Have you found the longevity of CFLs to be over-hyped?

[Modelworks]

I still have mostly incandescent bulbs, they are really hard to replace without spending a fortune on CFL. For the cost incandescent is way cheaper.

sunlight is around 6500K and is what I use. It is also the recommended lighting when watching tv or working with graphics on a pc.
Lights that say natural light, daylight, broad spectrum, etc can't be trusted. Those terms are generic and can mean whatever they want them to. Look for the temp rating and the best CRI you can afford. A lamp that says 5000K and 80CRI is junk, nothing lower than 90 should be used if you are concerned with color.

CRI is basically how correct the output colors are , so at 90, 10% of the colors are still not where they should be. If buying a low CRI light you might as well toss the temp rating out as it means little with a low CRI.

 

[Rubycon]

The same folks that produce MTBF values for hard disks probably do the same for CFLs.

Up to is not a rating. OK an incandescent bulb could last up to 100,000 hours - used a few minutes a day.

If you don't mind compromise incandescent lamps can last seemingly forever!

http://www.centennialbulb.org/

 

[lxskllr]

The same folks that produce MTBF values for hard disks probably do the same for CFLs.

Up to is not a rating. OK an incandescent bulb could last up to 100,000 hours - used a few minutes a day.

If you don't mind compromise incandescent lamps can last seemingly forever!

http://www.centennialbulb.org/

I know of that bulb :^D

I'd love to have one like that. I bet is has the most awesome amber glow :^)

 

[StageLeft]

So basically hype bullsh*t based on posts I'm reading here. I'm obviously not--nor should anybody--going to leave lights on just so that I don't have to turn them on again soon in an effort to prolong bulb life at the expense of burning power illuminating an empty space.

Are there any reviews online that compare the bulbs in real-life type scenarios?

I just now read about upside down. Maybe it was a problem on earlier CFLs that running upside down was a problem? The majority of my house's lighting is upside down.

BTW the bulbs that are dying have mostly been upside down, but almost all unenclosed and open to the air, several of them in a relatively cool basement, but I do turn it on several times/day.

I see LEDs at the store a bit. When will it make sense to start using them and we can skip CFLs?

EDIT: On amazon the only led bulb worth a damn is $40 and is a replacement for a $1 60W bulb. It uses 7 watts of energy. I know LED should last a while, I assume it would withstand starting/stopping beautifully, unlike CFL, but that is still way too expensive.

 

[lxskllr]

Your best bet is a mix of lighting types imo. I use CFLs in places I leave lights turned on awhile, and incandescent on intermittent lighting areas. I'm not familiar with using LEDs in a household setting, but in flashlights and things like that, I find the light harsh and sterile. Incandescent has the best light color. I like the 40W models.

 

[T9D]

...

 

[bobdole369]

Hmm, with the xmas lights coming down and a strand of LED's in the tree I think I might try and make myself a lamp of sorts by wrapping it all up behind a shade.... Just some thoughts.

I'm also thinking I could easily put together a strip of different color LED's up under the work area of my desk, instead of a desk lamp like I had envisioned.

I imagine this is how most of us will probably have to think about things for the near future, as LED's will probably not make it to the "lamp socket" level for a while.

 

[boomerang]

I'm using them wherever I can. They take too long to get to full brightness for use in the kitchen for instance. I'm using them exclusively outside. I just replaced the first one outside and it was in use for over 5 years. However, I only have them on during the parts of the year when it gets dark early and then only if we're expecting someone. They're not on just because it's dark outside.

Yes, we're cheapskates. I see no use in having lights burning for the hell of it.

Inside, we turn lights on and off as we move from room to room. At this point the ones in longest use inside have probably been in place for close to 4 years. I have not had to replace one yet.

My point here is how do you gage this? You sure can't go solely by time. Use is the real factor IMO. I keep reading that turning them on and off shortens their life, but I think we've disproved that. At least to a level of satisfaction that works for me.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I replaced nearly all the lights in my house with CFLs over a year ago. I was careful not to get the cheapest one I saw, but I don't really know much about which ones are quality and which ones aren't. A small percentage of the bulbs either didn't work out of the box or burned out within a day of installation. The rest have yet to burn out. I guess you get some "duds" along with the good bulbs with CFLs... I think the ones I have are GE brand. Overall I'm pretty satisfied with their longevity and even have some in the bathroom that haven't given me any trouble.

