URGENT question on light bulbs

[gandolfi]

EU has decided to ban the production on "old fashioned" light bulbs; starting september 1 this year (starting with 100 watts and above...

then gradually outfacing all bulbs in the next couple of years..

We use 150watt lightbulbs in several of our enlargers.

What should we do?

hoard as the sweedish people seem to do?

or is there a subtitute been made for all of us with this problem?

As the bulba are opaque (?), maybe it doesn't matter what is inside the glass, as long as the power is sufficient?

Any light (sic.) on this?

what do you do?

 

[Ole]

I use a fluorescent lightbulb in my Durst 138S. It has considerable warmup time, but it is "cold" enough that I can start and stop exposure with a lens cap. Once I enter the darkroom it stays on until I'm finished for the day.

 

[Dave Pritchard]

This is a poorly thought out law.

1. You can hope the madness passes before you are inconvenienced.
2. There is always eBay.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What should we do?

hoard as the sweedish people seem to do?

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

 

[resummerfield]

The light bulbs for your enlargers are available today, and cheap. I would buy 100 for each enlarger, and don't worry about it.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Gandolfi;

You might ask them how to safely dispose of them due to the mercury content. I pointed that out to an electrical department supervisor in a local store recently and he didn't know that the little bulbs contained any but he did know that they had to dispose of the long tubular bulbs as a hazardous material.

He said that he would bring it up with management, but I doubt if anything will come of it.

In any event, if enough people point this out, maybe something will be done in a rational fashion.

PE

 

[Sirius Glass]

In any event, if enough people point this out, maybe something will be done in a rational fashion.

PE, with all due respect, do you really think that politicians can do anything rationally?

Steve

 

[Photo Engineer]

Steve;

To be honest, no, but I was thinking more along the lines of us and store sales people and management. I have hopes for the "little people" of whom I count us all in all good will.

PE

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I'd stock up now just in case, but are they really not making allowances for bulbs used in technical applications, which are relatively small in the grand scheme of things? It seems there is always going to be a lot of equipment out there using specialized bulbs like enlarger bulbs for which there isn't a ready replacement.

I pointed out in another thread that I think bulbs are not particularly advanced technology, and if you ever have occasion to look for a specialized bulb for a projector or something, it seems that thousands of obscure bulbs for obsolete equipment are always readily available, so I'm not too worried about laws that are mainly aimed at residential and ambient commercial lighting.

 

[gandolfi]

I'd stock up now just in case, but are they really not making allowances for bulbs used in technical applications, which are relatively small in the grand scheme of things? It seems there is always going to be a lot of equipment out there using specialized bulbs like enlarger bulbs for which there isn't a ready replacement.

I pointed out in another thread that I think bulbs are not particularly advanced technology, and if you ever have occasion to look for a specialized bulb for a projector or something, it seems that thousands of obscure bulbs for obsolete equipment are always readily available, so I'm not too worried about laws that are mainly aimed at residential and ambient commercial lighting.

I really hope you're right.
My problem is, that until now, I havn't got hold in a person here in Denmark, that can tell me what to do...
And the time is running fast! Coming tuesday, it might be ower!
(then I could buy 100 bulbs pr enlarger.. (and I am talking 15-20 enlargers, and a pricy item... How we're able to afford that, I don't know..)

How about a photographic asylum in USA?

 

[Sirius Glass]

How about a photographic asylum in USA?

I will offer asylum in exchange for all your photographic equipment.

Steve

 

[brianmquinn]

I am not sure about the EU law but the US one that "Bans the Bulb" has exceptions for specialty bulbs. Just about anything except the standard household bulb is exempt. The real issue is will a factory that makes millions of bulbs now and in the future will only be making thousands say open? Lots of traditional photo supplies are still legal but no longer made.

 

[Ian Grant]

The EU directive allows speciality bulbs and enlarger bulbs are no longer manufactured by the large bulb manufacturers anyway.

Ian

 

[Andy K]

In any event, if enough people point this out, maybe something will be done in a rational fashion.

PE

Since when were the greens ever rational? I have yet to see them hold a rational debate about anything. All they do is riot and disrupt the lives of ordinary hard working people until they can impose their agenda on all.

 

[Q.G.]

PE, with all due respect, do you really think that politicians can do anything rationally?

Sure they can.

They can, for instance, make sure their friends in the LED making industry get a guaranteed income (even though we - the market - do not want to have those much too expensive, bad light producing abominations).

And Andy, it are not the Greens (alone) who are behind this. On the contrary.

 

[Steve Smith]

It seems there is always going to be a lot of equipment out there using specialized bulbs like enlarger bulbs for which there isn't a ready replacement.

Theatre lighting will always need specialist bulbs (there are LED versions but they can't compete with 'proper' theatre lights).

Unfortunately they start at 300 watts so may be a bit bright for enlarger use.

I personally think that CFL is an interim technology for domestic lighting and that the future is in LEDs.


Steve.

 

[Trevor Crone]

Gandolfi, personally I would stock up. I've done this with my enlarger lamps and will be doing the same with my favourite tungsten bulbs I use for contact printing.

I think Steve Smith is right in saying the future for domestic lighting is LEDs. I may indeed experiment with a bank of suitable LEDs for contact printing.

 

[Andy K]

You could look for the new Philips Halogena bulbs. http://www.consumersearch.com/light-bulbs/philips-halogena-energy-saver

 

[Shangheye]

...time to set up a mail order business from China ;-) Given their love of filament bulbs (and continuing level of film use), they aint being banned soon K

 

[Steve Smith]

You could look for the new Philips Halogena bulbs. http://www.consumersearch.com/light-bulbs/philips-halogena-energy-saver

Are these exempt from the ban?


Steve.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Steve,

I don't think Halogen bulbs are covered by the ban, see:

http://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/product/list.php?cat=391

Tom

 

[Andy K]

Are these exempt from the ban?


Steve.

Yes. They are Philips' response to the ban. Light bulbs that do not contain mercury and give off the same kind of light as the old incandescent bulbs. You can see more here: http://www.enviro-lights.co.uk/?i=48755&gclid=CPaj1eSrw5wCFYYU4wod3Eyxng

 

[Steve Smith]

Yes. They are Philips' response to the ban. Light bulbs that do not contain mercury and give off the same kind of light as the old incandescent bulbs.

Thanks for the link.

I may be missing the point though. If these bulbs are still at the same ratings as 'normal' incandescent bulbs, and therefore are not energy saving, what is the point of the ortiginal ban?

i.e. If they are using the same power, what is the enviromental aspect which is being used as a selling point here?



Steve.

 

[Andy K]

Thanks for the link.

I may be missing the point though. If these bulbs are still at the same ratings as 'normal' incandescent bulbs, and therefore are not energy saving, what is the point of the ortiginal ban?



Steve.

They use less electricity to produce the same light output. So they have snuck under the ecofascist radar!

 

[Steve Smith]

They use less electricity to produce the same light output. So they have snuck under the ecofascist radar!

Then the confusion I have is that the bulbs shown on your link are labelled as 60w, 100w and 150w which are the standards we are used to (in the UK) for ordinary bulbs. It's only when you click on the individual bulb that the data says 'where more light is required'. i.e. they are promoting extra light at the same power rather than the same light for less power aspect.

So unless you knew otherwise, you would might buy a 100w halogen bulb to replace a 100w incandescent and end up using the same power.

At least the CFL packaging says what the incandescent equivalent is.

Anyway, some of those look as if they could be suitable for enlargers, perhaps with a bit of clever modification in some cases.


Steve.