I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

"Zoot" wrote in message
...
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in
a few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

CFLs in my house range in age from 1-5 years old and most are used daily for
a couple of hours or so. No burnouts at all to date. I do buy only CFLs
that are Energy Star listed though.

TKM

On Dec 1, 1:50*pm, "Zoot" wrote:
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

I have replaced quite a few of the older ones which did not last more
than a year. My newer ones are still going after 2 years. I had to
return some recently to HD because the entire tube did not get
energized, (only the top half of the spiral was glowing). The guy at
the store gave me a fight over returning 6 bulbs all of which I
claimed were defective, eventually he caved but probably never
believed me. I had 2 in my porch lights outdoors that lasted 4 years
through 4 sub-zero winters. If they dont last just return them for a
refund.

On Dec 1, 2:50 pm, "Zoot" wrote:
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

On all the time, 6 months seems to be the lifespan. If they were only
on 1.7 hours per day, perhaps they would last for the full 7 years.

On Dec 1, 1:50*pm, "Zoot" wrote:
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

I have them in buildings on photocell so they are on about 13 hrs a
day avg, the HD brand has had one failure in 2 years with near 20 in
use and that fixture was closed so I bet the heat got it. CR is doing
a longevity test and found Feit? failing. Its an ongoing life test to
verify hours they last. HD gives a 7 or nine year warranty and I plan
on using it. In an enclosed fixture that gets hot they wont last.

On Dec 1, 2:33*pm, The Reverend Natural Light
wrote:
On Dec 1, 2:50 pm, "Zoot" wrote:

I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

On all the time, 6 months seems to be the lifespan. *If they were only
on 1.7 hours per day, perhaps they would last for the full 7 years.

Keep the reciept and get ones with a 7 yr warranty.

In Consumer Reports tests, some were better than others but most held up to
the claims. Remember that 7 years may be just 4 hours of use a day in the
fine print.


"Zoot" wrote in message
...
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in
a few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

In article , Zoot wrote:
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

They last long in my experience. With the following exceptions, most of
which can be avoided, most of the ones burning out on me have given
3,500-4,000 hours of service first.

Now, for the ones dying young:

1. All too many Lights of America ones. (I have purchased only one since
2002 as a result, and it is a 13 watt spiral - and it flickers once warmed
up when used in a ceiling light fixture.)

2. GE spirals from around 2001-2002 of wattage 25 watts. I think there
was a bad run around then of that wattage. I also had a L.O.A. 25-watt
spiral from that time, and it was one of my many L.O.A. early failures.

3. One of the 7 13 watt Sylvania spirals I have used died prematurely in
a ceiling fan fixture. Another developed a bad connection after about
3,500 hours in a small enclosed fixture.

4. The stool specimens that dollar stores and their suppliers call
"energy saving bulbs" have a significant rate of dying young and/or
spectacularly in my experience, along with a 100% rate of falling short of
their claimed light output.

5. Many CFLs, especially over 23 watts, overheat easily in recessed
ceiling fixtures, other downlights, and small enclosed fixtures.

6. Most are not rated for use with dimmers.

===========================================

By-and-large, a CFL is more likely to give good long life if it is of
one of the "Big 3" brands (GE, Sylvania or Philips), and/or if it has the
Energy Star logo.

- Don Klipstein )

In ,
RickH wrote in part:

I have replaced quite a few of the older ones which did not last more
than a year. My newer ones are still going after 2 years. I had to
return some recently to HD because the entire tube did not get
energized, (only the top half of the spiral was glowing). The guy at
the store gave me a fight over returning 6 bulbs all of which I
claimed were defective, eventually he caved but probably never
believed me.

Only half the spiral tubing glowing?

I have seen a few look somewhat like that - about half the spiral
glowing much more dimly than the other half. That problem does fix itself
after a minute or two of warmup.

The first time a CFL is used after it is put in place, it may take
several minutes - but it usually takes just 1 or 2 minutes.

- Don Klipstein )

In , The
Reverend Natural Light wrote:

On Dec 1, 2:50 pm, "Zoot" wrote:
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

On all the time, 6 months seems to be the lifespan. If they were only
on 1.7 hours per day, perhaps they would last for the full 7 years.

Most that I see running 24/7 last a year or two.

- Don Klipstein )

"Zoot" wrote in message
...
I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in
a few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?


I changed to CFL's in a few places in our shop and office that have lights
on 24/7. I've gotten well over two years on a couple of them. Others I'm
not sure about, but over 18 months.

That 7 years is based on some number of hours a day so I'd say I've come
close to it.

On Dec 1, 9:05*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
"Zoot" wrote in message

...

I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in
a few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

I changed to CFL's in a few places in our shop and office that have lights
on 24/7. I've gotten well over *two years on a couple of them. *Others I'm
not sure about, but over 18 months.

That 7 years is based on some number of hours a day so I'd say I've come
close to it.

Avoid FEIT and LOA CFL's. Don't use CFL's in enclosed fixtures or
those whose use has the bulbs upside down. That tends to trap the
electronic ballast heat and shortenes their life by a factor of two or
three.

BOb Hofmann

"hr(bob) " wrote in message

I changed to CFL's in a few places in our shop and office that have lights
on 24/7. I've gotten well over two years on a couple of them. Others I'm
not sure about, but over 18 months.

That 7 years is based on some number of hours a day so I'd say I've come
close to it.

Avoid FEIT and LOA CFL's. Don't use CFL's in enclosed fixtures or
those whose use has the bulbs upside down. That tends to trap the
electronic ballast heat and shortenes their life by a factor of two or
three.

BOb Hofmann

************************************************** **

The ones I'm mentioned are three with base up, one base down. Has not been a
problem.

On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 11:50:39 -0800, "Zoot" wrote:

I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

We had awful results (like, 5 yrs ago?), and gave up on them.
Retrospectively, we suspect:
- Bad product (probably Feit, I don't remember). Not 'Dollar-store'
stuff, but HD 'near the checkout line' sales, so maybe just as
bad.
- Mounted upside down (in open basement fixtures).
- Excessive on/off switching.

G

George wrote:
On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 11:50:39 -0800, "Zoot" wrote:

I've been using CFLs for several years now, and I've found that they have
about the same lifespan as an incandescent bulb, despite claims to the
contrary. Seven year warranty? Whatta joke. I went back to incandescent in a
few places because I got tired of the CFLs burning out.

What are others experiences with CFLs? How long do they last for you?

We had awful results (like, 5 yrs ago?), and gave up on them.
Retrospectively, we suspect:
- Bad product (probably Feit, I don't remember). Not 'Dollar-store'
stuff, but HD 'near the checkout line' sales, so maybe just as
bad.
- Mounted upside down (in open basement fixtures).
- Excessive on/off switching.

G

While I am not seeing "5 Year" life I am seeing good lifespans.
And when my Feits would burn out I called them and would get new ones.
I think the new ones are better.
They definitely last longer right side up in open fixtures.

Lou