For years I have had two lights under a canopy that stretches from my front door to my attached garage. The lights are operated by a PIR and they stay on for about 2 minutes.
Due to an accident whilst returning a ladder to the garage recently, I needed to replace them. I purchased some rather expensive nice new fittings in smart stainless steel & protected to IP44. Great.... Now the problem, they are fitted with GX53 lamps which have turned out to be incredibly slow to reach a useful brightness.
I get home, stand at the door and can't see a thing. There is no light emitted from the lamps, looking up directly at the lamps I can see a faint glow and that's it. After standing there for about 15 seconds it's just light enough for me to make out the outline of the lock, so with care I can insert the key. I go in, fumble around for the inside light switch in the dark (it used to be clearly illuminated by the old canopy lights) I shut the door take off my shoes and hang up my coat in a cupboard at the end of the hall and by then, the outside of the house is bathed in light. When I don't need it.
If I go out to get something from the garage it's equally as frustrating as I stand around waiting for them to come on.
I've now reverted to leaving them permanently on all evening just in case I want to go out, or we have visitors. So much for energy saving lamps. The old lights may have used more energy when lit, but it were only on for a few minutes all night.
So is this normal for GX53 lamps? do I have a dodgy pair? Can I fit something else into the fittings?
Due to an accident whilst returning a ladder to the garage recently, I needed to replace them. I purchased some rather expensive nice new fittings in smart stainless steel & protected to IP44. Great.... Now the problem, they are fitted with GX53 lamps which have turned out to be incredibly slow to reach a useful brightness.
I get home, stand at the door and can't see a thing. There is no light emitted from the lamps, looking up directly at the lamps I can see a faint glow and that's it. After standing there for about 15 seconds it's just light enough for me to make out the outline of the lock, so with care I can insert the key. I go in, fumble around for the inside light switch in the dark (it used to be clearly illuminated by the old canopy lights) I shut the door take off my shoes and hang up my coat in a cupboard at the end of the hall and by then, the outside of the house is bathed in light. When I don't need it.
If I go out to get something from the garage it's equally as frustrating as I stand around waiting for them to come on.
I've now reverted to leaving them permanently on all evening just in case I want to go out, or we have visitors. So much for energy saving lamps. The old lights may have used more energy when lit, but it were only on for a few minutes all night.
So is this normal for GX53 lamps? do I have a dodgy pair? Can I fit something else into the fittings?