Energy saving lightbulbs retaining electricity?

katiep_2

I don't know if this is the right place to put this, or if I'd be better off in DIY moneysaving but I hope someone can help me! My house is completely kitted out wherever possible with energy saving lightbulbs. Recently I've noticed that two of them seem to be retaining some power or something strange! I've noticed it at night when it's at it's darkest, that they flash very dimly at irregular intervals. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? Is it a fault or feature with the bulbs, or does it sound like a fault with the electrics? I've never heard of anything like it before!

geordie_joe

Do you mean they flash dimly when the are switched off?

One thing you could do is swap one of the bulbs that do this with one that doesn't.

If the "flashing" bulb continues to flash in it's new room then it must be something in the bulb. If it doesn't and the bulb that replaced it starts flashing then it must be something in the wiring.

loulou41

I have the same problem, as I have insurance, called gas people and the chap said it happens often with energy saver bulbs and to change it around. I have changed the expensive candle bulbs which I bought online and used the cheap ones from Morrisson and they seem to be ok now in the lounge.

I have got energy saver spot light in my son's bedroom, sometimes they do not light up and sometimes they do. I do not think it has anything to do with the wiring, I think, it is the energy bulbs. In the past, I thought they were fused and have replaced them. My son told me it happens very often, the bulbs light on and off.

Cardew

Static electricity can cause momentary flashes in neon tubes.

PasturesNew

I had that. Scared me it did! I called an electrician in - nothing wrong he said.

It would flash every 30 seconds - 1 minute for quite a long time (minutes/couple of hours) after I'd used it.

So I stopped using it out of fear.

chriserenity

I'm sure they'll sort out these little problems. They'll have to when they phase out the old incandescent bulbs soon. I did an Energy Performance Certificate as part of a HIP recently for a chap who had lots of dimmer switches in his house and I had to tell him not to use normal energy saving lightbulbs in his house. It does say on the boxes of most CF bulbs that you shouldn't use them with dimmer switches as they flash on and off repeatedly (I don't think this is the same problem as you guys are describing).

Cheap disco lighting I suppose?

gerryonihub

Most energy saving bulbs aren’t fully compatible with dimmer switch circuits at the moment. A standard dimmer switch will simply make the bulb flicker.

The Osram Dulx El Dim is currently the only fully dimmable energy saving bulb. However, there are plans for more to be developed by early next year.

At a recent show, i seen many supposed CFL's that were dimmer switch compatible, but on talking to the sales rep's i soon realised that they had no idea what they were talking about. So todate the Osram Delux El Dim is the only one that i know works and is recommended by EST

Joyful

I was advised the reason my dimmer switch broke was because I had an energy saving bulb attached.It finally stopped working completely and I had it replaced by a normal switch. I never had a problem with the bulbs flashing though and I have them in every room in the house.The Engineer did say that in the near future they would be coming out with compatible bulbs.

katiep_2

My lights are all on normal switches not dimmers so it's not that causing the problem. Thanks for your advice everyone - I'm going to assume it's nothing to worry about!

penrhyn

OP doesn't live underneath power lines?

LuciferTDark

No nearby power lines or dimmers here & I have 2 bulbs that flash, it doesn't matter which socket they're in either although I've relegated them to the downstairs hall & toilet until I work out what the heck is going on.