On May 21, 12:41*am, wrote:
(Don Klipstein) wrote:
In article , Ozzie wrote:
I've been reading some of the recent posts, on CFL's. Maybe I haven't read
enough of them, to find the same thing, which happened to mine.

First, I'm really disappointed, they don't have the life span, as normal
bulbs. My packages claim to have a life span, up to 7 years. That's
probably the "got cha", the "up to". But, I've never had to replace my
bulbs, as often as I do these. I've now replaced a grand total of 14, which
failed prematurely. This is in a 5 month time span. These are/were the
dimmable mini's, 75 watt, with a power factor of 0.90. They are listed as
UL, and energy star, and claims to use only 15 watts.
*Can you describe these and tell me what brand? *I am unaware of any
15 watt CFLs that achieve 75 watt "incandescent equivalence", and I am
unaware of any making that claim and having the "Energy Star" logo.
*Also, what kind of fixtures are you using them in? *Many CFLs overheat
easily in small enclosed fixtures and recessede ceiling fixtures.

Don, you seem to be some sort of spokesman or at least apologist for
the CFL industry. My experience is much the same as the OP and I have
at least 100 CFL bulbs in the house. Why do I keep buying them? I
suppose because the electricity rates in my neck of the woods are so
high and I kid myself into believing that despite the high cost of
replacement I still make out in the long term. One of these days I'll
have to make the calculation.

As to your statement that they overheat in small enclosed and recessed
ceiling fixtures, I suppose "overheat" means that they fail. Just
where on the package does it say "can't be used in overhead enclosed
fixtures"? I have eleven dome-shaped hall ceiling fixtures -- the type
with a big glass bowl and a center (usually brass-looking) nut to hold
the bowl to the ceiling (box). They're sold in HD and Lowes in
contractor packs of three and last time I checked (last weekend) both
retailers had huge displays of them. Oh and BTW all except the very
oldest bulbs (15 or so years) all come from these retailers, not
dollar stores! Now surely the manufacturers can't claim that they
don't know about these fixtures (a couple were bought with CFL bulbs
in them), certainly HD and Lowes can't. So if these are the type of
"overhead ceiling fixtures" that shouldn't have CFL's in them where
are the warning signs on both the fixtures and the bulbs? Oh, yeah and
the idea is rubbish. In my bathroom I have two recessed cans over the
shower (lots of steam and heat and the bulbs are totally recessed) and
the CFL's in them have lasted more than seven years. Of course the
shower lights aren't on for the same time as the hall each day.

I also find that the CFL's half-expire. If you get up on the ladder
over the stairs and juggle the glass bowl and fitting and touch the
unlit CFL...miracle of miracles...it lights. For about a week. Then
you can go through the same effort again. This evening I put on the
light in the room I have as an office, a six bulb CFL candelabra type
in gas light type (open) shades, and one bulb didn't go on. Jiggle,
and a miracle occurred... it went on. I fully expect to replace it in
the next couple of weeks. BTW it's a Sylvania Deco Medium 7W. Probably
about $7 each. There goes the energy saving for the year on that
fixture.

You might ask why I don't exercise my right to get a new one as
Commercial Electric used to advertise. I did once. 800 # and all that
and put up with the abuse about enclosed fittings. No point in arguing
with the girl on the line. They replaced the bulb grudgingly IMO but
it was hardly worth it. The only way these sorts of guarantees are
going to work is if the retailer is obliged to do a one-for-one
exchange until seven years after the DOM (printed in clear on the
bulb). Similar to the Sears Craftsman guarantee. Then I could just
save them up and batch exchange them at HD. I'd never have to buy
another light bulb.

Which brings me to another point. It's no good talking about degrees
Kelvin or CRI's unless the mfg puts these on the packaging and
preferably on the bulb itself. Just why can't they do this? And why
can't they calculate the degrees Kelvin and CRI for (say) a GE Soft
White 60W incandescent bulb and produce exactly those numbers in a
CFL? No BS about "daylight" or "Kitchen and Bath", just "This CFL is
EXACTLY the same as [a standard incandescent bulb]." I think that that
statement (if truthful) would be a big selling point.

As to longevity when you were dealing with an incandescent costing
$0.25 I and most people would put up with an "average life." If we had
one fail before this time we'd shrug and accept that probably we had
others that lasted twice the average. That's not true when bulbs cost
$5 and up (yeah, by the gross and on sale you can sometimes get them
for $1 or so, but somehow that never seems to work for me). For CFL's
I'd like to see average life and minimum life (expressed in years
unless the mfg wants to come up with some sort of odometer).

Oh yeah, and delay in coming up to speed (the other thread). I have
the same experience as the other OP and not in a garage but, for
example, in the kitchen. I have one four tube normal fluorescent, one
two tube, one equivalent 150W CFL and one equivalent 100W CFL. The
tube types light up almost as fast as an incandescent to full
brightness. The CFL's ... well, don't plan on reading anything for a
couple of minutes. Same goes in the bedrooms one of which has 15 CFL
40W equivalents. Light a candle first so you can see for the first
minute or twog.

Nope CFL's are not yet ready for prime time.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I havnt tried HDs warranty yet but I wonder if its a walk in deal, it
better be. Ive had very good luck with HD soft white cfl even on
getting bright quickly, even working at -10f. Considering that about
95 watts of a 100 watt incandesant is output in heat, meaning I get 5
watts of visable light out of a 100 watt bulb, and that 11, 100 watt
incandesants will just put an extra load on my AC this summer
equivilant to running a 1000 watt electric heater, I find cfls the
smartest option. On several buildings I have cut electric usage
30-50%, im willing to give up a few things to save not only on
lighting costs but on the AC electric bill. I have these running years
all night on a photo cell. Their longest life is constant on, but in
years it seems even more to me. I saw there are maybe 20-30
manufacturers in China, so sure there is alot of crap and defects
made. ACE has a easy return policy on everything, I just hope HD does
as well.