I know you (Don) have often called the CFLs one buys in dollar stores
"stool specimens". I just wanted to alert you to the fact that not *all*
dollar store CFLs are necessarily such. (I've certainly bought my share
of ****ty bulbs there.)

Just picked up a 2-pack of "60-watt" bulbs, pretty nice-looking ones
(with a standard bulb-like envelope instead of the usual "twirly" tubes)
for a buck. Made in China, natch, but apparently designed and marketed
by an American company (Sunrise Lighting in Gilbert, AZ). They take a
while to warm up but then give a very pleasant light, certainly not the
ghastly bluish glow I've seen from other dollar-store bulbs. (Package,
of course, says nothing about color temperature.)

One odd thing I noticed that may not be limited to these bulbs: the
comparison to incandescents on the package seems a little screwy. Here's
what it says:

STANDARD INCANDESCENT: 60 watts/540 lumens
CONSERV-ENERGY COMPACT FLUORESCENT: 14 watts/855 lumens

Now, leaving aside the accuracy of the lighting measurements (lumens),
isn't this an apples-oranges comparison? I thought the idea was to
compare a CFL to the equivalent incandescent bulb in terms of light
output. (Of course, this comparison makes the CFL look better--meaning
even more efficient--than the incandescent bulb.)

Anyhow, they seem like well-made bulbs. Time will tell if they have a
decent lifespan.


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"

On Jan 7, 11:03*pm, David Nebenzahl wrote:
I know you (Don) have often called the CFLs one buys in dollar stores
"stool specimens". I just wanted to alert you to the fact that not *all*
dollar store CFLs are necessarily such. (I've certainly bought my share
of ****ty bulbs there.)

Just picked up a 2-pack of "60-watt" bulbs, pretty nice-looking ones
(with a standard bulb-like envelope instead of the usual "twirly" tubes)
for a buck. Made in China, natch, but apparently designed and marketed
by an American company (Sunrise Lighting in Gilbert, AZ). They take a
while to warm up but then give a very pleasant light, certainly not the
ghastly bluish glow I've seen from other dollar-store bulbs. (Package,
of course, says nothing about color temperature.)

One odd thing I noticed that may not be limited to these bulbs: the
comparison to incandescents on the package seems a little screwy. Here's
what it says:

* *STANDARD INCANDESCENT: 60 watts/540 lumens
* *CONSERV-ENERGY COMPACT FLUORESCENT: 14 watts/855 lumens

Now, leaving aside the accuracy of the lighting measurements (lumens),
isn't this an apples-oranges comparison? I thought the idea was to
compare a CFL to the equivalent incandescent bulb in terms of light
output. (Of course, this comparison makes the CFL look better--meaning
even more efficient--than the incandescent bulb.)

Anyhow, they seem like well-made bulbs. Time will tell if they have a
decent lifespan.

--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"

Keep us posted as to the life, these seem too good to be true at a
unit cost less than a standard bulb.

In m, D. Nebenzahl wrote:
I know you (Don) have often called the CFLs one buys in dollar stores
"stool specimens". I just wanted to alert you to the fact that not *all*
dollar store CFLs are necessarily such. (I've certainly bought my share
of ****ty bulbs there.)

Just picked up a 2-pack of "60-watt" bulbs, pretty nice-looking ones
(with a standard bulb-like envelope instead of the usual "twirly" tubes)
for a buck. Made in China, natch, but apparently designed and marketed
by an American company (Sunrise Lighting in Gilbert, AZ). They take a
while to warm up but then give a very pleasant light, certainly not the
ghastly bluish glow I've seen from other dollar-store bulbs. (Package,
of course, says nothing about color temperature.)

What brand are they? I want to keep an eye out for them!

One odd thing I noticed that may not be limited to these bulbs: the
comparison to incandescents on the package seems a little screwy. Here's
what it says:

STANDARD INCANDESCENT: 60 watts/540 lumens

A standard 60 watt 120V incandescent produces 870 lumens. 540 would be
not far off for 3500 hour vibration resistant version (585 lumens),
230V version at full voltage (less due to economies of scale having to
do with filament thickness - 545 lumens at 230V), or 120V-lumens of 130V
versions that arelonglife even at 130V.

CONSERV-ENERGY COMPACT FLUORESCENT: 14 watts/855 lumens

Now, leaving aside the accuracy of the lighting measurements (lumens),
isn't this an apples-oranges comparison? I thought the idea was to
compare a CFL to the equivalent incandescent bulb in terms of light
output. (Of course, this comparison makes the CFL look better--meaning
even more efficient--than the incandescent bulb.)

A 14 watt CFL is supposed to produce about 800-900 lumens.

