Fluorescent Bulbs

[Logan]

I just searched for the dimmable lights to prove to myself I wasn't losing it, and found some at: Dimmable | E3 Living - Environmental Products | Energy Saving Products | CFL Bulbs

 

[_RaT_]

It has taken some time for me to come around to both compact flourescents as well as cans equipped with flourescent ballasts that take the pin type florescent bulb. As an electrician, I was never happy with the color of most flourescent lighting. There are now dimmable flourescent bulbs (R30's I believe) that fit the standard 6" Halo style recessed cans (they work with 5" cans but the bulb will hang down). The dimmable bulbs have the advantage of being of course dimmable and they have instant full lumens at start up. The down side is that the cost is more and the longevity is shorter than non dimmable similarly lumen producing compacts. I also find that the 2700K to be the closest to incandescent color but the color varies dramatically from manufacturer to manufacturer. Going with GE or Phillips may cost you more, but I have found the quality generally superior. With the cost of electricity in my area and the ability to light much more of your home with a smaller generator, these energy saving bulbs are really working well. I have become much more of an advocate of them. RaT...

 

[Hakim]

To share our experience of the past couple of years.

The bulbs we use in our home as well as digital video and still photography are as close to natural sunlight as possible. The bulbs closest to this are 5500 degree Kelvin and 90 CRI -- the closest replication of natural sunlight available. It produces almost 3,000 lumens of full spectrum daylight.

Generally, the lower the Kelvin rating (3,000 and below) the warmer (more yellow) the light is. The higher the Kelvin rating, the closer to daylight (and more bluish).

We buy our CFO bulbs for video and still photography in 200 watt equivalent from Agri-zone in Lancaster, PA. They use these mainly for raising chickens and various aquarium/fish applications. The great advantage of these lights for video and photo work, is you get 500 watt illumination in bulbs that essentially never get hot. If you are a photographer, you can appreciate what this means.
SAVE ENERGY Full Spectrum Compact Fluorescent Bulb 200W - eBay (item 140010284895 end time Mar-14-08 16:15:00 PDT)

eBay has a number of sellers in various watts.
NEW 65 Watt Compact Fluorescent Full Spectrum Photo Bul - eBay (item 290207585081 end time Feb-27-08 17:02:40 PST)

More here also,
Compact Fluorescent full spectrum, Lamps, Lighting, Ceiling Fans, Home Garden items on eBay.com

One trick for shotting video scenes, is to get one of those pole lamps with three cone reflectors (make sure they are white on the inside, not black or brass color). They are about $20 at WalMart. Assemble the pole light and aim the three 74 watt CF lamp at the subject(s). You can use a single clamp on lamp for similar effect, or as a backlight. The result really improve digital video especially.

If you put four 200 watt CFO's in a Britek header (available from Steve Kaiser, among others) that's 800 watts per light. Two of those = 1,600 watts, etc. PLENTY of light. Generally speaking, the more/better lighting, the better your videos will look.

For day to day home use, we buy full spectrum daylight (5,200-5,600K) CFO bulbs in the lower wattages at WalMart, a real force in getting everyone to use CF's. Many WalMarts have very low priced deals in conjunction with local energy companies.

In San Diego, we pay only about .77 cents for the 37 watt CFO bulbs, in daylight temperatures. The link below is to CF's on the WalMart web site. You'll have to check your local WalMart for the super special prices. We use the 27 watt (100 watt equivalence) for most household and lamp applications.
Search results for cfl bulb - Walmart

I also buy at Home Depot. They have good lights, and much more selection in t he "daylight" CF's at higher wattages.
We have switched over the past few years and have nothing but positive experience with compact fluorescent bulbs.

 

[JB4310]

I've gone almost all CF through the house and shop, went on a binge, only got a couple of bathroom vanities to do, on a couple of circuits that I had dimmers I removed them to have the energy saving option of the Cf's. definitely seen some energy savings, I have 14 recessed fixtures in 2 rooms that had 65 watt halogens in them, changed them to the equivalent light output CF which is a pretty substantial savings right there. Home Depot has a "bright white" which I prefer over the soft white, they have them in the indoor flood style for the cans as well as the regulars. It's good to know that they are making far less heat in those enclosed fixtures, and they come up to 150 watt equivalent, so you can have more light ( than 100W incandescents) for still less power in utility areas like garages or basements, where 100W is the norm.

 

[CATMAN]

I have replaced almsot all of my incandescents with CFLs. I like the light, energy savings, coolness, and low power startup. Notice I didn't say long life? That's because they do NOT have long life. I have replaced many many CFLs of different brands over the years with many having lifes in the 6 month arena. Don't do it for bulb life.

Highbeam. I used to have problems with the life of any bulb, until I started using 130 volt AC rated bulbs. I measured my outlet voltage at 123-124 volts AC, so I was really stressing a 120 volt AC bulb. A coworker used to work on traffic lights years ago and told me that they only used 130 volt bulbs in their signal lights. I don't know if it will help you or not. I can tell you that my yard light went from 2 months to 8-10 months of life.

 

[Podunkadunk]

I have two "can" lights recessed in the kitchen ceiling above the island. The electrician put 65 watt bulbs in them when the house was built and we have replaced them with the same when they burn out. I would like to replace the bulbs with the new fluorescent bulbs but I am not sure what size to buy. I would like to have as much or more light than i have now but I don't know about the heat or wattage limits on the "can" its self. Any advise?

A while back we had a discussion similar to this one...regarding the new but expensive flourescent bulbs.

Anyhow, the gist of my post then...I've had a ton of them burn out. Every one of them were in the kitchen ceiling, where they are recessed! Luckily, Wallyworld takes them back. They have really long warranties, 3, 5, 7 years or longer on some.

Good luck.

Podunk

 

[SpringHollow]

So my barn is unheated and i am looking for something to replace my HO fluorescent lights. Does anyone have experience with CF's in very cold weather (single digits or lower)?

Thanks,

Ken

 

[RonMar]

So my barn is unheated and i am looking for something to replace my HO fluorescent lights. Does anyone have experience with CF's in very cold weather (single digits or lower)?

Thanks,

Ken

No experience into the single digits, but the two outside CFL floods I have startup and work in the upper 20's. As I mentioned earlier, it takes a little bit for them to go to their full output, but the light level is useable(2/3 of full?) immediatly and they ramp up to full in less than a minute.

 

[_RaT_]

Highbeam. I used to have problems with the life of any bulb, until I started using 130 volt AC rated bulbs. I measured my outlet voltage at 123-124 volts AC, so I was really stressing a 120 volt AC bulb. A coworker used to work on traffic lights years ago and told me that they only used 130 volt bulbs in their signal lights. I don't know if it will help you or not. I can tell you that my yard light went from 2 months to 8-10 months of life.

The price you pay for 130V bulbs is efficiency. The 130V filament also has considerably less lumen output at a similar power consumption rate as a standard 120V. Your right, traffic signals use 130V bulbs, 69 watt bulbs for that matter. Now almost all have or are being replaced with LED. LED can last for 100,000 hours, a real bonus for traffic lights.

 

[davitk]

So my barn is unheated and i am looking for something to replace my HO fluorescent lights. Does anyone have experience with CF's in very cold weather (single digits or lower)?

Thanks,

Ken

We have a CF on our back porch, has started down to -25 F, taks a bit to warm up. Ironically, that particular bulb has lasted three years now without burning out.