 

[waggy]

yeap. when we moved into the house i put CFL's in everything. i have had to replace them and it hasn't been 4 years. oddly the regular bulbs in my office are going on 5-6 years

 

[DrawninwarD]

You're not supposed to use them in certain areas. Some of the CFLs are not supposed to be used in closed or recessed fixtures.

 

[DrPizza]

I've replaced dozens of CFLs that have gone bad. (I have about 40 of them installed between the house & the barn.) Oddly, some of the ones that have lasted the longest are in the barn where the temperature is below freezing a few months of the year. (Those lights are left on 24/7 in cold weather)

There are 3 in our bathroom. I don't think we've ever made it more than 2 or 3 months without changing at least one of them. I replaced all the wiring to that fixture when I remodeled our kitchen a few months ago. They still burn out. Maybe it's because they're horizontal? Then again, 2 of them in the barn are horizontal and have been going for 3 years.

 

[Jeff7]

Well they put the absolute minimum in to make it work and none extra or other needed substances to give it a comfortable color. So it's a totally stripped down "eco" bulb that looks terrible and is horrible on the eyes.

They probably cheaped out on the phosphor coating then.

I'm using them wherever I can. They take too long to get to full brightness for use in the kitchen for instance.

Not to sound too terribly fanboyish, but the Neolites have a very short warm-up time. And they're instant-on.
Some of them I mentioned earlier are running upside-down; another fixture has 4 of them inside one enclosure, oriented sideways. Thus far, none are complaining.
And they're nice too because they're genuinely compact. Their 23W bulbs are the largest, and they're only around 1/8" longer than a regular incandescent.


I wonder too how a CFL fares with minor power spikes, compared to an incandescent. I don't know if any of the better ones incorporate improved filtering, or what goes on in there. If you've got stuff like a compressor running on the same circuit, you're probably hitting any lights on there with small power fluctuations which could harm cheap junk electronics. But I really have no idea how much that would actually impact their longevity; I've got no hard data to back any of it up. Just a thought.

 

[Gillbot]

I've replaced dozens of CFLs that have gone bad. (I have about 40 of them installed between the house & the barn.) Oddly, some of the ones that have lasted the longest are in the barn where the temperature is below freezing a few months of the year. (Those lights are left on 24/7 in cold weather)

There are 3 in our bathroom. I don't think we've ever made it more than 2 or 3 months without changing at least one of them. I replaced all the wiring to that fixture when I remodeled our kitchen a few months ago. They still burn out. Maybe it's because they're horizontal? Then again, 2 of them in the barn are horizontal and have been going for 3 years.

humidity

that's where most of mine died

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

My observation is that they either die in the first week or they last for years. I have 18 in my living room that have been on for 12 hours a day for 3 years. Only one of them is burnt out.

They only ones I have that don't seem to last are ones that go outside. (cold seems to do them in)

 

[bobdole369]

Oddly, some of the ones that have lasted the longest are in the barn where the temperature is below freezing a few months of the year. (Those lights are left on 24/7 in cold weather)

Not surprising. Overheating is the primary mode of failure in the ballast. Having outside in the barn allows quickest cooldown and lowest operating temp. Cool = operating.

Mounting upside down concentrates heat in the ballast, leading to premature failure.

 

[boomhower]

All of mine have done really well. I have had them for around two years and had to replace my first one yesterday, one in the bathroom died. Likely due to the on/off, which I had never heard of before this thread.

 

[ShawnD1]

Some of that depends on your preference for color temperature, and also the quality of the phosphor in the fluorescent tube. Some of the cheap ones have pathetic color rendering qualities.
Some will give their CRI - higher is better. An incandescent is going to be 100, or pretty damned close. A decent CFL will have a rating in the 80's. A lot of cheaper ones will be closer to 70.

Color temp: 2700K is around the incandescent range, or "warm white." 4100K is "cool white" and something above 5000K is usually considered to be "daylight."

I've got some CFLs that are 2700-3000K, and thanks to the lampshade, most people would think that it's an incandescent in the fixture.

