CFL bulbs - How to get a better color/Light - Page 2 - DIY Chatroom

Red Squirrel · 09-29-2009, 12:04 AM

Good info! I personally prefer the color of CFL light. It is a brighter, whiter light, which seems to light up a room better. The thing that is unfortunate about them though is the inability to dim them in ambiance setting. My crawlspace only had 2 incad lights, I added 4 more to make a total of 6, and made them all CFLs. A HUGE lighting difference in there now and probably less power draw.

Also with CFLs you can safely exceed the wattage limit of fixtures as they produce way more heat.

sdsester · 09-29-2009, 12:55 PM

Random things...

6500K is the recommended color temperature setting for computer monitors and the standard most manufacturers use for their online color tools. Bulbs in this color range are not bad for most applications.

Keep your eye on things like LED replacement bulbs as the technology is evolving rapidly. IMO they are still not bright enough for most situations and the cost is hard to justify. There is legislation floating around though that would ban lightbulbs with any sort of mercury content (staggering to see how much of the stuff does end up in landfills) so do not get too accustomed to the things.

Not sure how to get around the lights burning out when turned on and off frequently like in hallways. I do a lot of lighting work for galleries but theirs tend to be on most of the day.

hyunelan2 · 10-06-2009, 01:35 PM

Are there any dimmer-compatible CFLs? I have 5, 65w, incandescent, recessed floodlights in my kitchen - controlled by a dimmer switch. It would be nice to use 75w of CFL vs. the 325w that they eat now. I'm pretty-sure that CFLs do not like to be dimmed (at least fluorescent tubes' ballasts don't like it)?

**Scuba_Dave** · 10-06-2009, 01:40 PM

They do make dimmable CFL bulbs
I have (4) - I actually need 5 for the Dining room
I put one in as a test (a year ago) & it does dim
They are usually more expensive $7-10 each depending upon watts
--Note I haven't checked prices on these recently - they may be lower
Some may not dim as low as incandescent bulbs
With CFL you need to turn them up past a certain point, then dim them down

Dcislander · 10-07-2009, 12:48 PM

Good thread all. I am in the process of switching as many bulbs as I can to CFL. I had a ton of them already in the house, so not going to upgrade to the recommended brands until they burn out.

I would like to change our outdoor dusk to dawn lamps to CFLs but am having a tough time finding either sensors that work or CFLs that are reliable. Most sensors that screw into the fixture only use standard incandescent bulbs. I did find and order CFLs with the sensor built in but am finding them unreliable--they do not turn on, or do not turn off, or flip on and off randomly for no reason.

Anyone know of or used any dusk to dawn CFLs that work?

hyunelan2 · 10-07-2009, 02:07 PM

They make CFL compatible Dusk to Dawn sensors, I know because I need to buy 2-4 of them.

Example (note, not an endorsement of any store, just example):
http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...LAID=396537285

EDIT:
apparently Ace has them at their outlet too, cheapest CFL sensor I can find on the web:
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(cc...rce=GoogleBase

Dcislander · 10-07-2009, 02:21 PM

Wow. That seemed much easier than the searches I made. The sensors I found were the ones that Lowes carried that were programmable (2 hrs, 4 hrs, 6 hrs, random) which were totally useless. I will try these. Thanks.

FYI, the CFL lamps with the sensors built in just are not up to the job (yet). At least the ones I spent $80 on weren't.

Thanks for the 411.

frenchelectrican · 10-10-2009, 04:34 AM

Dave that is good writing on the details on CFL's

Let me fill you in couple more details including some of the members may miss some information due I dealt with CFL pretty often so here a quick run down

For wattage size yes Dave is right with wattage listing and also they do come varations of shape

Speaking of dimmers yes they do have dimmable verison and of course they cost more however they will NOT dim excat the same as indentscent bulbs are espcally if dimmed lower than 25% of brightness level.
When they are dimmed the bulb colour will shifted to more warmer level and some case it will flicker { I know some cheap brand will do that }

Now for ceiling fan useage this part you have to be carefull with this one due I noted the trend of using canberila { very small } base to limit the wattage however some ceiling fans do have electronic control to limit the bulb wattage if that the case you will have to leave one indentscent bulb the rest with CFL in there to order to get it dimmed or turned on properly otherwise some will flicker like nuts.

