Just had my first CFL bulb die of natural causes

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Impressive since I purchased and installed them in 2005. Luckily I had bought a box of them from Home Depot (as I recall) and have a few leftovers, so the new one matches the old still. Interesting that the color did not change in any discernible way.
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,960
30
91
Mine would typically last a few months. Much less than incandescent bulbs.

Fuck CFLs.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,446
126
You lucky bastard... I've had about half a dozen of mine die on me so far.

Those things just don't like being used as hallway lights and being turned on and off all the time.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
48,703
5,456
136
I've begun the conversion to LED. I'm curious as to how long they'll really last...I'm betting nowhere near the advertised 20+ years ;)
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
It was a base up light, in the kitchen. Not too many ons and offs, but a lot of burn time.
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
7,318
4
76
Add me to the group, just had one die 2 days ago (well it's been going on and off for a week or so).

That being said, I replace WAY more CFL's than I ever did incandescent bulbs. I've always bought the GE energysmarts because I read that they were reliable, and I think I've replaced more than half of them in my house (some more than once). It's a lot more costly at this point. They are too sensitive (i.e. need to be installed in an upright position, cannot be around moisture, etc...)

I think I'll go LED next and see how that goes.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
I have two in the bathroom and one has a delayed turn on lately. It's the same brand and model, too. It may be next.
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
7,318
4
76
I have two in the bathroom and one has a delayed turn on lately. It's the same brand and model, too. It may be next.

That's the area I've had to replace multiple times. Then I read somewhere that you shouldn't install them in bathrooms because of the moisture.
 

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,540
3,246
136
The CFL bulbs I install on the outside lights of my house seem to die rather quickly (less than a year).
 

jhansman

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2004
2,768
29
91
LEDs are the way to go. Whiter light, but they seem to last forever and, apparently, use very little juice. Dimable, too.
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
The CFL bulbs I install on the outside lights of my house seem to die rather quickly (less than a year).

Somehow they managed to make them more prone to death by vibration than bulbs consisting primarily of a wire the width of a human hair. I could never figure that out.
 

disappoint

Lifer
Dec 7, 2009
10,132
382
126
Natural causes you say. But what if all the other CFL bulbs got sick of his shit or just wanted to challenge his dominance and decided to send a surge down the line and that took him out?
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Natural causes you say. But what if all the other CFL bulbs got sick of his shit or just wanted to challenge his dominance and decided to send a surge down the line and that took him out?

At least one was shaken CFL syndrome. If only it would have stopped crying...
 

Drako

Lifer
Jun 9, 2007
10,697
161
106
Did it start on fire. I had a batch a couple years back that would burst into flames. :mad:
 

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,448
1,070
126
i replaced all the lamps in my apt. with cfl's when i moved in, and have not replaced a single one in 2 years.
 

MaxPayne63

Senior member
Dec 19, 2011
682
0
0
I've been switching to LEDs as CFLs fail. Fuck GE; they won't get a penny from me other than taxes.