Anyhow, they seem like well-made bulbs. Time will tell if they have a
decent lifespan.

Do they mention UL listing and FCC ID?

Meanwhile, the most similar dollar store CFLs I have seen so far yet are
the "Capitol Electric" ones, which I have seen at only one dollar store,
and not in the pastt couple years to so. They had good color. They
claimed to consume 11 watts and produce 550 lumens of light, but light
output looked to me to be about 400 lumens.

- Don Klipstein )

On 1/8/2010 9:21 PM Don Klipstein spake thus:

In m, D. Nebenzahl
wrote:

Just picked up a 2-pack of "60-watt" bulbs, pretty nice-looking
ones (with a standard bulb-like envelope instead of the usual
"twirly" tubes) for a buck. Made in China, natch, but apparently
designed and marketed by an American company (Sunrise Lighting in
Gilbert, AZ). They take a while to warm up but then give a very
pleasant light, certainly not the ghastly bluish glow I've seen
from other dollar-store bulbs. (Package, of course, says nothing
about color temperature.)

What brand are they? I want to keep an eye out for them!

Sunrise Lighting. Further research here at Nebenzahl Laboratories, GmbH
has revealed that while the package says nothing about color
temperature, the bulb itself says 2700K.

One odd thing I noticed that may not be limited to these bulbs: the
comparison to incandescents on the package seems a little screwy.
Here's what it says:

STANDARD INCANDESCENT: 60 watts/540 lumens

A standard 60 watt 120V incandescent produces 870 lumens. 540 would
be not far off for 3500 hour vibration resistant version (585
lumens), 230V version at full voltage (less due to economies of scale
having to do with filament thickness - 545 lumens at 230V), or
120V-lumens of 130V versions that arelonglife even at 130V.

Or it could just be a misteak ...

CONSERV-ENERGY COMPACT FLUORESCENT: 14 watts/855 lumens

Now, leaving aside the accuracy of the lighting measurements
(lumens), isn't this an apples-oranges comparison? I thought the
idea was to compare a CFL to the equivalent incandescent bulb in
terms of light output. (Of course, this comparison makes the CFL
look better--meaning even more efficient--than the incandescent
bulb.)

A 14 watt CFL is supposed to produce about 800-900 lumens.

So they're in the ballpark.

Do they mention UL listing and FCC ID?

UL listed E204685. No FCC # that I could find. Oh, and for what it's
worth, they're Energy Star rated. (They also have the official PG&E CFL
subsidy imprint on the package.


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"

In m, D. Nebenzahl wrote:
On 1/8/2010 9:21 PM Don Klipstein spake thus:

In m, D Nebenzahl wrote:

Just picked up a 2-pack of "60-watt" bulbs, pretty nice-looking
ones (with a standard bulb-like envelope instead of the usual
"twirly" tubes) for a buck. Made in China, natch, but apparently
designed and marketed by an American company (Sunrise Lighting in
Gilbert, AZ). They take a while to warm up but then give a very
pleasant light, certainly not the ghastly bluish glow I've seen
from other dollar-store bulbs. (Package, of course, says nothing
about color temperature.)

What brand are they? I want to keep an eye out for them!

Sunrise Lighting. Further research here at Nebenzahl Laboratories, GmbH
has revealed that while the package says nothing about color
temperature, the bulb itself says 2700K.

One odd thing I noticed that may not be limited to these bulbs: the
comparison to incandescents on the package seems a little screwy.
Here's what it says:

STANDARD INCANDESCENT: 60 watts/540 lumens

A standard 60 watt 120V incandescent produces 870 lumens. 540 would
be not far off for 3500 hour vibration resistant version (585
lumens), 230V version at full voltage (less due to economies of scale
having to do with filament thickness - 545 lumens at 230V), or
120V-lumens of 130V versions that arelonglife even at 130V.

Or it could just be a misteak ...

CONSERV-ENERGY COMPACT FLUORESCENT: 14 watts/855 lumens

Now, leaving aside the accuracy of the lighting measurements
(lumens), isn't this an apples-oranges comparison? I thought the
idea was to compare a CFL to the equivalent incandescent bulb in
terms of light output. (Of course, this comparison makes the CFL
look better--meaning even more efficient--than the incandescent
bulb.)

A 14 watt CFL is supposed to produce about 800-900 lumens.

So they're in the ballpark.

Do they mention UL listing and FCC ID?

UL listed E204685. No FCC # that I could find. Oh, and for what it's
worth, they're Energy Star rated. (They also have the official PG&E CFL
subsidy imprint on the package.

I did just notice now - you said they came in 2-packs. That is not
typical of dollar store stool specimen CFLs.

