230v fitting, 240v bulb

Bes

Bes

Bes

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
7,318
Location
Melbourne
Hi

Our bulb in the bathroom has blown and the fitting says 230v-60w, so I bought an appropriately sized bulb from B&Q, but it is a 240v-60 bulb (The one we took out says 220-240v 60W).

The new bulb does not work. The fitting has power going to it (tested it with no bulb) and the new bulb definitely works as I have already exchanged it once. Is it not working because of the 230v fitting vs 240v printed on the bulb?

It is one of these: http://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/product-173/striplights-284mm-long-clear/striplight-60watt-284mm-clear

Thanks
 
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No the original bulb is definatley dead, filament is broken. The fitting still works as it has a shaver socket on it (The light is above the mirror) and that still works.
 
Have you checked the ballast/starter?

Ok I've just read your post above and you say the filament is broken, is it not a fluorescent bulb or do you mean the small ones at each end of the tube?
 
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voltage shouldn't make a diff, cos tbh your house prob isnt 240 or 230 their just rough standards 240v old uk 230 new uk standard, most bulbs will work from 200v up afaik

Shaver fittings sometimes need the plastic cover putting back on before the bulb will light, try that with the new bulb and post back if it works or not
 
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The only difference if you ran an incandescent bulb from a lower voltage is that it'd be dimmer. That comparatively small voltage deviation would make only a barely perceivable difference to brightness and the voltage to houses isn't exactly regulated very precisely anyhow, so something else is amiss here.
 
As said, definitely not the voltage, that incandescent bulb would light up even with 100v put into it.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_wiring_in_the_United_Kingdom

Supply voltage

Since 1960, the supply voltage in UK domestic premises has been 240 V AC (RMS) at 50 Hz. In 1988, a Europe-wide agreement was reached to change the various national voltages, which ranged at the time from 220 V to 240 V, to a common European standard of 230 V (CENELEC Harmonization Document HD 472 S1:1988).

As a result, the standard nominal supply voltage in domestic single-phase 50 Hz installations in the UK has been 230 V AC (RMS) since 1 January 1995 (Electricity Supply Regulations, SI 1994, No. 3021). However, as an interim measure, electricity suppliers can work with an asymmetric voltage tolerance of 230 V+10%-6% (216.2–253 V). This was supposed to be widened to 230 V ±10% (207-253 V), but the time of this change has been put back repeatedly and currently sits in 2008 (BS 7697).

The old standard was 240 V ±6% (225.6–254.4 V), which is mostly contained within the new range, and so in practice suppliers have had no reason to actually change voltages.

The continued deviation in the UK from the harmonised European voltage has been criticised in particular by light bulb manufacturers, who require tighter voltage tolerances to optimise the operating temperature and lifetime of their products, and who currently have to continue producing separate 230 V and 240 V versions.
Click to expand...

In brief - the electricity suppliers were supposed to change the voltage to 230v, but becuase 240v still lies within the allowed tollerance, they didn't.

Becuase it should be 230v, the fitting states that - but the bulb manufacturer optimise the bulb for the UK market and state 240v :)
 
Just because shaver works doesn't mean there isn't something wrong with the light fitting, this is where a few seconds with a multimeter would help you out no end.
 
Got hold of a multimeter from a neighbour in the end. Fitting was ok, so just folded up some foil and stuck it to one end of the bulb . Put it back in, job done :cool:

Problem was the 'nipple' on the bulb was too short for the fitting

*Notes to self not to buy GE bulbs again
 
yes mate, nice safe way to make a bulb that differs in size work.. bodge it with foil :\
bending the contacts in the fitting or getting a bulb that is the same size as the old one would be better.
 
I'll be fine :) And it IS the right size, that's the thing! Just a crap light fitting.

It's not about bending the contacts, it's just the bulb's end bit is marginally marginally too small for the gap.
 
Make sure you replace the cover / diffuser. Some of these style of fittings have contacts in the diffuser that bridges the gap.

Photos could help
 
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