new 3 pin light bulbs

peachespeaches

We moved into a new build house recently and due to damage had to replace one of the light bulbs. We found that the energy saving bulb was similar to a british cross fitting bulb but had 3 pins. A normal 2 pin energy saving bulb doesnt fit. As we couldnt locate a stockist locally, I looked online and found they sell for £8-10. I cadged one from the site rep, but realise I need to either change the light fittings or find a cheaper supplier.

Has anyone seen these at a reasonable price?

zax47

Under the current energy concious building regs. all new build properties (and extensions) have to have a certain percentage of light fittings than can ONLY be fitted with special energy saving bulbs (like yours!) They should last a very long time, so short-term replacement is not normally an issue - unless of course you damage one.

You have guessed what your choices are, either buy an expensive replacement bulb (which should last, barring it getting damaged again) or change the fitting for a normal bayonet cap type.

baldelectrician

You could change the fitting for one that has an energy saving lamp, but doesn't look hideous

peachespeaches

Well they dont seem to last here, the same bulb has gone again.

getmore4less

We moved into a new build house recently
.........
Well they dont seem to last here, the same bulb has gone again

Get the builders in to fix the problem.
(edit : seems these bulbs are naff might not be a fault)

Whats the cap type(code) on the bulbs
guess its one of these MEM BC3
http://www.litebulbs.co.uk/category/13/mem-bc3-3-pin.aspx


A bit of searching found this link
http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/03/28/a-bright-idea/

The key part being that you may be able to replace part of the lamp with a base unit that takes cheaper bulbs if you can find one
(edit: I cant find this base unit product)


Further searching fings making a standard 2 pin fit
http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/07/21/how-to-fit-a-normal-bulb-in-a-bc3-fitting/

alternative it to swap out all the lamp holders they are not that expensive a few quid should fo it do for pendants I would just change them.

jonesjw

zax47 wrote: »

Under the current energy concious building regs. all new build properties (and extensions) have to have a certain percentage of light fittings than can ONLY be fitted with special energy saving bulbs (like yours!)

This is typical of the half witted incoherent legislation we have had from the Labour party.

1 The "certain percentage of fittings can only take energy saving bulbs" rule is not-necessary, as incandescent bulbs are about to be banned anyway.

2 Any energy "wasted" by old bulbs is given off as heat, which is not really waste for the dark months of the year when the house requires heating.

3 The best way to cut energy consumption would be to abolish council tax & shift the taxation over to taxes on gas & electric.

peachespeaches

getmore4less wrote: »

Get the builders in to fix the problem.
(edit : seems these bulbs are naff might not be a fault)

Whats the cap type(code) on the bulbs
guess its one of these MEM BC3
http://www.litebulbs.co.uk/category/13/mem-bc3-3-pin.aspx


A bit of searching found this link
http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/03/28/a-bright-idea/

The key part being that you may be able to replace part of the lamp with a base unit that takes cheaper bulbs if you can find one
(edit: I cant find this base unit product)


Further searching fings making a standard 2 pin fit
http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/07/21/how-to-fit-a-normal-bulb-in-a-bc3-fitting/

alternative it to swap out all the lamp holders they are not that expensive a few quid should fo it do for pendants I would just change them.

Just found this edit, thanks so much. We had the electrician in again and he said there's nothing wrong with the wiring, the bulbs are just rubbish basically. He suggested I change all the fittings. But before I do that I am going to get our long nose pliers out and adapt the fittings as shown above. What a brilliant link.