Why are they trying to jam those CFL bulbs down our throats? The bulbs are downright ugly, don't last like they say they will, and will pose an even bigger probloem with their disposal. I am going to do just like that one person said. I am going this morning to stock up on a closet worth of regular old fashioned bulbs before the "light gestapo" takes them off the market!!
Terrible CFL's
- Thread starter Jeanie
- Start date
AlbertaGuy
Well-known member
What drives me nuts is turning on the lights and having to wait 5 minutes before they brighten fully. Its like experiencing sunrise every time i want to work in the garage.
quick86
Well-known member
I rock CFLs in my home. Not in my garage. I will say - I do have one over my deck and when it is cold as balls out I do turn it on about 2-3 minutes before I go out there in the morning this winter... But I will say they do make a difference for wattage use. I also enjoy how much brighter they are.
LEVE
Well-known member
I use them in the garage. So far each has lasted over 2 years. They resist vibration failure a lot better than the incandescent bulbs. I really like the CFL outdoors where shutting the door can can cause vibration.
Gary S
Well-known member
I switched my entire house over to CFLs about 7 years ago and love them. So far, not one has failed yet. No more replacing bulbs all the time like I did with incandescent lights.
My garage is too cold for CFLs so I use 4' T8s there and like them.
I even use outdoor florescent lighting for my dusk to dawn outdoor lights where it drops to -40 and lower. They work at those temperatures if they are rated for it.
My garage is too cold for CFLs so I use 4' T8s there and like them.
I even use outdoor florescent lighting for my dusk to dawn outdoor lights where it drops to -40 and lower. They work at those temperatures if they are rated for it.
sneezer41
Well-known member
I have been buying CFL's since about 1990, and they do last as advertised, they cost a fraction of what they used to, and most of them work in the cold if you leave them on. They are not the best in unheated shops, but neither are regular fluorescents.
Scott P
Well-known member
I've had bad luck with the Bright Effects brand for durability. However, a new one is always on the way free of charge with a simple phone call to them. I have some newer Sylvania bulbs now that turn on instantly. My wife has a habit of leaving lights on, so the CFLs help keep the cost of her habit down.
People that usually complain about CFLs usually use outdated information to prove a ranting point. They complain about a CHL bring mercury into their home, but love their LCD monitors and TV's which also contain mercury.
People that usually complain about CFLs usually use outdated information to prove a ranting point. They complain about a CHL bring mercury into their home, but love their LCD monitors and TV's which also contain mercury.
knobby
Well-known member
the worst thing about small CFL's is that they tend to (apparently) draw more than their ratted watts,not test lab but if you plug the 13w one into one of those kill-o-watt meters they often show 25 to 35 watts consumption
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Nice first post.
strnjss
Well-known member
Most of my bulbs are now CFL. They aren't that bad anymore, but it depends on which ones you get. A few years ago they had a horrible tint to them.
The latest batch I got from Costco are great. They have the same coloring as the incandescent's did, and light up without much delay.
What does **** is the time they take to warm up, and the mess they make when they break.
It's a terrible bio-hazard. I'm not concerned about LCD's with mercury, because those are much harder to drop and shatter. Also sometimes when they burn out, they smell horrible like burning plastic. That can't be too healthy either.
Most of them still don't last anywhere near the 5 years the packaging claims, but some seem to last for a few years anyway.
And I got floodlight versions for outside that take like 15 minutes to even give off any light in the winter time. I figured since it said "indoor/outdoor" use they must have done something to make them operational in cold weather, but nope!
The latest batch I got from Costco are great. They have the same coloring as the incandescent's did, and light up without much delay.
What does **** is the time they take to warm up, and the mess they make when they break.
It's a terrible bio-hazard. I'm not concerned about LCD's with mercury, because those are much harder to drop and shatter. Also sometimes when they burn out, they smell horrible like burning plastic. That can't be too healthy either.
Most of them still don't last anywhere near the 5 years the packaging claims, but some seem to last for a few years anyway.
And I got floodlight versions for outside that take like 15 minutes to even give off any light in the winter time. I figured since it said "indoor/outdoor" use they must have done something to make them operational in cold weather, but nope!
