jabarnut
Light Years Away
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join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
1 edit | Another CFL (compact fluorescent light) question
Sorry, I did search this and found one very long thread from some time ago, but thought I'd start a new one instead of resurrecting that one.
Anyway, I'm wondering why there is a warning on some packages telling you to not install these in an enclosed fixture.
I have some high cathedral Ceiling Fans with an enclosed Globe light (the globe is maybe 6 to 8" in diameter), and it's a real PITA to change. (Have to get my tall step ladder in the house, and sway around on top of it while removing the globe and changing the bulb).
I'd love to put CFL's in them.
Is it because it's actually some sort of heat/fire hazard? (Or another reason?)
Or, is it just that they won't last as long?
If it's just because they won't last as long, it couldn't be any worse than the standard light bulbs I've been replacing all too often.
Thanks in advance for any info.
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nwrickert
sand groper
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join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Or, is it just that they won't last as long? I think that's it.
I have some enclosed lights that I put off using a CFL. But I eventually decided to give it a try. And they are working well, and I am not having to replace them as often.
I am still holding out on the recessed light over the kitchen sink. But perhaps I'll give that a try when the current incandescent bulb burns out.
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jadinolf
I love you Fred
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join:2005-07-09
Ojai, CA | reply to jabarnut
I have recessed fixtures in my hallway ceiling and some CFLs failed in the matter of a few weeks, Some have been in for years and have not failed.
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TearAbite
join:2001-07-25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
 ·surpasshosting
 ·Charter Pipeline
| reply to jabarnut
i tried putting CFLs in on our rear porchlight. It is enclosed AND upside down, and all CFLs i ever put in failed after a week or two - and they are only turned on for a minute or so per day (while we feed the dogs).. dont know if that's because it was enclosed or upside down.. or both.
FWIW we also put CLF's in the bathroom and are totally disappointed with the (lack of) brigtness & color. Although we did find that a mixture of "cold" light CLFs and a "warmer" light CFLs provide an acceptable mixture of color and brightness.. |
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the Grumble
Yep, I changed my name again -
join:2009-05-11 | reply to jabarnut
CFL bulbs contain mercury if you put one where it can overheat easily and break and the mercury gas be trapped in the enclosure (read about mercury poisoning). |
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SparkChaser
BURY BECK
Premium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA | reply to jabarnut
Since heat rises and it is enclosed, some ballast will overheat and fail. That's all there is to it. |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
3 edits | said by SparkChaser  :Since heat rises and it is enclosed, some ballast will overheat and fail. That's all there is to it. I don't mind if it fails prematurely, but can it be a fire hazard?
If not, then I'm convinced (at least with my particular application), that it's worth a try.
In my Kitchen, I have a triple overhead light fixture with an open top,
I replaced the three bulbs with CFL's and it's incredible how much longer they've lasted. (They're still going).
By now, I would have replaced at least 6 or 7 incandescent bulbs.
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PrntRhd
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA
·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| reply to the Grumble
said by the Grumble :CFL bulbs contain mercury if you put one where it can overheat easily and break and the mercury gas be trapped in the enclosure (read about mercury poisoning). I would think that trapping it would be beneficial. |
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PrntRhd
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA
·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
2 edits | reply to jabarnut
I would look at halogen bulbs and a voltage reduction disc, good light quality and long life.
LED lighting will become a better option than CFLs but not enough have produced to get the price down yet.
I have had CFL tubes melt where they meet the ballast, yes that means they got very hot. |
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AricBrown
join:2002-12-11
Amarillo, TX
·Cox HSI
| said by PrntRhd :I would look at halogen bulbs and a voltage reduction disc, good light quality and long life. LED lighting will become a better option than CFLs but not enough have produced to get the price down yet. I was at Sams Club and they had LED bulbs in a 2 pack for $15, Thats still a little pricey but its not ungodly expensive and at that price it will pay for its self by energy savings alone. Give it a few years and LEDs will be they way and CFLs will be on they way out. |
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degauss1
join:2001-07-02
Hillsboro, OR | reply to jabarnut
Halogen can do the job as well. Not as efficient as and LED but certainly will outlast by many yeas a standard light bulb. |
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tmh
@verizon.net
| reply to jabarnut
said by jabarnut :Anyway, I'm wondering why there is a warning on some packages telling you to not install these in an enclosed fixture. ... I'd love to put CFL's in them. Is it because it's actually some sort of heat/fire hazard? (Or another reason?) Or, is it just that they won't last as long? I think it's a heat issue. Having said that, I have a 60W CFL (about 13W real-life) installed upside down in a jam-jar type bulb enclosure lighting the deck. I have it under photocell control and it comes on for 6-10 hours every day. It's been close to a year and still running great, so it's pretty much a luck of the draw thing.
tmh |
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the Grumble
Yep, I changed my name again -
join:2009-05-11 | reply to PrntRhd
You'll have to open the enclosure sooner or later. |
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Thane_Bitter
join:2005-01-20
London, ON
·Bell Sympatico
| reply to jabarnut
You mention that these lights are in ceiling fans, because of the vibrations inherent in such a device there are specially designed incandescent "ceiling fan bulbs" that can better cope with the vibration.
I have had mixed results in using CFLs in an inverted position inside an enclosed fixture, some last, others wear out very quickly. Heat seems to shorten the lifespan of a CFL; then again some CFLs seem to have abnormally short life spans.
Just remember to properly dispose of any non-functional CFLs, people foolishly throw them out in the regular trash. It's a waste of resources (the Hg can be recycled), and an environmental hazard (heavy metal). Some stores even accept broken CFLs. |
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BonezX
Basement Dweller
Premium
join:2004-04-13
Canada | reply to the Grumble
by then the mercury would have cooled and settled to the bottom of the enclosure |
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PrntRhd
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA
·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| reply to the Grumble
said by the Grumble :You'll have to open the enclosure sooner or later. True,
But the amount of mercury released by using CFL is lower than the amount released by burning fossil fuels like coal to produce the energy to light them.
»www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/p···cury.pdf |
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jay_rm
join:2002-04-12
Netville
 ·Fox Valley Internet
 ·ViaTalk
1 edit | said by PrntRhd :said by the Grumble :You'll have to open the enclosure sooner or later. True, But the amount of mercury released by using CFL is lower than the amount released by burning fossil fuels like coal to produce the energy to light them. » www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/p···cury.pdf PROVE that running a multi-10's-of-megawatt plant for the milliseconds it takes to power a single CFL for it's lifetime generates MORE mercury then is enclosed in said CFL - I don't believe it.
Don't reference any government websites either - they're the ones mandating the use of CFL's...
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PrntRhd
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA
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·Comcast Formerly ..
| But the thread subject is not about mercury in CFLs, I was simply responding to Eregular's reply where he was dancing on the head of a pin. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
If you really do have independent evidence the government site is using falsified basis for their claims, you should post it, otherwise it is just opinion. |
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the Grumble
Yep, I changed my name again -
join:2009-05-11 | reply to jabarnut
I was just basically saying the Mercury may (is) one of the reasons for the warnings on some packages. |
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jay_rm
join:2002-04-12
Netville
·Fox Valley Internet
·ViaTalk
| reply to PrntRhd
said by PrntRhd :But the thread subject is not about mercury in CFLs, I was simply responding to Eregular's reply where he was dancing on the head of a pin. Not that there is anything wrong with that. If you really do have independent evidence the government site is using falsified basis for their claims, you should post it, otherwise it is just opinion. Translation - "My post is also opinion." Done.
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