On Apr 18, 1:06*pm, wrote:
With these new compact florescent bulbs, we may as well all go back to
candle light. *I have lived with these damn CF bulbs in my garage for
several years. *I go in to get a tool, and have to stand for 5 minutes
waiting to be able to see what I'm doing. *I started carrying a
flashlight to use while these damn bulbs got up to full brightness.
That's when I realized I may as well just use the flashlight, or a
candle. *By the time these bulbs are bright enough to see anything I
am shutting them back off and leaving with my tools. *The other night
I finally had enough. *I replaced them with standard light bulbs. *Now
I am no longer living in the dark and wasting my life away waiting to
see. *Those CF bulbs might save energy, and might save me a few cents,
but the aggravation is not worth it. *Except for lights that remain on
for long periods of time, I will not be using CF bulbs any longer.

One other thing, these bulbs are advertised to outlast standard bulbs.
I have not found that to be correct. *None of them last any longer,
and many burn out sooner. *I did find that those that take the longest
to get up to normal brightness seem to last longer than those that get
bright sooner. *Either way, they are not practical except for security
lights that stay on for long periods of time, and their cost savings
are quickly used to replace these bulbs that cost 10 or more times the
cost of a standard bulb.

Old ones were not very good but what you state is completly opposite
of what is true now, I use about 50 of them indoors and out at several
locations up to -15f, the only ones slow to get bright are the flood
lights, this I am told is a heat design issue since they are enclosed.
Get a 25 watt unit, it equals 100w incandesant, but if you only go in
and out for a minute, incandesant may be best. A good review of cfls
is at www.popularmechanics.com One of the cheapest cfls is actualy
rated as good and maybe better at color rendition as compared to
incandesants pleasing effect. My opion is incandesants should be
taxed to $2.00 and cfls rebated to 1$.

ransley wrote:

Old ones were not very good but what you state is completly opposite
of what is true now, I use about 50 of them indoors and out at several
locations up to -15f, the only ones slow to get bright are the flood
lights, this I am told is a heat design issue since they are enclosed.

Agreed, the only CFLs we have that take time to come to full brightness are
outdoor floods. However I have been disappointed at the lifespan of many
such lights, the promised five years has not panned out for us. That might
be more a matter of quality control during mfg. rather than the design, but
we've seen quite a few fail in only a year or two.

Get a 25 watt unit, it equals 100w incandesant, but if you only go in
and out for a minute, incandesant may be best.

When we first switched over we used CFLs for area lighting and some
incandescents in task lights, but even those have been replaced with CFLs
lately. We noticed a sharp drop in our electric bill as a result of using
CFLs, the only bug has been disposing of them when they do burn out but our
city now collects them at hazardous waste sites so we can save them in a box
in the garage and take them in once a year with whatever other toxic stuff
we have to get rid of, no big deal.

When we first switched over we used CFLs for area lighting and some
incandescents in task lights, but even those have been replaced with CFLs
lately. We noticed a sharp drop in our electric bill as a result of using
CFLs, the only bug has been disposing of them when they do burn out but
our city now collects them at hazardous waste sites so we can save them in
a box in the garage and take them in once a year with whatever other toxic
stuff we have to get rid of, no big deal.


It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?

On Apr 18, 2:52*pm, "beadsbyIrene" wrote:
When we first switched over we used CFLs for area lighting and some
incandescents in task lights, but even those have been replaced with CFLs
lately. *We noticed a sharp drop in our electric bill as a result of using
CFLs, the only bug has been disposing of them when they do burn out but
our city now collects them at hazardous waste sites so we can save them in
a box in the garage and take them in once a year with whatever other toxic
stuff we have to get rid of, no big deal.

It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?

Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, its their
brand, NVision. Of 50 put in last year of HDs all work, They do last
and consume 75% less than incandesant. I replaced 500 w of halogen
floods-5, with 5, of HDs cfl floods 120 watt total worth , I am
suprised the total flood pattern is better and more light with 120
watts vs 500 of halogen. Im sure defects happen so keep them and
return them.

beadsbyIrene wrote:

It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible
results with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month.

We've only had one fail in over two years, so the jury is still out for us.
If they keep failing at that rate I'll be unhappy, but if it's only an
occasional bad apple I can live with that.

I've
saved the defective ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is
over 20 miles each way. With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving
by using CFL's?

Is there a hazardous waste collection point closer than that? If they go
into the garbage they should be wrapped up in multiple layers of plastic,
however in some areas it's now illegal to put them in the trash. I have no
problem keeping them for our annual trip to the toxic collection site with
old cans of paint or pesticide or whatever we have along those lines.

ransley wrote:
....
It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?

Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, ...
... Im sure defects happen so keep them and return them.

