Fluorescent bulb life

dmccarty · May 28, 2006

JDgreen27,

Our house we built and moved into in 1/2005 has about 100 recessed fixtures that we filled with CF's. So far we have only had one burn out. We have undermount flourescent's in the kitchen that we never turn off.

I just did the math and they have been on close to 11,000 hours and they have not been changed. I'm sure they will now go out.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

dmccarty · May 28, 2006

JDgreen27,

Our house we built and moved into in 1/2005 has about 100 recessed fixtures that we filled with CF's. So far we have only had one burn out. We have undermount flourescent's in the kitchen that we never turn off.

I just did the math and they have been on close to 11,000 hours and they have not been changed. I'm sure they will now go out.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

goaliedad · May 28, 2006

my experience is that the life of a bulb is inversely related to the difficulty in replacing it.

goaliedad · May 28, 2006

my experience is that the life of a bulb is inversely related to the difficulty in replacing it.

Highbeam · May 28, 2006

I've found the same to be true with the smoke detector back up batteries. The ones that chirp at you when the battery begins to get low.

Highbeam · May 28, 2006

I've found the same to be true with the smoke detector back up batteries. The ones that chirp at you when the battery begins to get low.

ultrarunner · May 28, 2006

In 1985, the Hospital where I work built a new facility from the ground up. Nearly all of the lighting is T8 Fluorescent and many are never turned off... no on-off switches in the common areas.

A few bulbs were replaced in the first 6 months and then almost nothing for several years. The amazing thing is there are still a few original bulbs eleven years later.

ultrarunner · May 28, 2006

In 1985, the Hospital where I work built a new facility from the ground up. Nearly all of the lighting is T8 Fluorescent and many are never turned off... no on-off switches in the common areas.

A few bulbs were replaced in the first 6 months and then almost nothing for several years. The amazing thing is there are still a few original bulbs eleven years later.

6or7dazeaweek · May 29, 2006

Highbeam....I'm with you on the energy problem. I decided a few years ago, after getting myself into a 1989 total electric home, that I'd do everything I could to conserve electricity.

I bought a case & a half of FEIT 60 watt CF's which use about 14 watts of electricity. I stuck them in every fixture that would accept a CF and was amazed at how much my electric bill went down. I don't care what they look like as long as they do the job & save me $$. The 52 inch ceiling fans both have 5 CF's in them and a slight out of balance fan would go thru incandescent bulbs like crazy. The CF's stand up much better. I have had 7 failures so far....and replaced them from the origainl purchase (spares), and sent the defective ones to the manufacturer with a copy of my original receipt. I had replacements in hand about 10 days later...no questions asked.

My biggest electricity saver was when I installed a 220 Volt digital timer for the hot water heater. Being that I was working two jobs and only needed hot water at certain times of the day, that seemed like the thing to do. The original cost of the timer was around $100 but the payback period was just about 4 months....saving me aroung $25/month. Now I know that you folks out there with kids probably couldn't get by with something like that but living alone, I sure as heck could.

The refrigerator (1989 model) was relegated to the garage to be used for beer & soda after I decided to get a new energy efficient one. Not realizing how much power the old refrigerator used until I disconnected after closing up the pool. Power bill went down another $15 or so just by not using the refrig in the garage.

I guess I'm on a rant here...sorry about that. Anyone out there have similar energy saving stories or tips?
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Jon

6or7dazeaweek · May 29, 2006

Highbeam....I'm with you on the energy problem. I decided a few years ago, after getting myself into a 1989 total electric home, that I'd do everything I could to conserve electricity.

I bought a case & a half of FEIT 60 watt CF's which use about 14 watts of electricity. I stuck them in every fixture that would accept a CF and was amazed at how much my electric bill went down. I don't care what they look like as long as they do the job & save me $$. The 52 inch ceiling fans both have 5 CF's in them and a slight out of balance fan would go thru incandescent bulbs like crazy. The CF's stand up much better. I have had 7 failures so far....and replaced them from the origainl purchase (spares), and sent the defective ones to the manufacturer with a copy of my original receipt. I had replacements in hand about 10 days later...no questions asked.

My biggest electricity saver was when I installed a 220 Volt digital timer for the hot water heater. Being that I was working two jobs and only needed hot water at certain times of the day, that seemed like the thing to do. The original cost of the timer was around $100 but the payback period was just about 4 months....saving me aroung $25/month. Now I know that you folks out there with kids probably couldn't get by with something like that but living alone, I sure as heck could.

The refrigerator (1989 model) was relegated to the garage to be used for beer & soda after I decided to get a new energy efficient one. Not realizing how much power the old refrigerator used until I disconnected after closing up the pool. Power bill went down another $15 or so just by not using the refrig in the garage.

I guess I'm on a rant here...sorry about that. Anyone out there have similar energy saving stories or tips?
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Jon