Difference between cheap/expensive brand lighbulbs?

starlite_2

Is there a difference..if i can buy 24 bulbs for a pound at my local pound shop..or pay 89p+ for a phillips etc single bulb, which is best?
and how can a bulb vary in quality? surely a bulb is a bulb is a bulb?!

N9eav

I am no expert. I have experienced in my own home that it does not seem to make a difference. I rarely replace bulbs and I buy the cheapest

se999

I've not found a difference either for standard light bulbs.

For halogen and energy saving bulbs we stocked up when we visited IKEA, they were a lot cheaper than anywhere else we found, so could be worth checking current prices if you need some.

GreenB_2

Far better buying the engery saving ones (from IKEA is cheapest as se999) Although they cost more I have only had two die in 6 years and you will save shed loads in energy bills.

Its better for the planet too!

santana-mx3

I've not found any noticeable difference with ordinary bulbs either and the price difference is such that it wouldn't matter even if they didn't last quite so long.

Halogen bulbs are different though. I tried the "Blackspur" brand you get in cheap shops, instead of Osram//Philips. They were much cheaper but the reflective coating wasn't so good. The light leaks through it resulting in a pink tint. I tried three of them and all had the same problem to different degrees. Since the lights are directional, we now have some pink stripes on our previously all white kitchen ceiling!

Xbigman

I looked at energy saving bulbs in B&Q, all around £8. Then looked in tesco and they have value 11/60 bulbs for 1.67 (with a 3 year guarantee). Non value 20/100 bulbs were dearer at 6.97 but still a bargain.
Regards



X

rizla01

Just a peice of useless information that I once learned.

a tungsten Lightbulb (ordinary type) is only approx 2% efficient.

That is to say that 98% of the energy used goes to producing heat.

After all these years you would think that would have improved wouldn't you?

Riz

daveboy

They are all the same to me.

They all go 'ping' when it's dark and you can't see what you're doing.

gravitytolls

The cheap ones do tend to ping a bit sooner than teh dearer ones, but they don't last so much longer to warrant the extra expense.

We're only buying energy savers now, so once all the remaining cheapies have pinged, that'll be it.

Actually, it seems to be how often you ignite rather than the length of running time that determines their life, or is that just an illusion?

Why do they always go when you switch 'em on?

Santana, your ceiling sounds v pretty.

santana-mx3

Gravity - I think you're right that turning on and off reduces the lifetime further. Also, I think they tend to go when you switch them on because of the power surge.

Energy saving bulbs are great for on/off switches but a large proportion of our switches are dimmers so I still have to use tungsten. The other downside of energy savers is that they don't start up at full brightness - it takes a minute or so. They are only really of benefit in places where the light will be left on for long periods. Also, they have a reduced life if used in fully enclosed fittings or in places subject to very cold temperatures. Finally, you have to like white fluorescent light rather than yellow tungsten.

I went a bit overboard on stocking up on these energy savers (especially the spiral ones which take up less space so they can more easily fit in table lamps etc). The problem is: they last so long it'll take me years to get through the ones I've bought!

Dammam

I'm the opposite - found that the cheapies were burning out very quickly (very old house with old electrical circuit if that makes any difference). Since switching to energy saving 6 months ago, not had to change a bulb (on a fortnight before this!).
The other thing I found with cheapies is that sometimes the bayonet fitting came loose and left the filament exposed in the socket when removing.