Are CFL Light Bulbs a scam?

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Profile William Rothamel
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Message 1105392 - Posted: 12 May 2011, 12:49:00 UTC - in response to Message 1105388.  

Yes, but they are made in china. I have not experienced the long life of these bulbs as promised. I like them for low heat (in the summer) and lower energy costs. I still experience delay before they come to full brightness. Also many of my recessed ceiling lights are on dimmers so I can't use most of the cfls.

Costs are still prohibitive on much of the product lines of these bulbs. Yesterday I saw a package of incandescent lights in Home depot for 20 cents per bulb.
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Message 1105468 - Posted: 12 May 2011, 16:20:13 UTC - in response to Message 1105392.  

I recall there being dimmer CFL's


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Profile William Rothamel
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Message 1105477 - Posted: 12 May 2011, 16:39:47 UTC - in response to Message 1105468.  

Yes there are but they are even more outrageously priced.
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Message 1106788 - Posted: 16 May 2011, 16:15:07 UTC - in response to Message 1105479.  

The dimmable CFL bulbs also will not work with some dimmers! We have some touch sensitive dimmer switches that will not work with the CFL bulbs, whereas they work with rotary dimmers.
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Message 1106856 - Posted: 16 May 2011, 19:28:59 UTC - in response to Message 1106788.  

The rotary dimmers use a transformer that passes the complete sine wave and they should work on any CFL up to the voltage point where they won't fire the gas.

The other type chops off part of the sine wave which demagnetizes the ballast transformer which then undergoes in-rush current to re-magnetize it on the other part of the cycle. Inrush current is maybe 10 times normal so that this repeated action heats the ballast transformer and destroys it.
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Message 1107483 - Posted: 19 May 2011, 1:02:30 UTC

My 2 cents worth. I have CFL in nearly every fixture in the house. Nearly because in some applications I have other types, such as LED, Mercury Vapor and Halogen. Each have their place.

My local electrical company tried to push consumers into buying CFL's first by giving rebates then by buying down the price. When I first converted my house about 4 years ago I bought the Sunsomething bulbs for about 50 cents each. They started burning out right away. I think it was a quality control issue. The company is no longer in business. Since then I have only bought GE CFL's, both dim-able and regular. I'm happy with them. They do burn out, but not like the Sunsomethings. I really think that the rush to get them produced and into homes was a big mistake. I know lots of people who hate them because they don't last. So Hiamp, try a GE and see if it works for you.
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Message 1107915 - Posted: 20 May 2011, 13:01:47 UTC

To be fair I will try another brand. Another burnt out this morning and it is a "Bright Effects" bulb. Also has a warning on it..."Contains Mercury - Dispose of according to Local, State and Federal laws."

That is the scary part as I know for sure most people just throw them away....
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Message 1108256 - Posted: 21 May 2011, 13:21:44 UTC - in response to Message 1107915.  

When they do burn out, I take them apart and reuse/save the goodies inside for future projects.





http://www.ai4fr.com/main/page_electronic_repair_bulb.html


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Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Are CFL Light Bulbs a scam?


 
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