Non-motoring > GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil	Green Issues
Thread Author: zippy	Replies: 33

New Wed 15 Jan 20 18:42   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - zippy

No I am not being dramatic! Got a suction cup to remove the old ones but there is so much fiddling to get the new one to go in. The bulb needs to be near 100% horizontal and the spurs need to line up with the holes then twist. Then the effectiveness of the suction cup wears down and you cant turn the things. Ten lights later and my neck hurts and I am ready to swear at someone! Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 15 Jan 20 19:23   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

the suction cup is just to slide the things out or locate them in, its not used to turn the lamp. Lick your thumbs, push evenly on each side of the glass face and twist. Its a piece of cake. I have 20 in the house (led of course) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 15 Jan 20 19:31   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - VxFan

Very illuminating ;~) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 15 Jan 20 19:35   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

dont be bright spark. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 15 Jan 20 19:53   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Robin O'Reliant

Once you get the hang of them they are a doddle. You need to stand on something so you can work at a comfortable level without stretching and they are easy to align. Don't touch them when they're hot, like some idiots do...;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 15 Jan 20 19:59   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - R.P.

One of my longest serving useful things is a B&Q foldable aluminium stand, cost £10.00 nearly 25 years ago, still in regular use for a multitude of tasks, painting lightbulb changes, painting the ceilings, holding the dog crate when it's out of the car, holding tools or for sitting on when making bike tweaks...covered in the paint of dozens of room...... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 15 Jan 20 19:55   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - R.P.

In his element as usual. I've changed them often in our previous house (the only source of lighting as it happens ) swapping ones that blew for LEDs. The only ones here are in the kitchen, they're LED so hopefully won't need changing. Anyway, what Zero says. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 15 Jan 20 22:59   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bobby

In my kitchen I had two spotlights with 3 x GU10 in each. LED of course. But still pretty dull with lots of shadow. Bought two of these to try them out instead - what a difference, literally night and day. Seriously thinking of changing more of the lights in the house to versions of these (except they are so bright that they will show up all marks, dirt, etc!) www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07TT1J2QT Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 02:44   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - VxFan

>> dont be a bright spark. Never a dull day with knowwun around. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 10:01   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - maltrap

I find wearing a pair of Marigolds helpful for doing such jobs. (Make sure nobody is watching you) Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 21:37   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bromptonaut

We had kitchen 'done' late 2018 including 8 GU10 LED downlighters; they're Osram 28k and around same light as 60 watt incandescent. So far four bulbs have developed a flicker. They're in conical fittings that slot into void between ceiling and upstairs. No ventilation and i suspect issue is bulbs running hot. One fitting was clearly faulty with sloppy contacts; electrician subby replaced it without demur. I've used 30k Sylvanias as replacements and so far OK. They're easy to replace as the socket is easy to handle and match to bayonet. Not same with others in bedrooms or a desk lamp in my study. They're a S o D to change. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 21:41   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

>> So far four bulbs have developed a flicker. They're in conical fittings that slot into >> void between ceiling and upstairs. No ventilation and i suspect issue is bulbs running hot. >> One fitting was clearly faulty with sloppy contacts; electrician subby replaced it without demur. Not heat, its the capacitors in the power supply, the longevity of which is a scourge in all modern electronics. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 21:59   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bromptonaut

>> Not heat, its the capacitors in the power supply, the longevity of which is a >> scourge in all modern electronics. Thanks for that contribution Z. If peak temperature or thermal cycling was issue I'd have been thinking about modifying the conical housings with ventilation holes to better control temperate. Any clues as to what's knocking the capacitors out? Too soon to see how replacement bulb's power supply functions. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Thu 16 Jan 20 at 22:02 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:07   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

>> Any clues as to what's knocking the capacitors out? Its nothing more complicated than driving down component cost and the resulting poor quality. I can now buyLED GU10s at £1.50 each retail, imagine what wholesale and factory gate prices are! I would guess the life of a new led domestic bulb is now about 3 years. Last edited by: Zero on Thu 16 Jan 20 at 22:09 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:09   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - R.P.

Which are the best buy I wonder, proper branded ones I suppose. Incredible value when you consider the complexity of making and shipping them. Any made in the EU Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:16   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bromptonaut

>> Which are the best buy I wonder, proper branded ones I suppose. You'd think/hope so but the items failing in my Kitchen are Osram. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:14   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bromptonaut

>> Its nothing more complicated than driving down component cost and the resulting poor quality. I >> can now buyLED GU10s at £1.50 each retail, imagine what wholesale and factory gate prices >> are! That clicks. I got ten of them that are a wee bit brighter than the 50watt equivalent for Mrs B's study where, sunny afternoons excluded, light is p poor for less than £20. I guess at those prices they're disposable; not worth mitigating for short life. But then again the beggars end up in land fill. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Thu 16 Jan 20 at 22:14 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:20   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

