GE "energy smart" CFL bulbs

[McFarkus]

I have a couple of CFLs that have been in place for 10 years without replacement.

[Pleater]

You might find your favourite bulbs on eBay or other internet sources.

You have to be careful about the price after postage is added as it can be well over the actual cost.

On the websites there are reviews which might assist in your choice if an exact match can't be found.

The life expectancy of bulbs is calculated (here in the UK) from tests done without a shade and with the bulb turned upwards, not hanging down as most bulbs are used. It practically guarantees that you don't get what it says on the box.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Tobus]

My parents use them, and my dad said he throws out more CFLs than he ever did of the old kind.

R.

Huh, interesting! That's been my biggest joy of going to CFLs, is that I almost NEVER have to replace bulbs. When I used incandescent bulbs, I always had to keep a stock of bulbs because they were always going out. Since going to CFLs, it's a rare thing to change a bulb any more. I only keep about two spare bulbs, and when I do have to change one, I forget where I put the spares because I almost never need them.

I do have some of the first bulbs I bought about 6 years ago that have never gone out. I'd never have had that kind of lifespan on an incandescent.

Having said that, I have had a couple of incidents where the CFLs have randomly gone on and off, and when I replaced them, the plastic housing at the bottom was charred and melted. That kind of concerns me due to the potential for fire. But other than that, I've had nothing but great success with them.

[kennethc]

CFS are ok, But I find that if used with LCD monitors i get eye strain, I prefer standard filiment light or CAT5 spec office florecents, with colour 84 tubes, they give off what is akin to the same frequency and colour tempature of natural day light. Although my latests toy in lighting is LED lighting, there are some really good LED "blubs" on the market and quite amazing power to light ratio. Although its very hit and miss with the wide array of supplier of bulbs, but i have found some really good LED based bulbs with give out amazing light for power consumption of about 4 watts, CFL are generally 15 - 22 watts and only get bright after warm up, LED is instant, and with the better ones you can use dimmers I think in time it will all go LED, some units are quoting 100,000 to fail, and with the wide arry of colour tempatures and colours can be a feature.

[Mike in Dayton]

CFL lamps like to be turned on a left on. If you cycle a CFL serveral times a day it will go bad quickly. I have a CFL in a ceiling light of a dark room that stays on all day and night. I never turn it off. The current CFL in that fixuture is pushing seven years. The CFL in my family room lamp comes on at sunset and goes off at midnight. That lamp lasts a long time but not as long as the 24x7 lamp. The CFLs in the bathroom I turn on and off a few times in the evening and early in the morning. I might get ten months out of those.

Mike

[mbhandy]

The CFLs in the bathroom I turn on and off a few times in the evening and early in the morning. I might get ten months out of those.

Mike

I have CFL's in my bathroom that have been in there 5 Yrs. and are still going and they go on and off all the time???????
I even have them in my fan in the Kitchen and have only replaced one bulb in 5 Yrs.
Guess I am lucky.

MrBill

[ChattanCat]

CFL's are only good for upright lights, the bulb needs to give off heat and doesn't work in confined locations like most bulbs. CFL's have limited usage and should be used sparingly, unless you have all desk lights that have a shade.

[Paul]

Rex, the choice of super energy-saving light-bulbs in my house drives me crazy. Sometimes I am unsure if I have actually put the light on or not!
In some circumstances I agree that energy-saving bulbs have their advantages - but it is not worth destroying my sanity over! I also agree that some bulbs just don't give the room the correct feeling... I acknowledge this most with modern spot-lights, especially within my university lecture hall. These actually tend to cause glare and tend to blur my contact lenses!

[Mike in Dayton]

CFL's are only good for upright lights, the bulb needs to give off heat and doesn't work in confined locations like most bulbs. CFL's have limited usage and should be used sparingly, unless you have all desk lights that have a shade.

That is probably part of my problem in the bathroom. The lamps hang upside down so all the heat goes into the electronics in the base. The family room is upright and the ceiling light that has lasted so long is its side so the heat can escape. That is only a 9w lamp (40w equiv) so not much heat there anyway.

Mike

[Rex_Tremende]

Well, that explains it for my folks' situation, too, since much of their lighting is recessed in the ceiling in cans meant for incandescent flood lights.