100W incandescent lightbulbs

[ARWadsworth]

So they are not extinct then. The girlfriend picked 8 100W Osrams up today from Netto.

Also the manager at my local electrical wholesaler tells me that 500 are arriving at his shop on monday.

Adam

[Adrian C]

Whoops, unfortunately you've now alerted the green police. The store will be raided, evidence collected and questions will be asked.

The merchandise will be removed under secure armed guard and destroyed in a secret location ...

[Andrew Gabriel]

It's only a voluntary agreement amongst the large retailers at the moment. Also, the main manufacturers stopped making 240V ones around September last year in preparation for the wind down, so there won't be as many around, and they'll be less well known makes (and they might be 220/230V, rather than 240V).

EU plans on bringing in legally binding rules for September. Then it will be 60W max anywhere (retail/wholesale/...), and no more pearl GLS lamps at all (only clear GLS lamps, except for some specials such as coloured lamps).

[John Stumbles]

My outside light bulb went again last week. It's an old-fashioned jam-jar hung from a shepherd's crook type designs, and it's on a PIR which switches on when cats pass by (not meant to but it does) so even if a CFL fitted in the lamp it wouldn't be much good. I wondered about a LED lamp - ideal use for such things, but the commonly available ones seem only to be in directional GU10 and suchlike arrangements. With time, money and energy to spare a DIY project with some of these might be fun :-)

the end I found that Screwfix (and doubtless others) do halogen equivalents of GLS lamps for not-too-much wonga. About a third more efficient (claimed) and no-brainer compatible.

[ARWadsworth]

Thank you Andrew. Very informative as per usual. The lamps from Netto are

240V. I have no idea what the wholesaler will supply.

The Osram site gives additional reading for anyone interested

anyone ever tried Osrams Night Breaker headlight bulbs?

Adam

[OG]

Yeah, with electricity as cheap as it is - why not?

[ARWadsworth]

To see properly in a room at night?

Adam

[Frank Erskine]

On 24 Apr 2009 20:17:46 GMT, [e-mail] (Andrew Gabriel) had this to say:

A few weeks ago Asda had a batch of 100W (unbranded (or some weird brand ("Status"))) GLS pearl bulbs (240V), so I added to my stockpile a bit.

[OG]

FACVO 'properly' - I'm happy to pay 1/4 what you pay for it.

[Frank Erskine]

On 24 Apr 2009 20:17:46 GMT, [e-mail] (Andrew Gabriel) had this to say:

An EU directive only applies to the relevant government, which is expected to apply 'local' legislation. The EU cannot prosecute companies/firms/individuals.

[Clot]

Adrian, that's enough! I had advised you not to reveal your cover at this satge.

Please report to me in the morning.

Supergreen Superintendent Sid.

[Clot]

FACVO got past me. Any offers?

[OG]

For A Certain Value Of ...

[Clot]

Many thanks, appreciated.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

TLC still list the full range.

[The Medway Handyman]

My garage/workshop is lit by 5 x 100w bulbs, whats the alternative? Don't fancy flour essence due to possible flickering in synch with revolving saw blades etc.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Not sure the modern ones do flicker that much.. But you could use halogens.

Focussed on the rotating knives..and flour essence for general background...

[Toom Tabard]

My centre ceiling fitting in living room had 3 x 60-watt bayonet candle bulbs. Difficult to find equivalent output in energy-saving candles, so fitted 3 x 20- watt Phillips bayonet spirals. According to the packaging that's about 345 watt equivalent in old money - absolutely brilliant! Reasonably compact so they fit in the shades, and look quite attractive too.

Anyone know if there's an energy-saving equivalent for Par 38 80-watt bayonet floodlights which will give an acceptable equivalent light output?

Toom

[Andrew Gabriel]

Use fluorescents with electronic ballasts.

I think the cheapest way to DIY them is to buy a cheap multi-pack of fittings from somewhere like Wickes, chuck the ballast and starter (and there won't even be a PFC capacitor;-), and get a set of replacement electronic ballasts. eBay seems to be a cheap place to get electronic ballasts, and you can get a small selecetion from the likes of CPC/Farnell, but the specialist electronic ballast suppliers' prices (or fittings pre-fitted with electronic ballasts) are laughable.

[Andrew Gabriel]

lights to light up a path. The Luxeon emitters are very wide angle by themselves, and several people make lenses/reflectors to use with them. I used lenses to generate an eliptical beam,

20 degress by 5 degress, and then appropriately spaced the LEDs at a height of about 20'. I found I could run them at about 1.7W each and have plenty enough light (and should be very much longer life than at 3W). I'm using the much less efficient warm white ones too -- I didn't want a cold blue cast to the lighting.

I think there's still much unexploited potential in design of LED luminares. People have got fixated on LED retrofits, and those are doomed to be a dead loss. You could probably take your light and make a very effective LED light from it, but not by simply retrofitting something into the existing lampholder.

Be careful. The ones I've seen claim to use 1/3rd (or whatever) less power. They make no claims to produce the same light output as the lamps they replace (and they don't). I filament lamp in a fitting which swings in the wind probably won't get you full life.