Halogen vs energy saving bulbs?

slewis1972

Hi

Halogen bulbs eg 40w ones, are they the same energy eater as old fashioned 40w bulbs?

If they are less energy comsuming than old style, how do they fair with energy saving bulbs?

Scott

McAzrael

Watt is a measure of energy consumption (specifically 1 joule per second); so yes, a 40w halogen bulb consumes as much electricity as a 40w tungsten bulb.

maninthestreet

You can now buy 'lower energy' halogen bulbs - they consume 30% less electricity than ordinary tungsten bulbs e.g lightbulb rated consumption is 28W, but light output equivalent of 40W. Made by Osram, Sainsbury sell them, cost about £1.30 each. John Lewis sell some Philips 'lower energy' halogen lightbulbs, that claim to consume 50% less electricity, but each bulb costs over £6!

Poppycat

Halogens tend to be much brighter than normal bulbs per output

I been looking at LEDS for a while now but cant find mr18 bulbs anywhere even though the small size ones mr16 are available

El_Sid_III

Energy saving bulbs use about 20 to 25% of the power of regular incandescent bulbs for the same light output. Don't know how they compare with Halogen, but sure Google will tell you in minutes.

amcluesent

Have a look around at http://www.bltdirect.com/

Skyhigh

LED clusters are the future.

There are already several versions on the market that will fit a standard Halogen . GU-10 fitting.

But:
They're still expensive, the good ones can cost up to £17 each (from the States, they're double that over here).
They're still slightly unreliable, I bought 20 from the states....4 were DOA and 5 more died within 3 weeks.
LED clusters can use 1/10th the energy and be just as bright, plus they can last up to 7 years.

If you do buy LED's, make sure you buy ones with CREE technology (moissanite crystals) as these are the best in the industry.

Wait a few more months (or even a year) and they'll be great.

I'd switch to the lower consumption halogens if I were you, or replace the fitting so you can use a normal energy saving bulb - some of the newer ones (with tight fluroescent coils) are super-bright, very good indeed.

[On a side note, I visited B&Q yesterday to look at light fittings, they'd changed all their GU-10 halogens to LED's.]

maryjane01

Skyhigh, have you done any research into CFL GU10 bulbs? I am getting a loft conversion done at the moment with low ceiling height so we are getting downlights. I thought for the main rooms (bedroom, bathroom, study) we would use CFLs for the quality of light, the megaman dimmerables for the bedroom and study, and use LEDs in the corridors where light quality is not such an issue (LED's do use less energy than CFL's).

As you seem well reserached on the GU10 bulbs I would be interested in your opinion of CFL bulbs.

Also, are the GU10 fittings the ones we should be going for?