Light fittings in 7 year old new build - trouble getting light bulbs

Bunzel

Hello
I bought a new house 7 years ago and there are spotlights in the kitchen, toilet, bathroom and en suite - 16 in total and it appears that the fitting is no longer supported and an electrician told me I will need to replace all the fittings as I cannot get replacement bulbs.I have tried to source the bulbs and ordered one I thought was right but it is too big and cost me £12.99. My question is whether I have any claim against the builders in relation to having to have new fittings in a six year old house? Or does anyone know where you can get old bulbs tp24 =2840 LI T2 Spiral 10W with loose reflector - warm white?
Any help would be appreciated.

Jack_Cork

Just put what you are looking for into a web site called 'google' I did and found the below on a site called ebay. 
Google can be used to search for many things, its quick and easy
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tp24-L1-Spiral-10W-With-Loose-Reflector-470-Lumens-/274247702816 

troffasky

If the above eBay link isn't the right bulb [and I think it is, because TP24 appear to use 4-digit model numbers and the above matches] you can always ask TP24 themselves what the replacement for the 2840 is.

I think you've misunderstood what the electrician told you, or he's having you on.

MovingForwards

Do an internet search as loads of suppliers pop up for those bulbs.

Myser

Around that time, building regulations were in force to ensure 'lighting fittings have sockets that can only be used with lamps having an efficacy greater than 40 lumens per circuit-Watt.'

So in new builds, one way for the developer could meet this requirement was by installing light fittings that only take a specific type of energy efficient lamp.

Another example of this is the CFL ballast fitted in a lighting pendant:

I don't think you have any claim against the builder/developer as they were probably just trying to meet the energy efficiency requirements.

Rodders53

Myser said:

Around that time, building regulations were in force to ensure 'lighting fittings have sockets that can only be used with lamps having an efficacy greater than 40 lumens per circuit-Watt.'

Plenty of mains LED alternatives available around that same time(2012-14), I'd have thought, with that efficiency level or better. The lamp the OP has is a CFL with ballast in a GU10 mains all in one package.  Not a separate ballast device.

LED reflector lamps may well be are available in a suitable length to fit the luminaire (light fitting). OP should perhaps consult a lighting shop with expertise?  Or the original lamp (maker?) supplier?  https://www.tp24.com/shop/all-products/lamps-bulbs/led-lamps/8722-led-3w-clear-spot-l1-cap-2886-replacement.html looks to be TP24's led equivalent of the CFL lamp.  Worth asking them, I'd say, to check they will fit the light fitting?
GU10 50mm diameter 76mm long neck LED lamps are unlikely to  precisely match light output, beam angle and colour temperature, of the CFLs. So may mean replacing all lamps in any one room?)

OP Be grateful the lamps are replaceable.  Some fire-rated downlighters are non replaceable LEDs now.

Myser

Rodders53 said:

Plenty of mains LED alternatives available around that same time(2012-14), I'd have thought, with that efficiency level or better. The lamp the OP has is a CFL with ballast in a GU10 mains all in one package.  Not a separate ballast device.

Back then, integrated LED fittings were relatively expensive compared to a CFL fitting which required a specific type of lamp.  They were used so that people could not swap out for a standard filament GU10.

The pendant with integrated CFL ballast was just shown as another example of fittings used to force people to use energy saving lamps.

Yes @Bunzel's CFL lamps have the ballast integrated however, the fitting prevents a standard lamp being used.  There is also an oversized keying dimple on the TP24 compared to a normal GU10 lamp.

Some LED TP24 lamps are now available, these are a low wattage but may be comparable to the CFLs currently fitted:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/tp24-LED-3-5W-lamp-8722-SMD-NEW-Long-neck-GU10-LED-Bulb-OVER-1500-SOLD/221700747277

Mutton_Geoff

Bulbs blow in 7 year old fitting and the OP is looking for compo from the builder

grumbler

Generally, why not? It's the fittings, not the bulbs, and you aren't supposed to replace all your light fittings every 7 years or so.

That said, it's our notorious regulators that seem to  be at fault and have to be chased, not the builder.

troffasky

Regulation to improve energy efficiency that leads to a "solution" that requires periodic replacement of the light fitting is an absurd failure. It doesn't even pass the "saving money" test, never mind saving the environment!

Myser

troffasky said:

Regulation to improve energy efficiency that leads to a "solution" that requires periodic replacement of the light fitting is an absurd failure. It doesn't even pass the "saving money" test, never mind saving the environment!

I guess it was the industry's answer at the time to a goverment requirement.  I suppose they weren't aware that LEDs would take off in the way they did!

There are solutions to get around using the fittings with LED lamps, I think someone 3D printed a base adapter to use normal GU10 lamps.