Be Excellent To Each Other

Our lightbulbs (both here in the new flat and in the old house) are always burning out - m flat in London has nothing liek this problem. Could a high voltage be the cause for this, do you think?

Yes, if they are incandescent light bulbs.
However, I've noticed recently (well, in the last few years) that the quality of these has gone through the floor. If you're buying cheap ones from a supermarket, that's more likely to be the problem. Buy proper-lighty-quality-things instead.
You could change them to CFL ones anyway, and they aren't as bothered by the voltage.

I do not know what kind of lightbulbs they are (sorry, I know nothing about this kind of thing) We use energy saving lightbulbs in all of the rooms, but also have loads of those stupid little spotlights that are sunk into the ceiling in the hallways, both bathrooms and the kitchen - this kind of thing:



In the old house we had energy saving lightbulbs, which used to go every six months or so, but in that house 'normal' lightbulbs would go once every couple of weeks or so, no matter where we bought them from.

Oh, those are designed to burn out every 5 minutes. Hateful things! Rip them out, because they'll be costing you a fortune to run as well. You can get 12V LED replacements if you don't want to change the fittings.



OK, definitely high voltage in that case. Your CFLs will last for years normally.

I'll look for those 12V LED bulbs that you talk of - those 'hateful things' as you call them are exactly that - I do not like them, bu they were fitted into the flat when we moved in. Thanks for the info and tips, Kalmar. The electrics here aren't perfect, but nothing like what we had at the old house (i wonder how we didn't die in there, the electrics were so shoddy...

Let me know if you find the LED things, Meems. I've got a load of those bulbs, too.

Haven't used this shop but the prices aren't too bad:

http://www.onestopledshop.co.uk/index.p ... ex&cPath=2

'MR' is the type if replacing low voltage halogens. I'd recommend the 'warm' variety!

Will do, Grim... I'm just heading down to town in a mo, failing that there is a great lightbulb seller on eBay who I get my daylight bulbs from who I am sure will be of help.

I'll report back.

EDIT: Bah, pipped by Kalmar. Foiled again.

I charged my DS with a UK Charger with just a plug converter while working in Bulgaria multiple times for over a year with no ill results.

Can you not just buy a U.S. charger whilst you are there and use that? My original DS was a Japanese one but was supplied with a UK charger. Then when the DS lites came out I got a pink one from Japan or America (can't remember which) but used the charger from my white DS lite.

Someone told me that all DS units are the same, it is only the chargers that differ from country to country. As long as you have the appropriate charger for the country you should be OK (I hope this is right and that I wasn't risking death all these years...)

I got a new DS today, also! It is a pea green one and was a wonderful surprise gift

/me bangs head against nearest wall

Sorry Kalmar, I was in a rush and haven't actually read any of the thread before the post where someone put a graph of their household electricity (because I nerdishly like stats, I was drawn to the graph...) so if you said either what I just said previously, or something totally different I just hadn't read it, as I was heading down to the shops.

Sorry, I should have read back. I will now. I am suitably 'told'.

Ok, I did read back and am more confused now than I was before.

Anyway, I asked this question on WoS and was told the unit was universal and that the only thing that needed to change was the adaptor. I have been using a UK DS charger with a Japanese DS for years. I am so far not dead and the DS still works as good as the day I bought it s wether this tallies with what you are saying or not I do not know

Look at your avatar - are you sure you didn't die? I've seen Sixth Sense y'know

Hehe, sorry Mimi, I wasn't having a go.

The question apparently should have been
"Can I use my UK DS charger in Europe?"
The answer to that is "Of course you can, just get a plug adaptor". The end.

That would have been it. But it continues to drag on forever because it's difficult to understand what the question was (it was very vague and never clarified), and people have thrown in conflicting stuff about different voltages and the US and so on. Despite the correct answers having been given a few times now

[*] The Unit = the DS
[**] The Adaptor = the charger that plugs into the wall

Perfectly correct

Because (sighs) Bulgaria is the same as us.



All of this is correct, although as you then noticed, covered multiple times in the thread before

Yes, this is what I meant - the DS and the charger. Ok, I am safe then. Phew

Christ on a bike, I've been back a week and this is still doing the rounds. My DS charged just fine with a cheap plug adaptor and charger.

MUST RESIST KILLING BEAR OR BUST WITH DS CHARGER.

THROUGH THE FACE

I've got (on the way) a USB charger now, just to hit the problem right in the face.

Why's that?

If it worked then good for him.

so when i get to england next month, you actually have the same voltage as us on the continent, AND FINALLY USE NORMAL PLUGS INSTEAD OF THOSE UGLY ONES?

AND USE THE METRIC SYSTEM?

/runs

He's got a point about the plugs though. But I doubt that'll change any time soon due to the way our houses are wired.

Our rectangular 3 pins always feel far more solid and better fits than circular 2-pin connections.

True, but that's because we don't have a 2-pin equivalent. So we use honking great earthed connectors for every little double-insulated appliance which doesn't want an earth anyway.

Their 3 pin connector (which fits the same outlets) carries more current, the round pins make better contact and don't overheat, is sealed so you can't miswire it, can't get water in it, and won't fall to bits exposing live parts.
And you can pull it out by the cable, so you won't break your neck or damage the cable if you trip over it.

Most painful thing in the world: stepping on a UK plug, pins up.

Same as a UK plug for the last 10 years.

It doesn't cut the power, it just puts a shutter over the live and neutral pins until the earth is inserted (that's why it's longer). It's a good idea but only necessary because the UK plugs need such big holes in the first place.

Apart from all the crappy fall-apart replaceable ones which come with every other new appliance, yes.

Hasn't it been law for around 10 years that appliances cannot be sold with replacable plugs?

Don't think so. Maybe for a certain class of appliance? I've certainly had to remove and throw away several really shoddy ones on brand new lamps (from Ikea I think) quite recently.

Not a great source - http://www.diynot.com - but this is the best quote I could find:



Oh - in fact that doesn't even say 'a moulded plug'. I'll search on.

I'm sure there are a fair few women who would disagree with you. (And also any man who has been firmly kicked in the balls)

Ooh. Giving birth to a three pin plug would hurt.