European Law

[retrocop]

Not long ago I had my house rewired. A lot of the lighting was renewed with Halogen GU10 bulbs at great extra expense. I did this because Brussels stated that traditional Incandescent bulbs will no longer be allowed. I now read that Halogen lights will now be banned. Is it any wonder that UKIP's quest to leave the EU is widely supported when these crazy rules are implemented?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2974856/Now-Europe-wants-ban-halogen-light-bulbs-Sales-stopped-early-year-energy-saving-drive.html

Another reason to leave the EU.
Last year I was lambasted on this site for saying that this country's constitution and legal system is being eroded and undermined by too many EU laws thrust upon us. I was told in scathing terms that I was talking pish or words to that effect.
Read on Europhanatics.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2974938/Two-thirds-laws-Britain-past-two-decades-inspired-Brussels.html

[youngmafbog]

To straighten up a few things.

The majority of LEDs can directly replace 'normal bulbs' there are some exceptions wher you would need to make modifications eg a florescent tube. The LEDS not longer need the power rush so that bit of circuitry is not needed.

Do you need a re-wire, not unless your wiring is poor. Get an electrican to test it. You need some reasonably specialist meters - mine was around £800

Do you need special fittings? No, not normally but I can see where this comes from. building regulations were introduced a while back to insist you had a percentage of your fitting that could only take a 2pin florescent type. This is of course rubbish now with LEDS around but there are some inspectors that still arrive in Fred Flintstones car.

There are however a couple of things to be aware of. If you want dimmers you do need a LED that will dim, you also need a specialized dimmer. dimmer GU10's are usually a couple of quid extra, dimmers are around £15.00. 12V systems are also something to watchout for, my advice would be to replace the transformer.

NJ, LEDS are pretty much instant, so go and buy some. They are not expensive now but do make sure you buy the later ones that give more light power. Also ensure they are CE marked.

I do get where you come from on EU directives, normally as you all know I would be against them(just because I am still banned from an avatar because of my EU stance does not mean I have have changed my mind!) , but on this occasion I think this directive needs to come from someone and if it was not the EU it would be Westminster.

[Old_Geezer]

Beats me why anyone would need the EU to force them to do anything. Is that the basic difference between supporters of the EU and those who want out of it ?

[New Judge]

Exactly, OG. If you want to do something then go and do it. You don't need somebody to force you to do so. Meanwhile those of us who want to carry on as they are would be free to do so.

"NJ, LEDS are pretty much instant, so go and buy some."

Don't need any, youngmaf. I have a large cupboard in my shed stocked with proper light bulbs (40w, 60w and 100w) which I accumulated between the time all of this nonsense first came to light (pardon the pun) and the final ban on sales. Apart from the two fittings which take unusual bulbs they fit almost all my lights. There will probably be some left when I shuffle off this mortal coil.

My electricity consumption, averaged over a year, is just over 11KWh per day. Even if half of this was down to lighting (which, with a frequently used dishwasher, washing machine and electric oven, I very much doubt) on my current tariff (11.62p) this costs me just over 60p a day. If I could save half of this by changing bulbs (again very unlikely) I’d save about £100 a year. This is the absolute maximum saving I would make and in reality, because of the generosity of my assumptions, it is more likely to be nearer half of that sum. I simply cannot be bothered to ponce about converting watts to lumens (or whatever), and trailing round the shops trying to find suitable alternatives to save about a quid a week. That’s what it amounts to, a pound a week – and that’s before the capital outlay for the new bulbs is considered. If everybody in the country cut their lighting bill by 50% it would make very little difference to the UK's electricity consumption and the idea that it will "save the planaet" is simply laughable.

But once again all this is beside the point. If anyone is to force me to change my habits I want it to be the UK government not a bunch of unelected Euromaniacs.

[mushroom25]

//and the idea that it will "save the planet" is simply laughable. //

can we get away from the notion that the planet somehow needs saving?

it doesn't.

if we despoil ourselves out of existence, the planet will still be here. it may take millions of years but it will recover. such a timescale is but the passing of a moment in geological time, and once again there will be a rich diversity of flora and fauna, and probably another reservoir of fossil fuels for another civilization to squander.

no. it's our lifestyle, our existence, that is in danger. not the planet.

[New Judge]

Quite so, mushroom. I was adopting a phrase bandied about by the Climate Change despots.

[Hymie]

I read recently that the environmental measures put in place by the EU, have been directly attributed to saving the lives of no less than 12 unicorns.

[ichkeria]

ymb:
one issue is that I believe the LED bulbs come mainly with the GU10 pins.
So retrocop will be fine.
We on the other hand have GU5.3 pin sockets which means I think while that retrocop can now safely become an EU stalwart I shall be joining UKIP immediately. I'moff to write "I love Nige" in the nearest sandpit :-)