We use them almost exclusively now. In our case they make an even bigger difference because we have chronically high voltage which causes incandescent bulbs to burn out in no time, yet doesn't seem to affect CFL's. I like them alot, I can't tell the difference between a CFL and an incandescent. The only ones I don't like are the enclosed bulbs that start out very dim and take about 45 seconds to reach full brightness.
BTW some of them do make noise but in most cases it isn't audible unless I put my ear to the base. There is one bulb I can hear most of the time and it happens to be the highest wattage in the house (42W). The noise they make is like a click.click.click.buzz...click.click.click.buzz...
BTW some of them do make noise but in most cases it isn't audible unless I put my ear to the base. There is one bulb I can hear most of the time and it happens to be the highest wattage in the house (42W). The noise they make is like a click.click.click.buzz...click.click.click.buzz...
I just got a couple for my room and so far I like them. I got the GE brand - they claim to be the equivalent of 120W incandescent bulbs. The only problem is these things are pretty long compared to regular light bulbs, and so I had to take my light fixture down to make room for the bulbs because they won't fit otherwise.
So now I just have an ugly bare socket coming out of the ceiling with 2 looong CFL bulbs coming out.
They take a few seconds to warm up if they have been off for several hours. I don't notice any hum or interference though.
So now I just have an ugly bare socket coming out of the ceiling with 2 looong CFL bulbs coming out.
They take a few seconds to warm up if they have been off for several hours. I don't notice any hum or interference though.
eplebnista
Lifer
- Dec 3, 2001
- 24,123
- 36
- 91
Get a larger light fixture to accomodate the differences. Or, purchase the newer low profile ones that design to fit into the old fixtures.
It could be that you have a defective bulb or an older design that uses iron balast. Might want to look around for a newer spiral bulb that uses electronic balast.
I would probably go with the bigger fixture, because I really need the light in here. Of course putting the fixture over it will reduce the amount of light available, so maybe I'll just leave it.
I use LED.
1.3Watts = 60 Watt! and they have 50000 life!
That is like 25 years with 8 hours per day use!
1.3Watts = 60 Watt! and they have 50000 life!
That is like 25 years with 8 hours per day use!
:thumbsdown:
I'm beginning to see that all the LED hype is just that, hype. I bought 2 LED bulbs, a 1.5W and a 2W and they're not very bright at all. A 4W CFL produces at least 10 times the light of the 2W LED bulb. Also the lifespan ratings may be wrong to. One of them was used for only a few weeks and it began to dim. Now the 2W is dimmer than the 1.5W. I won't be buying any more LED bulbs for a while.
We have a couple. I like the output, it's not "white" like the tube style bulbs produce. They produce light like incandescents without the yellow.
I have one lamp that I would like to use CCFL in but I like to dim it when watching movies. I think the dimmable ones were too expensive last time I looked a couple years ago. ?
Also I think fluorescent bulbs will wear out quicker turning them on/off than incandescent bulbs would.
Also I think fluorescent bulbs will wear out quicker turning them on/off than incandescent bulbs would.
Jeff7
Lifer
- Jan 4, 2001
- 41,596
- 20
- 81
LEDs are better for applications that need a lot of light in one place. They are usually rated in mcd, which measures concentration of light. They don't do as good with lumens, which measure overall light output.
They really should have longer lifetimes though. Maybe you're getting powerspikes? Or maybe the manufacturer is overvolting the LEDs. I know that the Sunbeam Rheobuses overvolt their LEDs, which is how they get them so bright. Now only a year later, there is a very noticable difference in brightness between the LEDs that were always on and those that were not used.
Example of normal LED wear is my keyboard - I replaced the LEDs with high-brightness, pure-green LEDs. The numlock LED, which is always on, is still very bright. It's being fed the proper voltage, so it's going to live a long time.
At home, the bulbs are slowly converting to CFL, one by one, as the incandescents burn out, which takes a long time. We're a family of conservation - lights are turned off when you're not in a room, heat's turned down, etc.
Originally posted by: sdifox
Here in Toronto, a dollar store carries cheapass 11W CF lamps for 1 dollar each. I use those
Wow..... that's awesome.
Of course they save on energy, because you have to sit in the dark while you wait for them to warm up. :disgust:
Ah. So do you find yourself not being able to get the setting you want (not enough steps)? How many steps would you say they have?
SarcasticDwarf
Diamond Member
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
btw, went to Home Depot today to get one (among other things) as my regular dimable had burned out (and I need way more light on that stairway). They did not have any dimable ones.
sdifox
No Lifer
- Sep 30, 2005
- 100,249
- 17,895
- 126
I don't use dimmers anyway, I hate them in fact, they introduce serious noise in your power line.
http://www.energy.wsu.edu/ftp-ep/pubs/building/light/compact_fluor.pdf
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