The Great CFL Swindle

democrates

I'm not getting anything like the lifespan from cfl's claimed on the packages. Anyone else noticed this?

I'm looking forward to superior led alternatives, hopefully coming soon, 50,000 hours - sweet.

Red Alert

CFL's would cost much less if the control gear (ballast) was separable from the lamp.

CFL lifespan is affected a lot by temperature extremes, frequency of on/off switching and power quality.

Alun

democrates wrote:

I'm not getting anything like the lifespan from cfl's claimed on the packages. Anyone else noticed this?

Nope. I can't remember when I first bought a CFL lamp, it was that long ago, more than 5 years certainly, and I've never had to replace a single one yet.

ednwireland

nope i cant remember ever replacing one had some over 10 years

Nukem

Nope - have loads of them and no issues from one since i installed them

democrates

Red Alert wrote:

CFL's would cost much less if the control gear (ballast) was separable from the lamp.

CFL lifespan is affected a lot by temperature extremes, frequency of on/off switching and power quality.

Excellent idea, I always wondered looking at the massive base if it was necessary to replicate that for each one.

The on/off rate fits with my experience, the one in the guest wc goes most frequently it's on and off several times a day, but the one in the dining room lasts much longer even though it stays on much longer per day.

Seems to me cfls could compare poorly with even incandescants in certain applications, but I won't assert that in the absence of proper data. Roll on LED's in any event, always liked them.

Red Alert

A lot of CFL's lighting properties are because of the colour temperature and the radiation pattern.

The colour temperature makes them look very 'flourescent', and I've found that they are much more pleasant when used as uplighters or the like.

The radiation pattern throws a lot of light to the side and very little vertically down. Compare this with your ordinary 60W which radiates pretty much the same in all directions.

2 stroke

Democrates, I've been using cfl's sucessfully since 2001. !5 bulbs in house have replaced 4. Has your wc an enclosed globe? cfl's dont last long in theese found that out in our offices. Also you seem to get what you pay for, I have some that I bought half price and I am convinced they take longer to warm up.
Power quality dosn't seem to be an issue, I had a very dirthy supply until 2 years ago, couldn't keep regular bulbs in the house.

democrates

2 stroke wrote:

Democrates, I've been using cfl's sucessfully since 2001. !5 bulbs in house have replaced 4. Has your wc an enclosed globe? cfl's dont last long in theese found that out in our offices. Also you seem to get what you pay for, I have some that I bought half price and I am convinced they take longer to warm up.
Power quality dosn't seem to be an issue, I had a very dirthy supply until 2 years ago, couldn't keep regular bulbs in the house.

Spot on, the wc one is inside a dome.

Phillips are what I've been using, any pointers on brands are welcome.

kmick

In my experience (under conditions where they are used a lot and switched on and off a dozen times a day) they last about as long as a normal bulb at twice the cost. The price is coming down rapidly though. Also they use less energy so they are saving you money.

prospect

I wouldn't bother changing over to CFLs, in W.C's and hotpress' etc, as they are not suitable.
The delay in lighting is not acceptable to me (in a room where you are often only going to be in for a minute or two), and also the light is on in these rooms for only very short periods of time. A standard 40w bulb is much better.

Elsewhere in the house, i have loads of CFLs and never had to change any. Also, i moved house 3 years ago and brought them with me, without any issue.

Victor

I bought one for the living room recently, lights up quite quickly and only cost €5.

KdjaCL

Alun wrote:

Nope. I can't remember when I first bought a CFL lamp, it was that long ago, more than 5 years certainly, and I've never had to replace a single one yet.

Thats that then , you killed yours and mine which are all over that.


kdjac

SeanW

Been using CFls at home for several years now but I only went on an all-out replacing spree a couple of months ago. Very satisfied

In fact, after replacing a light shade in my bedroom, I replaced a 100W incandescent with an 11W CFL and I get a brighter :eek: and 'cleaner' whiter light output that makes everything look better.

Those things rock.

BendiBus

Red Alert wrote:

CFL's would cost much less if the control gear (ballast) was separable from the lamp.

You mean like these?