Using Rough Service light bulbs in the home

[GRC]

Would you? Do you?

Bought a small batch of these on eBay, but OH noticed the "not suitable for home use" warning on the boxes.

Previous thread on here suggests they generate more heat than domestic bulbs, and hence could overheat fittings. Any views on this (since that thread was in 2013)?

Various web sources claim that home insurance could be invalidated by using them. If anyone is using them in-home, did you check your policy?

 

[bernardgreen]

Quoting from https://www.lightbulbs-direct.com/article/the-light-bulb-ban/

In September 2018, the final stage of an EU directive banning the import or manufacture of incandescent light bulbs will take effect. This directive was introduced by the European Commission in 2009 to restrict the sale of 'high-energy' light bulbs, in favour of alternative energy-saving technologies, such as LED and CFL.

 

[GRC]

Thanks, Bernard, but I haven't imported or manufactured them.

 

[JohnD]

Bought a small batch of these on eBay

Which country were they shipped from?

 

[GRC]

Shipped within UK, as far as I can tell

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Wouldn't use them myself. Bought a batch at work years ago (to go in some fairly inaccessible fittings)- they worked but were much dimmer than ordinary 60w tungsten lamps.
Can't see why anyone would use gls in the home nowadays, the energy savers of 10 years ago were a bit rubbish, modern leds are pretty good (only problem i have with them is there's less bounce off the ceiling due to their design).

 

[Lower]

I wouldn't buy and use rough service bulbs for the reasons you've given. Not that i think the risk of them starting a fire is significant.

However, i would and do buy decorative filament bulbs or LED filament bulbs.

 

[crystal ball]

I asked for rough service in the wholesalers, he told me to **** off

 

[Robin0577]

For some reason, there is still a demand for the traditional GLS lamp, and where there is a demand, suppliers will find ways to meet it. My wholesaler is currently stocking "traffic signal" lamps as a way round it. https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LSGLS60BC.html

 

[bernardgreen]

Incandescent lamps have a much nicer "soft glow" when run at half voltage, that effect cannot be achieved with LED lights,

In damp location the warmth from an incandescent lamp keeps the fitting dry ( not always but most of the time ) thus reducing therisk of moisture damaging the fitting.

 

[Mottie]

I bought a pack of 10 Rough Service bulbs about 15 years ago for my lead light. I've still got 9 left and the original is still working. With the rough service bulbs, they don't blow easily if you drop the lead light.

 

[ericmark]

I have many packs of tungsten bulbs, bought them before the ban, then fitted new fittings so have loads of BA22d bulbs and about 3 light fittings that still use that type, and even they have LED or CFL in them. Bought so the dimmers would still work, but dimmers are so 70's they are from bygone age.

The old "switch the light off, do you think I am made of money?" has gone, we often leave lights on so can see to move between rooms, not worth the effort to switch off.

However likely never was, this room pre-rewire and LED had a three bulb fitting with three 40W bulbs, today 2 x 5 bulb fittings with 5 watt bulbs, so today 50 watt, years ago 120 watt, so not that much of a saving. I am sure if my dad could have found 25 watt bulbs he would have fitted them.

 

[JohnW2]

.... this room pre-rewire and LED had a three bulb fitting with three 40W bulbs, today 2 x 5 bulb fittings with 5 watt bulbs, so today 50 watt, years ago 120 watt.

Interesting, but aren't you somewhat 'comparing chalk with cheese' there - since 50W of LEDs is an awful lot more light than 120W of incandescents?

Kind Regards, John

 

[AndyPRK]

I have been using them for several years before finally switching to energizer led last year.

I’ve had no issues with rough service lamps apart from short life with some brands.

The energizer leds are great. Even get away with using them to replace 150W pearl. (Just). Perfect colour match. Instant on.

 

[SUNRAY]

When I bought my first house in 1983 it was a doer upper and i was getting through bulbs like they were going out fashion. When I complained of high voltage to SEEBoard for the 4th or 5th time, they installed a pen recorder for a week. I took the paper roll to work and photocopied it the day before it was due to be removed, I'd sussed the FSD was 200V to 300V, as no point did it dip below 250V and there were frequent spikes near and even past 300V.

Their engineer tried to tell me it was perfectly normal until I started refering to days, times and voltages.
I was the second property from the sub and the excessive volt drop at the other end of 160 properties was the problem. As I was only using lights and power tools they gave me a box of 25 60W RS bulbs to tide me over until they upgraded the circuit. They were pretty much all I used there, even after the house was finished and we lived there. I still had more than half the box left when I moved out in 1992. I can't say I noticed any particular difference in brightness or heat between them and standard bulbs.

I gave Dad 3 of them for his garage lead lamp as there had been the continual problem of failed bulbs, when we cleared the property there were still 2 on the shelf and 1 in the working lamp.