Do you use CFLs (compact fluorescent lightbulbs)?

[Xpred]

These things last like 5x longer than a regular lightbulb and use 75% less energy! I just recently bought a lot of them to replace my older crappy ones that were burning out. The only downside is that these fluorescent bulbs make some annoying low frequency sounds and flicker later in their lives. Anyone use them now?

 

[Eli]

Yes.

 

[BigJ]

Yes.

Another disadvantage they have is they have trouble warming up in colder temperatures.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I like the yellow glow of incandescent bulbs. Lights up the house better (in terms of vibrance). Sure you can get bright bulbs with fluorescents, but the house doesnt look as good.

 

[Evadman]

I have never had one flicker or make a hum. I ahve them everywhere, including places where they are not supposed to last long, like outside (in chicago, it's cold) in fans, in cieling mounts, int he garage, etc.

They certainly last longer, but not 7x longer, maybe 2-3x for me.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

i use them. I have them in various places in the house. Only problem is they interfere with wireless heaphones.

 

[Engineer]

Have 23 of them in use (various wattages). Have 6 new ones in the closet (they were 4 for $3.75 and, in Kentucky, that's a bargain (no utility subsidation here)). Trying to convince the wife to place them in the vanity lights in the bathrooms (10 bulbs total), but she hates the spirals. I might buy the globe types at WalMart (or elsewhere), but they are quite expensive vs the sprial type.

 

[Armitage]

I got some recently, and I'm not to happy with them. First, what they list as the wattage equivalent to incandescent bulbs is way off. I got some that claim to be the equiv of a 60 watt incandescent and they're very dim - more like a 40W.

I've also had one die on me after only about a month - yea, there's a warranty, but it's to much of a PITA to save the receiprts, etc. for a lightbulb. And finally, in at least one fixture, they flicker all the time. It's on a dimmer switch that is turned all the way up. Maybe it would work better if I replaced the switch.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Armitage
I got some recently, and I'm not to happy with them. First, what they list as the wattage equivalent to incandescent bulbs is way off. I got some that claim to be the equiv of a 60 watt incandescent and they're very dim - more like a 40W.

I've also had one die on me after only about a month - yea, there's a warranty, but it's to much of a PITA to save the receiprts, etc. for a lightbulb. And finally, in at least one fixture, they flicker all the time. It's on a dimmer switch that is turned all the way up. Maybe it would work better if I replaced the switch.

Dimmer switches, even when turned up, aren't the same as a straight switch.

 

[markgm]

I have them in every light in and outside of my house except for the microwave and fridge. I had the Ikea ones which took an hour to start up in my last apartment. When I moved in to this house I got them at Costco. I had a bag of about 60 lightbulbs when I was done replacing everything. I'm finishing my basement now, so once it is finished it will be the only room without them because I want to be able to dim the recessed lighting for movies.

Edit: I have to say, they no longer put out the harsh white light that the tube bulbs put out. I hate the flicker of industrial lights and I have no problem with CFLs.

 

[Bateluer]

I use them in my room, however, my roommates prefer to use the older soft white bulbs.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: Armitage
I got some recently, and I'm not to happy with them. First, what they list as the wattage equivalent to incandescent bulbs is way off. I got some that claim to be the equiv of a 60 watt incandescent and they're very dim - more like a 40W.

I've also had one die on me after only about a month - yea, there's a warranty, but it's to much of a PITA to save the receiprts, etc. for a lightbulb. And finally, in at least one fixture, they flicker all the time. It's on a dimmer switch that is turned all the way up. Maybe it would work better if I replaced the switch.

Dimmer switches, even when turned up, aren't the same as a straight switch.

Yea, I'm pretty sure that's the problem with the flickering. I may have to stop and get a new switch - I never dim this light and the flickering is really starting to bug me.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea i get em from ikea. they got em cheap and in many varieties...they seem to work best in multiple bulb fixtures or many small task/ambient lighting lamps.

and yes cheap ones generally don'tmatch their claimed output. they get too enthusiastic with their conversions. it takes aboutt 28watts to make a bit over 100watts light equiv i've found. but its better to get a couple smaller lamps the total generics tend to die. and don't use them outside..they will die there. they've improved over time. i notice my newer ikea ones have a warmer glow than the older ones.

 

[Engineer]

OT: While at WalMart last week, I noticed that you can now get Candelabra based (small, decorative) CF bulbs. Might start switching them out (still expensive though).

Also, while searching Yahoo (just now), I found dimmable CF bulbs. I didn't know that they existed. Wonder if they are any good?...hmmm

 

[BigJ]

One thing about CFLs:

You really shouldn't dispose of them in the regular garbage. They do contain mercury, and do pose a threat to the environment.

 

[Spike]

I use them for outside lighting, I like the blue glow better than the yellow of regular bulbs. Not sure how I would feel about using them indoors.

-spike

 

[Bozono]

Yay for very cheap method of sterilization!!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Evadman
I have never had one flicker or make a hum. I ahve them everywhere, including places where they are not supposed to last long, like outside (in chicago, it's cold) in fans, in cieling mounts, int he garage, etc.

They certainly last longer, but not 7x longer, maybe 2-3x for me.

.......

:laugh:

 

[mercanucaribe]

Hell no, I don't want my apartment looking like a morgue.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Do you use these kind of light bulbs?

Yes.

 

[duragezic]

Use quite a bit at our college house. They use less energy and are bright as hell for that they use. Plus I prefer most CFL light to incandescent. The only good time for incandescent is in a mellow, lightly lit room such as some very small bulbs in a movie/living room. But for places where I'm reading, working on things, bathroom, kitchen, etc etc I like CFLs.

When I moved into my room at said college house, there was 4 60w incandescent bulbs for lighting (its a really big room). I replaced with 2 30w CFLs and the room is VERY nicely light up all around. 60 w vs 240w, saved by just one room. Could add up over a period of months.

 

[TBone48]

I use them throughout my house. I like the light they provide, I really notice no difference from regular bulbs.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

No.

 

[Ime]

I use them for lights that are used often. Saves a bit on energy usage.

 

[CraigRT]

Yeah, I actually really liked the output after I get used to it..