Another lighting question

[Moo]

We've actually reached the stage when we have to make decisions about things like light fittings!

Fortunately, because our limited funds have to be spent on long-term structural things, we're not burdened with too much agonising about aesthetics. Things like the light over the porch and the ceiling light in the bathroom will be workmanlike, unobtrusive and cheap. In the kitchen, thanks to an earlier PPUK thread, we know we should have LED lights under the wall units.

But my question today is about the cellar. It's long, narrow and dark, even with a 100w bulb, so I really want to have something that will light all of it. In our last cellar we had a couple of very long fluorescent tubes, but I understand that it wouldn't be a good idea to use them here because they're being phased out.
So - any suggestions?

 

[LadyArowana]

Is there enough height to have a bar with adjustable spotlights?

 

[jocelyn plummer]

You might find www.lyco.co.uk of interest. :!:

 

[Feltwell]

Moo,

I changed my cellar lighting recently. There was a bare bulb in a batten holder down there, which was a bit lethal as like most cellars the ceiling height is not that great and I'm tall!

These lamps are relatively cheap and robust, and they give out a good light. They also sit quite close to the ceiling so don't take out too much headroom.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p43573

If you've a long thin cellar then maybe 2 would be required - easy enough to run a bit of trunking between them for the cable, as it's only the cellar.

 

[Flyfisher]

In our last cellar we had a couple of very long fluorescent tubes, but I understand that it wouldn't be a good idea to use them here because they're being phased out.

Are they really?

I'd have thought they would be ideal, as long as you used the ones with a protective cover in case of bumps and knocks.

Otherwise, I'd vote for something like Feltwell's suggestion. I wouldn't be too keen on unprotected bulbs (of any type) because of the risk of breaking them - although I suppose it depends a lot on headroom and the sorts of things you'll be doing down there.

 

[Moo]

I'm glad you questioned that point about fluorescents being phased out, Mike. It prompted me to cross-examine OH, and it turns out that when he went to get a replacement for one of our Norwich cellar lights he was told that they only had a limited stock and wouldn't be getting any more when they ran out.
But the electricians here left a trade catalogue behind on Saturday and your query prompted us to check again, and it turns out that it's still possible to buy 6ft fluorescents.
So I think I'll wait until our stripy oracle picks up this thread and gives a definitive verdict - I like the idea of a really long fluorescent. Failing that, I think I'll go for Feltwell's suggestion.

 

[MdB]

It is 8ft T12 tubes that have been phased out. Shorter tubes should be around for a while longer. They are better than filament but not as good as CFLs for efficiency.

 

[Flyfisher]

I wish they'd stop messing around with lighting! :evil:

I've installed four striplights in my workshop and five in the outbuildings so I'm not going to be a happy bunny if I can't get replacement tubes for them.

I've standardised on 5-foot ones, so hopefully they'll see me out.

 

[DJH]

Somehow or another I've ended up with florescent tubes that are slightly over half an inch, or thereabouts in diamenter. I called into our local Super Store who didn't have any, only the standard type and scratched their heads about them. I think they thought I was making it up until I pointed out that every strip light in the store had the small tubes in them. I left them in deep discussion about them. :lol: :lol:

Doug. Ireland

 

[Flyfisher]

The smaller diameter tubes do still fit into the standard strip light fittings though, because the pin dimensions and spacings at each end are the same as the older larger tubes. At least that's true for some of the sizes because I've replaced the large tubes (5ft) with smaller diameter ones and they fitted and worked fine.

So although I was aware that some changes had been made (I can't remember all the various numbers and options), I wasn't aware of Moo's news about some tubes being phased out altogether.

I suppose this is the sort of confusion and despair that creeps up on us all as we get older. :lol:

 

[MdB]

You can purchase converters that will put a smaller tube into a larger socket if you really have to.

 

[Moo]

The 'phasing-out' bit turned out to be the OH's interpretation of what the chap at the electric place said! Unless, of course, our tubes were nine-footers.
Anyway, thanks to you lot I now feel confident about investing in a couple of five-footers.

 

[Flyfisher]

You can purchase converters that will put a smaller tube into a larger socket if you really have to.

That makes sense, considering all the millions of striplights installed in every office, shop and factory throughout the land.

 

[Feltwell]

If you want the tubes to last longer fit pulse starters to your fittings. The lights then light in 1 pulse rather than that initial flashing on & off that you often get when the lamps are cold.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arlen-EFS600-Electronic-Fluorescent-Starter/dp/B009NUGEWQ

http://www.nexusinds.com/bg/downloa...EFS600P_PULSESTARTER_Fluorescent_starters.pdf

 

[Moo]

And yet another nugget of invaluable information gets added to my bookmarks folder!
I shall definitely invest in some pulse starters because I anticipate these fluorescents getting a fair bit of punishment. In Norwich we tended to stay in the cellar for quite lengthy periods (the computer lived down there, together with the laundry and workshop), but here it's just going to be an underground store, so the lights will be switched on and off much more frequently which, I've always understood, shortens their lives.

BTW - the kitchen units arrived today!!!!!