Simon/Barry et al
Do they work is the fundamental question.
I am off to see if I can buy one from somewhere to test. The last energy
saving light bilb that I heard about that was supposed to be dimmerable
(made by MegaMan) sadly did not work on the varilights I have installed
at home.
Anybody got any first hand experience out there....... RSVP if you have.
With kind regards
Tony Swann
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Taylor, Barry
Sent: 10 December 2008 16:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Environmental control systems and low energy lightbulbs
Simon
Who needs Google when there's Simon Judge? Well discovered. This
certainly should work with the dimmers being installed by our ecs
suppliers.
http://greenenergycentre.com/digiflux-20w-dimmer-dimmable-energy-saver.h
tml
I note that the switch dimmable type is mentioned on the same page as
part of the same digiflux brand, just to confuse matters!
IMHO it would be worth us supplying appropriate dimmer dimmable bulbs as
part of the ecs system if the suppliers can prove that they work.
Assuming their reliability is as promised, it would save lots of fault
calls & improve our green image.
Are there any Possum/Steeper people on here who can confirm that these
work?
Barry
Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist
Medical Physics Service
Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary Anlaby Road, Hull
HU3 2JZ
Tel: 01482 675928, Fax: 01482 675750
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Judge
Sent: 10 December 2008 16:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Environmental control systems and low energy lightbulbs
Thanks for the correction Barry, I definitely bow to your superior
knowledge of lights! (-;
Has anyone tried the "DigiFluxR Dimmer Dimmable EnergySaver+" bulb then
(from your description barry, this'd be the one that worked best??)? It
would be good to know for sure if it works so we can let clients know...
(It is important if not because of the environmental reasons, the Home
Information Pack energy assessment, that sort-of-affects your house
price seems to mainly be based on how many energy efficient light bulbs
you have in the house!)
S
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Taylor, Barry
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 3:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Environmental control systems and low energy lightbulbs
As far as I understand it the issue is that ECS systems use remote
controlled dimmers because they are only unit that can be
straightforwardly retro-fitted in place of a wall mounted light switch.
Energy saving bulbs are fluorescent (the industry calls them CFL -
compact fluorescent lamp). These lamps can't be dimmed by standard
dimmers as they don't exhibit the same voltage/current characteristics -
they're gas tubes not resistors. Sorry, Simon - halogens are a
different issue.
You can control a ceiling mounted fluorescent lamp by inserting a remote
controlled relay into the circuit, but as far as I'm aware the only way
you can do that with kit currently on the market is by breaking into the
wiring in the roof space - less convenient in bungalows, very awkward in
multi-storey dwellings.
There is a technical difficulty in designing a relay box to retro-fit on
lamp switches - you only have a live input & a switched live out - no
neutral line, so no voltage difference. I believe it could be got
around, but I've not seen it done.
I'm not 100% familiar with dimmable CFLs, but I seem to remember they
use a switching sequence to dim them, which wouldn't work neatly with
ecs.
Was
it: switch on once for full power, then off, then on again gives half
power?
I certainly doesn't solve the problem of remote switching.
So it is going to cause us great annoyance & I'm already getting
peculiar looks from clients (& one outright refusal) when told we can't
easily deal with energy saving lamps. This must be a large gap in the
market & I would love to see it filled.
Barry
Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist
Medical Physics Service
Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary Anlaby Road, Hull
HU3
2JZ
Tel: 01482 675928, Fax: 01482 675750
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Judge
Sent: 10 December 2008 15:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Environmental control systems and low energy lightbulbs
It is true I think, most EC installs use things like the varilight
(available from B&Q!):
http://tinyurl.com/6d429d
I think it is because the original low energy bulbs that are not,
basically, dimmable (since they are halogens) - and the varilight
switches are dimmer switches.
However, as the others have said, apparently dimmable bulbs exist now:
http://www.varilight.co.uk/Pages/page%20digiflux.htm (also by
VariLight!!!).
OR for a fresh install you could try and find IR light switches that
don't dim...
S
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pat Sweet
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Environmental control systems and low energy lightbulbs
FAST has recently had a query from someone who has been told that many
existing environmental control systems will not work with energy-saving
lightbulbs. As such lighbulbs will become the norm over the next few
years, and it's already becoming hard to get hold of 'standard' 100W
bulbs, the person wondered what the solution was.
Can anyone confirm that this is the case? And are environmental
control systems going to be modified so they can be used to operate
low-energy lightbulbs?
Would be grateful for anyone's advice on this,
Pat
-------------------------------------------------------------
Note new address from 3rd November 2008
Pat Sweet
Researcher
FAST - Foundation for Assistive Technology
31 Scarborough Street
London E1 8DR
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7264 8955
***********************************************************************
This message may contain confidential and privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient you should not disclose, copy
or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in reliance
on its contents. To do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please inform the sender that this message has gone astray before
deleting it. Thank you.
2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the NHS. It's an opportunity to pay
tribute to the NHS staff and volunteers who help shape the service, and
celebrate their achievements.
If you work for the NHS and would like an NHSmail email account, go
to: www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/nhsmail
***********************************************************************
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust We Care - Visit us at:
http://www.hey.nhs.uk
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
The content of this email and any attachment is private and
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, any use,
disclosure, copying or forwarding of this email and/or its attachments
is unauthorised. If you have received this email in error please notify
the sender by email and delete this message and any attachments
immediately. Nothing in this email shall bind the Trust in any contract
or obligation, unless we have specifically agreed to be bound.
Virus Warning:
Although this email and any attachment are believed to be free from
viruses, which might affect any system into which they are received or
opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that they
are virus free.
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust accepts no responsibility
for any loss or damage arising in any way from their receipt, opening or
use.
***********************************************************************
This message may contain confidential and privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient you should not disclose, copy
or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in reliance
on its contents. To do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please inform the sender that this message has gone astray before
deleting it. Thank you.
2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the NHS. It's an opportunity to pay
tribute to the NHS staff and volunteers who help shape the service, and
celebrate their achievements.
If you work for the NHS and would like an NHSmail email account, go
to: www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/nhsmail
***********************************************************************
|
