Got on the band wagon with everybody else on these new flourescent light bulbs. Read all the nomenclature on them and heck, I even work with them dealing with hazardous waste at my job. My experiences: They DON'T last. I've already had to change out 5 of them and they weren't even close to a year old and rarely used. Is it me? I'm thinking about stocking up on regular light bulbs before they go extinct. I know the government passed some law saying that they have to quite manufacturing the old style. Yeah, I know it saves money while they are on, but if I got to buy new ones every year, where's the savings????
Is it me or these new light bulbs?
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We have changed to the new florescent bulbs several years ago. Being retired we use the ones in the computer room a lot and the two installed in the ceiling fixture see much use.
One has been in use for approximately 7 years and the other failed after about 5 + years and was replaced.
Either you got a bad batch, have them on a dimmer switch, or another issue?
A 100 watt bulb uses 100 watts of energy while a 100 watt florescent bulb uses 26 watts.
With energy rates going up and Cap & Trade around the corner, we will see electrical costs continue skyward.
One has been in use for approximately 7 years and the other failed after about 5 + years and was replaced.
Either you got a bad batch, have them on a dimmer switch, or another issue?
A 100 watt bulb uses 100 watts of energy while a 100 watt florescent bulb uses 26 watts.
With energy rates going up and Cap & Trade around the corner, we will see electrical costs continue skyward.
Yeah. They should last longer, but many times the electronic ballast portion is junk (thanks made in china!).
Also IIRC, Incandescents are still a better choice for lamps that are turned on/off frequently and only on for short periods, such as a closet light. The lamp part of a flourescent lasts the longest when started up infrequently and allowed to warm up fully before turning back off again.
Also IIRC, Incandescents are still a better choice for lamps that are turned on/off frequently and only on for short periods, such as a closet light. The lamp part of a flourescent lasts the longest when started up infrequently and allowed to warm up fully before turning back off again.
I've been buying different brands of compact flourescent bulbs for my house almost exclusively since around 2000. I can't remember the last time I bought a standard bulb. Most have lasted for several years and some of mine are probably 9 years old. The only type/brand I've seen go bad pretty quickly were some 40W equivalent globe bulbs for above my vanity. All the Feit brand bulbs went bad in this location. I've yet to have a Philips brand go bad which is what I buy now for this fixture. I've decided to stick with GE, Philips, etc. The name brands. The Commercial Electric bulbs sold at Home Depot seemed to be fine as well but I buy most of my bulbs at Meijer now and I don't frequent HD like I used to.
I think it has something to do with the quality of the light bulbs. The saying "you get what you pay for" probably applies here.
At home, my dad has changed every light bulb to a CFL and they burn out after about 3-4 years. They're usually on 4-5 hours a day.
At home, my dad has changed every light bulb to a CFL and they burn out after about 3-4 years. They're usually on 4-5 hours a day.
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
I think it has something to do with the quality of the light bulbs. The saying "you get what you pay for" probably applies here.
Exactly... I had this problem with some of the cheaper ones. We've been sticking to the ones at Sam's and had no problems with them.
I think it has something to do with the quality of the light bulbs. The saying "you get what you pay for" probably applies here.
Exactly... I had this problem with some of the cheaper ones. We've been sticking to the ones at Sam's and had no problems with them.
I have observed over time that if you spend a bit more on the indoor/outdoor CFL's you'll get a better ballast and they will last much longer.
On another note, keep in mind that because of reactive power, CFL's use say 26 watts on your end, but require the power company to push considerably more down the wire, say 35 watts. The result is that they aren't saving quite as much energy as everyone thinks they are.
Wayne
On another note, keep in mind that because of reactive power, CFL's use say 26 watts on your end, but require the power company to push considerably more down the wire, say 35 watts. The result is that they aren't saving quite as much energy as everyone thinks they are.
Wayne
Originally Posted By: moklock
Yeah. They should last longer, but many times the electronic ballast portion is junk (thanks made in china!).
Also IIRC, Incandescents are still a better choice for lamps that are turned on/off frequently and only on for short periods, such as a closet light. The lamp part of a flourescent lasts the longest when started up infrequently and allowed to warm up fully before turning back off again.
I'd guess this is probably the issue. A fluorescent's strength is long life/low power usage when turned on and left on, which is the justification many building owners used when asked why they leave lights on all night.
I have an off-brand CFL in my backyard light and it's lasting pretty well. However, I turned the light on last October and left it on all winter, until mid-April. It fired right up when I turned it on again last week. Part of the reason I used a CFL in that fixture is because I intended to keep the light on constantly and I don't think I'd get the life out of it if it was turned on and off multiple times a day.
Yeah. They should last longer, but many times the electronic ballast portion is junk (thanks made in china!).
Also IIRC, Incandescents are still a better choice for lamps that are turned on/off frequently and only on for short periods, such as a closet light. The lamp part of a flourescent lasts the longest when started up infrequently and allowed to warm up fully before turning back off again.
I'd guess this is probably the issue. A fluorescent's strength is long life/low power usage when turned on and left on, which is the justification many building owners used when asked why they leave lights on all night.
I have an off-brand CFL in my backyard light and it's lasting pretty well. However, I turned the light on last October and left it on all winter, until mid-April. It fired right up when I turned it on again last week. Part of the reason I used a CFL in that fixture is because I intended to keep the light on constantly and I don't think I'd get the life out of it if it was turned on and off multiple times a day.
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Yeah ..now they're going to want to charge for power factor correction.