I had to check out my bulbs to see what mine are. The desk lamp that I really like is a 23W Sylvania 3000K. Some other reading lamps in the house are 2700k and they also look very nice. The fuck-my-eyes lamp doesn't even have a kelvin rating. It just says Philips Marathon and made in china.

I only have [outside lights] on during the parts of the year when it gets dark early and then only if we're expecting someone. They're not on just because it's dark outside.

Yes, we're cheapskates. I see no use in having lights burning for the hell of it.

This is mostly done to deter crime. This is why stores leave their lights on (dimmed) at night and it's why elementary schools have incredibly bright HID lights on the outside of the building even though class ends at 3pm.

 

[Arkaign]

You mean these bunch of maple-leaf-wearing candypoofs?

http://www.cfl.ca/

Well, they just had their 100th anniversary, so they're hanging around a bit it seems.

 

[boomerang]

Not to sound too terribly fanboyish, but the Neolites have a very short warm-up time. And they're instant-on. Some of them I mentioned earlier are running upside-down; another fixture has 4 of them inside one enclosure, oriented sideways. Thus far, none are complaining. And they're nice too because they're genuinely compact. Their 23W bulbs are the largest, and they're only around 1/8" longer than a regular incandescent.

Oh, I haven't kept up with the latest and I'll admit it. I'll look into this. Thanks.

My wife is the one dictating where they can and can't be used. Maintaining peace in the household makes my life so much more pleasant.

 

[spikespiegal]

I work with lighting technology, and am right now working on a few patents for LED / solid state lighting. Some truths above, but a lot of BS.

Like anything else, most of you assume big box stores like home Depot and Walmart carry the highest technology available and are concerned you get the longest life bulbs to save you money. In fact they're job is to pimp you the biggest junk with lowest lifespan to keep you buying more.

CFLs are impaired by the micro ballast built into the base, which dramatically reduces lifespan. If you notice the fluorescent bulbs in the recessed ceiling at your office doesn't have the f_cking ballast built into each tube. Also notice that most commercial and industrial lighting uses fluorescent and/or metal halide. Incan is reserved for dining and residential.

If you design an incan filament to run at 130 or greater volts, the bulb life gets improved dramatically. I've installed 75-watt clear lightbulbs that have exceeded 10k hours that are designed this way. Brightness is reduced in some cases up to 1/3, but the bulbs last a long time.

In regards to CRI, I really don't care if an incan/halogen has 100 CRI or not because my eyes didn't evolve at 2700k. For that matter, it's too bad we don't have +90 CRI fluorescents at 3500k or so.

LED's have the most potential, but they are very limited when used in legacy bulb formats because of thermal issues. I have neutral and warm white LEDS that last 100k hours and put out over 1000lumens at 85 CRI, but they won't work shoved in a common edison light bulb format.

 

[spikespiegal]

The desk lamp that I really like is a 23W Sylvania 3000K.

Sylvania typically uses a better phosphor mix in their CFLs, and I prefer them for this reason. You'd drool over the industrial/commeral 2700k LEDs I have though.

 

[marvdmartian]

Definitely designed more for areas where you turn on a light and leave it on. When I was in my rental house, I put one in the light fixture outside the front door, and just left it on, day & night. That bulb was still working 5 or 6 years later, when I moved.

But yeah, cheap light bulbs are cheap light bulbs. Don't expect long life when you pay $6 for 6 bulbs, ya know?

 

[HannibalX]

I have a bunch of cheapo Sylvanias I bought at the dollar store, they were 3 for $5. The only reason I bought them was because that particular store didn't carry standard bulbs. So far they've all been going fine for six months. It takes about 2 seconds for them to come on when you flip the switch - this isn't an issue for me, 2 seconds doesn't bother me.

 

[bobdole369]

But yeah, cheap light bulbs are cheap light bulbs. Don't expect long life when you pay $6 for 6 bulbs, ya know?

But I pay <$0.18 per light bulb (100W incandescants) and dimmed 10&#37; last over 1500 hours! It's less than a dollar for 4 bulbs, and there is NOTHING in a light bulb requiring special handling or that cannot be thrown away in the garbage. 4 bulbs x 1500 hours = 6000 hours! I paid over $5 for a 23W CFL that lasted maybe 130 hours. I feel robbed.

CFL's are horrible.

http://epa.gov/mercury/spills/