Also, the name "Sunrise Lighting" is new to me - not any of the 19 or
whatever I have seen so far of dollar store stool specimen CFLs.

Were they actually purchased at a dollar store? If so, what was the
name of the store?

Meanwhile, they are supposed to have FCC ID on them if they are sold in
USA and have electronic ballasts.

- Don Klipstein )

On 1/8/2010 10:04 PM Don Klipstein spake thus:

I did just notice now - you said they came in 2-packs. That is not
typical of dollar store stool specimen CFLs.

Yes, that caught my attention too. Guess that's why I bought them.

Also, the name "Sunrise Lighting" is new to me - not any of the 19 or
whatever I have seen so far of dollar store stool specimen CFLs.

Were they actually purchased at a dollar store? If so, what was the
name of the store?

It's a bona fide dollar store (everything there is $1, 99% from China)
in Berkeley on University Ave. Don't know the name; will check it next
time I go by there. It's small, but one of the better stores of its
type: the owner is pretty savvy and knows what to buy. Maybe I'll ask
him about the bulbs next time I go there.

Meanwhile, they are supposed to have FCC ID on them if they are sold in
USA and have electronic ballasts.

Hmm; don't know what to say 'bout that.

Here's their website: http://sunriselighting.com
Takes a ****ing eternity to load due to extreme bloat. I can't even tell
you what's there 'cause I'm still looking at the initial screen.


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"

On 1/8/2010 10:40 PM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

Here's their website: http://sunriselighting.com
Takes a ****ing eternity to load due to extreme bloat. I can't even tell
you what's there 'cause I'm still looking at the initial screen.

I'm sorry I included this link. Their website was apparently designed by
a TOTAL ****ING IDIOT. After waiting 5 full minutes for *something* to
load (no indication of what was loading, no "skip Flash intro" link or
anything), I get a page with a picture and a very strange menu in the
middle of the picture with a band of links across the middle. Click on
"Deco Series Lamps" and I get a page that consists of a TOTALLY
UNREADABLE image that's apparently a reduction of a 2-page spread. Click
on THAT link and now I get a HUGE image (3341 x 2250 pixels) that has
information about a bunch of bulbs, including the ones I have (item #
SGF-14). No more information that what's on the package. The date on the
front page is 2006-20007.

We're ****ing doomed.


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"

In m, David Nebenzahl
wrote:
On 1/8/2010 10:40 PM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

Here's their website: http://sunriselighting.com
Takes a ****ing eternity to load due to extreme bloat. I can't even tell
you what's there 'cause I'm still looking at the initial screen.

I'm sorry I included this link. Their website was apparently designed by
a TOTAL ****ING IDIOT. After waiting 5 full minutes for *something* to
load (no indication of what was loading, no "skip Flash intro" link or
anything), I get a page with a picture and a very strange menu in the
middle of the picture with a band of links across the middle. Click on
"Deco Series Lamps" and I get a page that consists of a TOTALLY
UNREADABLE image that's apparently a reduction of a 2-page spread. Click
on THAT link and now I get a HUGE image (3341 x 2250 pixels) that has
information about a bunch of bulbs, including the ones I have (item #
SGF-14). No more information that what's on the package. The date on the
front page is 2006-20007.

We're ****ing doomed.

I thank you for exploring this, and I hope the relevant CFLs are not
doomed to being "insufficient-while-significant improvement" (My Words)
above the "stool specimen ones" (My Words).

I could use a reminder as to what these are, how they would appear to
me, and where I can buy them, so that I can say "Outright in my
experience" or "the like" should I find them to be "subpar".

- Don Klipstein )

On 1/9/2010 11:42 PM Don Klipstein spake thus:

I thank you for exploring this, and I hope the relevant CFLs are not
doomed to being "insufficient-while-significant improvement" (My Words)
above the "stool specimen ones" (My Words).

I could use a reminder as to what these are, how they would appear to
me, and where I can buy them, so that I can say "Outright in my
experience" or "the like" should I find them to be "subpar".

So, further research results: my crack team here at Nebenzahl
Laboratories, GmbH, have concluded that for most applications, these
cheap CFLs have an excessively long warm-up time. About 5 minutes to
reach full brightness. OK for a light you're going to leave on for a
long time and don't mind waiting to warm up.

Interesting: the day after I posted that original message I installed a
light fixture for a customer who gave me an identical-looking 60-watt
CFL to put in it. When I turned it on, it seemed to come up to nearly
full brightness immediately, so apparently it's a much higher-grade
lamp. (They got it at Home Despot. Sorry, didn't get the brand name on
it.) So there seems to be quite a range of bulbs that have the identical
appearance. (I'm assuming my customer paid more than $1 for the 2-pack.)


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"