Light Bulbs...is It Just Me...

[janzman]

....in our house we have two floor lamps, two table lamps, two bedside lamps and a desk lamp. Between them these lamps are fitted with large and small bayonet and large and small screw caps. With a choice of incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and LED bulbs, is it only me or do others find this more than just a tad confusing.

[zebo]

There's got to be a Law, maybe Zebo's Law, like Murphy's and Pakinson's, that says whichever bulb needs changing, you have all the others but not that one.

[Prudie]

No me too. I used to really understand bulbs and now I'm completely lost. I have some small fancy bulbs in wall lights that have been in since before the low energy were foisted on us and I would have no idea how to replace them.

[hereIam]

It's the modern way janzman - too much choice !

[Prudie]

It's not so much the choice but which ones equate. For example I like a 100w small bayonet in my bedroom light - what's the modern equivalent?

[gingejbee]

The only sensible, modern lamp is LED with whatever fitting is required....I've replaced ALL the lamps (ie "bulbs") here and couldn't be more satisfied with the result.

[gingejbee]

The equivalents of all the different lamps can be found on this useful site...


https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-guides/energy-saving-light-bulbs.html

[ladybirder]

Me too ginge. Luckily we have an electrician in our block of flats so he advised which ones to get. LED is definitely the way and they last for ages.

If you take your old bulb with you to a proper electrical shop they will advise on LED replacements.

[Prudie]

That's a great link gingebee, I've bookmarked it

[Robinia]

It's not only confusing but time consuming and bloomin' expensive.

[ladybirder]

Not really expensive because they last for years.

[mikey4444]

Janz....use LEDs for everything, if you can. This site is to recommended :::

https://www.ledhut.co.uk/?gclid=COSJye3Ro9ACFZQV0wodaOEJcg

[ethandron]

Woe betide you if you buy any lighting from IKEA, their light bulbs are a blooming nightmare to find...apart from in IKEA of course!

[mikey4444]

But be care of "wattage" This phrase is only really f use when comparing to bulbs of the same type.

For instance, a 100w incandescent bulb is obviously brighter than a 60w bulb.

But when buying LEDS, always go for the highest LUMEN rating that you can get.

Also be aware of the difference between spotlights and ordinary bulbs....a spotlight might be better, when you want a smaller beam of light, say on a bathroom.

[New Judge]

No it’s not only you.

I’ll leave aside my usual grump that I cannot use a proper light bulb but shops can leave their doors wide open in the middle of February, heating the street up nicely with their 25Kw curtain heaters (as I said, I won’t mention it!). I do agree LEDs are the way to go, but I don’t like being told what to do in such matters.

But the question of different fittings is ridiculous. Screw/bayonet; Large/Small; GU10 with studs, halogen with pins (large and small). Utterly ridiculous.

[mikey4444]

NJ...why is it ridiculous ?

Confusing I grant you but this all the result of new types of fitting, new bulbs and new inventions.

Year ago, when we were lads, we only had two types of light fittings...one that hung from the centre rose of the ceiling, usually on a bit of hairy flex. The other were either table lamps or standard lamps, but they both used the same incandescent and highly inefficient bulbs, as the ceiling ones, and gave off as much heat as they did light.

The changes started with florescent strip lights, first in kitchens and then in a circular form, in our living rooms, again fixed to our ceilings. I remember Dad changing the incandescent fitting, with the hairy flex, for one of those round florescent ones. We all marvelled at what a lovely bright light it gave out, without realising that it made everybody look sightly ill and really wasn't such a good light after all.

Along came Halogen spotlights !

Now we have LEDS that are not only miles cheaper to run but last almost forever.

We are all on a learning curve here !

[Mamyalynne]

I only wish I could get a decent strength bulb for my ceiling light, years ago I used 150 watt, they stopped, went to 100watt - now the new ones are very poor and nowhere near bright enough.


I can't start changing fittings as is a rented property.

Higher strength should be available for the partially sighted, on precription maybe.

[bhg481]

150W available from Amazon Mamy.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LAGLS150BC.html?ad_position=1o1&source=adwords&ad_id=45425533757&placement=&kw=&network=g&matchtype=&ad_type=pla&;product_id=LAGLS150BC&product_partition_id=174055575427&test=finalurl_v2&gclid=CP6eirDco9ACFfUW0wod0q8ANg

[woofgang]

not only lumens to consider but the “temperature” of the light. Warm lights are cosier but appear less bright, cold lights are brighter, nearer to daylight but can cast unpleasant shadows.

[Mamyalynne]

Ta bhg.x

[mikey4444]

Mamy....what you need is an adaptor, to allow you to pug a LED bulb into a ordinary light fitting, such as this ::::

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Bayonet-B22-To-G9-Halogen-or-LED-Light-Bulb-Adaptor-Lamp-Socket-Converter-/361494447420?hash=item542abf853c:g:Z3YAAOSwg3FUaq49

You can then use a nice bright LED bulb, marked as 1300 lumens or even higher ( available from LED hut ! )

Or you can get LED bulbs, with a bayonet or a Edison screw fitting as standard, thus obviating the need and use of an adaptor....again available from LED hut.

But look out for an LED bulbs marked as 1300 Lumens minimum. Again, be careful of wattage/lumen comparisons