Two years ago I bought a Lyvia 26w CFL. which I have been using regularly
ever since.

At the time it was quite a reasonable purchase. I was pleased to find a bulb
with a decent light output.

Just recently as I was using the CFL, it stopped working. I looked up at it
and could just see a glow on one of the tubes. Then there was an alarming
series of electrical crackles and pops, and a nasty smell.

As I am in the habit of using light bulbs in a unattended mode, I find the
idea that one could fail and perhaps start a fire somewhat alarming.

Is there any sort of government body responsible for the safety of consumer
electrical devices to whom I can complain?

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

--
Michael Chare

Michael Chare wrote:

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

Which'll probably only last 10 minutes!

Welcome to the future. An energy & material intensive solution to, erm,
using less energy.

--
Scott

Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

On 23 Sep, 14:44, Scott M wrote:

Welcome to the future. An energy & material intensive solution to, erm,
using less energy.

LOL! succintly put ;)

Jim K

On Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:44:03 +0100, Scott M wrote:

Michael Chare wrote:

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

Which'll probably only last 10 minutes!

Welcome to the future. An energy & material intensive solution to, erm,
using less energy.

But it can also burn your house down, so at least you can stay warm
without turning the heating on.

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
o.uk...

snip
:
: I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.
:

You might have only paid 10p directly but you will have paid a
dammed sight more via the stealth taxes/utility bills that
subsidise these abominations.
--
Regards, Jerry.

On 23 Sep, 13:51, "Michael Chare"
wrote:
Two years ago I bought a Lyvia 26w CFL. which I have been using regularly
ever since.

At the time it was quite a reasonable purchase. I was pleased to find a bulb
with a decent light output.

Just recently as I was using the CFL, it stopped working. I looked up at it
and could just see a glow on one of the tubes. Then there was an alarming
series of electrical crackles and pops, and a nasty smell.

As I am in the habit of using light bulbs in a unattended mode, I find the
idea that one could fail and perhaps start a fire somewhat alarming.

Is there any sort of government body responsible for the safety of consumer
electrical devices to whom I can complain?

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

--
Michael Chare

Why leave them on when you're not there?

On Sep 23, 1:51*pm, "Michael Chare"
wrote:
Two years ago I bought a Lyvia 26w CFL. which I have been using regularly
ever since.

At the time it was quite a reasonable purchase. I was pleased to find a bulb
with a decent light output.

Just recently as I was using the CFL, it stopped working. I looked up at it
and could just see a glow on one of the tubes. Then there was an alarming
series of electrical crackles and pops, and a nasty smell.

As I am in the habit of using light bulbs in a unattended mode, I find the
idea that one could fail and perhaps start a fire somewhat alarming.

Is there any sort of government body responsible for the safety of consumer
electrical devices to whom I can complain?

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

A component failed, the circuit drew too much current, and the fusible
safety resistor went o/c. Whats alarming about that?


NT

"Jerry" wrote in message
...

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
o.uk...

snip
:
: I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.
:

You might have only paid 10p directly but you will have paid a
dammed sight more via the stealth taxes/utility bills that
subsidise these abominations.

Perhaps it is to much to hope that George Osborne will do something about
that.

What really annoys me is having to pay 40p/unit for electricity that comes
from people who install solar panels.

That and people who describe wind farms as being capable of producing enough
electricity for so many homes, when they can't produce enough for any homes
when there is no wind..


--
Michael Chare

"harry" wrote in message
...
On 23 Sep, 13:51, "Michael Chare"
wrote:
Two years ago I bought a Lyvia 26w CFL. which I have been using regularly
ever since.

At the time it was quite a reasonable purchase. I was pleased to find a
bulb
with a decent light output.

Just recently as I was using the CFL, it stopped working. I looked up at
it
and could just see a glow on one of the tubes. Then there was an alarming
series of electrical crackles and pops, and a nasty smell.

As I am in the habit of using light bulbs in a unattended mode, I find
the
idea that one could fail and perhaps start a fire somewhat alarming.

Is there any sort of government body responsible for the safety of
consumer
electrical devices to whom I can complain?

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

--
Michael Chare

Why leave them on when you're not there?
To make it look occupied?

"Tabby" wrote in message
...

A component failed, the circuit drew too much current, and the fusible
safety resistor went o/c. Whats alarming about that?


That may or may not be what actually happened, I would have to cut the lamp
up to find out.

I would class what happened as an 'offensive failure mode', something which
efforts have been made to avoid, especially in CFLs that use electronic
ballasts.


--
Michael Chare

On Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:42:38 +0100, brass monkey wrote:

"harry" wrote in message
news:196e81b0-aed9-4249-
...
On 23 Sep, 13:51, "Michael Chare"
wrote:
Two years ago I bought a Lyvia 26w CFL. which I have been using
regularly ever since.

At the time it was quite a reasonable purchase. I was pleased to find
a bulb
with a decent light output.

Just recently as I was using the CFL, it stopped working. I looked up
at it
and could just see a glow on one of the tubes. Then there was an
alarming series of electrical crackles and pops, and a nasty smell.

As I am in the habit of using light bulbs in a unattended mode, I find
the
idea that one could fail and perhaps start a fire somewhat alarming.

Is there any sort of government body responsible for the safety of
consumer
electrical devices to whom I can complain?

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

--
Michael Chare

Why leave them on when you're not there?
To make it look occupied?

So that you don't have to wait for proper light when you turn it on..



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

On Sep 23, 8:45*pm, "Michael Chare"
wrote:
"Tabby" wrote in message

...



A component failed, the circuit drew too much current, and the fusible
safety resistor went o/c. Whats alarming about that?

That may or may not be what actually happened, I would have to cut the lamp
up to find out.

I would class what happened as an 'offensive failure mode', something which
efforts have been made to avoid, especially in CFLs that use electronic
ballasts.

The circuitry contains nothing to prevent sizzling failures, the one &
only safety device is the fusible safety resistor. Its pretty
effective. Its certainly an improvement on the more dramatic filament
lamp failure modes, namely extreme current draw and explosion.


NT

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
o.uk...
Two years ago I bought a Lyvia 26w CFL. which I have been using regularly
ever since.

At the time it was quite a reasonable purchase. I was pleased to find a
bulb with a decent light output.

Just recently as I was using the CFL, it stopped working. I looked up at
it and could just see a glow on one of the tubes. Then there was an
alarming series of electrical crackles and pops, and a nasty smell.

As I am in the habit of using light bulbs in a unattended mode, I find the
idea that one could fail and perhaps start a fire somewhat alarming.

Is there any sort of government body responsible for the safety of
consumer electrical devices to whom I can complain?

I have replaced the bulb with a 23w Tesco 10 year 10p one.

--
Michael Chare

Don't know how you could bear to look at a 23W one: even outdoors the 20W
ones are dazzling! Not surprised it melted. The ballasts get quite hot
even on the ordinary 7-11W ones, and most of the failures I have had have
been when a too small 470muF capacitor melts (for a while I replaced them
with physically bigger ones, but can't be bothered now the lamps are
cheaper). If you want that much light, get a strip light or several smaller
cfls. I have 5X7W ones outside, on a photoswitch, and they have lasted for
years, and are plenty bright enough.

S