Energy-saving bulb cracked 'like a gun'

Energy-saving light bulbs are a problem for ham radio enthusiasts, Timaru man George Boorer says.

Not only did they interfere with the frequency waves of the AM band, creating static, but they could also be dangerous, Mr Boorer said.

He showed The Courier a light bulb which cracked open after a large ‘‘bang'', causing its electronic components to be exposed. The former electrician uses the bulbs in his ham radio workshop at the back of his South Timaru home.

Mr Boorer said he was interested in the bulbs' alleged interference with the AM band and used them to see how they performed.

However, three weeks ago he was surprised when he noticed what he described as a ‘‘purple glow'' around the light, which then made a noise like ‘‘a gun going off''.

The bulb emitted a burnt smell, he said.

The glassware stayed intact, but the top cracked open, partly exposing the electrical components.

Now he uses a mix of energy-saving and incandescent bulbs in the workshop.

When Mr Boorer is operating his ham radio equipment, of which he has been a keen user for about 60 years, he switches off the energy-saving bulbs as their electrical feedback interferes with the AM band.

Mr Boorer said apart from the electrostatic and the bulb blow-out he experienced three weeks ago he had not had any problems with the bulbs.

However, his wife Noeleen disliked the energy-saving bulbs so the Timaru couple did not have them in their home, opting instead for incandescent bulbs.

Mrs Boorer had experienced headaches after using the energy-saving bulbs, he said.

Mr Boorer believed the bulbs' health effects had not been properly studied.

Incandescent bulbs will be banned next year as part of the government's energy strategy.

A spokeswoman for Energy Minister David Parker said she had not heard of the bulbs' alleged interference with radio frequencies. She said if people experienced headaches after using energy-saving bulbs they should opt for other types of lighting, such as halogen bulbs, which would still be available after incandescent bulbs were banned.

Story By EILEEN GOODWIN