Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

[pimplyteen]

I've bought some today F rated, they claim to use 90% less energy.
Now I know many people believe that you save very little in the way of money by keep turning lights off, that is debatable I think but in the long run it's got to make some difference in my view and one of the 3 reasons I bought them.

The second reason was because I like a white daylight bulb.
The 3rd reason is really my question. On the box it states, " Lasts up to 15 years" If the bulb gives up after 2 years, do I have a claim? I see it that I don't because it has lasted (UP) to 15 years, if my thoughts are correct is the claim of 15 years miss leading and not worth a dot because I would have to in some way prove a manufacturing fault that would almost be impossible to do. Any thoughts? By the way I have no such problem at the moment. :0)

[douglas9401]

I suspect that 'up to 15 years' only applies if it's not turned on.

Just a ploy to draw attention, like 'SALE! Up to 75% off'.

[Hopkirk]

90% less energy than what?

Probably than a filament bulb that you can no longer buy.

[perseverer]

They will claim it is 15years at so many hours per year, but in practice you are likely to use it it more hours than they say.
F rating does not sound good to me. The most efficient bulbs these days are LED ones, long lasting and using much less energy. They do pay for themselves. They come in warm and cool white.

[pimplyteen]

preserver. They are luminate led.

[pimplyteen]

I now see the claim is based on 2.7 hours used per day.

[davebro]

Hardly worth thinking about claiming for a light bulb that fails after 5 years instead of 15 is it.

[pimplyteen]

No dave it's not and I wouldn't bother doing so. But I did ask if it was miss leading?

[gingejbee]

One good thing about LED lamps (not bulbs!) is that they don't suffer if you keep turning them on and off, even quickly - unlike previous types (incandescent, CFL, halogen etc).
Plus, they do last for donkeys' years (highly scientific description) and they do use a fraction (something like an eighth?) of the power that a similarly- rated (light output in lumens) incandescent lamp uses.

[Paigntonian]

'If the bulb gives up after 2 years, do I have a claim? ' Are you really that sad? You're going to sue someone for a £5 bulb. Get a life.

[pimplyteen]

Paigntonian Thanks for your input, it might assist you if you would study the OP.

[pimplyteen]

Thank's gingejbee Do you think they would have tested these leds by leaving them on for 131.400 hours to make this claim?

[perseverer]

It seems bulbs previously rated A are now rated F (to allow manufacturesrs room for further improvement -it says) so apologies for my earlier comment.

[pimplyteen]

Sorry gingejbee the hours should be 48.6666666667 hours. Its based on 2.7 per day.

[pimplyteen]

13.43 Preseverer Thanks didn't know that.

[gingejbee]

I suspect that they've simply calculated the typical lifespan (based on the stated hours-per-day usage) knowing how long their individual LEDs (inside the lamp) last on average...and hoping that you'll forget when and where you bought them!

[pimplyteen]

I guess i would also have to find a way of preserving the recipe and consider a safe deposit box, also include such in my will. :0):0)

[perseverer]

LED bulbs are often claimed to last (up to) 15000 hours.
15years at 2.7 hours a day works out 15 x 365 x2.7 =14,782 hours so this is probably how they arrived at their figure. Whatever, LED Bulbs are the best purchase at the moment and will repay their initial cost, and other types are becoming less and less available.

[pimplyteen]

These were 2x 40w and the cost is not that bad if they are going to last even only 2/3 years @£2.99 The old type bulbs that you can still get from the cheap shops are a complete waste of money they blow in no time at all mainly when one switches on and off. I just thought 15 years seemed a little over the top?

[Old_Geezer]

"up to" is a fairly meaningless phrase in practice. Taken literally it means that it won't last longer than the specified time, but I doubt you'd get a refund if it did. Maybe worth trying though.

Maybe best to look for bulbs lasting for up to infinite years.