Rickochet
Well-known member
Better learn to like 'em 'cause the old energy hogs are outta here!!! LED's will be the hot thing soon. They are constantly refining them. Then the people will be complaining that they love their CFL's and will be going out to buy a closet full of them before they can't buy them any longer..... We are human.....some humans hate change.... Me---I like it. Change can turn into dollars!!!!!!
strnjss
Well-known member
I don't think it's about accepting change, it's more about replacing a product with one that has so many issues.
The only real advantage to CFL's is that they use less energy and last longer (at least on paper). Everything else about them is inferior.
Now if they can make LED bulbs affordable, they will be much easier for people to switch to because they aren't plagued with all of the same problems.
The good thing is that different technologies are already coming around, so CFL's won't be our only option. I've even seen halogen versions of regular bulbs coming out now as an alternative. They use less energy, yet still behave like a normal bulb.
jvitez
Well-known member
Banning incandescent lamps was all about the usual nauseating hypocricy of politicians, and nothing about good science. Radical eco-pagans have gotten the ear of the chattering classes. Politicians threw a sop to them to be seen to be doing something. "Ban those horrible energy wasting Edison bulbs, ban them you hear, ban them!!!!" This falls along the junk science of anthropogenic global warming. Anything than reduces electrical consumption is seen a moral duty to the eco pagans.
Mandating CFL's may make sense in Australia when AC is the main issue, but not for most of the rest of the (colder) western world. Yes, incandescents waste electricity as heat. If the bulb is indoors, guess what? Your furnace runs less. So unless you're using an electric furnace, you're only offsetting one consumption for another. Now in south Florida it makes good sense and cents to use CFL's. Not in North Dakota. Ok, your AC will run a bit more in the summer, but the furnace less in winter. Where's the balance?
Incandescents were cheap to produce, mostly still made in the western world, used cheap, recyclable products (glass and metal), and needed little material and energy input to manufacture. CFL's are all made in China by that wonderful environmentally friendly nation, shipped across the world by fossil fuel using freighters, cost much more to buy, and give off mediocre light. In other words, for the majority of the developed world, they're the wrong product. But political expediency out weighed economic rationalism. Not ready for prime time, but BAMM you're on stage.
I agree: LED technology will be the way to go. Once it's matured, I can't imagine many people using CFL's.
I stocked up on 100W, 200W, and 300W incandescents for use in my garage. Once I'm done, I'll have T8 fixtures for working in there, but for just quickly getting something, incandescent it is. Especially when it's -18C inside the garage like it was last week.
Mandating CFL's may make sense in Australia when AC is the main issue, but not for most of the rest of the (colder) western world. Yes, incandescents waste electricity as heat. If the bulb is indoors, guess what? Your furnace runs less. So unless you're using an electric furnace, you're only offsetting one consumption for another. Now in south Florida it makes good sense and cents to use CFL's. Not in North Dakota. Ok, your AC will run a bit more in the summer, but the furnace less in winter. Where's the balance?
Incandescents were cheap to produce, mostly still made in the western world, used cheap, recyclable products (glass and metal), and needed little material and energy input to manufacture. CFL's are all made in China by that wonderful environmentally friendly nation, shipped across the world by fossil fuel using freighters, cost much more to buy, and give off mediocre light. In other words, for the majority of the developed world, they're the wrong product. But political expediency out weighed economic rationalism. Not ready for prime time, but BAMM you're on stage.
I agree: LED technology will be the way to go. Once it's matured, I can't imagine many people using CFL's.
I stocked up on 100W, 200W, and 300W incandescents for use in my garage. Once I'm done, I'll have T8 fixtures for working in there, but for just quickly getting something, incandescent it is. Especially when it's -18C inside the garage like it was last week.
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
Great post, Ive been stocking up on 100s and 300s too... thought I was the odd man out.
You may have overlooked the fact that fluorescents are hard on your eyes, where incandescents are not,.....personally, I hate them even if they last 5 times longer and use NO energy... but such is life...
jvitez
Well-known member
Yes, my middle aged eyes are starting to need more light, and be more sensitive to things they never were before. Darned progressive lenses aren't helping either. I know several people who are really bothered by flurorescents. Luckily I'm OK with them, so far. T8's do seem to flicker far less than T12's.
