Compact Fluorescent Bulbs; A Beginners Guide.

Introduction:

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are small fluorescent bulbs with a screw-in base. They combine the simplicity of incandescent bulbs with the efficiency of fluorescent lighting.

A good CFL should last roughly eight to ten times as long as a comparable incandescent. If it is mounted in an air tight fixture or a hot location you should expect a shorter life for the bulb. Around 750 - 1,000 hours is a common burn time for an incandescent bulb and around 8,000 - 10,000 hours is normal for a CFL. A CFL will lose perhaps 20% of its brightness over the first 2,000 hours of burn time, so it it not a bad idea to get one that starts out brighter than you need.

An incandescent bulb will radiate about 90% of its energy as heat and 10% as light. A CFL will be closer to 75% heat and 25% light. This means a CFL should produce about three to four times as much light (lumens per watt) as a comparable incandescent. They will also produce less heat than a comparable incandescent bulb.

CFLs have a higher initial cost. An ordinary 100 watt incandescent bulb will produce 1,700 lumens of light and has an initial cost of around $.75 to $2.00 A comparable CFL would cost around $6.00 and use about 26 watts to produce the same 1,700 lumens.

Color Temperature:

Manufacturers use a system called "Color Temperature" to help describe the quality, the exact tone of white, that their bulbs emit. Incandescent bulbs have a temperature of around 2,800K, which is a yellowish white. A lower number , such as 2,400K would start to look reddish. A higher number, say 5,000 to 6,000K will have more of a blue color. By comparing numbers you can get a fair idea of what the light from your bulb will look like before you buy it.

The light from an incandescent bulb will be a warm yellowish color that people are accustomed to. The light from a CFL will tend to be a much cooler blue-white. In public spaces people don't mind bluish light. In a private setting, or in a situation where you will need to see colors particularly well, you should try try using just one or two and make sure you like the look before you get a case of them. If a listing does not say what the color temperature is, you should assume that it is bluish-white. If a listing says "Warm White" then it will more like an incandescent and less blue.

When Are CFLs Better?

CFLs will normally cost more up front, but save you money over the life of the bulb because you will spend less on electricity, and spend less time changing bulbs. CFLs are better if you pay for the electricity, and for spots where it is hard to get at the bulb to change it.

Incandescent bulbs are essentially immune to extreme heat and cold. CFLs will have a shortened life in an enclosed fixture or other very hot situation. They may start slowly or be dim at first if they are in a very cold area. Some CFLs may get cranky below 32 degrees F. Incandescents are also better if you have a light that gets turned on and off quite frequently, as this tends to wear out CFLs. Incandescents may also be the logical choice if someone else pays for the electricity, if the bulb is liable to be stolen, or in a spot where bulbs often get broken.

CFLs can generate radio interference. They may cause interference with IR remotes and IRDA data transfer devices. Incandescents will not.

Dimming:

Any incandescent bulb can be dimmed without harming it. Most CFLs take badly to dimming. There are a few CFLs that are specifically made to work with dimmers. They will mention that right on the box. unless the listing specifically says so, you should assume the bulb cannot be dimmed.

Size:

CFLs are more efficient with electricity, but less efficient with space. They will tend to be both longer and wider than a comparable incandescent bulb. If you have a tight space you may want to check the size of the bulb before you get it.

Manufacturers claims:

You need to read CFL listings carefully. Different manufacturers aim towards different goals. One plant may be trying for the longest bulb life, another may be trying for a bulb that renders colors particularly well, another may be aiming for the lowest possible cost per unit.

Their advertising will sometimes stretch the truth a bit. If you look at the numbers for brightness, measured in lumens, color temperature, measured in degrees K, and power consumption, measured in watts, you should be able to see through most exaggerations. They will always mention their particular strength prominently. If a particular number is missing from a product it is because they would prefer not to focus on a weakness.

CFLs are usually a good economical choice once you get used to the small differences between the old incandescent and the new compact fluorescent technologies.

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Orignal From: Compact Fluorescent Bulbs; A Beginners Guide.