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PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:50 pm 
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Urbis Saturn Land wrote:
T12s we use to illuminate the place and T8s in the warehouse won't be available eventually


Whilst I share your views about some of our favourite lamps being withdrawn, I think that your fears for the traditional T8 lamp may be a little unfounded, certainly in terms being forced to go down the LED route because of a lack of alternatives.
T12 halophosphate lamps understandably have been phased out for a while now due to their poorer efficacy and that their original fittings often ss or srs, will be well due for renewal by now. It mustn't be forgotten though that remaining stocks of these T12 tubes are still available on Ebay (even if they are at a silly price). I've been stocking up on 100W tubes for a while now (I started when the price was still low at the wholesalers) because our works still has a number of 8' fittings which use them.

Regarding 26mm/T8s, the only lamps which I understand will be withdrawn, are the "standard / Pluslux" Krypton filled 26mm lamps. These evolved in the early 80s as an energy saving replacement for the existing T12 Argon tubes running on switchstart circuits.  At the time, they offered a moderate improvement in efficacy and life, but have now been superseded by the Xenon filled T8 Triphosphor lamps ie Lumilux Eco* etc. Having been around since the 1990s, these offer greater efficacy, colour and lumen maintenance, especially when run on HF gear, but they can also be used on switchstart gear too.

Apart from a science report a while ago, questioning the long term environmental sustainability of the rare earth minerals used in the manufacture of the phosphors for fluorescent lamps, these Eco T8s should be around for a good while yet. Even if they were stopped next week, the amount of existing stock floating around would be immense, plus think of the millions of fluorescent fittings which would be declared redundant at a stroke - hardly a good thing to do, considering the WEEE directives.
I would suggest you get in touch with your supplier and get a couple of boxes in, but I don't see a reason to panic buy.

As for a T8 replacement, I have yet to be convinced on the LED retrofit lamps currently on the market, however they can't be much worse than the T8-12 / T5 conversion kits which can be poor in comparison with what was replaced. Obviously, if the urge and the finance to completely re-equip your works is available, it might be worthwhile, depending on the payback period and what the new scheme is promising to deliver in terms of output, colour rendering and more importantly the aesthetics of the scheme. It might be 750 lux on your work bench but if everywhere else is in the dark, then that isn't so good! Selecting a relighting scheme purely on the basis that it promises to save money, will generally be a poor choice.

*Other makes of triphosphor lamps are available.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:35 pm 
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Urbis Saturn Land wrote:
I take it that 25 W Pygmys will still be available? If not I'll stock up on some as I have an unused fitting that takes them.


Regarding pygmy lamps, I think you'll be fine in getting hold of these, now and in the future. A good source at the moment are online joblots as well as traditional outlets. I'm sure I read somewhere that the pygmy or "sign" lamp is classed as a "specialist" type along with theatre lamps, oven lamps, rough service lamps etc and can therefore claim exemption from the legislation. Obviously, this might change if they ever shoehorn a halogen capsule inside an existing pygmy package, but otherwise there shouldn't be a problem. A pal of mine picked up a joblot of green 25W pygmys from a sale recently. The beauty of them is that the colouring was simply sprayed on and therefore comes off easily enough too. He reckons he's got a lifetime's supply now!

As with everything that goes out of production, there will be plenty of existing stocks to use up first. In addition, the numbers of people buying up the existing stock will diminish over time as they will eventually start purchase the new, approved alternatives. As demand for the old product wanes, prices should then fall (unless it becomes a collectable).

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:26 pm 
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Not sure if this is the right thread, but Harvard make a range of LED retrofit kits for a number of common lantern types. Hence, councils who want to phase out certain lamp types or roll out LED do not have to fork out for entirely new lanterns.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:31 pm 
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Interesting, convert Eleco 35W SOX to LED. Also that they do conversions for modern lanterns such as the Libra - shame about the error in the data sheet though where they mention SON and Cosmo in the ratings table for that lantern...


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:49 pm 
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The latest phase of lamp bans has taken effect.