If it weren't 65 miles to nearest I might consider it...

--

On Apr 18, 4:07*pm, dpb wrote:
ransley wrote:

...

It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?

Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, ...
... Im sure defects happen so keep them and return them.

If it weren't 65 miles to nearest I might consider it...

--

With a 9 yr warranty stated on the package it might be worth it

On Apr 18, 5:11*pm, ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 4:07*pm, dpb wrote:

ransley wrote:

...

It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?

Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, ...
... Im sure defects happen so keep them and return them.

If it weren't 65 miles to nearest I might consider it...

--

With a 9 yr warranty stated on the package it might be worth it

I know you can order online, so have it shipped, the green pack is
soft white, open an account with them then they will always have a
copy of the reciept.

ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 5:11 pm, ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 4:07 pm, dpb wrote:

ransley wrote:
...
It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?
Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, ...
... Im sure defects happen so keep them and return them.
If it weren't 65 miles to nearest I might consider it...
--
With a 9 yr warranty stated on the package it might be worth it

Nothing in the store is worth driving 65 mi for imo...

I know you can order online, so have it shipped, the green pack is
soft white, open an account with them then they will always have a
copy of the reciept.

So add paying shipping, too...that really helps save the environment to
get another UPS truck to drive out here for a 1-lb delivery, not to
mention it would add another $10/order. Sounds like a deal to me
(not)...

--

On Apr 18, 6:40*pm, dpb wrote:
ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 5:11 pm, ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 4:07 pm, dpb wrote:

ransley wrote:
...
It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?
Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, ...
... Im sure defects happen so keep them and return them.
If it weren't 65 miles to nearest I might consider it...
--
With a 9 yr warranty stated on the package it might be worth it

Nothing in the store is worth driving 65 mi for imo...

I know you can order online, so have it shipped, the green pack is
soft white, open an account with them then they will always have a
copy of the reciept.

So add paying shipping, too...that really helps save the environment to
get another UPS truck to drive out here for a 1-lb delivery, not to
mention it would add another $10/order. *Sounds like a deal to me
(not)...

--

Like you care a s about a delivery trucks pollution, yea a 9 year
warranty isnt worth an online order on a good product what bs.

ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 6:40 pm, dpb wrote:
ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 5:11 pm, ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 4:07 pm, dpb wrote:
ransley wrote:
...
It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?
Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, ...
... Im sure defects happen so keep them and return them.
If it weren't 65 miles to nearest I might consider it...
--
With a 9 yr warranty stated on the package it might be worth it
Nothing in the store is worth driving 65 mi for imo...

I know you can order online, so have it shipped, the green pack is
soft white, open an account with them then they will always have a
copy of the reciept.
So add paying shipping, too...that really helps save the environment to
get another UPS truck to drive out here for a 1-lb delivery, not to
mention it would add another $10/order. Sounds like a deal to me
(not)...

--

Like you care a s about a delivery trucks pollution, yea a 9 year
warranty isnt worth an online order on a good product what bs.

Well, I don't see it as a winning combination, no...

Note I started this off w/ a which seems to have escaped your
evangelical fervor entirely...

--

On Apr 18, 7:18*pm, dpb wrote:
ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 6:40 pm, dpb wrote:
ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 5:11 pm, ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 4:07 pm, dpb wrote:
ransley wrote:
...
It's funny. CFL's were invented to save enery. I've had horrible results
with the floods. The longest lasting being 8 month. I've saved the defective
ones for a trip to the dump. However, the dump is over 20 miles each way.
With gas at 3.44 a gallon, what am I saving by using CFL's?
Buy them at HD, save the reciept there is their warranty, ...
... Im sure defects happen so keep them and return them.
If it weren't 65 miles to nearest I might consider it...
--
With a 9 yr warranty stated on the package it might be worth it
Nothing in the store is worth driving 65 mi for imo...

I know you can order online, so have it shipped, the green pack is
soft white, open an account with them then they will always have a
copy of the reciept.
So add paying shipping, too...that really helps save the environment to
get another UPS truck to drive out here for a 1-lb delivery, not to
mention it would add another $10/order. *Sounds like a deal to me
(not)...

--

Like you care a s about a delivery trucks pollution, yea a 9 year
warranty isnt worth an online order on a good product what bs.

Well, I don't see it as a winning combination, no...

Note I started this off w/ a which seems to have escaped your
evangelical fervor entirely...

--- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why didnt you just return them, they all have a warranty of at least 1
yr, Home Depots warranty is 9 years, If saving 75% on your lighting
bill is not a winning idea then I dont know what is. 8 months life,
you got a batch of bad defective bulbs, but you have a warranty. I
have had maybe one failure since starting to use them maybe 5 years
ago, I have over 50 in use some 24-7 , many on photo cell. Most are
made in china of course, and im sure bad batches are made, so return
them.

ransley wrote:
....

