View Full Version : halogen and fluorescent lamp ban
Just read that Halogen bulbs are to be banned from September- not a concern for me, I already use LED bulbs in our ceiling lights. They run cooler and seem to last longer than the old Halogen GU10 bulbs that we had.
My worry is that the BBC news report also says that fluorescent lamps will follow. I use a tube in the kitchen and really appreciate the coverage - "flat"/even light with few shadow areas, ideal for food preparation.
Other than stocking up on tubes and starters, any other suggestions?
Firebottle
09-06-2021, 13:11
You can get LED strips to replace the flourescent.
walpurgis
09-06-2021, 13:52
I just ordered half a dozen 28 watt halogen bulbs. They don't last long and I do use them in my bedside light and on the landing.
You can get LED strips to replace the flourescent.
Cheers - do you know if they have the same "quality" of light, I guess I mean dispersal/diffuse characteristic?
willbewill
09-06-2021, 15:04
Oh man that's a disaster for all my Mathmos lamps.
hifinutt
09-06-2021, 17:17
Cheers - do you know if they have the same "quality" of light, I guess I mean dispersal/diffuse characteristic?
yes they seem pretty good , have replaced 2 flurescent with led battons recently .
What do you do with the fluorescent tube 'starter' when replacing the tube with a LED batten?
Filterlab
09-06-2021, 18:26
Oh man that's a disaster for all my Mathmos lamps.
The ban doesn't include standard incandescent bulbs, currently.
willbewill
09-06-2021, 18:39
The ban doesn't include standard incandescent bulbs, currently.
That's a relief for the old lamps, I wonder what they'll do about the newer models that use GU10 bulbs.
GU10's have been available as LED option for a few years - I changed all ours about three or four years ago (need to be careful with colour temperature though, I found some very harsh)
hifinutt
09-06-2021, 21:37
What do you do with the fluorescent tube 'starter' when replacing the tube with a LED batten?
You have to change the whole fitting , old cfl fittings are not compatible with led lights
Lawrence001
09-06-2021, 22:26
Oh man that's a disaster for all my Mathmos lamps.You'll be ok, if you leave them on with LED bulbs for a few days the wax should start to soften. I think you'll get that first eruption within a few weeks. You know, the one that always looks a bit phallic [emoji38]
mad-moon
09-06-2021, 23:15
Cheers - do you know if they have the same "quality" of light, I guess I mean dispersal/diffuse characteristic?
They're better..they switch on instantly, no flickering..a solid clear light... and you don't need starters....they are marvelous
Pigmy Pony
11-06-2021, 06:00
You can get LED strips to replace the flourescent.
Well that sounds straightforward - my first thought was "Oh no another bloody job for the list"
Filterlab
11-06-2021, 06:30
Well that sounds straightforward - my first thought was "Oh no another bloody job for the list"
:lol:
Face it, you wouldn't know what to do if there weren't a million things on that list.
They're better..they switch on instantly, no flickering..a solid clear light... and you don't need starters....they are marvelous
Cheers Alan, that is reassuring :cool:
Filterlab
11-06-2021, 08:45
I agree with Moony. I've only bought LED bulbs for years now. Huge life, excellent brightness, no flicker, they use a fraction of the power; just select the colour temperature you want.
hifi_dave
11-06-2021, 09:09
We have 32 Halogen downlight in the house. If they require new fittings, it's going to cost a fortune and will require an electrician to do the job.
To delay the fateful day, my Wife ordered 100 Halogen bulbs on Tuesday..:idea:
hifinutt
11-06-2021, 09:10
I have found that led security lights can fail fast. Had 2 that failed within months .also just had electrician back out to a flickering led light only recently fitted and it was the bulb faulty
willbewill
11-06-2021, 10:10
You'll be ok, if you leave them on with LED bulbs for a few days the wax should start to soften. I think you'll get that first eruption within a few weeks. You know, the one that always looks a bit phallic [emoji38]
:lol::lol:
We have 32 Halogen downlight in the house. If they require new fittings, it's going to cost a fortune and will require an electrician to do the job.
To delay the fateful day, my Wife ordered 100 Halogen bulbs on Tuesday..:idea:
We have twenty or so GU 10 downlights upstairs (lower ceilings as it is loft extension). Fitting LED in place of the Halogen is a straight lamp replacement, very easy.
When we had the down-lights installed we had a fire safety "sock" sort of thing fitted behind the lamp holders; I was told that was because the Halogen lamps produce so much heat - I don't think that this is the case with LED lamps.
Pigmy Pony
11-06-2021, 17:45
I'm guessing you just have to fit a gubbins* that will step down the voltage, then replace the halogen bulbs with a compatible fitting.
*Electricians probably have another word for it.
Last year I bought this 'string' of LEDs and ran them round the back of the telly - looks like the old Philips 'Ambilight' sets from a few years ago. We can choose from a range of colours using the supplied remote, though we keep it on red. Very cheap and very blingy. We are such chavs!
Pigmy Pony
11-06-2021, 17:47
:lol:
Face it, you wouldn't know what to do if there weren't a million things on that list.
i know exactly what I would do - I would do nothing, it's something I've become really good at :)
Filterlab
11-06-2021, 18:05
i know exactly what I would do - I would do nothing, it's something I've become really good at :)
:lol:
You can get direct replacement LED bulbs for pretty much any fitment, no change to the fitting or the electrics. Plug and play.
Pigmy Pony
11-06-2021, 18:19
:lol:
You can get direct replacement LED bulbs for pretty much any fitment, no change to the fitting or the electrics. Plug and play.
Happy days! Five minutes of discomfort then back to the sofa :)
AJSki2fly
11-06-2021, 18:48
:lol:
You can get direct replacement LED bulbs for pretty much any fitment, no change to the fitting or the electrics. Plug and play.
True in most cases, but if you have say a lamp which is dimmable and came with halogen then you cannot just fit dimmable LEDs, they will blow very quickly, the dimmer switch needs to be rated for the total wattage of the LEDs which will not match the Halogens. I have tried it without much success and reverted back to halogen on a favourite 5 lamp standard light. I actually just purchased 12 halogen bulbs as contingency and will get some more next month.
:lol:
You can get direct replacement LED bulbs for pretty much any fitment, no change to the fitting or the electrics. Plug and play.
I can't see why you can't do the same for fluorescent tube fittings. All you need is to arrange for there to be 100 pairs of anti-parallel LEDs with each pair connected in series with one another and wired across the mains with a series current limiting resistor. The 'starter' would of course have to be removed.
Filterlab
12-06-2021, 08:14
I can't see why you can't do the same for fluorescent tube fittings. All you need is to arrange for there to be 48 pairs of back-to-back LEDs connected in series and wired across the mains. The 'starter' would of course have to be removed.
Business opportunity alert!
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