & it's for a light fitting on our stairs which is that bloody high it involves getting extendable ladders out to sort it which annoys me.
8Ace said:
JD said:
lowdrag said:
This puts me in mind of the wonderful Tony Hancock sketch when he decided to change everything to gas, and having installed the lights with mantles he fell out with the Gas Board when he went in to buy a gas TV. However, I am aware as I get older that I am becoming a real Major Blimp and proud of it.
To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
Your 100 watt lightbulb would cost you £70 to run for 5 years, the "economic" one, £10.To get back to the subject. Lovely modern chrome lamp standard, one 100 watt bulb, replaced of course with a modern one that consumes only 15W. On the packet it proudly states "11,000 hours usage". Now there are8,760 hours in a (normal) year, so that's a year and a half if left on permanently, but in the real world let's say 35 hours a week in winter and perhaps 2 in summer, so round it off at 1,000 hours per annum. Wa-hey, I've 11 years before I need to change the bulb! Except I am today on the third in three years, and at £17 each I think it would be cheaper to go back to filaments and pay the electricity. Of course, I'd kept the bulb and packaging, only to find that in letters far too small for my ageing eyes it is an "estimate", not a guarantee. Screwed again. This time the packaging states "15,000 hours assuming an average of 2.7 hours per day" (huh?) which is less than 1,000 hours p.a. Except of course that in small print it says that the bulb is guaranteed for five years. One step forward, three backwards it seems. Had similar problems with packaging and technology?
Three steps back indeed.
f
king HATE low energy bulbs. 
I hate them because the light is crap & no matter how many you have on it's still hard to read.
budgie smuggler said:
Have you tried decent quality LEDs rather than CFLs?
I've had a few decent ones and they seem to be bulletproof. Use less juice and a more pleasant light than CFL as well.
Most of the ones in our house came free from British Gas or nPower etc.I've had a few decent ones and they seem to be bulletproof. Use less juice and a more pleasant light than CFL as well.
wilfandrowlf said:
Also, they always seem to take ages to warm up and reach full brightness.
That's just showing that you've been using poor quality CFLs. Decent ones are near enough full brightness straight away. Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 14th January 13:51
As you say probably s
t quality, especially if they can afford to give them away for free.I'm swaying towards LED's in the future, nicer type of light too IMHO.
northwest monkey said:
Where can you get decent ones from?
I've had some from Amazon (not cheap - about £6 each) & after the seller replacing them twice due to them failing I gave up & got some CFLs instead which despite not looking as good, at least do work.
It's the candle type I'm after & it's for a light fitting on our stairs which is that bloody high it involves getting extendable ladders out to sort it which annoys me.
We've got a variety of different Philips LED bulbs in our house, we haven't got any candle ones, but I know they're available. We bought all of ours from Amazon, apart from the 100w equivalent ones which Amazon didn't have, so we got from B&Q. None of them were cheap, but they all seem to be very good quality, as you'd expect from Philips, and none of them have failed yet. I've had some from Amazon (not cheap - about £6 each) & after the seller replacing them twice due to them failing I gave up & got some CFLs instead which despite not looking as good, at least do work.
It's the candle type I'm after & it's for a light fitting on our stairs which is that bloody high it involves getting extendable ladders out to sort it which annoys me.
EDIT: I forgot to say, the light they produce is a nice colour, too. It's a nice, warm white not that awful "operating theatre" white which lots of cheap LED bulbs seem to be.
Edited by Matt100HP on Thursday 14th January 14:07
northwest monkey said:
Where can you get decent ones from?
I've had some from Amazon (not cheap - about £6 each) & after the seller replacing them twice due to them failing I gave up & got some CFLs instead which despite not looking as good, at least do work.
It's the candle type I'm after & it's for a light fitting on our stairs which is that bloody high it involves getting extendable ladders out to sort it which annoys me.
TBH i just get mine from Amazon. I search for £5+ in the right fitting, then sort by ratings, and read the reviews to make sure people haven't updated the to say "It was good but died in 6 weeks" or whatever. I think I've got Auraglow dimmables and Phillips non-dim. All around £10-15 each, but should payback within 2 years of purchase as they were high wattage halogens before. Mine've done 18 months already so I think they'll last.I've had some from Amazon (not cheap - about £6 each) & after the seller replacing them twice due to them failing I gave up & got some CFLs instead which despite not looking as good, at least do work.
