mike wrote:

I've never had a CFL failure that I could trace to the CFL.


** Really? That puts you in a minority of one.

The most common CFL failure is the tube heaters going open - most are rated for only 1 to 2 thousand switch on cycles. Ones that light up quickly and tolerate low temps better seem to be the poorest at this.

All other failures I have seen are the result of the electronics section running too hot causing capacitor failure, particularly electro and EMI suppression caps.

A great many ceiling fixtures are not well suited to CFL or LED lamps cos they trap heat.


It's always the electronics driving it.

** Not true in general.

A power glitch can take
out a LED just as easily as a CFL.

** Power glitch = what ??

A line voltage spike lasting less than a mS or a hit by lighting ?

The typically 4 to 22uF electro in the DC supply absorbs brief spikes nicely and most indirect effects of lightning too.

..... Phil