Why can't energy saving light bulbs be fitted with timers?

onejontwo

Hi as a newbie I hope i'm in the right place!
But could any of you bright sparks out there tell me why it is that an energy saving light bulb shouldn't be fitted to a light that uses a timer to switch it on and off?
As far as I can see the timer just acts as a manual switch to turn the light on and off at pre-determined intervals, and therefore it's just like me turning the switch on and off! I hope you clever lot can shed some light on this problem. Thanks in advance.

ManAtHome

I use mine on timers - it's dimmer-switches that won't work.

onejontwo

Thanks for that. Have you had any problems with blowing bulbs, shortened bulb life etc?

alanobrien

I have two outdoor energy saving dawn to dusk bulbs and one on a dawn to dusk switch all have been in for 2 years now no problem.

Inside approx 60% of our bulbs are energy saving with 3 of those on timers, the sort that replace the light switch. No problems with them either again all have been in for 2 years or more.

Moneymaker

My energy-saver bulbs only seem to last a year and a day. I just had another one burn out yesterday (and I mean BURN) and it had "Dec 22 05" written on it (I've taken to writing the date I install each one with a CD marker pen so I can keep track).

What I'd like to know is how to dispose of them? I understand they contain toxic chemicals. Am I supposed to do a ten mile round trip in my gas-guzzling V6 auto just to trash a bulb?

I emailed the local council but, true to form, they didn't reply.

ManAtHome

No, but they do get dimmer over time - you don't really notice it until you replace one. I move the 100 watt equivalents around after a year of two into where I used to have 40 or 60 watt bulbs. Have had one or two eventually get too dim to be of much use.

They tend to have a shorter life in enclosed fittings (downlighters), but are much better now than the early days. Surprising as they are now pretty cheap - last lot I bought were 50p each from Netto.

Jonesya

onejontwo wrote:

tell me why it is that an energy saving light bulb shouldn't be fitted to a light that uses a timer to switch it on and off?

I'm not absolutely certain but I always thought it depended on the type of timer and the way the timer mechanism/electronics is powered - light switch timers (eg. those that replace a standard light switch) don't have a direct neutral connection as they're wired in series with the bulb. The only way they can draw power to keep the timer ticking over is by passing a very small current through the light bulb.

The filament in incandescent bulbs passes the small current without any problems and the current isn't high enough to light the bulb. Energy saving bulbs have electronic power supplies which, depending on the design, may block the current hence the timer may not run correctly. It might still work but it's not guaranteed and will depend on the particular design of the timer and energy saving bulb.

Plug in timers for table/floor lamps should work fine with low energy bulbs as they have a direct live and neutral connection so don't rely on passing current through the load (eg. bulb) to keep the timer running.

onejontwo

Thanks for that, as mine are all the plug in timers I should be ok to use them, so I'll invest in a few energy saving bulbs and help to save the planet!! (as well as my wallet, and the wear and tear on my ladders to replace the outside bulbs!!).:beer: