URGENT question on light bulbs

Erik Petersson · Aug 27, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Wow! I bought up a bunch of enlarger bulbs because of such laws. I did not know that I am Swedish! I will run and tell my momma because she does not know that either!

My hair is not blond! Please advise!

Steve

Welcome! Don't worry, just bring a sweater and warm shoes! You may have to increase your tax payments, though.

gandolfi · Aug 27, 2009

I have now talked to the department of energy here in Dk, and there seems to be a little confusion, BUT the EU law is apparently targeted bulbe, that are normally used in a common household.

There are many, many exceptions to the ban, and the opaque lightbulbs seems to be an exception.

(I really don't like the word "seems", but that's what I got for now.)

cross fingers.

jgcull · Aug 27, 2009

>>>Once I enter the darkroom it stays on until I'm finished for the day.<<<

That's amazing to me, and leaves me mildly jealous. Some tell me their enlarger bulbs last "forever". Years! Mine do not! It's hard to say, but I think I replace the bulb at least once a year. ANd I consider them to be quite expensive. I paid $31 last time I was in a pinch for one and couldn't order online to save a few dollars. I use a Durst M605 enlarger.

cinefane · Aug 27, 2009

Tungsten enlarger lamps to become illegal?

I've just read that, "From September 1, it will be illegal to import conventional pearl or frosted bulbs of any shape or wattage. Traditional incandescent bulbs of 100 watts will also be banned under European law aimed at reducing energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions. "

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/6076996/Public-told-to-snoop-on-lightbulb-law-breakers.html)

I assume this will include enlarger lamps. Does anyone know more about this?

Steve Smith · Aug 27, 2009

cinefane said:
Does anyone know more about this?

Yes ! (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

archphoto · Aug 27, 2009

There are already 2 other threads about this subject running now.

There seems to be a halogen lamp the same size as the enlarger bulbs on the market by Philips and lamps for special purposes are exempted from the ban by this law, so there is no reason to panic.......

Peter

Ian Grant · Aug 27, 2009

Not true at all, there's already another thread started today about Enlarger lamps. They are specialist and permitted.

Ian

SuzanneR · Aug 27, 2009

Threads merged.

Tom Kershaw · Aug 27, 2009

Ian,

Do you know if there is any web page detailing the EU regulations?

Tom

Q.G. · Aug 27, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
Do you know if there is any web page detailing the EU regulations?

Look Dead Link Removed.

AgX · Aug 28, 2009

And here:

Dead Link Removed

(It's by now the third time I post this link here.)

AgX · Aug 28, 2009

Fellow member Mirko Boeddecker and supplier (Fotoimpex) who offers small production run enlarger lamps from a german manufacturer got on the issue whether opalized classic incandescent lamps specialized for enlarger use make an exception to the ban (as they could be applied for household use) this positive reply from his manufacturer:

"14-05-09

...auch die Opallampen fallen in die Ausnahmeregelung:

Sie haben spezielle Farbtemperaturen und Lebensdauer von max. 100h.

Die Lampe ist eindeutig als Photolampe auf Kolben und Verpackung gekennzeichnet,

zudem bringen wir das vorgeschriebene Etikett auf die Verpackung auf mit dem Symbol "nicht für den Hausgebrauch zulässig"

Die Lampen werden von uns eindeutig als Speziallampen vermarktet..."

fotch · Aug 28, 2009

I know I am one of the few who don't read or speak German, it might be more interesting if it was translated. :rolleyes:

Sirius Glass · Aug 28, 2009

fotch said:
I know I am one of the few who don't read or speak German, it might be more interesting if it was translated. :rolleyes:

I did not know that I was not the only one!

A translation would help.

Steve

Andy K · Aug 28, 2009

Here's what Babel Fish did with it:

… also the opal lamps fall into the special arrangement:

They have special color temperatures and life span of max. 100h.

The lamp is clearly characterized as photo lamp on pistons and packing, besides we bring the prescribed label on the packing on with the symbol "not for the domestic purposes zulässig"

The lamps are " marketed of us clearly as special lamps…"

So the gist of that would be: As long as they are clearly marketed as bulbs for special use, and not domestic, it appears it is ok to still sell them.

EASmithV · Aug 28, 2009

It's times like this I don't mind living in the US.

Sirius Glass · Aug 28, 2009

Andy K said:
So the gist of that would be: As long as they are clearly marketed as bulbs for special use, and not domestic, it appears it is ok to still sell them.

[Sarcasm]

So, in theory, I could buy the enlarger bulbs, but could not use them since my darkroom is in my home?

[/Sarcasm]

Steve

archphoto · Aug 28, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
So, in theory, I could buy the enlarger bulbs, but could not use them since my darkroom is in my home?

Steve

Steve this is nonsence !

You buy those lamps for your enlarger and nobody is going to check if you are actualy using those bulbs there.

I think it is a lot better idea to check-out other options like halogen and LED in order to have a sustainable light-source in our enlargers.

I will start with my testing late September, early October and will see what is usable, LED lights from China cost nearly nothing on ebay, so ..........

Peter

Andy K · Aug 28, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
So, in theory, I could buy the enlarger bulbs, but could not use them since my darkroom is in my home?

Steve

No. What it means is the shop cannot sell or advertise the bulbs as being for domestic use. They can only be sold or advertised for specialist use i.e. for use in an enlarger.

What you do with them once you have bought them is entirely up to you.

PhotoJim · Aug 28, 2009

EASmithV said:
It's times like this I don't mind living in the US.

You mean like mandating ethanol content in gasoline? (Which reduces the fuel economy of the engine that uses it, since ethanol has lower energy content than gasoline)

Every country has its issues.

Thankfully it seems that the EU and US have both made exceptions for these bulbs. The Canadian ban is more distant but it is coming. I'll have to ensure it has an exception or I will be doing stockpiling myself.

DLawson · Aug 28, 2009

EASmithV said:
It's times like this I don't mind living in the US.

I'm not following you. The US has a similar measure, just with a farther out date. According to the page below, 2012-14 (depending on power level).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs

mhcfires · Aug 31, 2009

I'm just waiting for these idiot dim bulbs who write these laws to come up with some common sense. Many of them are so worried about their jobs as elected officials that they forget who sent them there. They pass a law mandating a bulb containing mercury, forgetting that if the bulb breaks that it will be a haz-mat situation. They pass a law mandating the use of corn for ethanol for motor fuel forgetting that corn is part of our food supply. DUH! I better quit before my blood pressure starts to sky.

Sirius Glass · Aug 31, 2009

mhcfires said:
I'm just waiting for these idiot dim bulbs who write these laws to come up with some common sense.

You should live so long!

Steve

Q.G. · Aug 31, 2009

mhcfires said:
They pass a law mandating a bulb containing mercury, forgetting that if the bulb breaks that it will be a haz-mat situation.

They will mainly be pushing LED-lamps soon (already are).
Not fluorescent lights

archphoto · Aug 31, 2009

If LED's are better than the FL type, both for the envoirment as in color, why not ?
I never liked FL anyway with their overly green component anyway, esp when you have to photograph a room lit by it.

Peter

URGENT question on light bulbs

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