Review of 35w 4700k CFL bulb (and comparing to a 20w bulb)

Review : 35w CFL spiral bulb from Long Life Lamp Company (color temp 4700k)
Cost  : around £6/$10 on amazon

Conclusion : Any CFL under 30w is probably pointless in my opinion. Not enough lumens/brightness (which would seem to most often be the most important thing). For a CFL (compact fluorescent lightbulb) I would go only for 35w or above. This is a 'cool white' at 4700k color temp, which is a nice 'white' light. Instant start. Quite big but the 'starting point' when choosing a CFL bulb in my opinion. A good buy

Marks : 8/10
Marks per value : 9/10

Power saving electricity energy saver box : Do they work ?

Those Power electricity energy saver boxes you see on Ebay or Amazon.
Do they work ? In my case, NO. It increases consumption by about 40-50 watts !!!
How do I know ? I used an OWL Micro Wireless Electricity Monitor to watch the wattage when I plugged the 'saver' into a plug unit.

I bought one of these 'energy saver boxes' that are supposed to have circuitry that can save perhaps 10% of electricity use in a household due to doing something to the 'power factor' or something. The box is usually sold on Ebay or Amazon as a 'Power electricity energy saving box' or a variation around that term.

The simple way to see if they work is to buy an electricity monitor reader of some sort (I'm using an OWL Micro Wireless Electricity Monitor) then you can view your watt reading all the time. I bought my 'saver box' first and confidently thought I was saving electricity energy and when no electricity was being used it would be zero watts. Then I bought the monitor and found out I was using 40-50 watts all the time until I unplugged the saver ! (that's like 0.96 kw to 1.2 kw a day)

My advice : Every house should have an electricity monitor or smart meter (wireless or otherwise) of some sort so you can see what is going on. Possibly wireless is ideal because you can put it anywhere (such as next to you while you watch TV). And don't buy a power electricity energy saver box until someone can give a good reason !

Amazon USA :
search : 'electricity energy monitor' , search : 'electricity energy monitor wireless'

Amazon UK :
search : 'electricity energy monitor' , search :  'electricity energy monitor wireless'

Note : I am using the OWL Micro Wireless Electricity Monitor but I see now there are newer 'OWL' versions and cheaper alternatives and even the Belkin one that is very cheap may do ok. I will do a video and post about my wireless monitor later. You have a device and a clip around your electricity meter power cord to measure the use (it's easier than it sounds). Then the other part is the wireless monitor which I would suggest should be very portable.

More about the 'power saver box'

UK : Time to switch gas & electricity supplier again

Current suppliers
Electricity : Npower sign online 20 (direct debit)

Which Utility Supplier now ?

Gas : Ebico equigas

Apparently Npower are ending 'sign online 20' this month, so it's time to look around the utility comparison sites again. It looks like I can't beat them for electricity. All the new supplies are dearer but the Npower 'sign online 24' seems the least more expensive. Have to take a monthly direct debit, unfortunately (DDs are evil).

For Gas, I can beat Ebico by about 15%, though I have always liked them (pay cash etc). Probably Npower are the cheapest again (direct debit).

Haven't decided yet.