There was a loophole in EU legislation that allowed incandescent lamps to continue to be sold if they were labelled "rough service". That loophole has now been closed, with rough service lamps banned. Decorative incandescents like squirrel cage lamps have also been banned, but only those with clear (not patterned/coloured) glass.

So, decorative lamps are still "legal", as are fridge/oven type lamps and infrared lamps.


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 11:50 pm 
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sotonsteve wrote:
The latest phase of lamp bans has taken effect.

... loophole has now been closed, with rough service lamps banned.


To be honest, I'm not surprised this ban has been extended to so called "rough service" lamps - it has been on the cards for a while now. When the original phase-outs were implemented, production was halted, however retailers were permitted to sell the outlawed GLS lamps for a time, providing they were from their own existing stocks. This led to the almost insatiable desire of the public to snap up the old bulbs whilst they were still available. Stories of "bulb snatchers" plundering the local DIY shop have been well documented in the popular press over the years.

Once the existing stocks were depleted however, the demand was presumably still strong, therefore the realisation that a bulb formerly used in lathe inspection lights would also work at home and not come under any of this legislation was a revenue stream destined to be tapped. This is why it became much easier to buy a 100W bulb after the ban than before it.
They can be found in the majority of low end chain discounters, usually keenly priced and marketed as being "Heavy Duty" as well as "Rough Service". One brand in a vague nod to the ban would also include "NOT FOR DOMESTIC USE".

Compared with the old  Crompton and Thorn varieties, these imported lamps always looked to be of a lower quality, however at around 50p each, I wouldn't think the great unwashed who still mourn the loss of their old bulbs would bother too much about that!

Although "rough service" lamps were not initially intended to be included in the legislation, the powers that be must have had an inkling their ambitions would be thwarted by this devious means. The EU therefore indicated early on, that it would monitor the import / sale of these lamps. If the demand for them were to increase substantially, it would be assumed the legislation is been flouted and a ban on these lamps would be instigated too. It would therefore seem that by meeting a perceived customer demand, the suppliers have now killed off a useful lamp from its original market ie: industrial users - not that we have many of those left these days!

The ban on the decorative "squirrel cage" lamps however, could have had more thought given to it. As it stands, only the traditional clear envelope versions are included, meaning the tinted and coloured varieties (being classed as decorative) will be unaffected by the ban. These things seem to have become very fashionable on TV programmes for artistic effect and you can't go online shopping without them being offered in designs very much removed from the originals.
To be fair, Thorn continued to make squirrel cages for many years as their "Navigation lamp" so the fashion for them in trendy interiors can be traced back to the 70s. These lamps however would have probably been made using original equipment.

I often thought it perverse how "homegrown" GLS filament lamps can be banned in order to save the planet, yet any perceived savings are being nullified by the increased use of these imported lamps, especially on TV shows and in fancy interiors.

In fairness though, I think the example below is probably the pinnacle of squirrel cage lamp exploitation! It will also survive the ban.


Attachments:
squirrel1.JPG
squirrel1.JPG [ 76.56 KiB | Viewed 18512 times ]

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:30 pm 
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On the Phosco website there was an announcement on the 26th January this year:

Quote:
We will cease production of SOX Luminaires with immediate effect, however we will continue to manufacture other HID Luminaires and LEDs in line with our customers demands.


It's not the phasing out of SOX lamps as such, but it is another manufacturer closing their doors on the dying technology.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2016 7:35 pm 
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I imagine they would still be able to supply SOX gear with the lanterns that supported them, if they were faced with a big enough order.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2016 7:48 pm 
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Paianni wrote:
I imagine they would still be able to supply SOX gear with the lanterns that supported them, if they were faced with a big enough order.


Well, no, that's the point of the announcement. They are saying they are not going to offer SOX anymore. And nobody is going to place a big enough order are they.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2016 10:27 pm 
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sotonsteve wrote:
Paianni wrote:
I imagine they would still be able to supply SOX gear with the lanterns that supported them, if they were faced with a big enough order.


Well, no, that's the point of the announcement. They are saying they are not going to offer SOX anymore. And nobody is going to place a big enough order are they.
Exactly, if enough demand was shown than there would be a possibility of reconsideration, given that some of their lanterns have been provided with SOX gear in the past.


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