"Energy Saving" bulbs are *not* great! - if by 'energy saving' we mean the 'compact fluorescent' bulbs - for the following reasons: Compact Fluorescent Lamp Characteristics: Benefits ... Low energy usage Relatively efficient Long life (typically 8,000 - 15,000 hours claimed) Deficiencies ... Comparatively expensive Medium to high technology Wide variety of non-reclaimable materials used in manufacture Poor Colour Rendering Index (CRI) - typically 60 - 70 Commonly fail prematurely if subjected to repeated switching cycles * Cannot be used at very low temperatures (< -20°C, but often higher) Cannot be used at high temperatures (> 60°C, but often lower) Relatively poor power factor (around 0.52 seems typical for better versions) Cannot be dimmed with common light dimmer circuits May suffer instantaneous failure with moisture ingress (condensation, etc.) Disliked by many people (not always for valid reasons) Will not fit (and cannot be made to fit) many fittings designed for miniature lamps Unsuitable for totally sealed light fittings (they will get too hot, and the electronics will fail) Moderately high initial (inrush) current when switched on (20-100 times operating current !) Must be recycled, or no tangible environmental benefit can be claimed May (will?) cause local interference on AM radio and possibly TV picture (analogue TV only) because of EMI For a *very* detailed analysis of CFL bulbs, please have a look at: http://sound.westhost.com/articles/incandescent.htm Have an 'energy conservative' weekend, guys Tony 2009/7/17 aki <aki275@googlemail.com>:
@Areba, energy saving bulbs are great, esp the new generation ones. I stick to philips. I'll give an example. In the last power rationing, my 2kva ( 24 volts ) design invertor would run ES 10pcs 10 watt and 3 pcs 22watt bulbs at 4 hour tests, all at one go. the small apt looked lit like a stadium and the neighbors would " borrow " a connection for one ES bulb. When testing completed, I'd run my 21inc Sony TV and DSTV decoder for 4 hrs with 3 bulbs. The system was risky as I did not have time to design an overload trip. Times have changed, even a basic ups has builtin checks. Here's the interesting part that got me started then : light and DC oscillation. my first test was using a 6volt bike battery powering 2 mosfets and a 21watt ES bulb. Blindingly bright.... Now it is so much easier. ( "electricity is dangeriuos disclaimer" ) On Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Areba Collins <arebacollins@gmail.com> wrote:
Ill give a more wholistic approach. First, do an audit of energy consumption. Discard those 40bob bulbs for their 18w equivalents. (for a modest 2br house, thats a saving of about 1000w, and more battery life. )
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