Have you found the longevity of CFLs to be over-hyped?

[Aharami]

ive yet to have a CFL die on me in 6 yrs of using them

 

[ElFenix]

Yep I have some of these. Incredibly hard on the eyes. If that's natural, I wonder what planet the designers are from.

daylight is much more blue than an incandescent.




i've not replaced a CFL yet and i've had some for upwards of 4 years now.

 

[Rubycon]

CFLs are impaired by the micro ballast built into the base, which dramatically reduces lifespan. If you notice the fluorescent bulbs in the recessed ceiling at your office doesn't have the f_cking ballast built into each tube. Also notice that most commercial and industrial lighting uses fluorescent and/or metal halide. Incan is reserved for dining and residential.

Yes the self ballasting nature is a convenience - remember that CFL technology is plug and play (or screw and play but on this forum people's minds are frozen in the gutter!) so that's the sacrifice. Magnetic ballasted CFLs like Philips lasted long due to the rugged nature of the ballast. When everything went electronic cost and weight came way down and so did reliability for the most part. Use of these products in areas with elevated temperatures, enclosed fixture, and base up orientation can augment early lamp failure.

Additionally most CFL products do not specify THD because it can be so high it would be embarrassing to list! Again not really important in MOST residential settings. It can cause problems with some alarm systems and definitely power line ethernet products, for example. A GOOD product, while may not list THD specification will have reasonable amounts of hash noise on the line. Fun stuff indeed. ^_^

Also if you want outdoor lighting from dusk till dawn use for security purposes HPS is your best bet. LPS is most efficient but also least found in residential settings. Metal Halide gives best balance of color rendition and efficacy. This is why pro sports events are lit up with MH.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Definitely designed more for areas where you turn on a light and leave it on. When I was in my rental house, I put one in the light fixture outside the front door, and just left it on, day & night. That bulb was still working 5 or 6 years later, when I moved.

But yeah, cheap light bulbs are cheap light bulbs. Don't expect long life when you pay $6 for 6 bulbs, ya know?

not a surprise, the on/off cycle is what degrades bulb filaments.

 

[ShawnD1]

Additionally most CFL products do not specify THD because it can be so high it would be embarrassing to list! Again not really important in MOST residential settings. It can cause problems with some alarm systems and definitely power line ethernet products, for example. A GOOD product, while may not list THD specification will have reasonable amounts of hash noise on the line. Fun stuff indeed. ^_^

It doesn't give any exact numbers, but most CFL packages I've seen say that they should not be used with a dimmer, should not be used in humid areas, and they may interfere with sensitive equipment and security systems.

Also if you want outdoor lighting from dusk till dawn use for security purposes HPS is your best bet. LPS is most efficient but also least found in residential settings. Metal Halide gives best balance of color rendition and efficacy. This is why pro sports events are lit up with MH.

IMO, the best security lights are those blue ones. They are so annoying! I can stand in an area lit by HPS and it doesn't bug me, but those blue lights make me feel very uncomfortable.

On a related note, anyone who drives a car with blue HID headlights should be killed.

 

[Rubycon]

It doesn't give any exact numbers, but most CFL packages I've seen say that they should not be used with a dimmer, should not be used in humid areas, and they may interfere with sensitive equipment and security systems.


IMO, the best security lights are those blue ones. They are so annoying! I can stand in an area lit by HPS and it doesn't bug me, but those blue lights make me feel very uncomfortable.

On a related note, anyone who drives a car with blue HID headlights should be killed.

CFLs should NEVER be used on standard triac dimmers unless the package says they are compatible.

When you say blue you may be talking about mercury vapor. Those are on their way out as their efficacy is poorer than the cool white fluorescent with even poorer color rendering. The phosphor coated outer envelope bulbs do have more red and yellow lines in their spectrum however it comes at a slight cost in visible efficacy. Warm white HPS sodium lamps are available and again the efficacy of these is lower.

Blue HID lamps are actually HID lamps (fast re-strike metal halide) with a high color temperature. Some are over 8000K which is far too blue. The best ones are around 4200K for highway use.

Even worse is when high color temperature retrofits are installed into standard lamp reflectors. The optics are designed with tungsten halogen capsules in mind. When one replaces those with HID bulbs the pattern changes including cut off level and sidespill. The blue nature of these lamps combined with lots of throw into the vision of oncoming drivers can result in a very hazardous condition. In lots of magistrates this would be illegal.

 

[Nik]

I've had mine for 5 years or so with no burn outs yet.

I'm going on 11 years with the same bulb in my desk lap that I use constantly. :awe:

 

[ktehmok]

I changed everything in my house to CFL a year ago when I moved in. Haven't had one burn out yet. These are the cheapo Home Depot kind. The only thing I don't like is that they don't always start up bright. It's a pain in the ass if I want to just turn on a light, find something & turn it off.

Another gripe is the 100w equivalent CFL has a base too big for some of my fixtures, the 60w type is not always enough.

 

[BoomerD]

I bought a shit-load of the Feit CFL's at Costco about 18 months ago.(4 boxes of 10) So far, probably 15 have failed. I'mm saving them up to take back to Costco for replacement. :biggrin:

I picked up some LED candelabra base bulbs there that I use in the exterior garage lights. Not very bright, but they only use 3 watts...and provide enough light for me to see at night. They weren't cheap though...IIRC, $13/3.

