Replacement bulb for low energy?

[RussboyG]

Hi all,

So when we built our house we had to have a certain amount that were low energy but over time as these have blown & i've replaced like for like & they were available cheap at Asda but alas no more.

If I can find them for sale now they seem to be expensive, so is there an alternative without replacing the light fitting? Guess I need to look into if I can remove the black "basket" that the bulbs sit in.

I'll let the pic do the talking as it'll prob make more sense:

Existing:

Bulb:

Approx bulb size:

Any ideas what to use instead?

Thanks,

Russ

 

[Echo the husky]

You should still be able to get these easily, I replaced 3 last month, you will likely only be able to get them from an electrical wholesalers as they are not all that common. Here for example.

 

[Iggifer]

Is there anything to stop the OP from binning the black bit and just using an LED GU10?

 

[RussboyG]

You should still be able to get these easily, I replaced 3 last month, you will likely only be able to get them from an electrical wholesalers as they are not all that common. Here for example.

That would make sense to be honest as my best mate did all the electrics in the place & used City Electrical Factors for everything we needed, may have to pop along to them & buy a job lot!

 

[RussboyG]

Is there anything to stop the OP from binning the black bit and just using an LED GU10?

Yep, liking your thinking as I have to admit the energy saving bulbs don't seem to last nearly as long as the others.

 

[Echo the husky]

Is there anything to stop the OP from binning the black bit and just using an LED GU10?

I'm not sure, is the black bit an insulation keeperawayer or does it just prevent the risk of someone installing a halogen lamp which could burn/set fire to the fitting? LED should be OK but modifying the fitting could encourage someone in the future to fit a halogen lamp.

 

[RussboyG]

I'm not sure, is the black bit an insulation keeperawayer or does it just prevent the risk of someone installing a halogen lamp which could burn/set fire to the fitting? LED should be OK but modifying the fitting could encourage someone in the future to fit a halogen lamp.

Might drop one of the lights from the ceiling & take some more pics

 

[Iggifer]

Yea do that, or failing that, you can get longer GU10 Leds, they're getting a bit old hat now as the technology moves forward, they're becoming fairly typically almost the same size as a halogen. This is an example of a Megaman

 

[Taylortwocities]

The lamps you have are cfl (fluorescent).

Better to replace them with the LED equivalent, they come on instantly, rather than having to take 30 seconds to warm up.

Google "led long neck gu10". A 5watt LED would be about the ssame brightness as the 11wall cfl you currently have.

For example

 

[Iggifer]

failing that, you can get longer GU10 Leds.......This is an example of a Megaman

Ahem

 

[Taylortwocities]

Sorry Ig. I'd typed that response on iPhone earlier and forgot to post it. Sent it later on. You were first

 

[Iggifer]

I'm only messing. Strange we both linked to the exact same lamp though

 

[Taylortwocities]

Mine is cheaper!

 

[RussboyG]

So I dropped one out of the ceiling this morning & there doesn’t appear to be anything special about them at all. The outer case they sit in is a fairly thick metal unit presumably there to stop heat transference.

I reckon if I disconnect them so the basket & GU10 mount is free I can probably just remove the basket & fit a normal lamp, so looks like led’s will be the way forwards?

 

[Taylortwocities]

It should be OK. I have not seen a cage like that, inside the can.

What is the make and model of the downlight fitting?