RE: Do good energy-saving bulbs exist?

["Neil Ball" <neilball@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Was the dimmable CFL from Varilight? This works well enough with my
Helvar
Digidim system (which has all of the dimmers set to trailing edge dimming)
although it is not smooth as it dims - it kind of steps in stages as it
dim=
s
down and up. It is completely useless in a fitting that has a leading edge
dimmer, it goes out completely while still quite bright and is not really
controllable. I=92ve still to source a Megaman CFL which promises a
steples=
s
dimming range of 10-100% although again I don=92t know if it will be
depend=
ent
on the type of dimming technology used. I did notice that both companies
recommend switching them on full for at least a minute before dimming for
best results, not really what you want with a scene-setting lighting
contro=
l
system.

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If you=92ve got low voltage halogens then you could always go for the
=93lo=
w
energy=94 xenon filled versions from Philips and Osram, these are fully
dimmable as you would expect but use 40% less energy than the standard lam,
last at least twice as long (generally much longer with lighting controls
that limit maximum output and use soft-start/stop) and have the same beam
patterns and quality of light of the original lamp. The only drawback if
that if you have fire-rated downlights that require aluminium coated lamps
to prevent heat build up in the fitting then you cannot use these yet
although it should not be long until suitable lamps reach the market.

=20

Neil B.

=20

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_____=20=20

From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Peter and Jane
Sent: 11 January 2009 17:02
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Do good energy-saving bulbs exist?

=20

Hi Mal
You ain't seen nothin' until you try a B+Q dimmable cfl.
I have installed a Lutron scene setting lighting system in our new build.
Dining area light is an incandescent bulb. I dutifully replaced it with the
B+Q offering (=A310 for 1 bulb!). As the Lutron ramped up the bulb lurched
into a sort of knackered fluorescent mode with standing wave patterns in
th=
e
tube, and as further light was demanded, it flashed through a sickly series
of pale shimmering states until it arrived at a ghostly white pale glow
tha=
t
took minutes to build.
How am I saving the planet with this expensive mercury containing heap of
junk? This house is as environmentally conscious as I could afford (heat
pump, heat recovery ventilation, rainwater harvesting, high level of
recycled newsprint insulation etc etc.) but these low energy lamps are
ridiculous. I have lots of cfls and lots of leds (in both cases because you
need several to replace the light output of one proper lamp). It is really
not right to discontinue the old technology before the replacement
technology is ready.=20
I too would appreciate any leads to decent, cost effective low energy
lamps=
,
including dimmable leds and instant cfls that don't cost more to buy than
they will ever save in energy consumption!
Rgds
Peter
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Mal Lansell=20
To: ukha_d@yahoogroups. <mailto:ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com>
com=20
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 10:40 AM
Subject: [ukha_d] Do good energy-saving bulbs exist?

A bulb blew yesterday, and after treking round the town I found that=20
no-one is selling 100W bulbs anymore. I knew they were going to be=20
banned, but I didn't think they would disappear this soon!

I tried a Phillips energy-saving "equivalent", but it was so dim
as to=20
be hardly worth switching on (maybe thats how they save energy). I=20
don't understand why companies lie about how bright their lamps are -=20
all it does is make everyone think the products are crap.

Before I place an order online for a giant box of traditional bulbs,=20
does anyone know of a brand of energy-saving bulb that do actually live=20
up to their brightness claims, and that produce a pleasant colour light=20
rather than some cold grey glow?

Thanks

Mal

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=20



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