Just wondering where to buy these for a good price, just the standard ones we all use in our ceiling lights, seems they are quite pricey at the supermarket, so where is the best deal?
Where is the cheapest place to buy replacement light bulbs?
hsk on 31/10/2013 - 00:21
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eBay has good deals too.
But I always consider value for money and if they say that they'll last 6000 (or whatever) hours, I write the install date on the cap of the globe so that when I replace the globe, if it has not been 6000 continuous hours of use I get a free replacement. I used to have "standard" globes in my lounge that kept blowing and so I reluctantly switched these over to CFL replacements and haven't had nearly as many die…probably 1/10th of the standard globes.
I started converting to LEDs a few months ago (all from eBay). They claim on the auction pages they'll last "50,000 hours" but I doubt it.
2W LEDs are approx $2.50 each posted. They're roughly equivalent to a 20-25W incandescent bulb, and we use them in bedside lamps.
The 60 SMD 4W bulbs (approx $3.90 posted) seem close to an old 60W in output. These I use in ceiling for smaller areas.
Still on the lookout for something stronger for ceiling lights in the larger rooms. Most are either expensive, ugly (such as the "corn cob" type) or consume nearly the same power (11-15W) as my current CFLs.
Try a few, you might be surprised.
The other problem with LEDs is they need a switch mode power supply (included in the 'bulb'). When you are importing these you can expect them to be rubbish and create lots of radio noise, interfering with your TV, radio, wifi, etc.
Even locally units may not be very good.
Hmm interesting. I haven't had these problems but we don't leave the 4W celing ones on continuously. Some lamps we keep on for a few hours at a time.
Or did you mean a pulse when switching on/off? These days only the fridge compressor disrupts TV reception occasionally.
But yes…fire risk is something I'm acutely conscious of. They have the "CE" label on them but that's pretty meaningless. I've observed them for limited durations (10 minutes or so) and haven't noticed any noises, odours or smoke.
There remains the issue of degradation of components over time, but I don't really have the resources to dismantle and check them periodically.Turn them on then try an AM radio near them. Usually this is the easiest way to notice (hear) the noise.
You are correct that the CE label means nothing, unless they are selling in Europe, and this is actually the european model (and even then, the importer is liable, which is you).
As for failure rather than poor operation if you have RCDs I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
AM radio!
Umm, the reveiver has AM but I never bothered connecting the antenna for it.But of greater concern now is…what if there's a power surge, drop or fluctuation?
I wonder how they'll cope with that?But of greater concern now is…what if there's a power surge, drop or fluctuation?
I wonder how they'll cope with that?Fine. Switch mode power supplies will run on (almost) anything.
Do the cheap LEDs off eBay comply with australian standards?
Hate for one to start a fire and insurance don't pay.Highly unlikely that they comply, but the bigger issue is radio noise.
I'd be a little wary of downlights, but conventional bulbs should be fine on the starting a fire front, particularly if you have RCDs in your house.
Is radio noise that horrible high frequency hum they emit? I HATE that.
No, but it is related.
so is it worth getting them off ebay or not? I am a little confuse after reading the messages above, how much are they at Bunnings?
Bunnings have different specials each time I go with boxes of 6 or 7. From memory I think they are normally around $5 or $6.
I normally get mine from Bunnings. They are normally cheaper than elsewhere…