Incandescent bulbs: will be banned from sale in the UK from September 2018

fandango

I know sales were restricted 2-3 years ago, but I have just discovered that there will soon be a total ban on these. Still don't trust the eco bulbs, so is it time to stock up?

What's an incandescent bulb? One of these:

Bridgehouse

Apparently some of the big DIY type stores have a stockpile that will last them more than 5 years... so you might find it takes a while for them to disappear off the shelves... 

ICBM

Why not just get some current generation LED bulbs? Everyone I've come across who has a dislike of "eco" bulbs has only ever tried the first generation of them (CFL), which were shit. Current LEDs are very nearly indistinguishable from incandescent in terms of light quality - but use a tenth of the electricity and last far longer. The low power usage also means that if you want, you can significantly increase the brightness of your light fittings and still have them run cooler - for example a 13W LED is brighter than an old 100W incandescent, but is perfectly safe in a 40W-max fitting.

The only issue I have with stopping incandescents is that I use a 100W bulb as a current limiter for troubleshooting amps, and LED won't work for that so I may need a few spares, if I can find any.

Phil_aka_Pip

I have a stock of red fireglow bulbs which are my usual way to warm up the appearance of my lounge. Those coiled up flourescent tubes are shite, but I'm content to find LED equivalents of any incandescent bulbs. They draw less current, don't take any warm-up time, and since I've been using them have not had to replace one, whereas I have had to replace various incandescent bulbs. I think you could "trust" LEDs.

57Deluxe

Wilko seem to be going down the LED variant route only already. The eco incandescent/halogen varieties stocked are now only rated at 30w OUTPUT which is far too dim.

I DO NOT WANT TO BE BATHED IN LED ULTRA VIOLET WHITE!

Phil_aka_Pip

57Deluxe said:

The eco incandescent varieties are now only rated at 30w OUTPUT which is far too dim.

30W is enough for a stairwell or a downstairs loo (unless you read in the loo)

Bridgehouse

@ICBM was delighted by the new standard lamp for his lounge...

ICBM

57Deluxe said:

I DO NOT WANT TO BE BATHED IN LED ULTRA VIOLET WHITE!

LEDs don't emit ultraviolet - that's fluorescents you're thinking of.

There are plenty of 'warm white' LEDs available now too.

KKJale

Household needs will probably find a way to be met but the scary thing is this: even the latest, most energy-saving breed of LEDs that theatre shows and rock concerts have already turned to when it comes to stage lighting will be outlawed if the EU cancels the current exemption. 

If all the appeals fail, there is literally no Plan B in place in terms of available technology. By November, when the final decision is due, the UK's entire stage industry, from the National Theatre down to local and community stage and music events, could be affected, not just creatively but also financially... and in many cases that will likely mean terminally. 

Here's an article with the facts...

https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2018/paule-constable-prospect-theatres-literally-going-dark-real/

Unless campaigners somehow manage a miracle – there's a big showdown with EU lobbyists happening this week – this really bad bad news for the performing arts. 

Phil_aka_Pip

@KKJale I agree, but I can't imagine HMG lifting a finger about it. Neither can I imagine "lighting police" going round various gigs to check that "out-of-date" equipment is not being used.

Brize

Typical stupid EU bollocks. Haven't these people got anything better to do?

Incandescent bulbs cast a light that no LED bulb will ever be able to match.

KKJale

@Phil_aka_Pip I hear you, but hoping the feds don't come round is no way to run a multi-million arts industry.

Theatres won't even be able to replace any existing lighting hardware - as I say, even the latest and best LED stuff – when it breaks down: it'll all be outlawed. 

Replacement with EU target-meeting technology would cost an estimated billion, if such technology existed. But it doesn't.  

bingefeller

ICBM said:

- for example a 13W LED is brighter than an old 100W incandescent, but is perfectly safe in a 40W-max fitting.

Thanks for shedding some light on this as what wattage of LEDs would be suitable replacements for my 100W incandescents had crossed my mind. 

prowla

I'm so angry I'm incandescent!

prowla

The council have replaced my local streetlights with LED ones; they give off a wierd slightly greenish glow and the wildlife seems eerily quiet.

ICBM

Presumably the people who are against LED bulbs don't realise how much of our power generation capacity is used for lighting - and that if all incandescents were replaced with LED, it would reduce the total energy demand by as much as 10%.

And the reason it has to be legislated for is because otherwise some people just go on believing that the old ways are the best, even when they're not...

Leaded petrol and coal-burning open fires had people who believed that the replacements "just weren't as good" too, but we're all better off without them.

Hattigol

prowla said:

I'm so angry I'm incandescent!

You will have to stop feeling like this by September.

Hattigol

ICBM said:

Presumably the people who are against LED bulbs don't realise how much of our power generation capacity is used for lighting - and that if all incandescents were replaced with LED, it would reduce the total energy demand by as much as 10%.

And the reason it has to be legislated for is because otherwise some people just go on believing that the old ways are the best, even when they're not...

Leaded petrol and coal-burning open fires had people who believed that the replacements "just weren't as good" too, but we're all better off without them.

I'm guessing you don't have a valve amp, buddy?

ICBM

Hattigol said:

I'm guessing you don't have a valve amp, buddy?

I do, but it's quite old now. (Older than me, in fact.) I have no real intention of buying a new one though.

It's also worth considering the miniscule proportion of electricity generation used by valve amps...

Philtre

Brize said:

Incandescent bulbs cast a light that no LED bulb will ever be able to match.

Exactly. Our house will continue to use Incandescent bulbs. I value my eyesight.

Philly_Q

ICBM said:

Why not just get some current generation LED bulbs? Everyone I've come across who has a dislike of "eco" bulbs has only ever tried the first generation of them (CFL), which were shit. Current LEDs are very nearly indistinguishable from incandescent in terms of light quality - but use a tenth of the electricity and last far longer. The low power usage also means that if you want, you can significantly increase the brightness of your light fittings and still have them run cooler - for example a 13W LED is brighter than an old 100W incandescent, but is perfectly safe in a 40W-max fitting.

I don't even realise there were such things as LED bulbs (for normal domestic light fittings) until yesterday. 

I was in Sainsburys and went to the light bubs section, expecting to see the tube things (CFL?) and all they had were LEDs.  It really threw me, I was thinking should I buy these?  Are they energy efficient?  Will they blow up after 5 minutes?  I was so perplexed I almost resorted to buying incandescents. 

It was like the world had left me behind, as if I'd suddenly turned into my dad....