Don't stock up on CFL's

M

mycroftt

Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Messages
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Don't stock up on compact flourescent light bulbs!

I was at an earth day event today and had a god conversation at a booth that featured LED light bulbs. Many of us have been of the opinion that CFLs were bad technology that would soon be replaced by better LED technology and it seems to be happening. CFLs are better than incandescents but contain that small amount of mercury which makes them a HazMat. Neither CFLs nor LEDs currently work well with dimmers (although I can easily envision, and probably build, a "dimmer" switch that would simply shut off some LEDS as you dim). LEDs are also way more efficient (5 W puts out as much light as 100W incandescent) and have lives measured in the 20000 to 30000 our range. Fantastic advances in lighting!

Oh - don't stock up on the LEDs either - I hear the plasma bulbs will completely blow them away! :)
 
So you're saying I should burn my own hot air for light in anticipation of the new bulbs coming onto the market?
 
I've been anti-CFL since day one when the politicians got involved. On the other hand I have played around with and tried CFL's since when they first came to market moons ago. I have 9 CFL's running in Non-living spaces now.

I heard about the LED's that Sam's Club is carrying from the BF and have tried these out and have been happy with them to date. I am running 24 LED Bulbs of some type now.

Thanks for the heads up on the plasma bulbs mycroftt.
As you can see, I like to play with New lighting technology.:D

W0161.jpg
 
BTW The CFL's and LED's have had little to no impact to my electric bill/usage because light bulbs are used very little compared to other appliances we run. We run lights only where we are at that time, just raised that way I guess.
 
555 said:
BTW The CFL's and LED's have had little to no impact to my electric bill/usage because light bulbs are used very little compared to other appliances we run. We run lights only where we are at that time, just raised that way I guess.
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I fully agree with this.

I switched my basement over to cfl's about 10 years ago, and love them in it. I've only had to replace one so far. But when they start making them mandatory, I feel like taking them out and throwing them away, I'm just ornery, I guess... ;)
 
555 said:
BTW The CFL's and LED's have had little to no impact to my electric bill/usage because light bulbs are used very little compared to other appliances we run. We run lights only where we are at that time, just raised that way I guess.
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There are other reasons to get the longer lasting CFL type lights.

1) More robust. I live near a substation and frequently had to change out incandescents due to surges. Haven't changed a CFL since.

2) Time saver if you have change out bulbs for older parents. Fewer changes and the parents are less prone to get on those ladders they fall off of.
 
555 said:
I've been anti-CFL since day one when the politicians got involved. On the other hand I have played around with and tried CFL's since when they first came to market moons ago. I have 9 CFL's running in Non-living spaces now.

I heard about the LED's that Sam's Club is carrying from the BF and have tried these out and have been happy with them to date. I am running 24 LED Bulbs of some type now.

Thanks for the heads up on the plasma bulbs mycroftt.
As you can see, I like to play with New lighting technology.:D

W0161.jpg
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, it seems that Sam's Club is the only place that sells LED light bulbs for a reasonable price.
 
Got it. I'll just burn fires and use torches until the technology gets to where it should be. :D
 
I wouldn't want LED's in my place. That gray, redless hue of light emission from an LED is crappy. Where I live, the street lights are being replaced by LED's, and it leaves a gray-ish, detailess landscape.
 
we use CFL'S for temp lighting on construction projects. break em by the 100's. but way better than icandescents.
 
dano said:
I wouldn't want LED's in my place. That gray, redless hue of light emission from an LED is crappy. Where I live, the street lights are being replaced by LED's, and it leaves a gray-ish, detailess landscape.
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Oh, you prefer the green tinge of CFLs?

Besides, a florescent light doesn't emit visible light directly. It emits UV light. The white coating on the inside of the tube then fluoresce (hence the name) in response to the UV energy and emits visible light. But, if there's any imprefection in that coating, the powerful UV light can get out.

UV is bad for your eyes and it's the stuff that causes skin cancer.

Besides, CFLs contain mercury. Oh, it's not much mercury per bulb. But when you add them all up, it's a lot of mercury and the vast majority of it is gonna go straight into the environment when people dispose of their CFLs.

CFLs are one of the greatest marketing coups in modern times. Talk about greenwashing.
 
I have had some bad and good CFLs over the years, they have improved quite abit since I first bought them when electricity rates started spiking in the 1990's. Some of the new ones have a nice warm light rather than the dim cool 'dark light' maybe a better description.

