How to - get a better color/Light from CFL bulbs

Scuba_Dave

With Incandescents being "outlawed" many people will need to buy & install CFL's
Seems many people are dissappointed by the color/light output of CFLs
This thread is a discussion, explanation of the color/lighting available
1st CFL's come in different wattages - & list the equivelent incandescent wattage
Normal wattages are - these vary slightly by Mfg:
CFL
9w .........= 40w equiv
12/13w....= 60w equiv
14/15w....= 75w equiv
22/23w....= 100w equiv
65w........= 500w equiv (floodlight)

There are smaller wattages, but they tend to be more expensive

CFLs DO contain Mercury - same as every flourescent light in almost every workplace for decades
The overall mercury put into the environment is LESS due to the fact they use less energy
That means less energy needs to be produced, as a result less mercury is released into the environment in creation of electricity
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?...r_cfls_mercury

Incandescents produce only 10% light & the rest of the energy used is heat
CFL's produce the opposite, only 10% heat
If you have a recessed can or other fixture that blinks on/off with an incandescent then try a CFL
Recessed cans have a thermal sensor, if it gets too hot it shuts the light off

CFL's come in many different types, the curly bulbs are the most widely known
But they also come in a reg glass bulb enclosing the CFL within
These are great for the lamps where the shade is "attached" to the bulb


Yes - this is a CFL bulb too:


CFL's come in different light "colors" - Kelvin rating = K
Please note the K ratings will change by Mfg & Mfg can change these at times
Also note that many bulbs will NOT list the K rating on the bulb - only the pkg
Lots of times I will use a marker & write the date of installation on the bulb base
In some cases I also write the K color on the base
Normal green pak from HD Nvision Mfg = soft white = 2700K
Red package from HD Nvision Mfg = Bright white = (4500k ? - guessing)
Blue pak from HD Nvision Mfg = Day light = 5500K
Blue pak from Lowes Bright Effects Mfg = Day light = 6500k







That's it for now
-Dave

RDS

Just for people's information, the October 2009 Consumer Reports has ratings and rankings on CFL bulbs by brand. (Not sure if this data is accessible on their website to non-subscribers.) Generally speaking, EcoSmart, GE and Philips come out tops. I found it a useful article because it's certainly been my experience that brightness, color, and especially longevity vary by brand, and the article sorts all that out.

Scuba_Dave

I couldn't find anything as far as this report from Consumer Reports about CFLs

They are a $$ making company, you have to pay them $$ to read the reviews
The fact that they give Behr paint a high review disqualifies them as a reliable resource in a lot of areas IMO
They do have a lot of good information
But with everything available on the web I'm not paying them for their opinion

Nathan

Great write up Dave... thanks!

__________________
Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

chrisn

good information

RDS

They are a $$ making company

They are a non-profit organization according to the masthead of the magazine. You don't want to pay them, don't pay them -- but other people might like to be aware of the option. As with everything, don't treat it as gospel of course.

Scuba_Dave

Many people do use CR, I'm sure they do have some good info
I worked at Harvard Pilgrim, also a "non-profit"
That doesn't mean they can't make $$ - it means they have to spend what they make
We installed brand new computers & flat panels company wide years ago to spend profit $$
This was WELL before flat panels were in wide spread use

ARI001

Correction it means at the end of the year they can not show a profit on thier investments. They can make money they just have to get rid of it in a justifiable manner. That can be done many ways. You are correct though many not for profits generate large sums of revenue which is distributed usually to the ceos, founders, and sometimes employees in the form of bonus's or invested back into the company. They are allowed to retain money and invest money into other sources for monetary gain in certain situations such as for making loans to disabled vets. The profits generated is used to create a reserve fund for no interest loans to vets or pay bills and medical expences for them out right. The interest earned is not considered a profit in that situation since it is used as a reserve to make said loans and payments. That said some of the highest paid employees and corporate officers work for not for profits as well as some of the lowest paid.

CR's evaluation of Behr paint is plainly labeled cost vs. value. They do not say that behr is the best paint on the market, they say based on cost and performance it is the best deal. Application is not a deciding factor.

I read the same article mentioned by RDS it is informative.

n0c7

I find that CFL's do not last at all in a hallway application as the constant on/off switching greatly reduces life to a matter of months. They also make a poor choice for short term lighting as they take way too long to warm up and obtain optimal lighting conditions. What bulbs would be recommended in this application?

brokenknee

Not very good in the cold either, I have them out in my shed and it takes them up to four minutes to warm up when the weather gets a little chilly (below 10*). Do not put them on a light dimmer circuit as they will burn out in short order.

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Picture/Photo Pitcher/Carafe ------- Where/Someplace Were/Be

Scuba_Dave

I use CFL's everywhere, majority are NVision brand from HD
I have noticed a small warm up time, but not that long
My bathroom CFL's last on average 3 years with on/off

gma2rjc

I see the ad below this thread advertises packaging to recycle bulbs starting at $34.95. Will we have to pay to dispose of these bulbs as well as pay more to purchase them? Just wondering.

Scuba_Dave

Home Depot & other stores have free recycling boxes to dop off used bulbs

ARI001

I have had cfls in all my hallways for over a year now with no problems. Halogens or LED lights can work for short term lighting.

We run them outside in several lights and have noticed they do take a little longer in cold weather to reach max output. We run halogens for security lighting. Dimmable cfls are available now.

Red Squirrel

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.