Difference between cheap/expensive brand lighbulbs?

Jem8472

I would always suggest going for energy saving bulbs, unless you are unluck they should last 3 or so years and you should also save money on your elec bill. I have know a few bulbs fal apart but that is usually when they had been in fitting for a long time. Bulbs always go when you switch tem on because there is a power surge.

There are a few things that effect the life of a normal bulb and a lot of turning on and off will reduce the life.
Also energy savers now get to full brightness in about 10-15 seconds

YorkshireBoy

gravitytolls wrote:

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

At the instant of switch on, the filament presents a (virtual) short circuit to the supply, causing a current surge.

The positive temperature co-efficient (PTC) characteristics of the filament material mean that this current is reduced more or less instantaneously, but not before the filament has been "stressed".

Eventually, after a number of operations, the filament cannot cope with the start up current surge and blows.