Now for dusk to dawn and motion sensor verison this part get little trickier so I will break in two parts to clear up couple facts

Dusk to Dawn verison:

Typically it will be either wall pack or standard " barn light " luminarie type or simauir to street light the most common wattage I did see they useally are 65 watts but once a while I will get a 85 watts verison { more common found on larger units } for smaller size it will varies a bit by luminaire size and design they run from small as 13 watts to 23 watts and some will have photocell in there and some don't { I will expain more later with photocell part }

{ if you going to replace the Mercury Vapour units you will not able get new unit only bulb for short while due the engery pact so you will have three choices Metal Halide or HPS High pressure sodium or CFL verison }

Motion sensor verison:

Yeah this part I know more and more are showing up

However let me address couple issue is warm up time most case it will come on pretty fast but some delay to warm up when the bulb is cold.

Now with motion sensor and photocell there are couple items you have to pay attetion when you hook up CFL due majory of them are electronic ballasted unless you have magatic { old school } ballast and you will have issue with flickering when they are in off mode or stand by mode.

For me I useally get Intermatic or Watt stopper for photocell but for motion sensor Wattstopper work very well with me and I used alot in commercal building due both Intermatic and Wattstopper both used netual to power the relay so it will be true on or off not feed thru with some of two wire photocell verison.{ do you recalled with lighted switch handle it the same idea }

If have more question just holler one of us will answer more question if you need it.

Merci,Marc

kimber · 10-14-2009, 12:48 AM

I was just trying to figure out what type of bulb to put in my craft room...in the dark dreary dungeon

thanks!

Mrnagrom · 10-14-2009, 07:57 PM

i just bought a few led bulbs. i love them. don't use much power but put out a reasonable amount of light.. i couldn't stand the light that cfl's produce. led's are pricey but worth it in terms of enjoyable light.

my apt is about 40% led bulb 40% incandescent bulb and 20% led ambient lighting.

richardballast · 10-18-2009, 10:32 PM

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned my favorite thing about CFLs which is the fact that they last MUCH longer than incandescents. Our porch light used to burn out every few months, but the CFL there has been going strong for well over a year.

richardballast · 10-18-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrnagrom

i just bought a few led bulbs. i love them. don't use much power but put out a reasonable amount of light.. i couldn't stand the light that cfl's produce. led's are pricey but worth it in terms of enjoyable light.

my apt is about 40% led bulb 40% incandescent bulb and 20% led ambient lighting.

I've never seen an LED in use as a traditional light bulb. Don't LED's produce directional light as opposed to the indirectional light from CFLs and incandescents?

**Scuba_Dave** · 10-18-2009, 11:56 PM

LED's are directional to a degree
If you have looked at a new LED TV you will see that you can view it from an angle

LED lights do spread their output to a certain degree based on their Mfg
Just an example:

sdsester · 10-19-2009, 08:53 AM

LEDs are now combined in all sorts of arrays to replace just about any sort of bulb, including long florescent tubes (they let you get rid of the ballasts too). Brightness and cost are still the major issues though. Some do come with warranties of five years or longer though. They come in different colors of white light and in decorator colors and blacklight for special applications. They contain no environmental hazards like mercury.

For those who have to change exit light bulbs on regular basis, LED replacement bulbs or fixtures themselves are great and well worth the money. I have not tried the long tubes anywhere yet.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/MR16_specs.htm

http://www.ledliquidatorsinc.com/led...FRnyDAodnlgwtQ

richardballast · 10-19-2009, 09:34 PM

I bought an LED flashlight last year and that thing is SUPER bright. 4 or 5 of those bulbs in an array would put out plenty of light. But it still seems to me like the light would be too directional. I guess I would just have to see it in action.

And certainly the cost is a major factor.