Lamps blowing on timer switch

katejo

Mine are like a new version of filament. They are not CFL . They look like a smaller version of the old tungsten ones which were withdrawn .

katejo

lstar337 wrote: »

Check the pics posted earlier.

Filament (withdrawn from sale) - Have just a thin wire inside.

Halogen (filament replacement) - Look like a little bulb inside a bigger bulb.

CFL (low energy replacement) - Usually look like a coiled white tube.

LED (even lower energy replacement) - Many different styles.

Click the links to see a bunch of pictures of each type. That way we can narrow it down once and for all.:D

Surely you mean that tungsten bulbs were withdrawn not filament? The bulbs I have definitely have a filament.

lstar337

katejo wrote: »

Surely you mean that tungsten bulbs were withdrawn not filament? The bulbs I have definitely have a filament.

Yes. I was trying to simplify by seperating standard old incandescent bulbs from their halogen replacements.

You are still complicating things with your description.

a new version of filament, They look like a smaller version of the old tungsten ones

Doesn't mean anything.

They are always going to look smaller because they are SES, the important bit is what it looks like inside the glass bulb. Is it just a large filament on its own, or is it a much smaller filament inside a another glass housing?

Put simply, is it like pictures from link 1 or link 2?

katejo

lstar337 wrote: »

Yes. I was trying to simplify by seperating standard old incandescent bulbs from their halogen replacements.

You are still complicating things with your description.

Doesn't mean anything.

They are always going to look smaller because they are SES, the important bit is what it looks like inside the glass bulb. Is it just a large filament on its own, or is it a much smaller filament inside a another glass housing?

Put simply, is it like pictures from link 1 or link 2?

My bulbs are definitely filament. There is no glass housing round the filament.
The closest which I could find online is this one. Even on Homebase's website I can't find the ones which I have.

http://www.ledlightworld.co.uk/light-bulbs/standard-incandescent-bulbs/bell-golf-ball-incandescent-light-bulb-ses.html

katejo

Today I have been back to Homebase to do a fact check:

1. Looked at timers again: Both manual and programmable say on the packing that they are not compatible with any low energy bulbs but don't mention any other restriction.

2. Looked at the lamp which I previously bought. Can only be used either with low energy bulbs or the SES filament one which i have already tried. I looked at all the halogen ones but there was nothing suitable. They only had 28W or 42W (55 W) . Not sure whether the 55W in bracket meant 55w equivalent. The lamp label states 40W max

I spoke to someone on customer services but they could not help. I bought 1 manual timer to try but will take it back if the same problem occurs. I will also email them via the website to say that their timer product needs extra info on the labels.

Suzy_M

Aldi have dusk to dawn low energy bulbs @£4.59 each. No need for a timer.

lstar337

katejo wrote: »

2. Looked at the lamp which I previously bought. Can only be used either with low energy bulbs or the SES filament one which i have already tried. I looked at all the halogen ones but there was nothing suitable. They only had 28W or 42W (55 W) . Not sure whether the 55W in bracket meant 55w equivalent. The lamp label states 40W max.

Why was the 28W halogen not suitable?

Just buy some SES CFL's and a mechanical timer. Chances of those malfunctioning is next to nil.

katejo

Suzy_M wrote: »

Aldi have dusk to dawn low energy bulbs @£4.59 each. No need for a timer.

How are they 'dusk to dawn' without a timer?

katejo

lstar337 wrote: »

Why was the 28W halogen not suitable?

Just buy some SES CFL's and a mechanical timer. Chances of those malfunctioning is next to nil.

Mainly because the lamp was labelled as only being suitable for low energy and the SES filament ones which I have already tried. Also thought that 28W wouldn't be bright enough.

I did buy a mechanical timer.

lstar337

katejo wrote: »

Mainly because the lamp was labelled as only being suitable for low energy and the SES filament ones which I have already tried. Also thought that 28W wouldn't be bright enough.

I did buy a mechanical timer.

Halogen and CFL are both low energy.

You need to move away from Watts = Light.

Newer bulb technology is better at turning Watts into usable light. A 28W halogen bulb is the same light output as your old 40W bulb, so it wont be dim, it'll be bright.

I have 7W CFL's and 4W LED's that are both brighter than than the 40W incandescent bulbs that came with my bed side lamps.

Save yourself some money and buy some bulbs with better efficiency.