wrote in message
...
On Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:31:18 -0600, Jimw wrote:

On Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:21:47 -0600, Jim Redelfs
wrote:

A long time ago, SOME of us learned that constantly turning-on and
turning-off a lamp was usually more expensive than leaving it on. This
hasn't changed.


This is bull****. Turning on and off an incadescent light does not
use more energy, and if the off period is more than a few seconds,
energy will be saved.

Worse than that. AC incandescent lamps acturally turn on and off
60 times a second. :-)

Right! In fact, there are no common electric light sources that use any
significant amount of energy when starting compared to their average
operating energy and that includes incandescent, halogen incandescent,
fluorescent, metal halide, high pressure sodium and LEDs. Any initial energy
pulse is far too brief to make any difference on anyone's electric bill.

Incandescent lamps are, of course, subjected to on/off cycles because of
alternating current; but incandescent flashing sign lamps get a double
dose -- from the power line and from the flashing device as well. But, lamp
manufacturers rate sign lamps for the same life whether they are steady
burning or flashing (3000 hours is a typical life rating).

TKM