Puzzled ?

If you go by what the suggested comparison wattage is on the LED packet, you will probably be disappointed. I always go up a level - where it says equivalent to 60w I use it where I would have used a 40w tungsten bulb, and where it says equivalent to 100w I use it instead of old 60w bulbs. For LEDs you still save a lot of electricity over the lifetime of the bulb even doing that.

I did something similar when the older energy-saving bulbs came in, but LEDs save you even more. We have a standard lamp which has a 20w energy saving bulb which we put in in 2001, and it is still being used regularly, but I'll change it for an LED when the time comes.

If you are looking at halogen bulbs, they are much higher wattage than LEDs and I have never used them, so can't help with them.

The light fittings in my living room and kitchen both take tiny little "bulbs", flattish, about half an inch square. I don`t seem to be able to buy high wattage ones, consequently my living room in particular is much too dim for my liking.

This is such a challenge, it drives everyone mad. I have regular conversations in shops while gazing at light bulbs, BlueBelle. After wattage conversions, base fitting and physical size (some won't fit inside some of my shades) there is the colour of the light emitted to be decided. Cold makes me look as if I need an undertaker so I opt for warmer. Anyway, would the cold blue colour not mess with our blue-light sensitive systems that we are warned will keep us awake all night?

If you have cataracts (or according to my optician, just get older) you need more light. I get loads of ads for the swanky smart reading lights but they are very expensive and would not look right in my living room.

Why is this not an issue of discrimination against people with sight problems — and apparently, those fortunate enough to be getting older? Perhaps HQ could point us in the direction to complain?

We had terrible trouble when our fridge light went, was told fridge was too old only 9 years and working fine (touch wood) , eventually found one online.

The reason it says Max 60w is because of the heat generated by the old style bulbs, a lot of electrical energy was converted to heat energy, rather than light energy. Any energy saver bulb of any wattage will be perfectly safe, as they convert the electricity to more light and less heat.

Whenever we find a particular bulb that we like - right brightness, not too "blue" etc we can never find the same sort ever again!! Thus has resulted in a hall light where we could do with a torch as well and a light in the toilet that's brighter than looking at the sun. Yes we should swap them over but we have high ceilings and I can't reach them. Mr Riggie can but has so far ignored me!!

I needed a light bulb for the spare room yesterday and picked up a pack of six in a well known “never knowingly undersold” establishment along with some Clearance shopping.
It was only when I got home I realised that the pack of six cost me £20 ! This had better “see me out”.

I find the ceiling halogen bulbs don't last any longer than the old 60w or 100w bulbs, and they are much more expensive.

For our fittings which were designed to take 60w or 100w bulbs, this is what I still buy, you can get the 'heavy duty' ones online, which apparently gets round the regulations. eg
www.amazon.co.uk/Status-Large-Bayonet-Heavy-Duty-x/dp/B00HDBYO42/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=60+watt+light+bulbs+heavy+duty&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1546859624&sr=8-4
www.amazon.co.uk/Status-60SCHDSESC10-Edison-Candle-Transparent/dp/B00BK4TPUQ/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=60+watt+light+bulbs+clear+candle+heavy+duty&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1546859720&sr=8-4
www.amazon.co.uk/100WATT-PEARL-HEAVY-DUTY-LIGHT/dp/B00F4DIZ7I/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=100+watt+light+bulbs+bayonet+heavy+duty&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1546859844&sr=8-2

I fully agree - we have boxes of eco friendly bulbs that give little light and almost impossible ceiling ones that are so difficult to instal.

Elegran I recently had the same problem with a touch operated lamp. You have to make sure that you buy dimmable lightbulbs and then hey presto problem solved. When buying bulbs I just ask the assistant

Yes, you can still buy old style light bulbs from some smaller independent retailers.

Trouble is, there is just too much choice..
Why do they have to make it so complicated.

I can now cope with the fittings, and have got the hang of more lumens = brighter lights.

Halogen are rubbish and blow left right and centre, so don't bother with those ....

Fed up with Warm White which is yellow, and Daylight which are just that bit too bright - could we not have something in between the two extremes? Grrrr!

I look for 1500 lumens the equivalent of 100W, anything less than that isn't worth having with my eyesight.
Trouble is a lot of them don't come in the higher lumens, and why on earth not, given that you're only using 12W on the new ones.

When did all this faff start? Was it an EU rule?

CrazyGrandma2 The lamp has now been delivered, and I have found out that the LED bulb flickers on the highest dimmer setting, but not on the two lower ones. As it is for beside my bed, I can live without using the brightest level.

Turn to the internet, it's all clear there!!!

The best thing about LED bulbs is that they are very energy efficient, give a nice bright light and very little heat - so you can use an ultra bright bulb in a shade that can't take much heat. I've found that they only flicker if used with a dimmer switch, but you can get LED's that are dimmable.
I had a quick look online and found a page with a lumen/florescent/incandescent comparison chart:

www.viribright.com/lumen-output-comparing-led-vs-cfl-vs-incandescent-wattage/

(This isn't a British site but I think it tells you what you need to know).

I though nowadays you have to look at lumens rather than wattage. The LED's run much cooler. For those looking for a whiter light or softer light, if you buy a smart bulb you can usually find a bulb you can change to suit your mood or needs.

EU rules came in in 2009 www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/business/energy-environment/01iht-bulb.html?_r=1

Well, we won't get into a discussion about why we were forced to change the light bulbs we use in the first place but my hope is that things may start to improve after March 29th although I very much doubt it. I had to buy some new fangled ones recently and was complaining that the old sort had been fine. The shop assistant said that the government had made us change and I said, 'Which government is that?'

I buy a lot of my light bulbs from the local hardware store anyway. They ARE the old type and are displayed on a shelf with a big sign saying 'illegal'!

How many grans does it take to change a lightbulb?!!

quizqueen, regardless of your political beliefs, surely you can see that modern life bulbs not only save you money because they cost less to run but also, in a small way, help to save the planet. I think there are lots of things that we changed in line with other Governments which we would have done regardless of our alliances and this is one of them.

I have no quarrel with energy saving bulbs but the variety has confounded me. I currently have no ceiling light in the hall as I can’t find the correct replacement bulbs. Also, the original energy efficient bulbs that I bought ( when they were really expensive) give too poor a light for me but as they are going to last forever, I am stuck with them as I want to get my money’s worth. ??

www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/lumens_watts/

I hope this helps.

If you're anywhere near a City Electrical Factors do go in and ask their advice - over 400 stores. They're brilliant (ha, pun intended). Uusally to be found on an industrial estate but they sell to the public too and can advise on substitute bulbs. I find the 'new' bulbs very confusing too.