CFLs were a good first step, it will be interesting to see how the new LED and plasma bulbs evolve.

If the old incandescants are going to become extinct, I will have to stock up on them. These lamps make good heaters for areas like plumbing that is sensitive to frost-like down inside wells during dry snowless winters when the frost is driven deep.
 
Bufford said:
I have had some bad and good CFLs over the years, they have improved quite abit since I first bought them when electricity rates started spiking in the 1990's. Some of the new ones have a nice warm light rather than the dim cool 'dark light' maybe a better description.

CFLs were a good first step, it will be interesting to see how the new LED and plasma bulbs evolve.

If the old incandescants are going to become extinct, I will have to stock up on them. These lamps make good heaters for areas like plumbing that is sensitive to frost-like down inside wells during dry snowless winters when the frost is driven deep.
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I Agree, Incandescants also work better in unheated buildings of the North.
I Tried CFL Outdoor Flood Lights in one garage, it would take minutes for them to warm up just to see in the building and would have to use a flashlight just to see, If I didn't want to wait for them to light. They were replaced by LED's to try out which light right away.


As for stocking up on Incandescants, Lets say some of us started this trend Moons before now. Get them while you can. :D


BTW Don't even ask about the motion sensor with two CFL Outdoor Flood Lights try out, replacing the Halogen Bulbs in total darkness The Wife and The Bear. Lets just say, she Dislikes (to be nice) CFL's now. :D
 
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sidecutter said:
we use CFL'S for temp lighting on construction projects. break em by the 100's. but way better than icandescents.
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I work as the Facilities manager for a small law firm here in Seattle... We have several attorneys who are promoting "Greeen" and want CFL's in the work place.... I'm fighting it every inch I can... 1 broken CFL has enough mercury in it to contaminate 6000 gallons of potable water. And you say your worksite breaks 100's???? I want to know what company you work for 'cause I also have a bunch of lawyers that would love to sue the hell out of it!!!! :D

Here's a link to SNOPE's as to some of what is going out over the 'net about CFL's, and I won't link to the European studies that are now indicating that, as Gollnick has indicated, that they not only are causing UV problems, but Lupus is on the rise 'cause CFL's have been mandated for the work place, and chronic exposure is now begining to show up in long term health issues...

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp

Sorry, but I wouldn't be suprised if we start seeing major lawsuits against the likes of Wallyworld for their practice of advertising for CFL's and their failure to also include info on how potentially toxic they are and that they require, per Federal regulation, IIRC, specific recycling requirements that the average person isn't aware of, nor is gleamiong from the label on the bulbs' packaging... or they're just being too lazy to deal with it as in the case of my apartment landlord... :grumpy:
 
mycroftt said:
Don't stock up on compact flourescent light bulbs!

I was at an earth day event today and had a god conversation at a booth that featured LED light bulbs. Many of us have been of the opinion that CFLs were bad technology that would soon be replaced by better LED technology and it seems to be happening. CFLs are better than incandescents but contain that small amount of mercury which makes them a HazMat. Neither CFLs nor LEDs currently work well with dimmers (although I can easily envision, and probably build, a "dimmer" switch that would simply shut off some LEDS as you dim). LEDs are also way more efficient (5 W puts out as much light as 100W incandescent) and have lives measured in the 20000 to 30000 our range. Fantastic advances in lighting!

Oh - don't stock up on the LEDs either - I hear the plasma bulbs will completely blow them away! :)
Click to expand...

There ARE dimmable CFLs, you just have to find them. IMHO, both have a role at this time. Certainly, bulb life is much better with either one, though greatly surpassed by LEDs. However, we still need more work in making LEDs "warmer" for certain applications, and not all LEDs and CFLs are equal. Most of the CFLs and LEDs sold in the "big box stores", well, they sort of suck. The LEDs are pretty lame, and both often produce a "harsh" "bright white" light. However, many of the online dealers sell "boutique" CFLs and LEDs that are FAR superior if you know what you're looking for. I've replaced ALL of my 12V outdoor landscaping and paver lights (137 of them :eek:) with LEDs and couldn't be happier!
 
I'm still trying to figure out how "they" got something with mercury in it MANDATED using "green" as the reason. If you're thinking green, wouldn't you want to be outlawing the CFLs? The world just keeps getting stranger!
 
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