>> I guess at those prices they're disposable; not worth mitigating for short life. >> >> But then again the beggars end up in land fill. As did the old candescent lamps, which I think were ever so slightly more environmentally toxic. At least LED lamps have significantly reduced electricity generation issues. Last edited by: Zero on Thu 16 Jan 20 at 22:21 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:27   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bromptonaut

What was toxic in a standard 60/100watt incandescent? You're right about power usage though. Classic eco-dilemma..... Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:29   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

>> What was toxic in a standard 60/100watt incandescent? >> The filaments were I think tungsten or tungsten coated, and heating it up produced a toxic coating, the contact pads in the socket end were lead based, this is all from vague memory tho. Last edited by: Zero on Thu 16 Jan 20 at 22:33 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 16 Jan 20 22:29   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Kevin

We are almost exclusively LED with a just a few CFLs to be replaced. As Zero says they tend to start failing after three to four years of regular use although we have some that are still OK after about six years because they don't get used for long periods. On the spec sheet for the TP8602 tube lamps (we have 20 of them) it actually says that they are not intended for continuous use. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 00:10   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - smokie

The issue with failures used to be that one company's 3000W colour didn't match another, sometimes by a massive amount, and almost always noticeably when part of a set in one ceiling. I think that;s improved somewhat but still not perfect - so the replacement might need to be put in the least obtrusive place! Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 02:05   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - VxFan

The colour mismatch is often down to aging. LED bulbs start to fade with time. You generally don't notice it though because it is a gradual thing. However, fit a new LED bulb next to an old one and the difference is noticeable straight away. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 08:03   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bromptonaut

>> On the spec sheet for the TP8602 tube lamps (we have 20 of them) it >> actually says that they are not intended for continuous use. Interesting. Intuitively it's on/off cycling that kills bulbs and continuous use = longer life. PSU & inability to disperse heat? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 09:44   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

LEDS are not naturally hot (colour wise) or bright (Lumens wise) to get them bright they are over driven beyond spec, not permanently but cycled on off. With mains its easy to cycle them, you half wave rectify them, on car you need a frequency derived driver circuit. With white LEDS you can't see them being cycled* but with red ones you can, look at a cars rear lights out of the corner of your eye, or quickly shake your head backwards and forwards. Thats due to cycling and light wave length. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 20:32   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Bromptonaut

>> LEDS are not naturally hot (colour wise) Does that mean warm colour LEDs are likely to fail before their cooler equivalents? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 20:52   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Zero

Kinda, equivalent wattage (lumens) is the killer Last edited by: Zero on Fri 17 Jan 20 at 20:54 Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 20:30   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Kevin

>..we have some that are still OK after about six years because they don't get used for long periods. Typical! One of the blighters failed today. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 17 Jan 20 20:56   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - zippy

Wasn't it Clive Sinclair who discovered that LEDs (for calculators) don't need power all the time? I recall he was building a calculator and had battery life problems and he or his team discovered that they continue to output light for milliseconds after the power is removed so they built the calculator to take advantage of this and give it longer battery life. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 19 Jan 20 18:46   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - zippy

We have 12 GU10 spots in the lounge, split in to two banks of 6. Tonight one bank failed all at once. The fuse is ok so I guess there is a wiring fault somewhere. This house is getting annoying! Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 7 Mar 21 14:21   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - sooty123

Rather than start a new thread, I though I add to this one. Anyway, in our house it's got lots of spot lights with I'm pretty sure are GU10. I'm not a fan of them either recessed in the ceiling or on spotlight type like this www.diy.com/departments/chrome-effect-mains-powered-4-lamp-spotlight/1714156_BQ.prd There's 4 sets of ones similar to that, I'd like to replace them with something else. Either a pendant type light or something else. The ones recessed in the ceilings will be more of a faff to replace, so they'll have to wait. But in the meantime, anyone replaced something like the spotlights above? If so with what? Thanks. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 7 Mar 21 15:54   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Clk Sec

We had six GU10 bulbs installed about 10 years ago when we had a kitchen refit at our last house. They didn't get used all that often, but Mrs CS did find them quite useful on particularly dark days. The house we moved to last year is awash with them; they are everywhere, including 4 in a room at the bottom of the garden. We quite like them, and haven't had to replace any at either property. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 8 Mar 21 13:55   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - sooty123

I'm sure they are no less reliable than other forms of lighting, just not a fan of the spot light type of lighting. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 9 Mar 21 10:25   GU10 LED Spot Bulb - Spawn of the Devil - Ambo

LED bulb rating equivalences appear to be random. 6, 5 and 5/6watts covers 40, 50 or 60 incandescent, according to what comparison chart I look at. 11 covers 70 or 75. 9-13 covers 75-100. (The curiously-rated 25.28 covers 150.) Reply to this message | Report message