Light Bulbs

[Meatwad]

Lowes here has CFL that are designed for dimmer switches. They arent much higher then a standard CFL.

I have about 75% of the lights here CFL. The biggest problem I hate about them is that even the "instant on" type still have to warm up to get the maximum lumens out of them.

I would switch over to all LED but they are still too expensive for me, and the output in lumens are less then that compared to a 40 watt incandescent.

[danny76]

We bought 'instant on' bulbs for the whole house. 19 bulbs at £3.15 each. They drive me to distraction. You go into a room ti look for something, switch the light on, root around in the semi darkness, find whatever it is and then switch off the light again, which has by this time reached 4 candlepower. Utter tksh and quite simply not fit for purpose

[Randy1]

I did use white light LEDs for kitchen counter lights.  You don't realize how yellow other lights are till you try the white leds.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

The electrical and lighting industries did a terrible job educating customers about CF bulbs.
If you don't leave them off for at least ten minutes after turning them off, it drastically shortens the bulbs life.

Mute point now really. Most people hate them for the same reason as the OP.

The future is in LED bulbs. Far more efficient, and last years without the drawbacks of CF.

The LEDs are also considered hazardous waste and both bulb types need to be disposed of properly. Try your local Homedepot for their disposal program.

Incandescent bulbs are being banned in California because of their energy use. You'll be next. 

I have replaced most of my 50W GU20 halogen spots to 3-4W LED GU20 spots. The spots work pretty well but the life is nothing as advertised. They burn sometimes even faster than the regular halogen spots and when they do it's a small explosion that sometimes knocks the automatic fuse offline.

[Skuzzy]

LED based lights are due to be replaced with a new technology later this year.  Just FYI.

Do a search for "polymer light bulb" if you want to know more about it.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

LED based lights are due to be replaced with a new technology later this year.  Just FYI.

Do a search for "polymer light bulb" if you want to know more about it.

Sounds cool. But unfortunately the 'cheap to make' part is going to translate into 'huge profit margin' for the coming years if history repeats itself.

[Shamus]

I don't know about you guys, but I've noticed those Compact Fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL's) don't last for the years and years they are supposed to.

Matter of fact, I've been having to change those things in my house left and right.  They cost 5 times more than the incandescent bulbs and last half as long, and we have to buy them now.

What a crock.   

I find just the opposite, the things last forever, the slow start up in cold temps make them a pain in some applications though.

shamus     

[CAP1]

as for their longevity, mom put a few in my living room lights a couple years ago. they're lasting fine. i just can't stand the farking light they make. i can't put my finger on it, but it's not something i like.
 i installed an LED bulb that i got at home depot in a light in my room. it says it's equivalent to a 40 watt incandescent......to me it seems brighter. nice white light, and full brightness instantly. i'm going to pick up a few more of those.

[Meatwad]

LED based lights are due to be replaced with a new technology later this year.  Just FYI.

Do a search for "polymer light bulb" if you want to know more about it.

If those go into production, that would be great.

[Skuzzy]

If those go into production, that would be great.

My Wife has already attended seminars about the upcoming release of those lights.  It was about how it was going to impact commercial building lighting codes.  They said they are on schedule to be in production this year.

She got to put her hands on some working units.  She said it was strange to see they light it put out but virtually no detectable heat emission.

Unless there is some unforeseen issue, it seems they are going to be a reality.  Should put the lighting industry on its ear.

[Drano]

Funny how we all had the incandesant bulbs for like a hundred years and now it seems they're coming out with something else every five! How do ya keep up? As far as the dimming goes it took them a long while to come out with a dimming CFL bulb and they came out with those before they came up with compatible dimmer switches. Trying to dim a  dimmable CFL with a standard dimmer will dim the bulb--just not by much. The voltages are way different. Now they're out with the LED bulbs, it took a while to come out with dimmable models and I haven't found many compatible dimmers for those as they're also again totally different. Now they're coming out with yet ANOTHER bulb(?).

Ths good news is as long as my employer keeps trying these out in an attempt to cut their massive commercial electric bill it keeps me in a job.

Passed Skuzzy's link on to my boss.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

as for their longevity, mom put a few in my living room lights a couple years ago. they're lasting fine. i just can't stand the farking light they make. i can't put my finger on it, but it's not something i like.

Fluorescent light flickers a bit like old CRT screens. Some people are sensitive to it, me included.

[blkblade]

(Image removed from quote.)

That's clever! She's stored the light bulbs in her shirt for easy retrieval.
Oh, wait,...

[MrRiplEy[H]]

That's clever! She's stored the light bulbs in her shirt for easy retrieval.
Oh, wait,...

With Skuzzys new material they can probably start to make self luminated implants.

[Babalonian]

(Image removed from quote.)

Nice bulbs.  Gigitty.