CFL Light Bulbs
CFL Light Bulbs
(OP)
I have about had it with the new CFL light bulbs. Sure, I like saving energy and can live with the slow start, funny light colors, added cost, etc. BUT what I can't accept is the VERY short life span.
I don't think I have had any last a year and some have given up the ghost in a couple of weeks. I know I have some traditional bulbs that are approaching ten years! - because I installed them when I moved in!! I took a few back to the BIG BOX store where I got them to complain. Didn't really want my money back - just wanted the manager to know that I thought they were useless. He said he had not heard of any short life complaints and gave me some free bulbs.
I went and asked the clerks working in the light bulb area and they said they have had numerous complaints about short lives..
Any body else out there see this happening.. And now that GE has closed the last US bulb plant - what are we to do?? And the gov't wants us to switch over by 2012??
I don't think I have had any last a year and some have given up the ghost in a couple of weeks. I know I have some traditional bulbs that are approaching ten years! - because I installed them when I moved in!! I took a few back to the BIG BOX store where I got them to complain. Didn't really want my money back - just wanted the manager to know that I thought they were useless. He said he had not heard of any short life complaints and gave me some free bulbs.
I went and asked the clerks working in the light bulb area and they said they have had numerous complaints about short lives..
Any body else out there see this happening.. And now that GE has closed the last US bulb plant - what are we to do?? And the gov't wants us to switch over by 2012??





RE: CFL Light Bulbs
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
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RE: CFL Light Bulbs
You can, however, help yourself by staying away from the cheapest stuff. Some of the higher end stuff seems to have life only somewhat less than incandescent, and I would classify those are infant mortality fails.
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RE: CFL Light Bulbs
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RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Yes, I agree, the longevity of the new CFL's can vary widely, even from bulbs in the same package.
I've taken to writing the date (month/year) on the stems of all the CFL bulbs I change or install. Then I can check when replacing if I got my "warranted" life out of them. So far, it seems to be effective, the dated bulbs don't fail...
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
The problem is most of these won't work with an older dimmer, or photo eye's (outdoors), or in the fridge.
But the good news is we are now seeing more of them on the discount shelf next to the pink flimangos.
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
An 11W CFL was listed as equivalent to a 60W and put out 800 lumens... fine, the lumen output for a 60W should be in the 800-850 range. An LED bulb two shelves over was listed as a 60W equivalent... but it showed a listing of 500 lumens, which is a rough equivalent to a 35W bulb. <sigh> Despite all of the listings being forced onto the packaging by the gov, it's all still wildly inaccurate.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Lumens are lumens, regardless of what bulb type they come from. If a 60W incandescent puts out an average of 800-850 lumens, I expect a "60W-equivalent" LED light to put out the same. If it wants to only put that out in a tight beam, so be it, but don't claim equivalence to one power level and then fail to meet the spec.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
I believe that LED light bulbs have moved into the market niche of being relatively expensive to purchase ($10+), making utterly false claims about brightness, and then suddenly and inexplicably dying after ten hours of use.
The brand "Darks of America" (sometimes spelled 'Lights of America') sold me two LED bulbs that were as dim as night-lites, and then totally dark after about a dozen hours of use (the lifespan of the two, combined). Being burned-out does save a great deal of power...
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
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RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
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RE: CFL Light Bulbs
As I said the LED is directional, or all available light going in one direction. The typical inconvenint light goes in all directions. And lighting the back of the light fixture is very important, don't you think?
And you are right they need to be clearer on there compairasons. Because you are looking at pure lumens, and not useful lumens.
The other thing I noticed is some LED lights are very heavy, which also limits there usefulness.
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
http://vu1corporation.com/default.htm
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
The price of LED bulbs will continue to go down. The early market isn't for consumers anyway. The cost justification for LED is for applications where a person is paid to replace the bulb. The savings are in the energy plus maintainence. For consumers the cost will come down in a year or so. I just bought some Sylvania 40W equivalents on sale for $10 each and I'm pretty happy with them for what I intend to use them for. Once a bulb wins the L-Prize it will be subsidized by the local power companies and the DOE making it affordable and competetive with CFL without the mercury.
Harold
SW2010 SP3.0 OPW2010 SP1.0 Win XP Pro 2002 SP3
Dell 690, Xeon 5160 @3.00GHz, 3.25GB RAM
nVidia Quadro FX4600
www.lumenflow.com
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Thanks for the tip! VU1 corp. stock on 10/6 was about $.54 per share. On 10/8 VU1 "announced that it has received final approval for UL listing for the Company's R30 Electron Stimulated Luminescent energy-efficient reflector light bulbs. " Stock is now trading at around $.90 per share. A tidy little profit for the 401k. Someday if we get the chance to meet, I owe you a beer.
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
CFl's are all made in China. There are about 4-5 companies that make almost all the CFl's and then put someone else name on them. Philips, GE, Sylvania, Home Depot, Lowes ect all buy their bulbs from the same guys. Philips, GE and Sylvania might spec the electronics but the manufacture will often swap out spec components for cheaper ones with out notifying the big guy. I have friends who deal with this problem all the time.
Sylvania still has light bulb plants in the US. They still make the standard A19, BR and Candella bulbs in St Marys, PA. They also make halogen lamps in Ky and still make flourecent tubs here in the US as well. GE has closed it last plant but Sylvania still has plants in opperation here in the US.
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Harold
SW2010 SP3.0 OPW2010 SP1.0 Win XP Pro 2002 SP3
Dell 690, Xeon 5160 @3.00GHz, 3.25GB RAM
nVidia Quadro FX4600
www.lumenflow.com
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
I am patiently waiting the day when LED lights have a nice warm color to them Nothing brightens your mood better than good warm light. They also work great as shop lights. No more burning your hands when you go to pick up your lamp under the car. I think Dan understands this quite well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If it is broken, fix it. If it isn't broken, I'll soon fix that.
RE: CFL Light Bulbs
Look for "warm white" or "daylight" bulbs rather than "bright white"... these use a warmer color of phosphour, or they include red/yellow LEDs in the mix to warm up the color.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com