incandescent lightbulbs

[eLiu]

Hey all,
Is it worth it to shell out the extra for the extended life bulbs, or should I just stick w/regular?

-Eric

edit: Also, are those '3 way' lights worth it if I have a variable lamp? My lamp has two settings..low & high--should I get the 3way or just stick w/a regular 150W?

 

[MrDudeMan]

150w is a lot for a lamp. i dont know if the extended life bulbs are worth it, but from personal experience, the regular ones seem to last a long a$$ time if you dont flick the light switch up and down several times per second trying to be funny.

in lab last semester we showed that most of the lifespan of the filament is worn away by the initial surge of current. that was after we read it in a book, however

 

[FoBoT]

i buy the normal ones

but i have replaced most with the spiral flourescents

 

150W? Jeez, that's bright. I prefer 40-watt for fixtures and 25-watt for lamps.

EDIT: but I've replaced most of my bulbs with CFs.

 

[eLiu]

the 150W is for one of those tall floor lamps

edit: this thing will be providing most of the light for my room...

i can't stand flourescent lights (which is what the overhead light is in my dorm room), so im putting in some nicer things

 

[feelingshorter]

Originally posted by: jumpr
150W? Jeez, that's bright. I prefer 40-watt for fixtures and 25-watt for lamps.

EDIT: but I've replaced most of my bulbs with CFs.

yea...150 is really hot..

 

[Engineer]

Compact fluorescents are the way to go!

I have 23 now and am trying to talk the wife into installing them on the vanity mirrors in the bathrooms (9 more)!

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i buy the normal ones

but i have replaced most with the spiral flourescents

How can you stand having flourescent lights in your house? I hate flourescent!

 

[Ornery]

I've already lost two of these "fabulous extended life bulbs" inside of six months, so there's NO WAY they paid for themselves. I do believe dimmers can pay for themselves in electricity and bulb replacement savings, so give those a shot. Before I bought these stupid extended life bulbs, I had a dimmer on every possible light fixture and switch.

Those three-way lights are kind of stupid. They've got a 100watt, and 50watt element inside of one bulb. When both are on, the extra heat kills the bulb in a hurry.

 

[eLiu]

cool thanks everyone....regular, non-extended lights it is! and I'm going with 100W now instead of 150W...no lower than that though--I mean my desk lamp is a 60W and I like that plenty.