 

[seemingly random]

I've never liked any thing about them. Florescents are for the garage. I have some 10 year old incandescents. The one superior things about CFLs is that they're not as fragile when bumped.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I've had mine for 5 years or so with no burn outs yet.

same

 

[0roo0roo]

just be happy ballasts don't have pcbs anymore...

 

[Zebo]

incandescent 4lyf here. the idea of a $4-6 light bulb just never set right with me when I can buy 12 for that price. Plus lights use shit compared to A/C I leave a dozen lights on outside all winter in eves plus whatever house uses and have not yet seen $100 bill. Summer is $450.

 

[bobdole369]

incandescent 4lyf here.

If you live in the USA - not for much longer. Incandescant lamps are legislated out of existence in favor of CFL's by 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59298

 

[bobdole369]

just be happy ballasts don't have pcbs anymore...

And the mercury in the lamp itself is any better? Have you seen what you are supposed to do in case you break one?

Step 1 - Leave for 15 minutes, air out the house.

 

[Zebo]

If you live in the USA - not for much longer. Incandescant lamps are legislated out of existence in favor of CFL's by 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59298

Clinton tried that shit with toilets I got +2 gallon flush models, which actually work to flush shit down the drain, on black market I'm sure light bulbs will be same.

Business opportunity, fuck gold

 

[Zebo]

If you live in the USA - not for much longer. Incandescant lamps are legislated out of existence in favor of CFL's by 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59298

Huge loop hole

"Light bulbs outside of this range are exempt from the restrictions (historically, less than 40 Watts or more than 150 Watts). Also exempt are several classes of specialty lights, including appliance lamps, "rough service" bulbs, 3-way, colored lamps, and plant lights.."

 

[disappoint]

I have about 8 CFLs for at least 5 years and haven't had to replace even 1 yet. But the circular fluorescents have gone out about 1 every 3-4 years or so. I suspect the ballast in those so I replaced the whole unit.

 

[novasatori]

I've not had to replace a CFL yet, one of the major factors is that you're buying good quality bulbs, I particularly like GE 6700k 98 CRI bulbs.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I usually end up accidentally breaking CFLs before they burn out, but I've had a few burn out on me too though. IMO they seem to last just as long as regular bulbs. Where they probably do last longer is in "always on" situations.

I still prefer CFLs as they use less power and produce a seemingly brighter light. It's more white, which is usually what I want. I find they're hard to find in bulk though, and by bulk I mean like a pack of 6. I ended up finding a 60w 6 pack but I prefer the 100's (well more like 20ish watts but equivalent to a 100w incad).

 

[foghorn67]

I had one burn out. And I have a few. However, I haven't found any I like for color temperature. I got one of those full spectrum lights for reading. Hopefully, LED's will continue to make inroads here.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Speaking of burning out, anyone ever turn one on when it's broken? It's actually pretty cool. CCFL dust, don't breathe that!

 

[StageLeft]

humidity

that's where most of mine died

Well basically right on the three year mark after moving into our house an incandescent (within the same week) died in each of our bathrooms so I recently replaced with CFLs. I somehow doubt they'll make it three years.

I still can't believe these do worse upside down, what a damned joke. I bet most people don't know that or know that turning them on and off frequently greatly diminishes their life. I know on the pack it says something about lifespan and hours/day but not even an actual hit on the package that frequent on/off is a problem.

Huge loop hole

"Light bulbs outside of this range are exempt from the restrictions (historically, less than 40 Watts or more than 150 Watts). Also exempt are several classes of specialty lights, including appliance lamps, "rough service" bulbs, 3-way, colored lamps, and plant lights.."

Good. I wasn't looking forward to paying through the nose for some of those, particularly chandelier-type applications.

Speaking of burning out, anyone ever turn one on when it's broken? It's actually pretty cool. CCFL dust, don't breathe that!

Yep it has a nifty glow to it.

I have had sylvania and GE die on me in the past I think. All my bulbs now, though, are walmart's "great value". Hell, I think I will stop buying them.

Here: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/home_improvement/4215199.html review of various bulbs for brightness and power use. Nothing on longevity.

I never knew there were warranties on something as silly as a bulb but apparently there are. Next time I may keep receipt.

 

[Jeff7]

I never knew there were warranties on something as silly as a bulb but apparently there are. Next time I may keep receipt.

Here's a fun one. LED-based replacements for 4ft fluorescent tubes.

Rated life of the LEDs: 50,000 hours
Warranty: 2 years

(2 years = 17,520 hours
50,000 hours = 5.7 years)
:hmm:

 

[ShawnD1]

If you live in the USA - not for much longer. Incandescant lamps are legislated out of existence in favor of CFL's by 2014

I don't understand why anyone would push for this. Yes we know CFL is more efficient, but it's not "better". Did anyone stop to ask why street lights are all sodium HID, indoor office lights are all fluorescent, and most house lights are incandescent? It's because one type isn't "better" in every way. My dad's tool shed is lit with a 25 cent incandescent bulb because it's rarely used. Why the hell would anyone put a $3 bulb that is used less than once per month?

Clinton tried that shit with toilets I got +2 gallon flush models, which actually work to flush shit down the drain, on black market I'm sure light bulbs will be same.

I wish my house had the kind of toilets I see in offices. They seem to be under incredibly high pressure and I've never seen one clog before. The one in my house clogs every time I use it..... stop laughing damn it.