It's a wonderful thing to flick on the light switch, and have instant, bright, shadow free light in a -18C garage. Love the 300W bulbs. I've even got 3 old 500W mogul base bulbs. One had a lumen rating on the package: 10,000 lumens! I'm currently lighting my unfinished basement workshop/wood shop with them. I'll cry when they burn out.
BTW Busted Knuckles: love your sig!!
It's a wonderful thing to flick on the light switch, and have instant, bright, shadow free light in a -18C garage. Love the 300W bulbs. I've even got 3 old 500W mogul base bulbs. One had a lumen rating on the package: 10,000 lumens! I'm currently lighting my unfinished basement workshop/wood shop with them. I'll cry when they burn out.
BTW Busted Knuckles: love your sig!!
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
BTW Busted Knuckles: love your sig!!
Thanks, I borrowed it from an unknown "author", I just like it.. because it a good clean analogy, and with a complete lack of common sense with so many people in this country anymore, I think it might just wake up at least one person.
I live far enough north, that I too like to turn on a light and be able to see and not wait 5 minutes for it to warm up. Absolute BS !
I use CFL's because I want to, but to those of you who dislike them, & you choose to vote for Stateist control freaks,(they prefer to refer to themselves as "Progressives"), you only have your self to blame, as they wish to "guide" & control the "Unwashed Masses", because your unable to do the "right" thing or make the "correct" choices, I prefer to make my own choices not have elitist azzholes try to make it for me.
Falcon67
Well-known member
I like 'em. My only issue is that the new generation of low cost motion lights and detectors don't work with them. The old models do, go figure. I found out you can "trick" some of the detectors by putting one or two incandescent lights in the circuit, so don't toss all the old skool bulbs just yet LOL.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Lot of wrong information.....
The US lags behind a lot of other countries on banning the incandescent....
I realize it may not get that warm up 'there'....but the US has a significant energy usage for AC....
If you look at the total cost of manuf of an incandescent....and the fact that a CFL will last at least 10x longer than an incandescent....on manf energy along....it takes more to make 10 tungston bulbs than one CFL...
Last time I checked....1 incandescent cost about half of what a comparable CFL did....but that CFL will last 10x longer....that means when compared to the life of a CFL, you will spend 5x more for incandescents than CFL....and spend 5x more for electricity....
Recycling? There is no recycling for incandescents....they end up in the trash....
Mecury? Over the life of a CFL, less mecury is released than for an incandescent....
LED's? Have about the same effeciency as CFL's at 10x the cost.....they have a LONG way to go....
I like my CFL's.....I only have 6 indescent bulbs in the house....Oven, Fridge, and 4 in the bathroom (25w clear).
In the 10 years I have been in my house and started using CFL's, I have replaced 2.
I get the ones that say they mimic "true daylight" and they are very bright for the stated wattage, without the weird hue.
Wait for sales and you can get them for a buck a piece at ACE (even the 100 watt lumen equivalent ones).
They last long in my experience; have yet to have one burn out in 4 years (I have shatter one accidentally though).
Wait for sales and you can get them for a buck a piece at ACE (even the 100 watt lumen equivalent ones).
They last long in my experience; have yet to have one burn out in 4 years (I have shatter one accidentally though).
Incandescent bulbs in my house lasted anywhere from 3 weeks to three months. I dunno why. Now the new type last about 4 to 9 months. I'm mildly worried about it and wonder why, but its been that way for a LONG time.
Any good reasons why bulbs would burn out quickly in a house?
Also: when the new style burn out, are they still supposed to be warm? I replaced one that had been out for several days and the base was warm. Seemed odd to me.
Any good reasons why bulbs would burn out quickly in a house?
Also: when the new style burn out, are they still supposed to be warm? I replaced one that had been out for several days and the base was warm. Seemed odd to me.
GrandmaSideways
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2011
- Messages
- 221
I hate CFL's.
Seems they don't like to be turned off and on much. They give me headaches too.
Seems they don't like to be turned off and on much. They give me headaches too.
