UK question: ES light bulb better than bayonet?

No. There are several significant disadvantages to ES bulbs over BC (polarity reversal safety and the bulbs stick, meaning you sometimes need to replace the entire fitting, not just the bulb).

They are becoming more common simply because some markets do not have good availability of BC bulbs and they only want to produce one version of their product.

Christian.

Wossat?

I actually find that they're *easier* to remove than bayonet bulbs. On bayonet bulbs, the contact patches are quite soft and the pins from the fitting tend to sink in - making it very difficult to rotate the bulb by the amount needed to release it from the bayonet.

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 11:38:47 +0000 someone who may be Mike Barnes wrote this:-

If someone wires the live to the screw part of the fitting then it is quite easy for people to touch that part, especially if replacing a bulb.

Of course in many places whether the live is wired to the inner or outer part of the fitting depends on which way round the plug is inserted.

While this doesn't kill millions every day, it is undesirable.

Surely not! Not in uk-diy!

And you can get 'safety' BC fittings where the contacts aren't live unless a bulb is actually fitted - I haven't seen those for ES.

Choose a different fitting. I use BC fittings that have a springy metal strip (the also disconnects itself when not 'sprung').

Funny that. In all my life I've never had any problem removing a bulb from a BC fitting. However, with ES fittings, several bulbs have had to be removed using pliers, including at least 2 which left the fitting unfit for future service and one that has given me an electric shock. This is despite the fact that over 90% of the total fittings I have used have been BC.

Christian.

Here in the U.S. 'screw base' bulbs are the norm, and I've never seen bayonet base bulbs made for home lighting. It would be very awkward to touch the base when installing them. The only common application we have for bayonet type bulbs is in the automotive field.

So I must be unusual - every time I have had to do anything new on electrics I have always got hold of the latest edition of the IEE regs (or the electricians commentary) before doing anything. Particularly important where earthing is involved since there is a lot that isn't intuitive.

Of course it won't be an issue in future since all the jobs I still have to do will have to have been completed by last Christmas! Seriously - in most cases how can anyone prove otherwise? Although it was pointed out to me that a really serious inspector could track the serial number of something like a consumer unit if he really was out to get you!

David

Now be fair - I bet you didn't *come* with instructions.

Not really! Many lamp sockets, even when in proper repair, are constructed and installed such that it's very easy to touch the socket shell when installing or removing a bulb. Let the socket degrade or break partially, and it gets even easier. Let there be a problem with the lamps (remember the Action Tungsram A-line lamps that were widely sold in the '80s and

Lucky Mrs David..

IMHO, it will only be an issue when selling and when the work is patently obviously recent. Even so, you could still argue that you had merely rewired/replaced existing fittings, as allowed in the regs.

LOL, well, I have never caught fire or found myself with bits left over.. so maybe my late husband could get something right by trial and error..

I have had many occasions where BC bulbs stick in holders usually the srings on teh BC contacts have siezed up ... never had an ES bulb size in place, maybe it's just luck.

Yup - I've had several where the glass has detached from the base.

Something's pretty fishy about this post. I spent a lot of time in Wales and London both, and never came across a bayonet bulb on anything run from the Mains. I did see bayonets on some lab equipment in Wales, but those weren't run from the mains. I think we're being led down the proverbial path here, or:

Perhaps the OP would/could explain further?

My take is, if a desk lamp takes a bayonet, it's not run from the mains; there is a transformer or ballast of some sort in that appliance. And desk lamps fit that category. Maybe the OP is talking about non-mains non-direct connectons. A lot of outdoor lights, etc. are run on LV via transofrmers et al.

HTH, Pop

: > Until recently all I ever needed for a general purpose light bulb was : > a bayonet fitting. Now ES fittings seem to be appearing! : > Pictures:

: >

: > Is there a particular advantage of the ES fitting over the bayonet : > fitting in these sorts of applications? : : Here in the U.S. 'screw base' bulbs are the norm, and I've never seen : bayonet base bulbs made for home lighting. It would be very awkward to touch : the base when installing them. The only common application we have for : bayonet type bulbs is in the automotive field. : :

Do you really think it may help if I put it in the specifications if I finally decide to advertise for a "Mrs David"? ;-)

Interesting point - would a new consumer unit come under "rewired/replaced existing fittings"? If so then it really would make a mockery of the whole sorry business!

David

Obviously not long enough or else you spent most of your time with your eyes closed!

BC fittings are standard in the UK. ES fittings are increasingly common but they are still very much in the minority. The lamp over my desk at the moment just happens to be ES purely because it's a floor mounted unit that was going absolutely dirt cheap. However (with the exception of a posey Japanese paper lamp) every other fixture in the house takes a BC bulb.

David