I've found an arguably better web site for the Megaman 11W GU10s... www.gil-lec.co.uk. The direct link is:

http://www.gil-lec.co.uk/products/Lamps/Group+4+-+Energy+Saving+Lamps/Low+Energy+%27Regular%27+Lamps/Megaman+Low+Energy+GU10/Megaman+11W+GU10/3613446374

They are £8.07 each, including VAT. Free delivery on orders over £30, so you could buy just 4 bulbs, incl. delivery and VAT for just over £32. Good if you don't want to buy in bundles of 10 on the ryness.co.uk site.

The www.gil-lec.co.uk has excellent prices on other bulbs too, such as the Megaman R63 11W reflector, at £8.87 each incl. VAT.

Hi,

This info has been quite useful for me. I've recently moved house and my new home has these GU10 halogens in the livingroom, hall and kitchen. There are 7 bulbs each of 50 W. Besides consuming a lot of energy these bulbs have to be pointed in different directions in order to obtain best lighting.

Can i just ask here whether the light from GU10 bulbs are okay for general consumption as in a family room or are they more for decorational value. I am considering changing the fittings to suit regaular energy saving bulbs rather than buy expensive GU10 energy saving bulbs. The regular GU10 bulbs get so hot and are always getting fused.

What sort of lighting would be considered good for the eyes in a livingroom with a TV and a kid?

Can GU10 bulbs fit in with this requirement?

thanks

There's an interesting film with comedienne Helen Lederer looking at her energy bills & energy saving light bulbs http://www.eco-tube.com/v/PRODUCT_REVIEWS/Low_Energy_Light_Bulbs.aspx it includes some good tips on reducing films

Hello snail!

We use the Megaman Energy Saving GU10 (11W) in the hall and a bedroom (both clusters of 4 bulbs), and intend to put them in the kitchen at some point (2 sets of 4 bulb clusters) to complement the existing set of 4 R80 Megaman energy saving spots and under-unit (halogen?) lighting. They work well in these situations. Compared to halogens, the energy saving GU10 give a "whiter" light, and it is more of a flood fill than the halogens (so the direction is not so significant). But they are absolutely suitable for "general consumption", as you put it. Expensive they may be at £8 or so a bulb (and I note that B&Q now stock them at £9 a bulb), but they do last up to 10 years.

As for your quesion about a livingroom, I think the light could be a little too white... It may well be best to switch the fittings for regular bulbs, and use normal energy saving bulbs. We have three 7W energy saving bulds hanging evenly throughout the ceiling in our lounge, and it gives of a pleasant, subdued light (helped with lamp shades that inhibit the light somewhat).

You could just take a "punt" on the energy-saving GU10s... buy 4 from gil-lec.co.uk at a cost of around £35 in total, and see how you get on! If they aren't appropriate in the livingroom, they should be fine elsewhere. There are other brands, but these seem to get a good write-up (quick to "warm up" etc.).

Not sure if that helps!

I have just bought some from Tesco. They are selling quality brand Ge Gu10 7w Energy Saving Lightbulb 6yrs warm white for £5. Also currently there is a deal Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Cheapest product free - valid from 10/11/2008 until 24/12/2008. Equivalent to 35W. See instore or online grocery site, just search for GU10. Lets hope they expand the range to include 9W & 11W! Also they produce full light quickly once switched on.

I have just bought some for my kitchen from a site I clicked on from the Megaman site - Iconiclights.co.uk

They are selling both the the non dimming and dimming version Megaman energy saving GU10 (7w, 9w and 11watt).

11 watt GU10 (BR0711i 10k hours) £8.50 for one, 10% off for 6, 15% off for 12.

I bought six of these 11 watt (Normal bulb 50 Watt) GU10 for £45.90 and the light is fantastic!!

http://iconiclights.co.uk/GU10_Bulbs-list.aspx

If you want the dimming ones the link is below:

http://iconiclights.co.uk/Megaman_Dimming_Dimmerable-list.aspx

I have been using 11 W GU10s for some time. My experience with Pro-lite has been much better than with Megaman. Some of the Megaman bulbs blew after a relatively short time. No Pro-lite have gone. The one that did not work was replaced by the supplier at once. The cheapest I have found is on the site http://www.wydels.co.uk/product_subcat.asp?typeID=42&SubID=160 at £56.06 for 10. However I have now ordered Eveready bulbs, relying in part on the good name, which were cheaper at £105.60 for 20 including delivery and which have a much longer claimed life. The supplier was www.inkandstuff.co.uk.

Michael67 - can you let us know how you get on with your Eveready bulbs? How do they compare to the light from the Megaman (and time to reach full brightness)?

Also, a word of caution when comparing prices... the Eveready bulbs are indeed much cheaper than the Megaman, but have half the rated life (8,000 hours versus 15,000 hours).

By the way, I've found the cheapest Megaman GU10 Energy Saving on the web yet.. £6.95 a bulb at EkoHut (http://www.ekohut.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=169). Not sure about postage and packing though. And they are out of stock :)

The life given on the inkandstuff website (from which I bought the eveready bulbs) was 20,000 hours. They no longer stock the bulbs. The Eveready brochure gives the life as 8,000 hours. The bulbs warm to full brightness faster than Megaman (the slowest) or Pro-lite. They are brighter than Megaman and about the same as Pro-lite. I have some doubts about quoted lifetimes. Two of the Pro-lite failed immediately and were replaced by the suppliers. I have had no trouble since. Two Megaman bulbs have failed after less than 500 hours. Others are noticeably dimmer than when first installed. I would not buy Megaman again.

Okay... I bought 4 of the Eveready energy saving GU10's, and here are my thoughts on them. They are significantly "whiter" than the Megaman energy saving GU10s, and don't seem to give quite the same amount of light. To be brutally honest, the light is quite horrible! The Megamans are much closer to the "yellowish" light of halogen bulbs, a much "softer" light than the Eveready bulbs give. In terms of starting time, the Eveready bulbs kick in a fraction of a second quicker than the Megamans (i.e. no significant difference), and both take a minute or so to reach full brightness (but the initial brightness of both is more than enough to see). So... in future it will be the Megaman's (warm white version, 2700K, as opposed to the whiter 3500K of the Evereadys) for me. And they are effectively the same price as the Eveready bulbs... twice the price, but twice the life. I have had 8 Megaman bulbs that have had extensive use over the last year or so, and none have failed yet.

Megaman 11w GU10 Reflector 50w Equiv

Another supplier of these and other low energy lamps is alertelectrical.com i found them very competitive. If you purchase over a certain amount they are delivered free of charge?

Part Number 141432 for the cool white 4000k version

If you are going for a good quality lamp i would pay that little bit more and buy the Megaman lamp

they are best on the market.

There is a lot of cheaper Chinese versions and they not as good quality or last

Has anyone tried the 50W equivalent LEDs? They claim 40,000 hours life but cost between £20 and £35. They have an even lower power consumption than the energy saving bulbs.

Screwfix have Halolite GU10 CFL Energy Saving Reflector 11W Lamp for £6.31.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/52469/Lighting-Lamps/Lamps/240V-Halogen-Lamps/Halolite-GU10-CFL-Energy-Saving-Reflector-11W-Lamp#reviews

I havent tried them yet.

Note that the Halolite bulb is only 8000 hours life (as, I note, are the Megaman GU10's in B&Q... they don't half mark up...). I also note the Halolite is "cool white", which will be harsh compared with halogens. I would always recommend going for a "warm white" bulb if being used in the home, as they are only a little whiter than standard halogens (and you very quickly get used to the light).