Bye bye 60W

[Jethro]

60W light bulb being banned

my outside 2-level lamp (dim normally, goes to full brightness when someone approaches) is now effectively obsolete ?

[Huge]

I shall check.

Probably. Many (most?) security lights/timers/dimmers, etc., don't work with CFLs since a lot of them pass a small current through the bulb all the time.

[Jethro]

I have a switch with a built-in timer which I fitted in the kitchen - it has a flap which you press for on/off and which drops down to reveal the timer controls. It's only meant for incandescent bulbs, but I managed to rig it up with a little ballast which I bought from RS or Farnell, which goes in parallel, and provides the tiny flow of current the timer needs to stay working.

[Bob Eager]

That depends how many bulbs you have stockpiled.

[Ret.]

Just stock up quick. I've got enough 100w incandescents on my garage shelf to last me out...

[Jules Richardson]

But a shelf collapse would be a disaster. Hide them in multiple locations. Also beneficial in case the light bulb police come calling. ;)

(I don't think outdoor CFLs are even viable over here - too cold for them in the winter)

cheers

Jules

[Mathew Newton]

You could always move to halogen GLS bulbs. Similiar light output, and saves a bit of energy too (42W vs 60W).

Mathew

[the_constructor]

I can not imagine how the great historical houses of England are going to go on, like Cragside House in Northumberland, Swann must be turning in his grave.

I have a nice stock of 100w Bulbs and will make sure I have a good stock of all the others.

It's going to cost churches and a host of other buildings alot of money having to change fittings.....

[tim....]

Unlike when the 100W was discontinued, shops don't seem to be touting the fiction that the bulbs are banned for sale from that date. They are just banned for manufacture/import. So this time they didn't run down their stock months ahead.

As there is still a supply of 100W bulbs for sale (at a price), I am sure that you will still be able to find people selling 60W for years to some.

tim

[Andrew Gabriel]

I'm not aware that the UK legislation has been fixed to be effective. Certainly, all the hardware stores still have 100W lamps - they're easy to find if you stay away from supermarkets and multiples who entered into a voluntary agreement.

There haven't been any incandescent lamps in my house for over

10 years, except some 12V 10W ones in one fitting. I tend to look after the lighting in some other family members' homes, and there was one room with a 3-lamp pendant and 2 wall lights which all used 60W, mainly because they're on an expensive (X10 DIN-rail) dimmer.

About a year ago, I converted them all to 35W 12V capsules. The light output is noticably more than the 60W mains was (unfortuately, I didn't measure it before stripping out the mains lamps, so I can't tell you how much more). Dimmer works fine too - a great result. The electronic transformers are in the room above, and I had to rearrange the wiring, including using 6mm² between the transformer and the 3-lamp pendant rose to avoid too much voltage drop. It's all still T&E, so I can revert back to mains operation without pulling up the floor again.

[Terry Fields]

At least one supplier has a link to 'banned bulbs and alternatives':

Chinese will doubtless invent the 59W bulb in various fitments...

[charles]

these are still 'incandescent'.

[tim....]

No-one has to change any fittings

tim

[Huge]

Guffaw. Idiot.

[Bob Eager]

Yes harry. Very good harry.

[Graham.]

fiction that the bulbs are banned for sale from that

run down their stock months ahead.

you will still be able to find people selling 60W

I trust that was a typo, I don't want to find myself on the wrong side of the "incandescent divide".

[The Natural Philosopher]

Bwhahaha.

[John]

It's only meant for incandescent bulbs, but I managed to

What value of ballast. Would a capacitor in parallel with the MF bulb do the trick for a PIR that only works with tungsten bulbs.

John

[Andy Cap]

Basically, how it is, innit, if you know what I mean !

Andy C

[the_constructor]

T'was a slip in thought. I was referring to fittings that like the bulk head fittings like those that I have. Just can't find a CFL that will fit to give the same amount of light output. Our church has bulkhead fittings in all the cupboards for safety which are very similar to my own.