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Anyone have trouble with CFLs?

Leros

Leros

Lifer
I've bought 3 CFLs so far and had them all burn out within a week.

The first one was a wal-mart brand bulb, the next two were name brand (and expensive, about $5-7 each).

What am I doing wrong?
 
A few of my CFLs haven't lasted nearly as long as they're supposed to. Longer than incandescent sure, but not much.
 
CFLs are a great technology IF you never use them with a dimmer, and you don't have them in a place that will get too hot or too cold, and they are well ventilated so that they don't overheat. They're nowhere near as robust as incandescent lights.
 
jagec said:
CFLs are a great technology IF you never use them with a dimmer, and you don't have them in a place that will get too hot or too cold, and they are well ventilated so that they don't overheat. They're nowhere near as robust as incandescent lights.
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Maybe thats the problem. I'm using them in a covered ceiling light.

Like this:
30263_PE118327_S4.jpg
 
No wher near that short! Similar to silverpig I may have seen a few that didn't last as long as they should have, though nothing serious. We've had 2 in our entrance way that have been going forever.
 
Yeah. That's not the one I have, but it looks nearly identical. I was just too lazy to find the exact one.

Edit: I can't find the one I have in the Ikea site. Anway, its nearly identical, the little holders just look different on mine.
 
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Neolites have yet to let me down.
I don't think I've had any of them running in a fully-enclosed case thing; I guess the worst I've got is the one that's mounted upside-down in the bathroom, and it of course gets to endure daily exposure to high humidity from the shower.


I have had my share of dead CFLs in a very short time - out of 12 off-brand CFLs (cheap ones, also from 1000bulbs.com), I think maybe...8 or 9 of them were dead in around 6 months.

And finally, I've got a 65W Harmony Lighting CFL in the livingroom. I believe it'll be 3 years old as of this August.
 
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TridenT said:
Bad power supply to the bulbs maybe?
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Perhaps. My apartment does have shitty power. I blow out an incandescent bulb every few months

I actually bought the CFLs because I thought they were more robust. I was replacing my incandescent porch light every few weeks, but the cheap $1 CFL I put in there has been running for 6 months now. That's what inspired me to go CFL.
 
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Leros said:
Perhaps. My apartment does have shitty power. I blow out an incandescent bulb every few months

I actually bought the CFLs because I thought they were more robust. I was replacing my incandescent porch light every few weeks, but the cheap $1 CFL I put in there has been running for 6 months now. That's what inspired me to go CFL.
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Yeah even incandescents should last longer than that on average. According to wiki incandescents should last about 875 hours on average. If you have the light on for 8 hours a day they should last about 3-4 months. And most lights aren't on that long.
 
Locut0s said:
Yeah even incandescents should last longer than that on average. According to wiki incandescents should last about 875 hours on average. If you have the light on for 8 hours a day they should last about 3-4 months. And most lights aren't on that long.
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Every couple of months, I'll flip a switch and the light will just flash and die.
 
Yep, they do not last as long as they would want you to believe. Definately a problem with them in an enclosed fixture, talking weeks to months before they fail. Had the same problem in open fixtures in the bathroom, I had to turn the fixtures upside down so the base was on the bottom and the light pointing up, they are going on a year now. From what I can tell, the problem is the the base (electronic part) overheating. I have had bad luck with name brands along with generics. I just bought a bunch of 3-packs for 99 cents, something tells me they probably are not the best quality, time will tell.
 
Have you checked the voltage to the lamp? If it is low and/or swings a good deal then that can cause it.

I have CFLs in my outside lights where they are supposed to not work well for 3 years now and still going. I did all the wiring in my house so the voltage drop is very low. I run 12ga even to 15amp outlets.
 
I am switching my whole house to LED's...have spent $1k on bulbs so far...will never have to change them again...at least for 17 years...so they claim. Ive pulled all my CFL's and Halogen bulbs out.
 
mrrman said:
I am switching my whole house to LED's...have spent $1k on bulbs so far...will never have to change them again...at least for 17 years...so they claim. Ive pulled all my CFL's and Halogen bulbs out.
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wow.

I hope their claims are factual.
 
I've had CFLs in enclosed fixtures for years and they haven't burned out faster than other places. Of the probably 3 dozen bulbs I've bought over the past 8 years, I've had maybe a half-dozen burn out, none of them in under a year. They have lasted me several years on average, and some still running after 8 years.
 
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