CFL's are great

[masoct3]

I just wanted to make a note that I have replaced most of my incadecent lights in my house with the same wattage, i.e. 23w = 100w so that's a nice saving. Also, be sure to match the hatch. Meaning there are CFL's that are labeled "bright", "day",etc. I have all "bright" named CFL's and there is a huge difference. I only say that because I have heard people say "CFL's aren't as bright as incadecent, I don't want to switch."

The one thing though, however, is it takes about 20-25 seconds for them to produce their maximum brightness. Is it just the gases warming up?

[cavalierowner]

Yep, the CFL's are a great thing. But everyone needs to keep in mind that CFL's are considered hazardous, just like the standard tube-type fluorescents. So don't just throw them in the trash when they burn out. The "word on the street" from the lighting manufacturer's (per a seminar I went to a couple years ago) is that in a few years technology will be such that CFL's will be replaced by LED's. LED's use less power and last many times longer that CFL's. And the LED's won't be as expensive as they are right now.

[nofishfisherman]

I'd say that LED's are for sure the future of lighting. CFL's are just a stop gap until LED's are more affordable.

The one thing I've had issues with the CFL's is that I had a few bulbs that didn't seem to last any longer than normal incandescent bulbs. Maybe I had some cheapo's that weren't very good.

Does anyone know of a convienent/free place to dispose of the burned out CFL's? I don't want to deal with the hassle of tracking a place down and then potentially having to pay to get rid of them.

What percentage of burned out CFL bulbs do you think actually make it into the proper waste dispoal? I'd bet 95% are thrown away in the normal household garbage. Not many people are going to let a bulb or two sit around in the house nor make a special trip to properly dispose of a single bulb.

[CAMAN]

I've seen some places (big box stores)with those free drop off containers at the front door sometimes have one labeled CFL, though I don't know how they prevent the bulb from breaking when dropped in, and that wild kind of defeat the purpose. Some counties have hazardous waste dropoff sites that will take a reasonable "household" amount for free.

You're about 10 years late to the CFL bandwagon masoct. Though I will never use or buy one. I will buy either incandescent or spend a few bucks more on LEDs that may last me a lifetime.

[nofishfisherman]

I'll have to keep an eye out for the free drop boxes. I haven't seen them before but I guess I wasn't really looking either.

So far I haven't purchased any CFL's, all that I have were given to me for free during a home energy audit. I don't think I'll be investing too much in them. I'd rather go with LED even though it costs more.

[cavalierowner]

Something else that came up in that seminar about LED's is that they will work for those long times advertised (15 - 20 years), BUT in something like 7 to 10 years the light levels will drop off enough that it will be noticeable. But that's still an impressive life!

[amateurfishing]

IMO CFL's suck, hate the light "color" that they emit and dont last any longer than old regular, just cost more to buy

[BobT]

The one thing I've had issues with the CFL's is that I had a few bulbs that didn't seem to last any longer than normal incandescent bulbs. Maybe I had some cheapo's that weren't very good.

One thing that is often overlooked and not properly understood or explained by store clerks is that MOST CFL's are not rated for enclosed fixtures. Those that are, are very difficult to find. Also, I have recessed cans in my kitchen ceiling for flood lights and CFL floods will not last as long as incandescent in these fixtures. Too enclosed.

[BobT]

Another type of lamp that is coming of age is the halogen lamps. These use 30% less energy per lumen than incandescent and do not contain mercury.

[CAMAN]

Another type of lamp that is coming of age is the halogen lamps. These use 30% less energy per lumen than incandescent and do not contain mercury.

Only problem is they get insanely hot! But if you want that nice warm glow there is nothing better.

[masoct3]

I've seen some places (big box stores)with those free drop off containers at the front door sometimes have one labeled CFL, though I don't know how they prevent the bulb from breaking when dropped in, and that wild kind of defeat the purpose. Some counties have hazardous waste dropoff sites that will take a reasonable "household" amount for free.

You're about 10 years late to the CFL bandwagon masoct. Though I will never use or buy one. I will buy either incandescent or spend a few bucks more on LEDs that may last me a lifetime.

Incadescent will start to be phased out. They are already removing some currently.

[masoct3]

Whatever. Go to a home improvement store and you will find ones that are reduced in price for a reason I forgot by Xcel Energy. I think I found some I bought for $1 and there were 6 in the box. Go figure.

[delcecchi]

And CFLs don't like frequent on/off cycles. They last longer if left on.