I use them everywhere. There's no such thing as a dark Allan house. It was a vital exercise in avoided losses. Most last years, but that gives you a somewhat false impression that all CFL are created equal. Lots of stuff can degrade over xx number of years. The originals had some "new" issues, but now they're going discount shelf quality.
I use them everywhere. There's no such thing as a dark Allan house. It was a vital exercise in avoided losses. Most last years, but that gives you a somewhat false impression that all CFL are created equal. Lots of stuff can degrade over xx number of years. The originals had some "new" issues, but now they're going discount shelf quality.
I have one that is 20 years old and still glowing!
John
John
Which brand was this Schmoe?
I have them in my house in every fixture. Like most electronics, you have a certain incidence of SIDS. If they last past about a month, they're good for the long haul. If they don't I bring them back for a refund and get a fresh one.
They're too dim for reading by. I have CFLs in a lamp by my computer and a lamp by my bedside, in the closet, and one over the stove. The rest are too dim -- you can't get such a thing as a 150-watt "reader's" CFL, can you?
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google 150watt CFL ..
I have a 42w on my desk. It's huge but plenty bright. Iirc it's equivalent to a normal 150w or something like that.
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
google 150watt CFL ..
I just did. Eighteen bucks for a light bulb???
Jeebus, Mary Ann and Josephus, save us.
google 150watt CFL ..
I just did. Eighteen bucks for a light bulb???
Jeebus, Mary Ann and Josephus, save us.
I've had mixed results with them too. Some of the CFLs I've bought last forever and some of them have to be replaced in what seems like a few weeks. I think it has something to do with temperature and how often they're turned on/off, but maybe there's some other factors at play. We have a "ring" type fluorescent above our kitchen sink that's been there for who knows how many years. On the other hand, I had this POS I got for $10 that I used as a desk lamp and flipped it on/off all the time, knocked it off the desk, power surges, left on overnight, everything. The original bulb finally started flickering and crackling one evening, so I took a picture and tagged it. None of the other bulbs I ever bought for it lasted anything more than a few weeks. I actually had to start a "type S" bulb stash they would burn out so quickly (personal note: these are also hard to find). It died a few seconds later. Here he is:
It can depend on the fixture as well. Some CFL bulbs say it should not be used for totally enclosed or recessed fixtures. I've put CFL bulbs in enclosed fixtures like the bathroom and it lasted for about a year and a half. There are some CFLs that can be used in enclosed/recessed fixture, its probably the heat that can mess up the ballast.
The ones I got from Home Depot (Commercial Electric/N Vision) a few years back still work great and they have not burned out yet. I remember on the packaging that they can be used in enclosed/recessed fixtures. I also have a few brands around the house: Feit Electric, Greenlite. Feit ones were hit and miss for me, had some that burned out in 2 years. The Greenlite ones I got from the local hardware store more than 2 years ago for about $1 and still works fine.
Even though they say the bulbs can last 5-7 years, over the years the light output will decrease a bit. So by the time its 4 years it probably will not produce the same light output when it was brand new.
I had a couple of Lights of America bulbs and those burned out prematurely, like in a year and I had one that burned out in less than a few months. Had one that made a pop sound and smelled like plastic burned smell.
The ones I got from Home Depot (Commercial Electric/N Vision) a few years back still work great and they have not burned out yet. I remember on the packaging that they can be used in enclosed/recessed fixtures. I also have a few brands around the house: Feit Electric, Greenlite. Feit ones were hit and miss for me, had some that burned out in 2 years. The Greenlite ones I got from the local hardware store more than 2 years ago for about $1 and still works fine.
Even though they say the bulbs can last 5-7 years, over the years the light output will decrease a bit. So by the time its 4 years it probably will not produce the same light output when it was brand new.
I had a couple of Lights of America bulbs and those burned out prematurely, like in a year and I had one that burned out in less than a few months. Had one that made a pop sound and smelled like plastic burned smell.
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Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
They're too dim for reading by. I have CFLs in a lamp by my computer and a lamp by my bedside, in the closet, and one over the stove. The rest are too dim -- you can't get such a thing as a 150-watt "reader's" CFL, can you?
Phillips has a warm white 150w CFL that is quite bright. Home Depot carries a cool white EcoSmart 150W CFL
They're too dim for reading by. I have CFLs in a lamp by my computer and a lamp by my bedside, in the closet, and one over the stove. The rest are too dim -- you can't get such a thing as a 150-watt "reader's" CFL, can you?
Phillips has a warm white 150w CFL that is quite bright. Home Depot carries a cool white EcoSmart 150W CFL
Originally Posted By: tchguy
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
They're too dim for reading by. I have CFLs in a lamp by my computer and a lamp by my bedside, in the closet, and one over the stove. The rest are too dim -- you can't get such a thing as a 150-watt "reader's" CFL, can you?
Phillips has a warm white 150w CFL that is quite bright. Home Depot carries a cool white EcoSmart 150W CFL
The warm 150-equivalent might be nice, but I never see them at Ace or Target. Do these things stand up to shipping? I'd sure hate to get a box full of mercury-laden shards.
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
They're too dim for reading by. I have CFLs in a lamp by my computer and a lamp by my bedside, in the closet, and one over the stove. The rest are too dim -- you can't get such a thing as a 150-watt "reader's" CFL, can you?
Phillips has a warm white 150w CFL that is quite bright. Home Depot carries a cool white EcoSmart 150W CFL
The warm 150-equivalent might be nice, but I never see them at Ace or Target. Do these things stand up to shipping? I'd sure hate to get a box full of mercury-laden shards.
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