How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

We've had them for years in semi enclosed fixtures (supposed to be a no no)
outdoors and they last just fine. They do take a while to light up when it's
minus 30 though.

In article ,
"Bill Stock" wrote:

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

We've had them for years in semi enclosed fixtures (supposed to be a no no)
outdoors and they last just fine. They do take a while to light up when it's
minus 30 though.

*I* take awhile to light up when it is minus 30 (g). Thanks for the
reply.

On Oct 25, 4:58?pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
"Bill Stock" wrote:

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

We've had them for years in semi enclosed fixtures (supposed to be a no no)
outdoors and they last just fine. They do take a while to light up when it's
minus 30 though.

*I* take awhile to light up when it is minus 30 (g). Thanks for the
reply.

maybe bad luck mine dont last long.

ours is in a pole light on a dusk dawn sensor and timer. timer shuts
light off from midnite till 6 am.

other than those hours it comes on as needed. occasionally in middle
of day during a storm.

replacing at least twice a year.

tried a outdoor CFL it died in 2 months and cost 20 bucks

On Oct 25, 3:31 pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

This what they are best for, I dont care for em in the house, but they
do well outdoors especially if you hate changing the carriage lights.

I have several in completely enclosed fixtures both inside and outside.
They all last a long time. In fact, i've never had to replace any except
the ones shaking around in the ceiling fans.

s


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
...

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

We've had them for years in semi enclosed fixtures (supposed to be a no
no) outdoors and they last just fine. They do take a while to light up
when it's minus 30 though.

On Oct 25, 3:31 pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

I use the yellow CFL bug lights - figure they are made for outdoor
use. I use mine primarily for security and they usually burn 24/7.
Current one (GE) is guaranteed for 10,000 hours and is still burning
with 10,300 hours on it.

Red

ours is in a pole light on a dusk dawn sensor and timer. timer shuts
light off from midnite till 6 am.

Your dusk dawn sensor might be causing the premature failure of your
CFLs. Try CCFLs instead.

Dante

wrote:

On Oct 25, 4:58?pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
"Bill Stock" wrote:

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central
Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little
concern, how about winter?

We've had them for years in semi enclosed fixtures (supposed to be a no
no) outdoors and they last just fine. They do take a while to light up
when it's minus 30 though.

*I* take awhile to light up when it is minus 30 (g). Thanks for the
reply.

maybe bad luck mine dont last long.

ours is in a pole light on a dusk dawn sensor and timer. timer shuts
light off from midnite till 6 am.

other than those hours it comes on as needed. occasionally in middle
of day during a storm.

replacing at least twice a year.

tried a outdoor CFL it died in 2 months and cost 20 bucks

Some dusk-to-dawn sensors are just plain designed wrong for CFL's, the
original one on my light was basically a photo controlled dimmer. Thats ok
with regular bulbs but it will kill a std CFL in no time. I replaced the
photo eye with one that has some circuitry that snaps it off or on
completely - no in-between states and it has some hysteresis so theres no
flickering from on to off when the ambient light is right on the edge. Once
that was done, my 3 bulb CFL driveway light has worked flawlessly since
last April using std indoor type 60 w equiv CFL's in an enclosed fixture.
Go out at dusk and watch your bulbs start up (but let it do it naturally,
dont cheat with your thumb on the sensor) and watch for flicker or if you
put in a regular incandescent bulb watch and see if it flickers or starts
out dim - if so junk your photo eye and get one thats really a
"photo-switch". When the outside light is dark enough the light should
snap-on just like a light switch. Note that there should be a delay too,
e.g It has to be dark enough for x minutes - then bang the light comes on.
And conversely in the morning it has to be light enough for x minutes then
the light snaps off.
Eric

On Oct 27, 2:00?am, Eric wrote:
wrote:
On Oct 25, 4:58?pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
"Bill Stock" wrote:

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central
Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little
concern, how about winter?

We've had them for years in semi enclosed fixtures (supposed to be a no
no) outdoors and they last just fine. They do take a while to light up
when it's minus 30 though.

*I* take awhile to light up when it is minus 30 (g). Thanks for the
reply.

maybe bad luck mine dont last long.

ours is in a pole light on a dusk dawn sensor and timer. timer shuts
light off from midnite till 6 am.

other than those hours it comes on as needed. occasionally in middle
of day during a storm.

replacing at least twice a year.

tried a outdoor CFL it died in 2 months and cost 20 bucks

Some dusk-to-dawn sensors are just plain designed wrong for CFL's, the
original one on my light was basically a photo controlled dimmer. Thats ok
with regular bulbs but it will kill a std CFL in no time. I replaced the
photo eye with one that has some circuitry that snaps it off or on
completely - no in-between states and it has some hysteresis so theres no
flickering from on to off when the ambient light is right on the edge. Once
that was done, my 3 bulb CFL driveway light has worked flawlessly since
last April using std indoor type 60 w equiv CFL's in an enclosed fixture.
Go out at dusk and watch your bulbs start up (but let it do it naturally,
dont cheat with your thumb on the sensor) and watch for flicker or if you
put in a regular incandescent bulb watch and see if it flickers or starts
out dim - if so junk your photo eye and get one thats really a
"photo-switch". When the outside light is dark enough the light should
snap-on just like a light switch. Note that there should be a delay too,
e.g It has to be dark enough for x minutes - then bang the light comes on.
And conversely in the morning it has to be light enough for x minutes then
the light snaps off.
Eric- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

My sensor is built in the pole, so I will try rewiring it adding
sensor in outdoor box on home and disconnecting light pole sensor.

The pole light sensor is junk quality, it fits in knock out on pole. A
incandescent bulb failure often took out sensor too. Which is why I
changed to CFs.

The sensors have lasted a long time since the change to CFs

On Oct 25, 7:27 pm, Red wrote:
On Oct 25, 3:31 pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:

How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana
and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern,
how about winter?

I use the yellow CFL bug lights - figure they are made for outdoor
use. I use mine primarily for security and they usually burn 24/7.
Current one (GE) is guaranteed for 10,000 hours and is still burning
with 10,300 hours on it.

Red

Dunno how long mine have been out there. I _think_ I replaced one of
the two once and I did replace the other a year or two ago. No
special bulb, just a multi pack of el cheapos I picked up at a
discount house. They also burn 24/7. They are there because I got
tired of repacing bulbs every few months. Now using them inside the
house. Other than a couple of small lamps in the bed room, the bath
is the only place I don't have CFLs or regular flourescent fixtures.

Harry k

On Oct 27, 10:02 am, Harry K wrote:


I use the yellow CFL bug lights - figure they are made for outdoor
use. I use mine primarily for security and they usually burn 24/7.
Current one (GE) is guaranteed for 10,000 hours and is still burning
with 10,300 hours on it.

Red

Dunno how long mine have been out there. I _think_ I replaced one of
the two once and I did replace the other a year or two ago. No
special bulb, just a multi pack of el cheapos I picked up at a
discount house. They also burn 24/7. They are there because I got
tired of repacing bulbs every few months. Now using them inside the
house. Other than a couple of small lamps in the bed room, the bath
is the only place I don't have CFLs or regular flourescent fixtures.

Harry k

The bug bulbs have a yellow translucent cover over the spiral tube,
giving it some added protection from the weather. But then my jelly-
jar fixtures have their own covers, so I don't know if that's an
issue. Summer bugs, especially nighttime swarms of fire ants can be a
real problem so I use the bug bulbs.

Red