A couple of reasons is, cheap lamps,high line voltage, the fix for those is higher quality lamps, 130V lamps will last longer but w/ lower light output, if those do not clear up the problem then there are other issues but am only tossing out the EZ solutions for now....
Addrock
Well-known member
CFLs are terrible!
I don't mind the light, though I agree with a lot of the annoyances. What I hate is that they aren't being recycled. We are going to have a mercury problem because we literally want to save pennies...really? The other thing that bothers me is the reports that because the manufacturers are unregulated SOME of the bulbs emit UV light, indoor tan! I too have tested these with a Kill-a-watt there is almost no savings. A better savings strategy is computer, monitor (turn them off or enable power management strategy) other appliances (make sure you buy energy star when you replace) and above all air seal your living spaces (keep heated and cooled air in). I'll get of my soap box now!
I don't mind the light, though I agree with a lot of the annoyances. What I hate is that they aren't being recycled. We are going to have a mercury problem because we literally want to save pennies...really? The other thing that bothers me is the reports that because the manufacturers are unregulated SOME of the bulbs emit UV light, indoor tan! I too have tested these with a Kill-a-watt there is almost no savings. A better savings strategy is computer, monitor (turn them off or enable power management strategy) other appliances (make sure you buy energy star when you replace) and above all air seal your living spaces (keep heated and cooled air in). I'll get of my soap box now!
M-technik-3
Well-known member
Technology is getting better with these but the mercury content is an issue. That being said at least it's not like the Knee Jerk reaction Congress did with Ethanol in fuel.
Got to burn fuel to make more fuel to take it away from food supplies is plain dumb.
Got to burn fuel to make more fuel to take it away from food supplies is plain dumb.
Boost Creep
Well-known member
i'm happy with cfl's. i use ge brand ones and have had them in some places for years without any failures. almost all the bulbs at my place have been swapped over. i even have a few 150w equivilant ones out in the unheated barn here in MI and they have given me no issues yet other than a minute or two to warm up to full brightness when its really cold but its not bad enough to be annoyed over. besides, by the time i get the heater going and the toolboxes unlocked and i'm ready to do stuff they're usually warmed up anyways
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
Sounds like ALL CFLs emit UV. As well the old school incandescents, but at what levels is the real question,... ?
http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-Emitti...es/HomeBusinessandEntertainment/ucm116400.htm
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
Remember you can't use just any CFL on lights you dim, dimmers will kill normal CLF's, when you buy them you'll find ones specifically listed as dimmer compatible.
TheGrooveking
TheGrooveking
Falcon67
Well-known member
Not sure either, but it might be the motion sensor if the unit has one. I use two "60w" CFLs in our Craftsman opener and they work just fine and trigger right away with the motion sensor on the unit.
I like them, Totally depends on which ones you get.
The open spiral, 23 watt - 100 watt equivalent ,5000k, 1700 lumen from HD are great and we have since stocked up on tons for the work shop and mechanical room. Even added some of the same series 75 watt equivalents. The output is quick right from the beginning. 1.15 or 1.25 each. Shop only type light. We have 48 of the 23 watts and 6 of the 75 watt units in the garage.
The 14 watt, 60 watt equivalents, 3400k with down light reflectors are ****. We took most of these back. Crazy slow to warm up. I broke the outer reflector housing off one of them and it made a huge difference in performance.
We have since tried two other down light ( reflector covered ) cfls with little improvement. All from HD. The light takes two long to kick in and when it does, it can be too much for the space if you up the output to make up for the delay. From now on, open spirals only.
I would love to swap out the garage bulbs with the 4000k ( red package ) high output units at HD but they are 8 x the price I paid. Here are some links
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
The open spiral, 23 watt - 100 watt equivalent ,5000k, 1700 lumen from HD are great and we have since stocked up on tons for the work shop and mechanical room. Even added some of the same series 75 watt equivalents. The output is quick right from the beginning. 1.15 or 1.25 each. Shop only type light. We have 48 of the 23 watts and 6 of the 75 watt units in the garage.
The 14 watt, 60 watt equivalents, 3400k with down light reflectors are ****. We took most of these back. Crazy slow to warm up. I broke the outer reflector housing off one of them and it made a huge difference in performance.
