Low wattage lightbulbs

[237SJ]

How do you know when a low wattage lightbulb is nearing the end of it`s life? Does it flicker or just fade?

[The Builder]

Hiya 237. Just wanted to say hello. I've really no idea. In my experience, they just stop working :o(((

[237SJ]

Hi, The Builder. One of the lamps in the living room is flickering. I thought it might be something to do with the de-humidifier running (after my water leak) but I found another bulb in the kitchen drawer and replaced the one in the lamp. Incidently, the bulb I took out was 11w and the one I put in was 8w and there`s absolutely no difference in the amount of illumination at all. The flickering`s stopped though.

[ChuckFickens]

Most low wattage bulbs are compact fluorescent lamp, which are essentially just a small version of fluorescent light strips. as such they have two main parts, the tube and a ballast (starter)

The flickering is generally caused by the ballast starting to fail so they don't give enough oomph (technical term) to properly start the bulb.

[Hymie]

As far as I’m aware, all low energy light bulbs do not use a conventional ballast (as used by fluorescent strips) but electronics to provide the required voltages. In my experience, their normal failure mode is due to an electronic component failure and therefore they just stop working rather than flickering or fading as they die.

All modern fluorescent strip units will be equipped with an electronic ballast – rather than an old fashioned inductor ballast.