Replacement bulb for Tensor lamp bought from QVC

qualityshopper · ‎12-04-2011

Years ago, my mom bought a Tensor floor lamp from the Q which now needs to have the light bulb replaced. Trouble is, though, that it's just about impossible to find what's needed. It's a full spectrum, 4 pin CFL bulb (daylight) and has the following model number on it: FML-55W/6400K. I found one on Amazon made by Feit that looked like it would work, so I called Feit to see if it was available at a local store. Good news--it was.

I thought my search was over until I read the description of the light bulb more closely and saw that it's not to be used on lamps with dimmers which, of course, this lamp has. Feit said I could still use it but it would burn out rather quickly. Could anyone please tell me if this is so? If I really can't use this bulb, would anyone know where I could possibly find the right one for this lamp? Thanks for any help.

paShar · ‎03-10-2010

Have you contacted the company that made the lamp? If they are still in business, they should have a website. It might be more expensive to order directly from them but at least you would know it was the right bulb.

Another thought I had...Is there a large lighting company in your area - something other than one of the big box stores? Take the bulb to them, explain what it is for and that it needs to work with a dimmer. They may have a replacement.

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

I'm in the same boat as you, qualityshopper. Many years ago I bought two Tensor floor lamps with the daylight bulbs. My husband had eyesight problems and we had been using Halogen bulbs, but even they weren't good enough for him to read. He loved the Tensor lamps and used them constantly. A few years ago one of the bulbs finally went out. I, too, thought I had finally found a replacement but it wasn't the same and didn't work. I've never been able to find anything since that would work in the lamps. He kept the non-working lamp (just in case we could ever find another bulb) and is still actually using the other every night. The company apparently no longer makes the bulbs or lamps, from what I could find out.

These actually were a great purchase and I'd also love to be able to get some replacement bulbs!

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

I found this. Worth a call?

Bulb

doxie1 · ‎03-09-2010

what about...

bulbdirect dot com

bulbworks dot com

genesislamp dot com

doxie

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

I have a Tensor desk lamp & took the bulb to Lowes's several years ago & they had what I needed.

qualityshopper · ‎12-04-2011

Thanks everyone for responding. I've spent today making more phone calls and not really getting anywhere. I've called the bigger stores like Home Depot, as well as the little stores that specialize in lamps and bulbs. No luck. I also called the number that is listed on the instruction paper that came with the lamp, not really expecting anyone to answer. To my surprise, it's still in service, though I'm not real clear whether the business it's associated with is the one that originally offered this lamp (they're called Evolution Lighting, I believe). Anyway, he checked and, no, they do not have the needed bulb, but he recommended three websites that I could check with which I hadn't gotten to yet.

One site--fullspectrumsolutions.com--had it listed under "replacement bulbs," but at $29.50 for just one bulb (plus shipping). Too much! For anyone else interested, the listing specifically states that it's a replacement bulb for the QVC lamp. It says it's 55 watts, but is 6500K instead of 6400K. One thing, however, I'd want to be sure of before ordering this (if I were so inclined) is whether it's definitely made to use with a dimmer switch. Just a warning to any of you who might consider buying this at such an outrageous price.

qualityshopper · ‎12-04-2011

Oh, I forgot tell Nightowlz that you were lucky to find one at Lowe's. We also checked in person there and couldn't find one. It's too bad we didn't think to stock up years ago when they were apparently available. Oh, well.

susan kay · ‎06-28-2011

Very informative. Years ago, I bought one of those lamps. It's in my spare bedroom and doesn't get used a lot, which I guess, after reading your problem with finding a replacement bulb, is a good thing. That's a lot to pay for a replacement bulb. I would have never thought to stock up on bulbs back when I initially bought the lamp.