Opinions please

[PeteZahut]

Is it false economy buying cheap lightbulbs from say Asda's than paying for a decent brand. We've got one of those ceiling fans with lights and the bulbs do fail quite a lot, i'm presuming its to do with vibration because normally when a light bulb blows in this house it knocks the mcb for the lighting circuit off yet with these they just stop working. I was considering getting some of those low wattage???? ones, do they have a filament in them? If they would be better can you also get them with screw type fittings and not bayonet? Pete

[fred]

In article , PeteZahut writes

I think you're looking for a 'rough service' lamp , these are less susceptible to vibration and are available in the popular lamp sizes/fittings, they're filament lamps.

Btw: You'll probably get more replies if you put something more specific in the subject, like light bulbs. Few have time to wade through every vague subject line and many will pass them by.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Energy saving ones are not vulnerable to vibration, and they are available with ES and SES screw fittings. They are about 4 times more efficient, so if you've been using 40W lamps, look for something around 10W Energy saving lamps instead (the claimed equivalence on the packaging is over optimistic IME).

If you can't get energy saving ones which fit, you might try cooker hood lamps, which are supposedly rough service types to cope with the fan vibration (although I've not noticed any difference in practice).

[Lobster]

I once bought a rough service bulb from Screwfix to use in my site lamp; it cost approx 5 times more than a standard bulb, and its lifespan was approx 5 times shorter. Screwfix don't seem to sell them any more. Go figure.

David

[Dave Plowman (News)]

If bulb cost really is an issue, use a suitable car one and a transformer. The standard 21 watt stop light types are fine for an inspection light, cheap, and have a reasonable life.

[dale hammond]

[PeteZahut]

Cheers guys, I'll try some branded ones first then maybe go for energy saving ones if the first lot keep blowing. Pete

[newboy]

the energy saving bulbs i have take a significant time to "warm" up t give the full light, this may be a consideration for your applicatio where instant light is desirable.

stev

-- newboy

[Trevor]

And don't forget you cant use a dimmer if you have energy saving bulbs. Trevor smith

[bigcat]

PeteZahut:

paying for

I've never found any difference myself.

Replace type B mcb with type C.

Suggest either: rough service bulbs,

12v bulbs, which are much more robust, plus transformer of course CFL if you can get one that fits or finally, solving the vibration. Straighten the blades, balance them, use rubber washers at the ceiling fixing, sometimes it clears it up.

NT