Do the flourescent bulbs really save $$?

[RedFury]

I think it may be the Radio Frequency Interferance that messes with people, plus the flickering ( seizures ). Every once and a while I'll go into a store and get the worst pain in my eyes and tunnel vision. Once I leave the store for a few minutes it will go away, but closing my eyes doesn't stop it. I have to literally leave, which is why I think it may have something to do with the RFI.

Flourescents flicker usually because they are dying. Sometimes it's the fixture itself, the ( having a brainfart ) part that fires up the flourescent is going bad...it has to light gas by a high charge of electricity, and then the electricity that flows across the gas in the tubes from one side to the other gives off UV light, which is why they have that white powder coated on the insides of them, the UV makes the powder glow. Black lights are flourescents without the powder.

[Theophylact]

I use compact fluorescents in those places where access is difficult (ceiling fixtures in hallways and pantry) and in places that Marcia (who hates them) doesn't use, such as my study. (She doesn't like the color, which I find unobjectionable, and she doesn't like the fact that they don't come up to full brightness instantly, which I do find a bit of a bother, but not much.)

I like them because they last much longer than incandescents; the 60-W bulbs in our dining room chandelier, for instance, seem to last no more than about six weeks on average. (But that's right: they claim 1000 hours, and we leave them on about 18 hours a day.)

On the other hand, the light in the pantry, a compact fluorescent, hasn't needed replacing in over four years. So even if they cost twenty times as much to buy, their overall replacement cost is lower -- neglecting lost investment earning opportunities, of course.

And they do save money on electricity; a compact fluorescent with the light output of a 100-W bulb consumes about 26 W, so they save you 74% on power.

[Blazer06]

i dont really know. i know i dont like them because i dont get the eqivilant lighting (MAXLITE bulbs). and they give off an annoying glow.

btw... you can get them at aubuchon hardware (www.aubuchonhardware.com) for a dollar each if you dont live around one. there are no rebates, just instant gratification, but i think its only for people in mass


Blaze

[jmebonner]

I checked the site Blaze, but can't find 'em. Care to hook me up w/ a direct linkage?

[Uncle Bob]

Originally posted by RedFury
I think it may be the Radio Frequency Interferance that messes with people, plus the flickering ( seizures ). Every once and a while I'll go into a store and get the worst pain in my eyes and tunnel vision. Once I leave the store for a few minutes it will go away, but closing my eyes doesn't stop it. I have to literally leave, which is why I think it may have something to do with the RFI.

Flourescents flicker usually because they are dying. Sometimes it's the fixture itself, the ( having a brainfart ) part that fires up the flourescent is going bad...it has to light gas by a high charge of electricity, and then the electricity that flows across the gas in the tubes from one side to the other gives off UV light, which is why they have that white powder coated on the insides of them, the UV makes the powder glow. Black lights are flourescents without the powder.

Flow-starter or ballist

[Cruez]

Incandescent light bulbs suck... period...

Anyone use those GE Reveal light bulbs??

We just built this house and 2 of the Reveal flood bulbs have already fuzzed out... What pieces of $#@%...

Also... another GE compact flourescent light bit the crapper.... it was a $17 light.... It is going back to Lowes...

and... about 3 or 4 other incandecent bulbs have bit it also..

I have quite a few compact flourescent bulbs in here.... and the "cheapies" that I have are still going great.... and they take less time to get to their full output than the damn GE ones do....

..... ranting a bit.... oh well... just ticks me off.... We have been living here less than 9 mths...


oh... and there are some compact flourescent lights that are dimmable...

I love them. They let me live guilt free
I can leave the light on and leave the room
The cheapest place I've found to buy them that also has an awesome selection is IKEA. You can even get mini candle base bulbs for small lights in corners or places you want just a glow, those I leave on all night.
I've been replacing all the incandescents with fluorescents.
I'm going to Pittsburgh to meet Lynn next time he's there so I can go to IKEA They have the best regular looking lights there.
Stay away from Home Depot type places, the are too expensive.
I picked some up at an outlet store the other day for 2 bucks a piece, but they were the older larger ones.
BTW, if you have a new florescent screw in type bulb that flickers take it back, if it gets dropped or whacked before you get it, that causes flickering. I dropped one of mine and it then flickered. Still works, so it's on the side of the house in the porch light.

[Chuckiechan]

I use some, but they lie about the light output! So my mail reading & living room lamp has one equal to 150 watt. That works like a 100 watt normal bulb.

About the flicker...

For some reason most monitors default to a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Well, that is what the floursecents filcker at - 60 cycles. What you are seeing is the inerferrence between the two.

So if you set your refresh rate to say 72 or greater, your flicker will be gone!

[MD1032]

Never tried flourescent lights (screw-in) anywhere except over the shower. I like it. It's plenty bright, and very white. The disadvantage is it's like warming up tubes. The thing isn't at full brightness until about 2 minutes after you initially flick the switch. It's gotten better the more we use it. When we first got it, the thing was dim for a good five minutes plus.