CFL Bulbs FIRE hazard!

[BOONEY7750]

I have had bad luck with CFLs. I am not very happy that we will no longer be able to get high output incondecent light bulbs any longer in the U.S. they are perfect for the shop and basement. I have bought many different CFLs mostly GE. I do not like the fact that I can buy an eight pack and have light bulbs with eight different warm up times, brightness levels, and light color. Not to mention they cost about 10 times as much as good old 100w bulbs and the 13 year life span is a crock of ****, I am luck to get 6 months. I am not against the technology, but I need it to step up a little bit before I am happy with it. I think these will be a fad anyway now that L.E.D. are becoming so common. The L.E.D. lights can be pricey, but are rated for insulation contact can lights and give off a consistent light color. Plus I have never had an L.E.D. burn out in anything. L.E.D. are very programable too, I think it is realalistic to start seeing spot and area lighting controlled by simple computer programs and smart phones. Binary code classes in colleges start with writing simple programs to control lights, why not mainstream it.

 

[jmauld]

Intresting.....you have had FIVE bulbs catch fire....

I must have at least 30+ CFL's in operation in my house...some as long as 10 years.....no fires....not even any smoke....but I did have one finally quit a couple of years ago....dropped it off at HD in the recycle box.

Interesting.......

You've had a cfl last ten yrs? Please tell me the brand and model number. I replace them about three times as frequently as I replace the old relics. And I've tried just about everything the local Lowes has to offer.

In fact, as I type I'm looking at a one year old cfl that is down to about half of it's original brightness, sitting next to two incadescents that have been in the fixture since we bought the house 8yrs ago.

 

[sneezer41]

If you are replacing cfls that often there is something wrong with your house or you keep hitting them with hammers.

I have had CFL's last close to 20 years.

More houses burn down from old fashioned light bulbs than will ever from cfls


I think I replaced one last year but really can't remember

 

[Skandsen]

I run CFLs everywhere at work and have seen some "burn" around the base. That doesn't tell me they will start a fire. If the chances for an actual fire is greater with CFLs, I will change back.

 

[1320stang]

No CFL's are made in the USA. No one can afford the EPA regulated factory to produce them in, so they're made in China, so AGAIN, your money is headed to CHINA!!!

 

[VWandDodge]

Go with LED lights. They may be more expensive but the bulbs should last 40+ years.

As an aside, I've had one CFL "burn" in 5 years of using them and one die. The remaining 5 have worked well.

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

I was an early adopter of CFL's, back in the very early 1980's. I had a 6 yr old son who would slam the front door to close it. In winter, an incandescent bulb would last about a week. I put in a 7 watt CFL, instead of a 40-60 watt incandescent, after about 10 years±, I had to replace the original bulb, not the base. The base was still in the fixture when I sold the house 11 years ago.

I have only a few incandescents in my current house, of 2 years. My wife's bathroom fixture went from 8 60 watt bulbs to 8 7 watt CFL's. The CFLs do take roughly 30 seconds to warm up & the color is slightly different than incandescents. She likes the fact that she is not putting makeup on in front of a 500 watt heater. I like the fact that the CFLs are only using 56 watts of power. In the 2 years, I have had to replace one CFL. Most bulbs went from 100 watts to 23 watts. I like the money savings. I do not live in Canada. I do not need the extra heat. I have read that an incandescent converts 2% of the energy to light and 90% to heat.

 

[srmofo]

Ive had a 100w (comparable) cfl in my porch light for over 5 years now. I just went and checked it and theres no signs at all of it burning. Theres a lot of dead bugs, but nothing that would concern me. Keep in mind this thing is on for 12+ hours a night depending on if I remember to turn it off in the morning when I leave. When I had an incandescent bulb in it I would replace it every 3 months or so. Someone would slam the front door too hard and put it out of its misery.

Growing up I hated the light from them, but I think the combination of the technology getting better and the fact I dont buy the cheapest ones I can find like my mother did, I dont mind them much anymore. I also only use 75w (comparable) or the 100w(comparable) versions, but I still have an old incandescent 75w in my desk lamp for when Im reading or playing on the computer. I like the softer glow when Im relaxing.

 

[MrMark]

I was an early adopter of CFL's, back in the very early 1980's. I had a 6 yr old son who would slam the front door to close it. In winter, an incandescent bulb would last about a week. I put in a 7 watt CFL, instead of a 40-60 watt incandescent, after about 10 years±, I had to replace the original bulb, not the base. The base was still in the fixture when I sold the house 11 years ago.

I have only a few incandescents in my current house, of 2 years. My wife's bathroom fixture went from 8 60 watt bulbs to 8 7 watt CFL's. The CFLs do take roughly 30 seconds to warm up & the color is slightly different than incandescents. She likes the fact that she is not putting makeup on in front of a 500 watt heater. I like the fact that the CFLs are only using 56 watts of power. In the 2 years, I have had to replace one CFL. Most bulbs went from 100 watts to 23 watts. I like the money savings. I do not live in Canada. I do not need the extra heat. I have read that an incandescent converts 2% of the energy to light and 90% to heat.

Where's the other 8 percent

 

[Thruxton]

Where's the other 8 percent

Tax...

 

[Teken]

Tax...

 

[brianh]

No CFL's are made in the USA. No one can afford the EPA regulated factory to produce them in, so they're made in China, so AGAIN, your money is headed to CHINA!!!

I am willing to bet the incandescent bulbs you are buying are also made in china almost all of them are, that is just a talking point for cfl bashing.

Some are made like junk and some are well made you get what you pay for.

 

[acer66]

How is a CFL "safer" than any other type of lighting?

I guess they are safer because they do not get so hot, unless they start to burn

I personally never had an issue with them.