Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
- Thread starter FromTexas
- Start date
The benefit of leaving them on all of the time is saving with heating and cooling. I have them in all rooms, and they run 24/7/365. 
OrneryPest
lower life form
I'm using a few of these bulbs and I'm gonna start using more of them. They take a couple of seconds to turn on, then a couple of minutes or so to achieve full brightness. That's not a problem for places like porch lights and other places where you normally leave lights on for perhaps an hour or more and don't need full brightness instantly. The one in my family coat closet (stays on continuously) has lasted a couple of years.
SamSpade
Well-Known Member
I *did* that, in my house in Lusby, before I moved to Hollywood - and it worked fairly well. At least, I didn't have to change light bulbs very often.FromTexas said:
The downside was twofold - one, CF tend to start out dim and brighten to their full "brightness" very slowly - so I'd use the bathroom, and by the time I was DONE, the lights would be nearly bright enough.
The other is, somehow they're never really bright enough - they seem - depressing. I don't know why that is, because the big long fluorescent tubes in offices are REALLY bright - but my home always seemed like a dim horror movie. I began to use incandescents in rooms where I needed the emotional "lift".
Mikeinsmd
New Member
Pay close attention to the "color" of the lamp usually expressed in "kelvin" temperature.SamSpade said:
Look for something in the 4200K to 5500K range. The higher the better. 4200K is your standard cool white office lamp.
Lower colors give you the orange/warm light that's not very bright.
I bought a bunch of these at Sam's club a few years back.
I'm pretty much convinced that they work well when you have them somewhere where you turn them on and leave them on for long periods of time.
I put them throughout the basement and have had no problems.
However, I put them in our garage door openers where they get turned on and off a million times per day and two of them on the same opener burned out within days of each other. I'm guessing their life is defined by power on/off cycles more than elapsed time on.
Everywhere else I've got them they seem to be working great. I put them on the front porch and the light looks a little harsh at night, but I don't care if it means I change them less!
I'm pretty much convinced that they work well when you have them somewhere where you turn them on and leave them on for long periods of time.
I put them throughout the basement and have had no problems.
However, I put them in our garage door openers where they get turned on and off a million times per day and two of them on the same opener burned out within days of each other. I'm guessing their life is defined by power on/off cycles more than elapsed time on.
Everywhere else I've got them they seem to be working great. I put them on the front porch and the light looks a little harsh at night, but I don't care if it means I change them less!
C
czygvtwkr
Guest
I was an early adopter of them, I hate changing lightbulbs because I always seemed to be out of them when I needed them.
My electric bill never seemed to lower, but of course I dont burn 100 lights 24/7.
Well no more, the new halogens have my buisness. I have had three CFLs where the plastic bases started to smoke and turn black. I am just glad I was home when it happened and my house didnt burn down.
With A/C, and an electric water heater my SMECO bill is still under $150 a month in the hottest months of summer.
My electric bill never seemed to lower, but of course I dont burn 100 lights 24/7.
Well no more, the new halogens have my buisness. I have had three CFLs where the plastic bases started to smoke and turn black. I am just glad I was home when it happened and my house didnt burn down.
With A/C, and an electric water heater my SMECO bill is still under $150 a month in the hottest months of summer.
Baja28
Obama destroyed America
I have CFL's everywhere too. Electric bill last month was $76.00 (2,500 sq ft house).
Some folks like GW have had issues with the CFL's not lasting. I have yet to replace one after years of use. Some people mentioned in this thread that they give less light. They don't. They have to warm up for a minute or two then are bright as an incandescent for 1/4 the wattage. You can also buy higher watt CFL's and still use substantially less electricity.
Dutch6
"Fluffy world destroyer"
Just changed one after 5 years of being on 24/7. They have different types of lights available. If you don't like the warm up period of the lights, get the ones that are "instant on."I have CFL's everywhere too. Electric bill last month was $76.00 (2,500 sq ft house).
Some folks like GW have had issues with the CFL's not lasting. I have yet to replace one after years of use. Some people mentioned in this thread that they give less light. They don't. They have to warm up for a minute or two then are bright as an incandescent for 1/4 the wattage. You can also buy higher watt CFL's and still use substantially less electricity.
Pete
Repete
I have CFL's everywhere too. Electric bill last month was $76.00 (2,500 sq ft house).
Some folks like GW have had issues with the CFL's not lasting. I have yet to replace one after years of use. Some people mentioned in this thread that they give less light. They don't. They have to warm up for a minute or two then are bright as an incandescent for 1/4 the wattage. You can also buy higher watt CFL's and still use substantially less electricity.
I have a house full of them and going on 8 years and not replaced one yet. I have no issue with the light they provide.
You should be picky where you put these bulbs.
The energy efficiency and long life of fluorescent lights vs incandescent is for lights that are left on for long periods of time. If you put one in a closet or room where you constantly turn the light on and off, not only is their life far shorter, but the energy efficiency will go out the window as well. Power usage in a florescent light can be very high during the "warm up" phase. Especially for larger lights.
If your someone who habitually turns out lights in rooms you are not using, it will actually cost you more to use fluorescent lights then incandescent.
I'm not saying you should not use them, but the best place to use them is in areas where you leave the light on for long periods of time.
The energy efficiency and long life of fluorescent lights vs incandescent is for lights that are left on for long periods of time. If you put one in a closet or room where you constantly turn the light on and off, not only is their life far shorter, but the energy efficiency will go out the window as well. Power usage in a florescent light can be very high during the "warm up" phase. Especially for larger lights.
If your someone who habitually turns out lights in rooms you are not using, it will actually cost you more to use fluorescent lights then incandescent.
I'm not saying you should not use them, but the best place to use them is in areas where you leave the light on for long periods of time.
Baja28
Obama destroyed America
This is absolutely untrue. I don't know where you get your information but it is totally inaccurate.
aps45819
24/7 Single Dad
until our government takes away another choice.
GWguy
*
This is true. Not supposed to use them in outdoor fixtures, high-hats, recessed or enclosed fixtures because of the heat they generate which causes premature failure of the electronics.
Unless you get the more expensive versions, you can't use them on some timer or dimmer circuits. I had a CFL on a timer circuit and I replaced it 3 times before I just replaced it with an incandescent.