Need to replace lots of GU10 Bulbs - advice please.

bitemebankers

Given how widespread disappointment is in these bulbs, it's a little surprising there hasn't been any coordinated consumer action. I bought a few of the 11w Pro-Lite brand to try here. They're supposed to be a direct compatible for a 50w GU10 but the reality was very disappointing. They take a good five minutes to warm up fully, and even then the light output is a fraction of a true halogen lamp. In an area like the kitchen this means light levels could actually be dangerous if you were handling sharp or hot items.

The only real action seems to be opposition to ALL energy saving lighting, which isn't something I want to be a part of.

JennyR68

I've read good reviews of the Megaman 11w GU10's, anyone any experiance of them?

Fire_Fox

bitemebankers wrote: »

GU10 lamps were never designed for general room lighting - they're supposed to be for accent and mood lighting. The fittings are popular with builders though because they're *very* cheap. As you're discovering though, conventional bulbs cost a fortune to run and the energy savers are expensive and poor.

Many modern flats are dark compared with houses as they have fewer windows, plus the ceilings tend to be low peppered with holes for halogen lighting. I don't think there are any satisfactory alternatives to either the lamps or the fittings.

There is evidence that people who live alone are more likely to be in fuel poverty, then you add in the fact that many new build or new conversion flats are heated electrically and lit by halogen ...

bitemebankers wrote: »

Given how widespread disappointment is in these bulbs, it's a little surprising there hasn't been any coordinated consumer action. ... In an area like the kitchen this means light levels could actually be dangerous if you were handling sharp or hot items.

The only real action seems to be opposition to ALL energy saving lighting, which isn't something I want to be a part of.

It winds me up that we are constantly reminded to save energy by installing low energy lighting - even lose points on the HIP for not having them - yet there is no like-for-like alternative to GU10 or MR16 halogen lamps. Even the compromises are expensive and all the government initiatives are targeting those with traditional bayonet bulbs. :mad:

jicms

I too bought a property with about 30 GU10 bulbs. They went at a rate of knots and I was mad that the builder had not considered how much it would cost to replace them. Should be some rules on the lighting builders can install. It was £6 each at the time.

The current B&Q energy saving ones do not last the length of time they're supposed to.

bitemebankers

Exactly, Fire Fox. What are people supposed to do?

The only practical option is to start changing light fittings but as you say, in properties with low ceilings, there aren't many options. Personally I'd probably look at fittings for commercial installations - you can get recessed ceiling fittings which are purpose designed for low-energy lamps, but they don't seem to be marketed much for home use. Fittings like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/80869/Lighting-Lamps/Commercial-Industrial/Commercial-Downlights/Insaver-HE-Open-G24Q-175mm-Hole-1-x-26w

At £45 each though, it's obvious why property developers are reluctant to shell out for them. But...the replacement lamps cheap and they cost next-to-nothing to run. Hence their popularity with retail shop owners with big electricity bills. You can get the lamps in a good range of colour temperatures too, to suit different rooms.

Mupette

decsdad wrote: »

Hi,
I am/was in a similar situation, have 80 gu10's in the house. After some thought and a bit of swapping bulbs around I decided that there is no bulb which will like for like replace the 50w ones. Something has to give, either brightness, warm up time, appearance(70mm ones that stick out) or light colour. So I put leds in the lounge, bit dull and a bit blue, but we only use the room late in the evening to relax, and would probably have dimmed a normal bulb anyway.

Bathrooms, went for the 35w gu10's as decided that as you may only be in there 2 mins you need the light pretty much straight away.
Kitchen, hall and bedrooms got http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
and we are happy with them. Just got them recently.

Tried the 6400K ones--too blue
the 2700K ones are yellowish-like a normal bulb
we went for the 3500K ones which arent quite so yellow.

We did have the longer cfl ones, from tesco, but changed them as got fed up with the look of them.(wasn't too bothered as never paid much for them as tesco put them out in the wrong place)


Also, if I wasn't happy with them I was going to try these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I think we have too many bulbs in each room so would get away with the 20w ones(we have 6 in a 2m x 2m bathroom).

Of course this is all only my opinion and others may, and probably will differ.
I have nothing to do with any of these sellers other than the fact I bought bulbs from the first one.

worrying thing about the ebay seller with the bulbs is they keep mentioning lamps.. are they selling lamps or bulbs?

sunflower76

Mupette wrote: »

worrying thing about the ebay seller with the bulbs is they keep mentioning lamps.. are they selling lamps or bulbs?

In electrical terms a bulb (as the general population knows it) is a lamp. When I worked for an electrical firm I was constantly being told that bulbs grow in the garden and do not light your home.

LightPlanet

You can get high power LED GU10 bulbs that measure 50mm total depth and can be compared with 50w halogen. Yes they are expensive, but consider contacting the supplier if you are planning to bulk buy. Proper, high power bulbs can not be compared with the rubbish in B&Q, so don't use these as a reference. 350 - 400 lumens, good colour temperature, wide beam angle and compact size is perfectly possible. Are they worth the money? In the long term they do work out as cheaper to operate than halogen.

cosyc

Try Tesco , they often do two for price of one.
Ge Gu10 7w Energy Saving Lightbulb 6yrs £5.00

jay1976

I second that try tescos. Ive replace my gu10 with these bulbs (lamps) in my kitchen, they warm up quite quickly and give out a good light yellowish ive had no problems with these used them for about a year now.