We have since tried two other down light ( reflector covered ) cfls with little improvement. All from HD. The light takes two long to kick in and when it does, it can be too much for the space if you up the output to make up for the delay. From now on, open spirals only.
I would love to swap out the garage bulbs with the 4000k ( red package ) high output units at HD but they are 8 x the price I paid. Here are some links
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Slowboat
Well-known member
It's not as widely known as it should be, but many motion sensors aren't compatible with CFLs - it's because they feed a small amount of current to the bulb at all times, which will kill a CFL pretty quickly. There are motion sensors that work with them, and they are labeled as such.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Ya, thats where the trick of putting at least one 60w incandescent in the circuit can make some of the detectors work. The "real" bulb (lol) ***** up the current. HD and Lowes apparently now only carry the Heath/Zenith replacement motion sensors and they do not work with CFLs or any electronic ballast flo light. I have an old sensor from a brown to white fixture swap, it's at least 5 years old. Bench testing with a 60w bulb in circuit with the CFLs shows it works like a champ.
Bench testing a new Heath sensor shows they work in Test mode only. Works great with incandescents but not with any single CFL in the circuit. Marketing/packaging rant - you have to open the box, extract the instructions and read through the fine print before you find the "mag ballast only" disclaimer.R6 Racer
Well-known member
What a great thread... lots of different opinions & experiences...
Thanks Jeanie!
I have used them for years & an just now starting to replace some of them. What I have noticed is that all CFL's are NOT created equal! I bought a 4 pack about 6 months ago & have had them all burn out already (cant remember the brand right now). I took them back to HD & after some serious bitchin they gave me a refund. I bought a different kind & they have been great so far.
As for the motion detector thing goes I think again it's about quality. All my outdoor motion detector lights have CFL's in them & they work fine. I do notice the ones in my garage take a bit of time to reach full brightness in the winter but with all the light I have in there even partial brightness is OK for the short time it takes.
I did have some problems in one light/fan fixture that has a remote on it. When I turned the light off with the remote the CFL's would flicker at a really low level & never go completely off. That fixture has 4 bulbs in it & when I put 2 CFL's & 2 old style bulbs in it the problem goes away... don't know why...
Steve
Thanks Jeanie!
I have used them for years & an just now starting to replace some of them. What I have noticed is that all CFL's are NOT created equal! I bought a 4 pack about 6 months ago & have had them all burn out already (cant remember the brand right now). I took them back to HD & after some serious bitchin they gave me a refund. I bought a different kind & they have been great so far.
As for the motion detector thing goes I think again it's about quality. All my outdoor motion detector lights have CFL's in them & they work fine. I do notice the ones in my garage take a bit of time to reach full brightness in the winter but with all the light I have in there even partial brightness is OK for the short time it takes.
I did have some problems in one light/fan fixture that has a remote on it. When I turned the light off with the remote the CFL's would flicker at a really low level & never go completely off. That fixture has 4 bulbs in it & when I put 2 CFL's & 2 old style bulbs in it the problem goes away... don't know why...
Steve
Dragster Racer
Well-known member
Yea. Right. It's a big conspiracy by the greenies. Whatever!
Look. They are great for some applications and less good for others. I have them just about everywhere, and the only problem I have had is that the ones I have in outdoor lights won't fire when it is under 5F. All of my indoor ones are all the way up in 30 seconds. They have some light up until then. If I can't wait 30 seconds full brightness, then I should grab a flashlight. Those leds are great.
Look. They are great for some applications and less good for others. I have them just about everywhere, and the only problem I have had is that the ones I have in outdoor lights won't fire when it is under 5F. All of my indoor ones are all the way up in 30 seconds. They have some light up until then. If I can't wait 30 seconds full brightness, then I should grab a flashlight. Those leds are great.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Has anyone noticed that Jeannie came in here, made only this one post and then disappeared? Was she just trying to stir the pot?
In response to an earlier post, there are a number of ways to recycle CFLs - just google it.
In response to an earlier post, there are a number of ways to recycle CFLs - just google it.
Almost all the bulbs in my shop are CFLs. I've got no complaints at all.