Dimmable Lightbulbs 3 December 2022 at 8:42PM in I wanna buy it or do it 6 replies 90 views

Yellowstone2

I'm looking for replacement dimmable lightbulbs for out livingroom. The fixing is a bayonette which rules out over half the bulbs, and needing to be dimmable rules out almost the other half too. I've tried Wilkos, Boyes, B&M, B&Q, The Range, Homebargains, Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons etc. 

The only ones I can find, that will fit, causes the lightswitch to buzz really loudly. (The previous ones never caused this level of buzzing, I know it's something to do with the resister but why do some cause it to buzz, and others dont?)

Please can anyone suggest where I can find dimmable bayonettes that don't cause loud buzzing please? I've been unsure about ordering anything online because I will not know if they are going to make the loud buzzing, but if anyone can point me in the direction of a type/brand that has only a low level puzz, then I would be very grateful; thank you. 

Marcon

Yellowstone2 said:

I'm looking for replacement dimmable lightbulbs for out livingroom. The fixing is a bayonette which rules out over half the bulbs, and needing to be dimmable rules out almost the other half too. I've tried Wilkos, Boyes, B&M, B&Q, The Range, Homebargains, Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons etc. 

The only ones I can find, that will fit, causes the lightswitch to buzz really loudly. (The previous ones never caused this level of buzzing, I know it's something to do with the resister but why do some cause it to buzz, and others dont?)

Please can anyone suggest where I can find dimmable bayonettes that don't cause loud buzzing please? I've been unsure about ordering anything online because I will not know if they are going to make the loud buzzing, but if anyone can point me in the direction of a type/brand that has only a low level puzz, then I would be very grateful; thank you. 

If you google on dimmable bayonet bulbs you'll get any number of options - there's no shortage and all the places you've listed sell them e.g.

 https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/311765448
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-1-pack-bayonet-b22bc-led-6w-470-lumens-dimmable-gls-light-bulb/p/0437690
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9193987

I wonder if the issue is that you've been trying the wrong spelling, although google should have automatically changed it to bayonet? There are quite literally thousands on Amazon - and whether you buy online or in person, you can't know for sure how loud the buzz factor will be. 

Has your dimmer switch ever been replaced since you changed to LED bulbs? If not, it almost certainly needs to be and the loud buzzing should be reduced to a gentle hum.

Best idea is to talk to a qualified electrician and get them to check it out for you/replace the switch if necessary.

clive0510

yes the light fitting in our lounge has 3 arms with a bulb on each. it came with the house. this was 2002/03. when I put bulbs in it and turned it on, found out it was bright enough to light up half the street. so fitted a dimmer switch. what i didnt realise was cant use halogen bulbs with the dimmer switch, and also it doesnt like the new energy saving bulbs. anyway as someone said, went on google, bought a box of 24 of the old style candle bulbs, with bayonet. works a treat now. 

Katiehound

I have a dimmer switch in my hall- stuck with old old style bulbs as I know that no variety of energy efficient bulbs can be used .

Marcon

There's a considerable cost saving in switching to LED bulbs: https://www.electricalcounter.co.uk/light-bulb-running-costs

Could be well worth the cost of changing the dimmer switch/light fitting you currently have in situ.

Yellowstone2

clive0510 said:

yes the light fitting in our lounge has 3 arms with a bulb on each. it came with the house. this was 2002/03. when I put bulbs in it and turned it on, found out it was bright enough to light up half the street. so fitted a dimmer switch. what i didnt realise was cant use halogen bulbs with the dimmer switch, and also it doesnt like the new energy saving bulbs. anyway as someone said, went on google, bought a box of 24 of the old style candle bulbs, with bayonet. works a treat now.

Thats a thought! I didn't even realise it was possible to buy the old style lightbulbs any more!

Yellowstone2

Marcon said:

There's a considerable cost saving in switching to LED bulbs: https://www.electricalcounter.co.uk/light-bulb-running-costs

Could be well worth the cost of changing the dimmer switch/light fitting you currently have in situ.

The dimmer switch we are using is probably 5-10 years old, so maybe a newer switch would be more compatible with dimmable LEDs perhaps?