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sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 5:22 pm Post subject: Lightbulbs

When we moved in, virtually every lightbulb we installed was the energy saving type, now only the ones in the hall are. The reason is that I found there is something about the light from them that makes me either unable to see what I'm working on (especially fine sewing and craftwork), or that they seemed to make us feel vaguely depressed. I'd really like to swap back to eco bulbs, but I'm wondering whether the experience we had was at all common, and whether there are any 'tricks' to help offset the feeling we got that we weren't getting a decent working light from them.

Its daft, because I have been known to function perfectly well by candle-light on many occasions, but for some reason the eco bulbs drove me potty. Are there different specifications of them (apart from the brightness, I know you can get several different brightnesses of them).

Hoping they have evolved a bit over the last 5 years, it annoys me having to choose the 'bad' sort of bulbs, especially if I can find eco ones that actually fit in the light fittings we have and don't make me feel yuk.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 5:25 pm Post subject:
I'll let you know, I'm waiting delivery of 3 different types of low energy bulbs, the LED ones that Jema and I tried were crap

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 5:34 pm Post subject:
Our house has nothing but eco bulbs, whilst they are a bit dim starting up the 20w GE models give a nice, bright light. I wouldn't recommend an 11w for anything other than a very small room.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 5:44 pm Post subject:
I'm glad I'm not alone in hating the light from low-energy bulbs - the colour temperature is a horrible sickly green and makes me thoroughly depressed. When they come up with some that have a warmer temperature (or even daylight equivalence), I'll happily convert. Oops, maybe this should have been said in the confessional!

puffedpride

Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 300
Location: bristol

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 8:32 pm Post subject:
There are some rather expensive new ones that have a spiral tube, producing a bright 'natural light'. Has anyone tried these?

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28234
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 8:56 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

I'll let you know, I'm waiting delivery of 3 different types of low energy bulbs, the LED ones that Jema and I tried were crap

I was certainly going to leap in and say they were awful. Can't recall what problems you had?

Goxhill

Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 245
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 9:22 pm Post subject:
I really struggle with them too. I thought it was just me as the other family members don't seem affected & I'm a SAD sufferer.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 9:23 pm Post subject:

puffedpride wrote:

There are some rather expensive new ones that have a spiral tube, producing a bright 'natural light'. Has anyone tried these?

I think these are among those we've tried - the light is interesting, it's definitely clearer and brighter than your typical ecobulb , which I think are what we have in the kitchen and living room, supposed to be better for crafts/reading etc than "normal" ones but it's still odd compared to them. However we've been through two and both popped far too quickly - weeks, rather than months or the alleged years. That could be our dodgy house with dodgy 1930s electrics though, I'll get the man of the house to comment properly while I go back to hanging out the washing and brushing my silken locks

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28234
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 9:39 pm Post subject:
Our LEDS died in weeks making them a complete lie from an eco point of view

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 9:51 pm Post subject:

jema wrote:

Our LEDS died in weeks making them a complete lie from an eco point of view

No recourse to the supplier?

ele

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 814
Location: Derby

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 9:51 pm Post subject:
I do like the normal non flickery warm light from ordinary lightbulbs so in our lounge we do have a mix of those and a couple of side lamps with energy efficient bulbs. In summer I switch them all to energy efficient as I don't want waste heat (where as in winter at least they help to heat the house a little!), and I'm not under them so much with the long days so I'm not so bothered.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28234
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 06 9:56 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

jema wrote:

Our LEDS died in weeks making them a complete lie from an eco point of view

No recourse to the supplier?

I am terrible on that sort of thing. I should have made an issue of it as a matter of principle. But I am up to my ears in work and could do without the aggravation.

tawny owl

Joined: 29 Apr 2005
Posts: 563
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 06 10:09 pm Post subject:

Goxhill wrote:

I really struggle with them too. I thought it was just me as the other family members don't seem affected & I'm a SAD sufferer.

Me too. The light is awful and they make me feel really depressed. I've switched to halogens, which at least use less 'leccy, but like someone (TD?), I've made a resolution to just make sure they're switched off now.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 06 11:12 am Post subject:

puffedpride wrote:

There are some rather expensive new ones that have a spiral tube, producing a bright 'natural light'. Has anyone tried these?

Bought some for �2.60, 8000hr life apparently, the lights OK but they take ages to get up to a decent level of brightness

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 06 11:15 am Post subject:

jema wrote:

tahir wrote:

I'll let you know, I'm waiting delivery of 3 different types of low energy bulbs, the LED ones that Jema and I tried were crap

I was certainly going to leap in and say they were awful. Can't recall what problems you had?

The light output is pathetic and the light is very cold, blueish

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