Is this really necessary??

tizzle6560

Some advice on this if you would be so kind.

The company who manage our property (3 leasehold flats in a converted Vic townhouse) are suggesting a full upgrade of the communal area lighting becuase -

"The 3 light fittings in the communal area are fluorescent round bulkheads , they don't like being switched off and on constantly therefore the bulbs will not last more than 3,4months. For trouble free communal lighting please upgrade to led microwave sensor bulkheads.

The elctrician that has attended has provided a quotation to carry out the upgrade;

To upgrade communal lighting of the above property as follows:
Replace 3 light fittings with microwave sensor controlled l.e.d round bulkheads.
Remove and blank off switches
Provide an minor works electrical certificate at completion.
Time required on site 8 hours
Cost of materials 250£
Cost of labour 250£
Total cost 500£

Rather excessive for 3 lights that get switched on maybe 5 times a day.. Are bulkhead lights really that sensitive to being switched on/off? From memory they have maybe been replaced twice in 2 1/2 years, which I guess answers my question :T

spadoosh

I was under the impression that the life of fluorescents was based on them being turned on and off several times a day.

Yes they will have a shorter lifespan than LED.

The cost seems to far outweigh any benefit. Id have a look at what bulbs are used and see how many you could buy for the £500 and work out how long they would last bearing in mind life of led equivalent and the cost of those bulbs.

lstar337

You can probably just get direct LED replacements for the fluorescent tubes, you can for most.

Then you just swap over the bulb, no need for electricians.

To answer your question directly, Is this really necessary? I would say no.

WestonDave

In most cases you can get a LED replacement "bulb" that will fit in the same fitting space as a fluorescent bulb. I'd agree that the current ones are probably better suited to being on all the time or at least come on at dusk and off at dawn than keep turning on and off because of the starter issue. However the most cost effective solution is just to change the bulb to an LED one that is fine with repeated switching.

Ectophile

Expensive microwave operated LED lamps does seem a bit of an overkill.

If the existing switches are OK, what's wrong with just off-the-shelf bulkhead fittings with cheap LED lamps in?

flashg67

Sounds like they're trying to get you to pay for work which will then save them money over the long term? Sounds overkill to me - £500 buys a lot of bulbs...

Risteard

lstar337 wrote: »

You can probably just get direct LED replacements for the fluorescent tubes, you can for most.

Then you just swap over the bulb (sic), no need for electricians.

I would suggest that to change the lamps for LEDs you will almost certainly need to remove the existing ballast. An Electrician will be needed.

lstar337

Risteard wrote: »

I would suggest that to change the lamps for LEDs you will almost certainly need to remove the existing ballast. An Electrician will be needed.

Not necessarily. I have replaced fluorescent tubes where it wasn't necessary to remove the ballast.

JohnB47

I've read that LEDs fail early because the electronics don't like on/off cycles, not because the leds themselves fail. So they'll be replacing one type of bulb that doesn't like being turned on and off with another that doesn't like being turned on and off.


Is there any real evidence that the existing fluorescent bulbs need changing that often - have you asked the company for information on that? The fluorescents in my kitchen need changing every four or 5 years on average - one has lasted over 10 years!


Also, you say that this is a suggestion. Can you refuse?

barnaclebill

On board ship most places are lit by fluorescent tubes with starters, some rooms were switched on/off a number of times each day and office spaces only two times, did not notice that much difference in how often we were changing tubes.
In your case I would not change to LED.

getmore4less

Ask to see the records for the maintenance of these fitting over the last 5 years.

it is not just the cost of the replacement but the labor as well each time ones goes.