Lightbulb Technology (LCD/Halogen/Incandescent)

[Andem]

So my place is mostly powered by halogen lighting because I hate the new stuff that's come out and also since incandescent has been legislated out of existance. Strangely, I've had 8 halogen lightbulbs of various sorts and wattages die on me over a period of 6 weeks, perhaps because of the unpredictable and stormy weather we've had here in Europe for the past few months.

I was over at the local electronics superstore today and saw a ton of different lighting technologies on display and am now completely stumped on what to replace my ceiling and tower lamps with. The new LED lamps fit in the ceiling halogen sockets and are only 2.5 watts! Cost: 8€ per piece. 5 in the living room, 3 in the kitchen and 2 in the bedroom. A pretty hefty investment for lightbulbs. 8€ was the cheapest offer on the Philips line where others ranged from 15€ - 80€. On the other hand, their line of halogen lamps seems to have gone up in price to 5 euros a piece!

I'm definitely not a fan of CFLs and to be honest, they are actually kind of depressing to have on... kind of reminds me of working in an office with the ambience they produce.. Not something I want when I'm relaxing at home. I am currently all stocked up on incandescent bulbs I bought before the legislation to phase them out came into effect, so other places are covered for now

Does anyone have experience with this new generation of LED bulbs? Or should I stick with halogen until the technology improves? 2.5 watts makes me feel not guilty for falling asleep with the kitchen light on Also, the light behind my TV is LED and uses almost no power and creates a really cool ambience but it isn't useful for lighting up the way so I don't trip over a sleeping cat.

 

[petros]

Order LEDs from China and skip the local crap.

 

[Ariadne]

I have terrible luck with the new coil-like lightbulbs. I bought a four pack to replace two regular lights that were burnt out in the kitchen. One lasted a day, and the other lasted about 2 weeks. It happens again and again that the bulbs last a very short time ... but how can one return the product and prove that it lasted a day or a couple of weeks? I don't know what to do because I don't want to buy more defective bulbs, or bulbs that seem designed to fail, but it's getting dim here with all the burnt out bulbs.

 

[Cliffy]

I have terrible luck with the new coil-like lightbulbs. I bought a four pack to replace two regular lights that were burnt out in the kitchen. One lasted a day, and the other lasted about 2 weeks. It happens again and again that the bulbs last a very short time ... but how can one return the product and prove that it lasted a day or a couple of weeks? I don't know what to do because I don't want to buy more defective bulbs, or bulbs that seem designed to fail, but it's getting dim here with all the burnt out bulbs.

Never use a mini florescent bulb in a socket with a dimmer switch. That blows bulbs real quick.

 

[Ariadne]

It's not on a dimmer switch. They're regular 60W Syvania coil looking lights ... the supersaver that supposedly lasts for 10000 hours. The two I put in recently are kaput except for a very slight glow near the base of the light.

 

[damngrumpy]

When I saw this nonsense coming from our government courtesy of the environmental movemnt
I bought one hell of a pile of the old bulbs in hopes of not having to buy the pretzel bulb as I call
them. I am getting sick of these legislators, making all kinds of rules and trying to add their names
to the list of posterity.
I just don't like the new bulbs and be damned if I will use them if there is anythings besides a candle
that will replace them.

 

[Ariadne]

I'm with you on this. I have had not any luck at all with the coil bulbs ... just loads of money wasted on overpriced bulbs that have to be replaced every month, at the least. I've wondered if I'm doing something wrong ... like holding them the wrong way when putting them in, wondered if I should be using a special glove or something.

 

[Tonington]

I'm with you on this. I have had not any luck at all with the coil bulbs ... just loads of money wasted on overpriced bulbs that have to be replaced every month, at the least.

Our compact fluorescent bulbs have moved with us, they've been at three different mailing addresses in three years now. Thousands of hours worth of light. I'm not sure what your issue is, but I'm tempted to say it's not shoddy quality control.

 

[taxslave]

It's not on a dimmer switch. They're regular 60W Syvania coil looking lights ... the supersaver that supposedly lasts for 10000 hours. The two I put in recently are kaput except for a very slight glow near the base of the light.

Made in China. Need I say more?

 

[Ron in Regina]

Our compact fluorescent bulbs have moved with us, they've been at three different mailing addresses in three years now. Thousands of hours worth of light. I'm not sure what your issue is, but I'm tempted to say it's not shoddy quality control.

I replaced all the lightbulbs in my home six years ago now, in an effort to
reduce the power bill a bit. Though, due to billing increases, I've never
noticed any direct savings....I haven't had had to change a bulb in the
last six years.

 

[DaSleeper]

I found that those compact fluorescent work very well. I've only had one burn out since they came out...but they are no good outside in the winter...they take forever to light up......

About 35 years ago, in a house I was renting, there was one 150watt bulb in the garage that kept burning every couple of days. all the tests I did on the wiring didn't find any faults...
My fix...one rectifier diode inline and a 300 watt bulb to get the same lighting since a diode lets the current through only one way, and the same bulb was still there 10 years later when I moved out.

Several years later someone else patented that idea, since direct curent doesn't wear out a bulb so fast and they last forever. :smile:

 

[Ariadne]

What do you suppose is going on with this light? Notice the light is only working on part of the coil.

 

[DaSleeper]

A bad connection could be causing too much resistance since these are low current bulbs......but only if other such bulbs do the same thing in that socket.....try switching bulbs in different sockets.....

Edit: never put one of those bulbs in a refrigerator:lol:

 

[Ariadne]

I've got three pot lights in the kitchen ceiling on one switch. Two burned out, so I replaced them with those lights. The third light is the only one that works and it's the same type of light but with a cover on it. The two I put in are like the one in the photo. Should I try replacing the third with the same type of light?

Who would have thought that working a light bulb would be anything more than a joke!

 

[petros]

These panels kick ass: 30W LED but give the light of about

150W florescent

 

[Bar Sinister]

When I saw this nonsense coming from our government courtesy of the environmental movemnt
I bought one hell of a pile of the old bulbs in hopes of not having to buy the pretzel bulb as I call
them. I am getting sick of these legislators, making all kinds of rules and trying to add their names
to the list of posterity.
I just don't like the new bulbs and be damned if I will use them if there is anythings besides a candle
that will replace them.

Why don't you try kerosene lanterns? They are very traditional, never wear out, have no legislation against them, and will keep big oil and big coal in business much longer.