[nobody05]

Does anybody make a trouble light that is "service truck" material in the winter months? Pull it out no matter how cold it is and jump into a workplace and will work as good as an Rough- Surface incandescent as far as brightness at power up?

[DTro]

In time, LED is what everyone will be using. Much better technology and lasts basically forever.

[harvey lee]

My recessed floods in our kitchen over the bar have CFL's and they have been in there for close to 3 years with zero issues. Very happy with them even if they take a few minutes to get brite.

In our garage, I would burn a incand bulkb out about every 3 months. Put the CKL's in the 3 outlets about 4 years ago and have not replaced 1 yet to date.

God I love these lights, they seem to never burn out.

I was told to but the better CFL's and you will not have the issue with burned out ones like you will with the el cheapo's. For me, so far so good.

[BobT]

Only problem is they get insanely hot! But if you want that nice warm glow there is nothing better.

I'm using my first one in a table lamp in our living room. Yesterday, after reading your comment, I decided to check it out. I didn't notice it to be much hotter than any incandescent lamp I've used before. The halogen lamp I used is a lower wattage lamp than the incandescent ones I used in the past and I still get the same light output.

[BoxMN]

I have halogen under counter lights, and they look great, work great, but they do get HOT!!! Holy cow!

I have had good luck with the CFL's myself. I have one in the basement that is on basically all the time, and it has been for about probably 6 years or so now. Low watt, in the laundry room.

I also have a couple in outside lamp fixtures, on dawn to dusk, and they work great. A bit (okay a LOT!) dimmer at first, but even in sub zero they get up to full power faily soon and even a 23w gets nice and bright around doors.

I use them in garages as well, and while they take awhile to warm up, I just have an incandescent in the lineup to get that instant on. I have 10 on my garage, so going from 10 75w or 100w to 1 100w and 9 <25w makes a difference, and really doesn't seem too dim, though it is notically dimmer than having 10 100w bulbs, ha! And they just last so much longer, that is why I like them.

Looking forward to LED though, as I am big fan of them. Already testing some, and like it except the price tag.

[amateurfishing]

And CFLs don't like frequent on/off cycles. They last longer if left on.

this would explain A LOT in my house with 3 kids, seems like we blow 2/month somewhere

[BobT]

I have halogen under counter lights, and they look great, work great, but they do get HOT!!! Holy cow!

I have had good luck with the CFL's myself. I have one in the basement that is on basically all the time, and it has been for about probably 6 years or so now. Low watt, in the laundry room.

I also have a couple in outside lamp fixtures, on dawn to dusk, and they work great. A bit (okay a LOT!) dimmer at first, but even in sub zero they get up to full power faily soon and even a 23w gets nice and bright around doors.

I use them in garages as well, and while they take awhile to warm up, I just have an incandescent in the lineup to get that instant on. I have 10 on my garage, so going from 10 75w or 100w to 1 100w and 9 <25w makes a difference, and really doesn't seem too dim, though it is notically dimmer than having 10 100w bulbs, ha! And they just last so much longer, that is why I like them.

Looking forward to LED though, as I am big fan of them. Already testing some, and like it except the price tag.

If you look around you can find CFL's that warm up much quicker. I'm talking few seconds to brighten even in cold temperatures. I want to say I've seen them rated for as low as -20 but my memory isn't what it used to be.

They also make them so they don't flicker.

They are also available for dimmers.

They are also available for use in enclosed fixtures. NOTE: recessed cans can usually be considered enclosed unless they are vented somehow to remove excess heat.

Frequent start and stop cycles will have a definite negative impact on life.

Just suggesting that we don't lump them all up into one basket.

[delcecchi]

Yep, I would use LEDs. One of those that use a bunch of the kind they put in flashlights. Those flashlight LEDs are BRIGHT.

[delcecchi]

I put one of those "dimmable" floods in. Maybe it is because it is on the dimmer with an incandescent but "dimmable" seems like an exaggeration. It plays nice, just doesn't dim much.

(the package did talk about not mixing, but I only had one.)

[CAMAN]

Yep, I would use LEDs. One of those that use a bunch of the kind they put in flashlights. Those flashlight LEDs are BRIGHT.

I believe you are thinking of CREE LED's, and yes, they are bright.

[delcecchi]

Don't know about the manufacturer or construction, but a bunch of those would make a heck of a worklight that could probably survive bouncing off a concrete floor.

[masoct3]

Don't get me wrong. LED is in my future; the prices need to drop though and they will, just like everything when it becomes supply vs demand. But $30-$50, I can wait it out.