Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Enclosed Fixtures

[Bird]

Thanks, Mark. I didn't find anything about "enclosed" light fixtures on that web site, but did find ceiling fixtures. On the base of these two GE Mini Spiral 26w bulbs it says, "CAUTION Risk of electric shock - use in dry locations only. Not for use in luminaires controlled by a dimmer or totally enclosed recessed fixtures. Made in China." The fixtures in question are pretty well enclosed, but they ain't recessed. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif So maybe they'll be all right. I'll try to remember to check in the stores for the Maxlites.

 

[AMP762]

Bird,I've been using them for about a year now,no problems no more changing bulbs every month

 

[dmp437]

The heat buildup in the enclosed light fixture causes the ballest to burn out and with a lot of the early bulbs this happened. Most of the bulbs available now, particularly the ones from Home Depot, do not have this problem. Keep in mind that not just the tube generates heat, the ballast does also. Example; we have a Westinghouse 15W that draws 245mA. 245mA x 120 V = 29.4 watts worth of electricity usage and heat (double the 15W of advertised usage).
I've been using the compact flourescents for 8+ years and the present bulbs are much better than the first ones. I've got them everywhere they will fit and recommend them especially in fixtures that are hard to service. An example is a historic train depot near my house with 14 foot ceilings. We've had compact flourescents in enclosed fixtures for about 3 years now with no failures. The lights are on anywhere from 8-16 hours a day.

 

[fivestring]

Bird,
I've used the little spiral ones in fixtures for about 6 months now with no problems.

When you flip the switch, it takes a second or two to light up. The CFO is still trying to get used to that!

 

[dmccarty]

Bird,

I started switching over to the CFs in the spring. I have them in
open fixtures, fully inclosed, and in track lighting fixtures. The
fully inclosed fixture is an outside light under the eaves. Its been turned off once.

I have not had any problems and it sure beats changing bulbs
every 6 weeks.

I hear that the Next Big Thing in lighting is going to be LEDs
since the consume little power and generate little heat.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I built my house 9 years ago, we switched as many bulbs to compact flourescent as quickly as they became available. My living room used to have 12 75-watt flood lights lighting as wall washing lights on 2 of the walls, I switched to 16 watt reflector compact flourescents, they are on whenever we are in the room and they were installed 8 years ago, none has ever failed, and my electric bill dropped too!

As for heat, I have had 1 bad experience with compact flourescents, and it is a 42-watt spiral bulb that is installed in a recessed ceiling "can" fixture. The bulbs get very warm, and the ballasts get warmer. One of the 4 I have installed sparked, started smoking and the ballast burt. It did not start a fire, but then my wife was in the room when it happened and flipped the switch off. She removed the bulb. I replaced it with an identical bulb and have not had problems since.

I do not like them for outside use. When the temps drop into the 30's and below they flicker for a while before lighting up, and often they are dim for a while. I'd say I have 50 to 75 of them in and around my house, most have been in use 5+ years.

I wish someone would make brighter reflector style compact flourescent bulbs for use in recessed fixtures!!!