Why didnt you just return them, ...

You're ranting to the point you're not paying any attention to whom
you're responding -- I'm not the one who had any bad ones _to_ return...

I simply (half-jokingly) commented it seemed somewhat wasteful in my
case to drive over 60 miles after a light bulb...

--

On Apr 18, 4:41*pm, ransley wrote:
On Apr 18, 1:06*pm, wrote:





With these new compact florescent bulbs, we may as well all go back to
candle light. *I have lived with these damn CF bulbs in my garage for
several years. *I go in to get a tool, and have to stand for 5 minutes
waiting to be able to see what I'm doing. *I started carrying a
flashlight to use while these damn bulbs got up to full brightness.
That's when I realized I may as well just use the flashlight, or a
candle. *By the time these bulbs are bright enough to see anything I
am shutting them back off and leaving with my tools. *The other night
I finally had enough. *I replaced them with standard light bulbs. *Now
I am no longer living in the dark and wasting my life away waiting to
see. *Those CF bulbs might save energy, and might save me a few cents,
but the aggravation is not worth it. *Except for lights that remain on
for long periods of time, I will not be using CF bulbs any longer.

One other thing, these bulbs are advertised to outlast standard bulbs.
I have not found that to be correct. *None of them last any longer,
and many burn out sooner. *I did find that those that take the longest
to get up to normal brightness seem to last longer than those that get
bright sooner. *Either way, they are not practical except for security
lights that stay on for long periods of time, and their cost savings
are quickly used to replace these bulbs that cost 10 or more times the
cost of a standard bulb.

Old ones were not very good but what you state is completely opposite
of what is true now, I use about 50 of them indoors and out at several
locations up to -15f, the only ones slow to get bright are the flood
lights, this I am told is a heat design issue since they are enclosed.
Get a 25 watt unit, it equals 100w incandescent, but if you only go in
and out for a minute, incandesant may be best. A good review of cfls
is atwww.popularmechanics.com*One of the cheapest cfls is actualy
rated as good and maybe better at color rendition as compared to
incandescents pleasing effect. *My opion is incandescents should be
taxed to $2.00 and cfls rebated to 1$.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If you are in area where it gets hot enough to air condition the use
of CFLs inside a house seems to make sense. Homes here, with very few
exceptions do not install AC. Although some heat pump systems can be
reversed.

In our climate where almost every month of the year requires some
heating, especially cool summer/fall evenings when lights are going to
be on anyway, at least until one goes to bed, the use of CFLs seem
debatable?

Outside where all the heat from a conventional bulb is wasted it also
makes sense to use CFLs; provided they work well!
And also last much longer than conventional bulbs.

But over our front door, which is on every night for 10 to 12 hours,
we are still using the 3rd one of 3 used 'long life' bulbs we took out
of an institutional building (now demolished) some 10 -12 years ago!

These used long life 50 watt 130 volt, conventional lamps seem to be
lasting last about 4 years each (12,000 to 15,000 hours?).

When the last one goes will try one of the newer 'outdoor CFLs';
previous experience with cheap CFLs in cold weather not good.

In ,
terry wrote:

If you are in area where it gets hot enough to air condition the use
of CFLs inside a house seems to make sense. Homes here, with very few
exceptions do not install AC. Although some heat pump systems can be
reversed.

In our climate where almost every month of the year requires some
heating, especially cool summer/fall evenings when lights are going to
be on anyway, at least until one goes to bed, the use of CFLs seem
debatable?

A heat pump costs half as much to produce heat as a resistive heater
(such as an incandescent lamp).

Outside where all the heat from a conventional bulb is wasted it also
makes sense to use CFLs; provided they work well!
And also last much longer than conventional bulbs.

But over our front door, which is on every night for 10 to 12 hours,
we are still using the 3rd one of 3 used 'long life' bulbs we took out
of an institutional building (now demolished) some 10 -12 years ago!

Those are even less efficient than "standard" incandescents.

These used long life 50 watt 130 volt, conventional lamps seem to be
lasting last about 4 years each (12,000 to 15,000 hours?).

When the last one goes will try one of the newer 'outdoor CFLs';
previous experience with cheap CFLs in cold weather not good.

Chances are you can outperform those with a 9 watt N:Vision ceiling fan
CFL! (Available at Home Depot.) Those have outer bulbs and have warmup
characteristics typical of outdoor CFLs that have outer bulbs, so I give
those fairly good prospects - just give them a few minutes to warm up!

Ones marketed for outdoor use and with wattage around 15 watts should
produce 2-3 times as much light as those superlonglife 130V 50 watt
incandescents.

- Don Klipstein )