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Don Klipstein

In article ,
wrote in part:
(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"?

On the worse brand ones that can't, they don't say so. Just last week I
saw on some Philips ones state on the package a "reliable temperature
range" (I may not remember the exact words) whose upper limit is 60
degrees C, and that life can be shortened in recessed cans. Philips has
some others specifically rated for use in recessed cans.

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.

At Home Depot I have little trouble finding degrees K, and CRI is rated
82 unless the bulb is a really off-brand (usually a dollar store stool
specimen, a plant light, or specifically rated to have CRI other than 82.

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

Color temp. varies a bit - u7pper 2700's for the 1000 hour version,
usually a little less for others. CRI of those is 100 by definition of
CRI.

and produce exactly those numbers in a CFL?

I see enough 14 and 15 watt spirals that look the same color to me as a
60 watt incandescent. The CRI is 82 because of the spectrum of the kind
of phosphor that can economically be made and made to last in the higher
intenisty duty of CFLs.
So far, Philips and Commercial Electric are the brands I remember as
having most-incandescentlike color. GE appears to me to be a tiny hair on
the pinkish side. Sylvania appears to me to do so more, especially with
their usual 3000 K shade. It appears to me that this is to go the
opposite way of the most complaints - with erring to greenish widely
considered more objectionable.

- Don Klipstein )