What's going on with energy saving bulbs?

[neuron]

I've just bought a couple of Osram Duluxstar energy saving bulbs at my local Co-Op.

The package shows symbols which indicate that the 11 watt rating of the pearl bulb is equivalent to a 60 watt conventional tungsten filament lamp. To my mind, this can only be interpreted as the 11 watt energy saving bulb has the same light output as a 60 watt conventional lamp.

I wanted to see how true this claim was and I rigged up a length of cable with a lampholder and hung it on the ceiling (I've got halogen fittings in the room) and tried the energy saving bulb first then a pearl 60 watt bulb afterwards.

To my amazement, the light output from the energy bulb is nowhere near as bright as that from a the equivalent filament lamp.

What's going on here? Are these energy-saving bulb manufacturers guilty of representation? Shouldn't they have to clarify this in more detail as it seems the obvious interpretation of the symbols is not correct? Is it the light output that should be compared or is it something else?

If the government expects us all to switch over to these bulbs within the next few years they had better get these manufacturers to get their act together.

Until it's sorted, I won't be buying any more.

[woodchopper]

It takes a few minutes for them to warm up.
And there is an alternative of getting a 75w equivalent of where you need a 60w lamp.
I only use them in the likes of table lamps or night lights.

[Gromit]

There is a chart here that explains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluoresce nt_lamp

And you do need to give 'em a couple of minutes.

[Postdog]

I kitted all my house out with them when Morrisons did a BOGOF for 99p a bulb just a few weeks back. I got 100 watt equivalents and notice no change EXCEPT that I am on prepayment electric and that is now lasting longer than it did, so I am happy with them.

[joto]

We put an energy saver bulb in the bathroom and found it so dark when first switched on that you can't actually see anything. It does eventually light up, so we tend to leave it switched on!

[Ethel]

All of my bulbs are energy saving - I don't have any problems with them.

[bigmamma]

I've had 2 of them just explode ! :-(

[pastafreak]

I agree with Ethel-about 3/4 of my bulbs are low energy and I have had them in place for almost 2yrs. The light emitted is perfectly fine for reading. Could the quality of light vary with manufacturer??

[J.JJ]

there are three important things to realise about low energy light bulbs.

1. these bulbs are fluorescent bulbs in miniature and like all fluorescent bulbs they require 5 to 10 minutes before the internal fluorescent coating makes the bulb give out its full power.

2. because they take time to deliver their full light output they should only be used in places where the lamp will be on for some time ( they are not suitable in toilets or other rooms, where after a few minutes the light is switched off as they will never be on long enough to give out their full power ).

3. because these bulbs are fluorescent tubes in miniature you should never use them with ordinary dimmer switches, they will damage ordinary dimmer switches in a very short period of time. special dimmer switches are made for use with fluorescent lights but they are very, very expensive.

[woodchopper]

In addition to what j.jj said - CFL's can damage electronic timer units as well as dimmers.

[neuron]

Thanks all for your replies.

I realised from the outset that these bulbs had to be on for 10 minutes or more to achieve their quoted light output and I should have made that clear in my initial post.

However, even after abiding by this 10 minute rule, I still find the light pathetic in comparison to incandescent bulbs. I don't know how these manufacturers can get away with these lies.

Yes, I could get a 18 Watt energy saving lamp that's claimed to be equivalent to a 100W incandescent lamp and then put up with something that's truly only about equivalent to a 60W incandescent lamp. However, the point is that these people claim that 11W is equivalent to 60W. Why can't they just get it right in the first place?

[adamhornsby]

You are kidding right, we have some energy saving Philips bulbs and they are bright enough.

[HomeBody]

In both my tenanted properties and my home, I've not had to replace a single low energy light bulb for more than four years.

Neuron, I think you are being unnecessarily inflammatory by saying that the manufacturers are lying. They would have been brought to book by now if lies are being told. Perhaps your expectations of these light bulbs simply do not fit the actual specification.