Ceiling Lights

[Carole]

Well that's the thing, there is nothing on it to say but I will ask the sparky tomorrow.

When you look up at them they are different to the ones in our bathroom (GU10), which are one big circle.
The kitchen ones have 4 small circles within the large bigger circle.

 

[tek-monkey]

Got a photo? Of the bulb end and the bit that goes in the socket?

 

[littleme]

Not a ceiling light....but a lamp question......a few weeks before Christmas I dug out an old electrical timer & plugged it into an old lamp I was given so I wouldn't come home to a dark house....since then our electricity Bill has nearly doubled (have a token meter, so am conscious of usage), I noticed the other day that the plug & timer were VERY hot......and have since unplugged the lot....but could 5/6 hours of timer & lamp per day cause our bill to increase so much? Advice would be great anyone

 

[tek-monkey]

The heat is wasted energy, so certainly something wrong there. Anything that runs hot is not efficient, unless its a heater!

 

[shoes]

GU10:

MR16:

Wouldn't recommend cheap ones of either, especially if you have 33 of them. They'll all be different colours within a couple of years.

 

[hop]

The thing is.....are they safe?

I would be more concerned about that fact you have just cut 33 holes of about 3 inches diameter in a fire barrier. That is a substantial area for flames to go through.

Did the electrician fit fire hoods on them ? Does he know the relevant British Standards and Building regulations, I believe that if you read approved document part P you will see they are a requirement.

 

[Carole]

I would be more concerned about that fact you have just cut 33 holes of about 3 inches diameter in a fire barrier. That is a substantial area for flames to go through.

Did the electrician fit fire hoods on them ? Does he know the relevant British Standards and Building regulations, I believe that if you read approved document part P you will see they are a requirement.

It was my understanding that they either had have firehood OR be fire rated down lights......and I didn't know if lights from China were fire rated. I shall certainly ask him when he comes this morning.

We didn't pay the electrician direct, all the work/alterations was done through the kitchen company who have been around in Stafford for a number of years.

 

[hop]

......and I didn't know if lights from China were fire rated. I shall certainly ask him when he comes this morning

I can't even see the need to import them when you can buy micromark (sold in b&q) for naff all if you visit them in Green Lanes, N4. I believe the factory is round the corner in Tottenham.

 

[Gramaisc]

I can't even see the need to import them when you can buy micromark (sold in b&q) for naff all if you visit them in Green Lanes, N4. I believe the factory is round the corner in Tottenham.

They have an enormous range - http://www.micromark.co.uk/pdf/LightCat2010-2011.pdf - do they really make this stuff in London?

 

[hop]

They have an enormous range - http://www.micromark.co.uk/pdf/LightCat2010-2011.pdf - do they really make this stuff in London?

I don't keep on top of these things. When I need something I speak my associates who let me know where is best place to buy from.

I seem to recall that for electical and plumbing items these two places have been pretty good.

http://www.bdc.co.uk/ - electrical

http://www.bes.co.uk/ - plumbing and gas

 

[Gramaisc]

I couldn't see any Micromark fire-rated fittings in B&Q this morning, just their own 'Diall' brand ones, though they do have the same sort of 'style' as Micromark, however they are made in China.

 

[Carole]

Well he came and just popped in 2 GU10. They look slightly different as they are just one circle rather than 4 circles within the circle (they sell these in Asda with the 4 circles but I didn't know that until this morning, just happened to be passing down that aisle. £8 each or 3 for £15.)

The ones that were from China were slightly longer which confused us but they were GU 10 all the same.

So the man in Lecricall either doesn't know his stuff or was trying to pull a fast one by saying that you can't mix and match different types and trying to sell us 33 new ones.

The electrician no longer buys from China as he used to do wholesale buying/selling and would buy a huge quantity but he said it's no longer worth it as the price of them in UK has come down so much.

I asked him about the fire issue and he showed me the box. It turns out that I was confusing the light itself and the bulb. The lights are fire rated and have something around them which is fire resistant.

Anyway, all sorted now.

 

[tek-monkey]

Were the old ones like this (albeit 4 LEDs rather than 5)?

And are the new ones LED or old style? The older ones looked like the one on the left:

I'm guessing here, but to me it sounds like the guy who fitted your kitchen used the 4 LED lamps from the first picture. I had some of these from China, they were longer than the standard bulbs by about 5mm IIRC. They failed rather quickly unfortunately, never got to full brightness and started flashing. They also stayed on for a few seconds when the power was cut, can only guess at leaky capacitors.

Now, what is concerning is what he has replaced them with. If they are 'old' style bulbs then they will use between 35w and 50w per bulb, they'll eat up a lot of power if you use too many. I'm hoping he's put bulbs with just a single LED in, but its worth checking.

I now use ones like this, although mine are 4w/27 SMD IIRC:

 

[Carole]

Yes the ones from China were like the first picture but with 4 circles not 5.
They are LED 4 watt.

We have had them in for 18 months and these are the first two that went and are very bright so we can't complain. Yes they are slightly longer.

The ones he put in yesterday are also 4 watt with just one circle but they seem ever so slightly less bright.


The electrician that came yesterday was the same one that fitted them 18 months ago.

 

[tek-monkey]

In that case I can only conclude that the guy in Lectrical was full of ****!

 

[Gramaisc]

From Monday, Lidl here should have these - http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-2...ffers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=9009&ar=7 - sets of three downlighters, including LED bulbs at £14.99. I got some last week in Port Laoise, for a mere €13.99, and the bulbs are fairly bright - they say they are 3W, but I haven't actually measured them yet.

 

[Withnail]

I can't even see the need to import them when you can buy micromark (sold in b&q) for naff all if you visit them in Green Lanes, N4.

If that isn't a 'top tip' for a resident of Bednall, quite frankly i do not know what is.

I always pop down to London whenever i need to replace a light bulb on account of its convenience to my being just around the corner from it. Do they really sell for 'naff all' in N4? That seems like quite a good deal.

Good job the High Court gave its verdict on the Duggan whatsit in the middle of a piss-wet January, rather than a scorchio August, innit? How many lumens are there from a torched furniture store do you think?

Or, do you think?

 

[hop]

If that isn't a 'top tip' for a resident of Bednall, quite frankly i do not know what is.

Quoting out of context doesn't do you any favours, if you see Caroles reply you will also be aware that the electrician no long imports from China.

I don't expect a lot of things to apply to a house hold purchaser. My point was that the electrician could have bought parts in the UK for a low price and it wouldn't have been necessary to visit London to collect, companies do deliver you know.