Re: [OT] Low Energy Bulbs

["Alan Ainslie" <alan.ainslie@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Had this before.  The cure?  a 100K 1W resistor across the lamp base. 
simple as that.  Needs sleeving on the leads etcetc but easy enough to
implement.

It is very similar to the old schoolboys neon relaxation oscillator formed
from a series large R and a cap with a neon across the cap, all fed from a
supply of voltage greater than the 90V or so that a small neon took to
strike.

Alan.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Noble
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] [OT] Low Energy Bulbs


Alex Monaghan wrote:

>
> I'm not going mad then :) (well perhaps, but not because of the lights
!)
> Ours are normal switches - still waiting for approval to install some
> automation (something to do with lack of decorating over all the bare
> plaster where I've installed cat5, coax & new ring main cables :))
> Any solution ? We use the lounge as an additional bedroom when we have
the
> whole family over and I don't really want to have to change the bulb
> when we
> have visitors.


Do your lamp connections have an earth in the fitting? Is the switch in
the live or the neutral line?

I'm wondering if these low energy bulbs have a small leakage path to
earth - if your light switches are on the neutral side it's possible the
lamps are still "live" even when turned off.

I can't think of another reason why they would flash when switched off
with a normal switch (lack of imagination a possible factor here...).

Jim







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