From: "TKM" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Fluorescent caution
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 01:56:11 GMT


 wrote in message 
news:1131829608.703731.170070@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Just a word of caution for those trying to save money using fluorescent
> lights.
>
> I have been slowly replacing lights around my house for a number of
> years now with fluorescents from many different brands.  I still use
> incandescents where it makes sense such as the bedroom and hallways.
>
> So far my experience with fluorescent is not good.  Of course they cost
> a lot more.  But they last about as long as normal quality
> incandescents, in my experience.   I have not had any last the
> advertised life span.  The span that it takes to save the dollar amount
> on the packaging.

That's unfortunate.  My experience is completely different.  But I do buy 
and specificy  Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps since they must meet 
certain performance criteria including rated life.  I'm a lighting designer 
and my business depends upon the lighting systems performing as specified 
and rated.

> They are not made to be placed near humid areas such as in bathrooms.
> This greatly shortens their life.  Maybe 6-9 months from my experience.

No.  humidity doesn't affect the life of CFLs.  Frequent on/off switching 
does, however, and that's typical of bathroom operation.  I have fluorescent 
lamps in my own home, including the bathrooms, and have had no life problems 
in the three years that they've been installed.

> They are not to be placed in any dimmer enabled socket.

Right!  Dimmers and CFLs don't go together -- with a couple of exceptions. 
But don't install a CFL in a fixture that's controlled by the typical 
wall-box dimmer.

>They are not  to be located outdoors such as to replace you porch door 
>light.
I've not had a problem with CFLs outside or in unheated garages here in 
northern Ohio.  They may take a little longer to start and warm up; but they 
work O.K.

> And they are not to be placed in any closed lighting enclosure.
They overheat if the enclosure is small and overheating shortens life. 
Caution notices on the CFL package alert you to that.  CFLs like open 
fixtures and room temperatures.


> Take those to heart.  It's not worth maybe saving $5 by ignoring the
> guidelines.
>
> I had replace two 60W bulbs with two 15W GE Helical 260mA lights
> (FLE15HT3/2/SWNES) in my closet.   While I was hanging up close in
> there today, I noticed a smell.  The smell of burning wires.  Such as
> when you see kids use 24AWG wire to power 1000W car amps.  Nasty smell.
>
> It took a while, but I found the source.  One of the GE bulbs had quit
> working.   but it didn't just quit.  It shorted.  The ballast had
> blackend and the wiring was getting very hot.  Hot enough to start to
> melt my lighting fixture..

> Luckily I was in there when this happened.
>
> The first picture shows the bulb.  You can see the blackened area at
> the top side of the picture near where the plastic meats the metel
> screw base.
>
> The second picture is w/out flash and macro so you can see the area
> better.
>
> The third area shows the damage.  The foil is melted (not sure if
> correct word.)  The foil was  proper (undamaged) last time I was in the
> fixture.     The angle isn't great, but some of the foil is hanging
> just over an inch from the cealing.  (Top of the picture.)
>
> (Case matters)
> http://www.acmenews.com/images/GEF1.jpg
> http://www.acmenews.com/images/GEF2.jpg
> http://www.acmenews.com/images/GEF2.jpg
>
> I'm not a fan of GE.  My father works there and tells me storys.  But
> I'm not sure if this is a GE problem, or just a problem with
> fluorescent lighting in general.  In any event, I'm switching back to
> incandescents.

Well, it's your money.  You experienced a normal failure of the CFL lamp and 
it was not a fire hazard (according to UL).  CFLs typically fail when the 
capacitor in the ballast fails and there can be a burning smell and some 
heat.  But heat, even if there is some discoloration of the plastic case, is 
not a fire.

Be sure to buy UL listed CFLs (all Energy Star listed CFLs are also UL 
listed).

I've talked to both UL and to lamp manufacturers about the problem.  They 
understand that such a failure can be scary and they are working on a 
solution.  It seems to be more of a PR problem than a safety problem, 
however.

TKM