Mathmos bulbs

[perishingtardis]

Hi guys.

I've just bought received a new GU10 bulb from Mathmos for my heritage Astro. As you probably know, they are very expensive - £9.80 each!

When the bulb arrived, I noticed it does come in a little "Mathmos" bulb box.

I was wondering if anyone knows whether these Mathmos-branded bulbs are actually any different better than a cheaper bulb I could get up the high street?

Thanks!

[Claude J]

For GU10's 35 watt, go here to get 4 for less than one from Mathmos

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35w-GU10-Halogen-240v-Spot-Light-Bulb-Dim...

As far as E14's SES's here you go!

The Astrobaby, Telstar and jet all use 30 Watt E14 SES common reflector flood used for many EU applications.

Here is a replacement of 4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30w-Watt-SES-Small-Screw-In-E14-Reflector...

Purchase 8 for only a few $ more with same vendor

If you want 30 watt halogen, you can also get them from same vendor (but not sure if the height is correct?)

The Astro currently uses a 35 Watt E14 SES Halogen  

The only replacement online I have found is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40w-240v-SES-Clear-300-Degree-High-Temper...)

Also, the website shows it will replace a standard flood, of course Mathmos recommends and sell you a halogen which will be a more directed heat. (and easier to grab to replace)
Whenever you look for a halogen replacement, they will cost more

Here is a possible replacement (It actually has 100 more lumens-again not sure of the height of the bulb)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28w-40w-Watt-SES-Screw-In-E14-R50-Clear-H...

The Fluidium uses a 40 Watt SES

Halogen replacements I have found cost more than buying from Mathmos, but you can buy an incandescent here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40w-240v-SES-Clear-300-Degree-High-Temper...

I like how the incandescent lights up the whole base, whereas a halogen reflector will direct the light up 30 deg

[perishingtardis]

Thanks, that's very informative! I have bought some GU10's to use once my Mathmos one blows (which will probably be a few months at most...). I can't understand why Mathmos charge so much for a single bulb that's a quarter of the price elsewhere.

Claude J said:

For GU10's 35 watt, go here to get 4 for less than one from Mathmos

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35w-GU10-Halogen-240v-Spot-Light-Bulb-Dim...

As far as E14's SES's here you go!

The Astrobaby, Telstar and jet all use 30 Watt E14 SES common reflector flood used for many EU applications.

Here is a replacement of 4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30w-Watt-SES-Small-Screw-In-E14-Reflector...

Purchase 8 for only a few $ more with same vendor

If you want 30 watt halogen, you can also get them from same vendor (but not sure if the height is correct?)

The Astro currently uses a 35 Watt E14 SES Halogen  

The only replacement online I have found is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40w-240v-SES-Clear-300-Degree-High-Temper...)

Also, the website shows it will replace a standard flood, of course Mathmos recommends and sell you a halogen which will be a more directed heat. (and easier to grab to replace)
Whenever you look for a halogen replacement, they will cost more

Here is a possible replacement (It actually has 100 more lumens-again not sure of the height of the bulb)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28w-40w-Watt-SES-Screw-In-E14-R50-Clear-H...

The Fluidium uses a 40 Watt SES

Halogen replacements I have found cost more than buying from Mathmos, but you can buy an incandescent here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40w-240v-SES-Clear-300-Degree-High-Temper...

I like how the incandescent lights up the whole base, whereas a halogen reflector will direct the light up 30 deg

[Tim Gill]

Bulbs are bulbs really, Mathmos is just trying to make extra bucks (understandable really) its like Apple accessories where a cable would cost $15 in the shop on Ebay its $2 say and it still does the same job.

I don't know if there are going to be restrictions on bulbs to be more energy efficient and everything going over to LED in the US but it may be a idea to stock up in-case bulbs get harder and more expensive to find.

[lampfancy]

Just recently bought a new Astro, which came with a 35w screw-in halogen. Really don't like the way the lamp behaves with this bulb, seems to run the lamp far too hot, and makes the lamp far too bright, like to the point looking directly at it actually hurts my eyes.  Runs much smoother on a 25w SES incandescent spotlight, which can you can get for about £1.50 from most electrical shops. Although I'm sure there was talk about incandescent bulbs being outlawed in Europe, which is a bit of a worry - we may have to develop our own 'underground' bulb supply chain to get our lamp fix 

[perishingtardis]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I bought a pack of four 35w halogens from ebay. Tested them in the lamp and it seemed to run just as good as the "official" bulb. 

lampfancy, it sounds weird that your new Astro runs too hot and is too bright - mine's not like that. could mathmos possibly have put in the wrong bulb?

Even if Europe outlaws incandescent bulbs, Brexit may mean its not a proble in the UK