Blown Halogen bulb

missile

Dodgy,

Can I suggest you check that the bulb holders are not covered by insulation. In my installation the fitter put a piece of plastic drain pipe around each fitment, in the loft, to ensure there was adequate ventilation.

LED bulbs run cool and will use much less electricity.

G42

27col wrote: »

I would be interested to know on what basis you say that a cheap bulb is potentially lethal.

Don't know about the previous post but I initially bought cheaper bulbs when I had my bathroom done and the glass part of one of them literally blew out of its socket and landed in the bath! I took them all back and had them replaced with more expensive bulbs (Sylvania). Three years now and none have needed replacing.

dodgy_damo

Thanks for all the replys!
I took the double dimmer switch off and swapped it with the one that was originally installed. One of the switch's had indeed blown...problem solved for now. The plastic grip inside one of the dimmer knobs has broken, so I am semi knobless :rotfl: What's a man to do?
I will be looking out for the Sylviana/Megaman and LED alternatives for sure.:T

I think the dimmer switch i bought may not have been suitable (on the rear it says 60-250w- on the original switch it says 40-400W)
As Missile said 50 x 6 = 300W! :eek: TBH not something that occured to me when I purchased the double dimmer.
I've also made sure that any insulation has been cut away and is not near/over the bulb holders. I would've thought plastic drain pipe would melt around those holders?

Mikeyorks

dodgy_damo wrote: »

I've also made sure that any insulation has been cut away and is not near/over the bulb holders. I would've thought plastic drain pipe would melt around those holders?

You need dedicated covers such as these - to be safe :

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLALC724.html

And even your new dimmer is at risk from being 'tracked out'. When GU10 bulbs go they crash fairly hard ..... mine always take the consumer unit out.

But the worst has been the smaller halogens in the extractor hood. Every time they go they take the fuse out .. which means removing the chimney to get at it. And every 2nd time they take out the consumer unit but having tracked the integral switch out. As that's wired in a loom to the motor .... the whole lot has had to be replaced - twice now. Solution has been to put low energy (not low voltage) bulbs in ... as they blow 'softly' and don't even trouble the consumer unit or 13a fuse ... let alone the switch.

Replacing the 50w GU10s with low energy resolves a lot of problems .... except you can't get them that produce the equivalent light output. The Megaman ones are getting close ... but they're big ... and no good if the existing bulbs are in a shade / cowl and need to be the exact GU10 size / or smaller. These are the closest that appear to be on the market at the moment ..... but at £20 a time, it's cheaper to use the extra electricity at the moment!

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Menu_Index/Lamps_and_Tubes_Index/GU_Led/index.html

missile

These are the same dimensions and I find these give off as much light as 50W halogens >
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/u1015cw-gu10-wide-angle-cool-white-p-1976.html
£10.35 each for 10+

PS: There is enough space round a 6" pipe so it does not get hot. The purpose built covers look much better, but are they worth £7.50 each?

Mikeyorks

missile wrote: »

These are the same dimensions and I find these give off as much light as 50W halogens >

But if that's the case you would expect the retailer / manufacturer to claim more than the 30W they are doing? I tried some GU10 LED claiming 40W a year ago ... and they were really poor. The 'missing' 50W from the existing group of lights was really obvious.

TimBuckTeeth

dodgy_damo wrote: »

I will be looking out for the Sylviana/Megaman and LED alternatives for sure.

Make sure that they are suitable for use with a dimmer, as many low energy types are not - they can overheat or damage the dimmer if dimmed.

missile

Mikeyorks wrote: »

But if that's the case you would expect the retailer / manufacturer to claim more than the 30W they are doing? I tried some GU10 LED claiming 40W a year ago ... and they were really poor. The 'missing' 50W from the existing group of lights was really obvious.

I know the manufacturers claim equivalent to 30W, but IMHO these give off as much light as 50W halogens.

Note: The wavelength is different, like HID headlights on Audi / BMWs which look so much brighter than halogens.

sunshine54

But these LEDS are not dimmable and the OP has them on a dimmer switch, i would only consider using these for mood lighting, kichen/ cabinet lighting etc. not for room lighting.

missile

This is MSE and my suggestion was about reducing OPs electricity consumption.

6 X 50 watts = 300 watts and you might want to think about swapping for low energy LEDs

Op may not be aware that bulbs still use as much electricity when dimmed