CFL Bulbs are BS

[Angel!]

I have enclosed overhead fixtures, and the last I checked you weren't suppose to put CFL is a completely enclosed, overhead, hanging upside down fixture.

I've heard that they just don't last as long in those type of fixtures. I still use CFLs in all my enclosed, overhead fixtures & haven't noticed them burning out any quicker than the ones I put into upright lamps. I know they have decorative CFLs for chandeliers now also, although you can't get clear ones (that would just look wierd), just the frosted so they may not match the look you are going for.

Our enclosed porchlights on our garage were burning out every 2 months with regular bulbs. I was worried there was something wrong with the wiring, but the CFLs we stuck in their have been going strong for over 3 years now.

[thyme4change]

The decorative ones I've seen, you can still see the weird squiggly part. I haven't purchased any new domes for the chandelier since the decorative CFLs have been out. I still have 2 unused ones, so I will investigate when that comes up.

I did put a CFL in our enclosed hall light, and it burnt out in less than a year. If I'm going to have to change it every year, I'll buy the 99 cent bulb, thank you! Although, I wonder, with all the reports of a lot burning out very quickly, but in similiar fixtures to others that haven't had that burn out - is it possible that the first few batches of CFLs were inconsistent - maybe rushed to market?

[Angel!]

Maybe it was a bad light. Or maybe that specific fixture doesn't do well with them. There must be some truth that CFLs don't work well in certain types of fixtures. Maybe I have just gotten lucky that I haven't noticed any problems in any of mine.

I did buy a fairly expensive LED bulb for the garage & it went out in less than a month, which was really disappointing. I don't know if it was a bad bulb or I used it somewhere that it shouldn't be used. I am going to hold off buying any more LED bulbs until there are some improvements in them. I think you can buy decorative chandelier bulbs that are LED, but don't know if those are any good at all.

[thyme4change]

My enclosed fixtures are original to my house - so over 50 now. In another 10 years they will collect social security. Sometimes "historic" comes with little problems that are just weird.

[stillontheroad]

Our apartment complex came in over two years ago and replaced all of our light bulbs with CFLs (free of charge). So far, not a single one has burnt out. Of course, I can't remember the last time I changed a regular light bulb before that, so I can't really make a comparison. We must get unusually long life out of our light bulbs.

The funny thing is, I've been waiting for one to burn out because we've still got the regular bulbs that they took out when they put in the CFLs...I figure there's no sense in throwing out a perfectly good light bulb.

[jkapp]

I have a CFL in the room where I read...I have to wait a good ten to fifteen minutes for it to be bright enough to read with. So I have to use CFLs LONGER than incandescents to get the same effect. So they may use less electricity but I have to use them for longer periods of time.

[Tiny]

I think CFL bulb life depends on how you use them... I've got one in the fixture over the kitchen sink that lasted nearly 10 years. I've got one in a lamp that's on a timer and the last one made it 5 years. Both of those bulbs burn every day for hours on end.
I've got CFLs in a couple of other lamps but they seem to last about 2 years or so. The difference is that the long lasting bulbs (they burn a minimum of 4 hours up to a max of 10 hours a day year round) is that the long lasting bulbs get turned on and off each day only ONCE. The shorter lasting bulbs get turned on and off many times during the evening(gray days of winter).

I have noticed that once the bulb starts to get noticably dimmer it's nearing the end of it's life.

[Angel!]

Jan 18, 2011 17:20:58 GMT -5 jkapp said:

I have a CFL in the room where I read...I have to wait a good ten to fifteen minutes for it to be bright enough to read with. So I have to use CFLs LONGER than incandescents to get the same effect. So they may use less electricity but I have to use them for longer periods of time.

They have instant-on CFLs now. You just need to read the packages to find the right kind & no more waiting for the room to get bright.

[runewell]

Once nice thing about CFL's is you can have things brighter if you like. Say a light is only rated for 60W, and if you put in a 100W light bulb things might overheat. but for 60W the equivalent CFL onlu uses about 20W of electricity so I would put 100W CFLs in, get an even brighter lamp, and still use half the electricity.

[jitterbug]

I've switched to the new bulbs for lights that stay on for long periods of time (living room lamps) but won't use them for lights that get flipped on and off quickly (like bathroom lights) or for my front porch light! I would have someone come to the door and I'd turn on the porch light - and it took about 5 minutes for it to warm up enough for it to actually show me who was there!! THAT'S not safe!! And I have 5 bulbs on a light bar above the bathroom mirror and had to replace one of the CFS bulbs within months (whereas the old style lasted 2 years or more). Someone told me that they don't work well in those situations - although I am sure they improve all the time.