It's the candle type I'm after & it's for a light fitting on our stairs which is that bloody high it involves getting extendable ladders out to sort it which annoys me.
Hooli said:
Never thought of that point before
I hate them because the light is crap & no matter how many you have on it's still hard to read.
Bloody expensive way to heat up your ceiling. I hate them because the light is crap & no matter how many you have on it's still hard to read.
JD said:
Your 100 watt lightbulb would cost you £70 to run for 5 years, the "economic" one, £10.
Three steps back indeed.
Now why let the truth get in the way of a good story? Anyway, your maths are wrong. If I have tochange it every year I've spent £85 on new bulbs at the current rate. I am sure others find it confusing enough, all this new technology, and they only had one bulb of this size in stock at the local equivalent of Do it All:-Three steps back indeed.
I appreciate that A-E isn't good enough any more so this is classed A+ and is made by Lexman. And of course, it is "made in P.R.C.". Where else?
ETA:- And I do like the instruction diagram:-
1. Plug lamp in.
2. Screw bulb in. Doesn't say which way to turn it though.
Should this part be in the council thread?
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 14th January 14:11
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 14th January 14:12
The best CFL's I've ever had were a pack of half a dozen cheap spiral ones from Costco. 8 or 9 years on they're all working fine, I have no issue with warm up time, and the colour from them is great.
On the other hand I've binned several Phillips ones, and just swapped out a CFL GU10 (dunno what brand) that must only be 2 or 3 years old and had started taking ages to warm up.
On the other hand I've binned several Phillips ones, and just swapped out a CFL GU10 (dunno what brand) that must only be 2 or 3 years old and had started taking ages to warm up.
Over a couple of months, I changed all the bulbs in our house fro LEDs, that was maybe 18 months ago and I havent had to change a single bulb in that time, the value of millions of people going up on ladders and chairs, then falling off never gets mentioned but I suspect it will have an effect on accident stats.
People judge low energy bulbs on old, crap CFLs which were terrible, modern, quality leds are really good, just got another for a new fitting, an Osram one and the light is great and its properly bright.
Another bonus is they dont generate so much heat, which I think must be safer.
People judge low energy bulbs on old, crap CFLs which were terrible, modern, quality leds are really good, just got another for a new fitting, an Osram one and the light is great and its properly bright.
Another bonus is they dont generate so much heat, which I think must be safer.
I don't care how economic they are to run or how cost effective they are to buy, the light from them is ste. You knew what you were getting from a 100W bulb, great light. These things they sell now means it's almost impossible to find your own dick in the dark.
Mind you, could be my age!!
te. You knew what you were getting from a 100W bulb, great light. These things they sell now means it's almost impossible to find your own dick in the dark.Mind you, could be my age!!
Ali Chappussy said:
I don't care how economic they are to run or how cost effective they are to buy, the light from them is ste. You knew what you were getting from a 100W bulb, great light. These things they sell now means it's almost impossible to find your own dick in the dark.
Mind you, could be my age!!
I replaced some halogen spots in the kitchen with LEDs and agree the light was ste. You knew what you were getting from a 100W bulb, great light. These things they sell now means it's almost impossible to find your own dick in the dark.Mind you, could be my age!!
t. So upgraded to some more expensive LEDs and the light is really good, nicer than the original spots. The moral being quality of light is highly variable with LEDs in a way it was perhaps not with filament bulbs.Are the LED ones worth bothering with? And at what price point are they worth the extra expenditure?
I don't have enough time to draw up spreadsheets (actually, I probably do..) but as we're on the subject I noticed Tesco had some swanky looking Osram jobbies on special at about £7 a bulb yesterday. Put it back down because the living room light bulb is still clinging on. Long pause after you switch it on, eventually it warms up. Heh, I'm getting my money's worth!
I don't have enough time to draw up spreadsheets (actually, I probably do..) but as we're on the subject I noticed Tesco had some swanky looking Osram jobbies on special at about £7 a bulb yesterday. Put it back down because the living room light bulb is still clinging on. Long pause after you switch it on, eventually it warms up. Heh, I'm getting my money's worth!
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