Philips Energy Saver Bulbs Lifetime

[the realfictitious]

Last night I decided that the energy saver bulb in one room wasn't bright enought so I replaced it with a new Philips 20 Watt Energy Saver "Stick" type bulb .The box says it should last 12 years but it lasted about 12 minutes if that .If you shake it there is a slight rattling from inside ... I don't remember where I got it and what it cost but do these things have a reputation of giving up the ghost early . Dunno what Philips line is on this re replacement( Has anyone tried) but it hardly seems worth asking them but are you allowed to chuck them in the bin?

[David Hansen]

On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:39:19 +0000 someone who may be the [e-mail] wrote this:-

No. They usually last for many years.

In small quantities there is no great problem doing this, there are larger fish to fry. In an ideal world the council would have provided collection facilities, but if they haven't then it is not something to fret about.

[Toby]

My local tip has the faciliy to accespt them, so check if yours does - Obviousy only take it there if you are passing, or have accumilated a load of them!

[Kostas Kavoussanakis]

Dunno about this. I think that mercury is a bad thing and these lamps are very widely pushed/used just now.

@realfictitious: If you are so inclined, check your local IKEA; the Edinburgh branch collects them.

Kostas (currently investigating Osram Halolux R50 28W; not quite the wattage saving, but dimmable and the light may be better)

[David Hansen]

On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:37:44 +0000 someone who may be Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote this:-

I know that mercury is a bad thing and I have known that for decades. However, the amount of mercury in a single compact fluorescent tube, or indeed a non-compact fluorescent tube, is low enough not to cause great anxiety. Ideally they would all be collected, but there are more important things to deal with. Not using compact fluorescent lamps is supposed to produce more mercury emissions, via power station chimneys, but few worry about that because the Daily Wail/Express has not told them to worry about it.

Understanding and quantifying risk is important if the right decisions are to be made. Otherwise one rushes round spending too much time on the low risks. Across the water from Edinburgh is a radioactive beach. It is not something to panic about, the dangers it poses are known. It has taken too long to sort out, if sorting it out is possible, though the current situation is not a result of having done nothing. People should not panic about it and neither should they sweep it under the carpet. is a newspaper take and

are some of the reports and the like on the beach.

[Kostas Kavoussanakis]

Yeap, which is why my initial quote included "and these lamps are very widely pushed/used just now."

My resolution about these (and batteries) is to collect them until my next visit to the tip. I do the same with small electrical appliances and metal that won't be uplifted (like 5ltr olive-oil tins).

Thanks for the analysis and the Dalgety Bay article!

Kostas

[Adrian C]

These bulbs are the subsidised 5 for 50 pence deal in Lidl/Morrisons.

And which with the abolition of ebay listing fees, is a type of listing that will run and run - once the 'arthur daily' types empty those subsidised stocks, and charge; gulp £4.49!!

We have a upright cup shape light fitting that isn't really suited to these bulbs (also standing upright) for there is little ventillation for the electronics in the base. I'm looking at a little stack of spent 11W energy saver bulbs - five off - that have all failed just over a year.

At 5 pence a bulb ... ye pays for what ye get :-)

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , Adrian C writes

Tesco were doing a variety of GE ES and SES bulbs for 10 pee each, including miniature sticks (7W) and spirals, when I went in last week. Those usually cost more than the BC ones.

As it happened, I'd just put up a light fitting brought in from Europe which needed two ES bulbs and had been looking at 7W sticks in Wilkinson's for 2.79 each, so 10p in Tesco was perfect.

[meow2222]

... one of the 3 reasons I dont buy philips. Get something decent, like osram, or even tesco spirals.

NT

[the realfictitious]

What three reasons ? Anyway I think iirc that I got it free as one of a batch from my energy supplier .

[Mark]

I do this. However I end up with much too much of my house taken over by "stuff awaiting recycling".

[meow2222]

early failure rate many premature failures so-so light quality

They might have improved recently for all I know, but I've found brands that have none of these issues, so stick to them.

NT