****** off with light bulbs

[Paddy]

For the last twelve months i have been writing the date on light bulbs when i replace them.

Average life is about 3 months at the moment.. 100 watt bulbs used to last for years back in the 60's.

Now they have the cheek to offer you bulbs that will last about six months for a premium price! not sure how you make a claim if they don't last that long.

Are there any industrial 100watt bulbs that last for a decent length of time, or are they all fluro's.

Paddy

[Sturdee]

I started using the el-cheapo from Bunnings ( 10 pack for $4.) about 2 years ago and the ones I then put in are still going strong.

Maybe you're using the wrong type. :D


Peter.

[ozwinner]

Paddy have you had your voltage checked by a sparkie?

Wrong voltage in the house will burn all sorts of things out.

Al :)

[MICKYG]

Paddy

Have you tried any of the new type bulbs that have a white spiral part which lights up. These are power saver bulbs and have a few here approaching 4 years service. They run a lot cooler in the sockets and are available at any supermarket the equivelant to 100 watts is a 25 watt model, very bright white light, and worth a try. You can often pick them up 4 in a pack for $11 or 12 dollars. I resorted to them when we were having the same problem with standard bulbs, certainly worth a try.

Regards Mike. :D :D :D

[Simomatra]

Paddy have you had your voltage checked by a sparkie?

Wrong voltage in the house will burn all sorts of things out.

Al :)

Good starting point also look at the bulbs themselves and check what voltage they are rated for. If they are only lasting a short time it is probably they are rated at 220 volts which are what the cheap imports are rated at Look forones that are rated at 250-255volts they will last longer also look at way the coil, filament is supported in the lamp the more support the longer they last.

If you dodn't mind shift to the new fluro style of lamp. now that they are cheaper, then you will get a longet life and the cost of running the lamp will be a hell of a lot cheaper as Mickyg said. http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon3.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon6.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon3.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon6.gif

Cheers Sam

[Iain]

But terrible to read under.

[Schtoo]

Go the flouros where possible/sensible.

Stuck them in here when we first moved in 18 months ago, and they have easily paid for themselves.

Heck, all these new electrical goodies just don't use juice! A/C flat out, $35. Nothing going, $25. Heater (A/C) $35.

And don't even ask how much power costs here...

Anyways, the flouros do last for a goodly amount of time, just try to avoid the cheap and nasties (as always) and don't put them anywhere they might get whacked/dropped/broken.

I can tell you, you swear much louder and more colourful when you break one of them... :D

[Firewalker]

I can tell you, you swear much louder and more colourful when you break one of them... :D

Hahahaha!

[kiwigeo]

First thing I'd be looking at is where the bulbs are made......I did a bit of a study myself on light bulb quality and endurance and came to the conclusion that it's a case of getting what you payfor. The cheap a**e Indonesian made bulbs from are dirt cheap but last about as long as dirt.

[kiwigeo]

Go the flouros where possible/sensible.

Stuck them in here when we first moved in 18 months ago, and they have easily paid for themselves.



Schtoo,

Arent most of the domestic light fittings in the average Japanese apartment fluoros?. Theyre normally those dinky circular Art Deco style things arent they? I cant say I ever recall actually seeing a normal incandsecant light bulb in all my time in Japan.

Cheers Martin

[Schtoo]

Did you like them big, circular hunks of cr@p?

Niether do I. :D

We have one in the spare room, but everything else is a drop down pendant kinda thingy with a string switch and a pair of 13w flouro bulbs and the dinky 5w incan nightlight things. All twist into the same base as the big round hunks of junk, just look a little nicer.

Plus the obligatory turned switch knobs. ;)

Some things, like those lights, just don't do anything for me. Other things, like the bathroom and toilet cistern, are just awesome.

Just have to combine all the good while leaving the bad out in one house. Should be, err, interesting?

[meerkat]

But terrible to read under.

Us lysdexics don't read :D

[kiwigeo]

Some things, like those lights, just don't do anything for me. Other things, like the bathroom and toilet cistern, are just awesome.

Just have to combine all the good while leaving the bad out in one house. Should be, err, interesting?

My wife and I shared a one roomed flat in Sapporo for a year.....the bathroom was basically a two piece plastic moulding with the bath as part of the moulding. The dunny was one of those dinky japanese affairs with the basin built into the cistern...a brilliant invention.

[Schtoo]

Our bathroom now is a modular kinda thing, plenty big enough.

But the trick is, you can send water in any direction, and it doesn't matter. :D

All sealed up, and it all runs to the drain. I will never have a bathroom any other way, especially with kids.

And yep, that's the toilet. ;)

Except now, they will wash and blow dry your exhaust pipe for you, all in heated-seat comfort. We don't have one here, but it's an interesting concept...

And better than the squat I got at the workshop by a bazillion miles.

[journeyman Mick]

Schtoo,
any chance of some piccies of this modular Japanese bathroom? Maybe in a new thread.

Mick

[barnsey]

At the risk of getting back to incandescant bulb applications - The low wattage powersavers are okay but I'm not convined they are always as long lasting as claimed.

True incandescent globes come in two grades - the ordinary ones, from Bunnies - not bad value but they are not much good in applications where there may be some bumping such as in the power light in the garage or table/standard lamps where the may well be some shock. The best in this application have an additional specification "RC" which stands for reinforced coil. They are designed for this heavier duty.

[Schtoo]

Yep, no problem. Err... might need a little de-lousing before I take any pics though... ;)

And some rust removal. Seems swarf likes to stick to me. :D

Toilet too? That's the one thing that really should be used in Oz, must save hundreds of litres of clean water every year.

Even so, they still seem to have water problems around here. What do they expect when one good rain fills the main reservoir, and a week later it's 3/4 empty???

[kiwigeo]

And yep, that's the toilet. ;)

Except now, they will wash and blow dry your exhaust pipe for you, all in heated-seat comfort. We don't have one here, but it's an interesting concept...



Ive tried one of those high tech Totos at a students house once......hated the thing. Whats wrong with having a good old fashioned cr*p without all the high tech gadgetry???

Mind you the heated toilet seats are nice when you plonk your b*m on a toilet in the middle of a Sapporo winter.