Nyx’s Recent Comments

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  CFL's and timers

  What we've been taught is the ballasts aren't rated to have the small amount of current constantly running in them and it can weaken the ballast and cause it to fail sooner or have other problems.  We also have a note from our fact library that states
  "There are 2 types of timers: Mechanical and Electrical. It is important to first identify the type of timer you are using. Most mechanical timers (identified by a rotating dial) are acceptable for CFL lamp operation. Please refer to the timer manufacturer recommendations usually found on the timer label or in the instructions. In general, CFL's are not for use with electronic timers unless specified as such by the timer manufacturer. Again, this information is usually found on the timer label or in the instructions."

  I think it's like many things, you have to pay attention to the instructions.On Umbra on mercury in CFLs posted 2 years, 3 months ago 17 Responses

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  a little more on CFL's

  The average CFL saves about 66 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Over the life of the bulb, the energy saved is equivalent to 46 gallons of oil.

  Amount of mercury vapor in an average CFL: about 5 milligrams

  Amount of mercury solid in a typical home fever thermometer: about 500 milligramsOn Umbra on mercury in CFLs posted 2 years, 3 months ago 17 Responses

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  CFL's have come a long way

  Just a couple of things..

  CFL's don't work in timers, because the ballasts aren't rated to have the small amount of electricity that the timers give the bulbs.

  They may fit in ceiling fixtures, if you can find the right ones, or there is a new option of hard wired fixture replacements, of which there are quite a few really nice selections for.

  For the Floodlights/tracklighting you should use the ones that resemble flood lights, they do exist in both the large and small sizes.

  They do have indoor/outdoor rated bulbs, just look at the packaging.

  There is a bug light version, sadly they are not Energy Star rated, but do save energy.

  They are not rated for dimmer switches, for the same reason as the timers, but there are dimmer versions available, they aren't perfect but do work.

  The newer bulbs have a higher rating on the CRI index and the Kelvin ratings are closer to a standard incandescent bulb, making their color not so "white" they are closer to that yellow candle color we're used to.  Most bulbs are marked what their Kelvin ratings are, which should be around 2600-2700K.

  The mercury contained inside the bulbs, yes is very little compared to what you end up using with incandescent bulbs and the manufacturers are striving with each generation that comes out to use less and less and if you look up the MSDS sheet on the bulbs some state that there is so little mercury the manufacturers are not required to have a MSDS sheet on them.

  The flicker issues used to come from the magnetic ballasts, but as most of them have moved to an electronic ballast (flickering more times per second so most people can't pick it up) that has gotten better as well.

  Always buy Energy Star bulbs.

  No, I don't work for a manufacturer, I work for a utility and we have a large program supporting the use of CFL bulbs, and we have customers that ask these questions all the time.

  Thanks.On Umbra on mercury in CFLs posted 2 years, 3 months ago 17 Responses

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  Lifespan of CFL's

  The lifespan of the CFL bulbs range from 6000 to 10000 hours or so.  There are 8760 hours in a year and depending on how many hours you have the lights on will depend on how long they will last, not to mention if they are in the wrong kind of fixture, or on a timer/dimmer/etc, the estimated life expectancy will decrease.On Not tonight ... your CFLs give me a headache posted 2 years, 6 months ago 27 Responses

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  CFL's have come a long way

  I work for a utility and one of our biggest programs for conservation is our CFL rebate program.  In my position I've spoken with many people with many concerns about them.  They have come a long way in the past few years (introducing dimmable and 3-way).  I have found most of the problems people have are installing them in the wrong kind of light fixtures, and not buying the Energy Star rated ones.  Yes, the colors are still a bit different, but with K ratings of 2600 or so they are quite close to an incandescent bulb.  Not only do they make the bulbs, but they have introduced permanent installed fixtures, including, yes, photo cell fixtures and motion detectors.  The bulbs range from the typical spiral bulbs, to floods and reflectors (for recessed can and track lighting), globe bulbs (for those bathroom lights), and so on.  

  The humming/flicker has as far as I know been phazed out both because of technology (magnetic ballasts v.s. electronic ballasts) and because of education, as long as they are in the appropriate fixtures you should have no problem.  Once in a while you can get a bad one, which if you bought at a home improvement store, they will typically replace, or they should have a toll free number to the manufacturer on the ballast.

  I recommend them for everyone, the savings are huge, not only do they use roughly 75% less energy but they last 6-10 times longer than a normal incandescent bulb, which means replacing lightbulbs less, not to mention less bulbs in the land fills.  

  Now for one important note.  These bulbs contain MERCURY, not a lot, about 1/10 of a watch battery.  So please, contact your local waste management company and recycle them.  

  Please feel free to send comments/questions.

  Thank You.On Not tonight ... your CFLs give me a headache posted 2 years, 6 months ago 27 Responses