Energy efficient and dimmable replacements for E14 SES golf ball lightbulbs?

Southend1

Hi all

As per the thread title, I'm looking for energy efficient and dimmable replacements for E14 SES golf ball lightbulbs. They must work on a standard dimmer switch. Have found a few options on the web but am a bit confused as to whether they will work with the dimmer switch.

Any advice gratefully received.

T_T_2

I'd give one of the electrical merchants a call (most of them are owned by the same company, rexel, these days). Newey & Eyre, Denmans, City Electrical Factors etc. They will be able to advise on what you can use, they might even be cheaper too.

Southend1

T_T wrote: »

I'd give one of the electrical merchants a call (most of them are owned by the same company, rexel, these days). Newey & Eyre, Denmans, City Electrical Factors etc. They will be able to advise on what you can use, they might even be cheaper too.

Good idea, thanks!

fluffpot

You may well need to change your dimmer switches at the same time as most are minimum 60W and your new energy saving bulbs are likely to be around 9 or 11W each. Ask at the wholesaler for low load dimmers

Southend1

Thanks fluffpot.

Have done some more research but the only E14 equivalents that are dimmable seem to be low wattage equivalent LEDs (up to 25w equivalent) or halogens (28w = 40w equivalent). So I'm thinking I might just swap the dimmer for a normal switch so I can use 11w CFLs. Will this be ok with a standard lightswitch (3 x 11w bulbs)? I presume the low load thing is only applicable to dimmer switches?

While thinking about lightbulbs I also have 11 x GU10 50w halogens in the kitchen. The equivalent LEDs seem to be prohibitively expensive at the moment - don't use them enough to justify £80 odd to swap them.

ic

Halogen's will fit the same size and they look the same - but use a third less power than standard bulbs - dimmer compatible as far as I'm aware too.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Lighting/Energy+Saving+Halogen+Retrofit/Sylvania+Halogen+Ball+Energy+Saver+42w+ES+600lm/d220/sd3277/p58483

You posted the same time as me - one thing to look at also is the cost - you might save on the electric bill, but how long will the increased cost of whatever bulb you buy take to pay off its investment? You'll be find with the bulbs as you suggest on a standard switch.

As for your 50W, there are 35W bulbs available which are supposed to perform just as well, but I've no experience of them - even if you were to use them in the areas that are not lighting a surface perhaps you could make a saving.

Southend1

ic wrote: »

one thing to look at also is the cost - you might save on the electric bill, but how long will the increased cost of whatever bulb you buy take to pay off its investment?

This is definitely worth thinking about. At the moment I can get 2x E14 SES 40w incandescent bulbs for 75p. So it's not worth the expense to upgrade to the 28w halogens. Maybe if/when brighter LEDs are available it will be worthwhile.

Coveredinbees!!!!

You can get 10 28w ses halogen golfball bulbs on ebay for £15.