Lightbulbs - energy used on 'switch-on'?

CVID

OK you guys, help a poor, non technical lass out here.

I KNOW that there is a difference between your classical filament lightbulb and the new energy-saving types as regards the power used to 'get going'... but I don't know which way it goes!

Someone once told me that it's pointless switching one of these off if you know it's going to be switched ON again within such-and-such a time. My bet is we're talking the energy savers here - am I right? Can anyone give an example of what (not) to do?

johnjp

Rapid on-off switching of energy saving lightbulbs (esl) can shorten their life though up to date models have more efficient chokes. The bulbs use an inert gas, very similar to flourescent tubes. You will notice that flouro tubes flicker for a little when they`re switched on, this is the choke supplying a controlled amount of charge to `ignite` the gas. Flouro tube chokes can be replaced, they are a small cylindrical object attached to the side of the lamp casing. Esl unit chokes are integral so cannot be replaced. Once the esl has been lit for, say five minutes, the chokes will have cooled down enough to be switched on again. I continue to use standard bulbs in situations where the light may only be on for short periods. As well esl can not be used with dimmer switches.

Darksun

I think I saw a statistic once that the power surge was equivalent to less than a second of use for traditional filiment bulbs and about 20 seconds for flourescent striplights (since the starter has to engage). Not sure about energy saving ones, but generally, power usage from the initial power surge isn't really worth considering.

albertross_2

As already suggested "such and such at time", is minimal. So ignore the advice, it's a bit of an urban myth. If you leave it on, it will cost more than switching it off when you don't need it.

moonrakerz

I think this is just a hang over from conventional tungsten filament lamps where each episode of switching the lamp on and off causes some degree of thermal stress and shortens the life of the filament.
But unless you stood there constantly flicking it on/off for weeks you probably wouldn't notice the difference anyway !