CFL Bulbs?

coffeehound

You can use up incandescents and halogens in places where the light is only on for a short time, e.g. cupboards, larder, staircases, hallway, box room, shed, utility room, outdoor areas, PIR triggered lights. They are ideal in these sort of cases because they come on instantly.

A._Badger

DawnCrush wrote: »

Only if you plan to use them. Or you know someone who does.
I'm not sure who would particularly want them, but I suppose there are some 'stick in the mud's' out there.

I know there is a stall at our local market who seems to be able to still sell incandescents. Charges £1.50 per bulb, which considering I used to buy 10 of them for 99p back in the day, from the likes of Texas, that seems quite a mark up, but some people seem prepared to pay it.

Many people complained about the quality of light produced by CFLs when they were introduced and actively prefer the light from incandescents. There have been medical arguments suggesting that the light from the latter is better for human eyes but I've never seen anything definitive.

A._Badger

coffeehound wrote: »

You can use up incandescents and halogens in places where the light is only on for a short time, e.g. cupboards, larder, staircases, hallway, box room, shed, utility room, outdoor areas, PIR triggered lights. They are ideal in these sort of cases because they come on instantly.

This is true. What's more, like conventional flourescent tubes, CFLs don't like being turned on and off repeatedly - they are best switched on and left on. CFLs, in my experience, rarely deliver much more than half their claimed lifespan so intermittent use makes them an even poorer choice.

coffeehound

Yes CFLs are a bit of a problem in those respects you mention. We have the EU to thank for the environmental impact of having them forced upon us, only for them to either fail early, or people hate them, or people move straight over to LEDs once they came online. I wouldn't be surprised if three-quarters of CFLs went into landfill within a couple of years rather then the supposed 10 year or whatever life expectancy. A really moronic decision by the bungling bureaucrats.

tk47

A._Badger wrote: »

...CFLs, in my experience, rarely deliver much more than half their claimed lifespan so intermittent use makes them an even poorer choice.

I'll let you know my experience, when we get a failure.

We fitted ours back in 2005 when British Gas sent us some for free. They were said to have a 12 year lifespan, but are still going strong.

We got another couple in 2006 from British Gas, again free, but they oddly only have an 8 year indicated lifespan. Not even been used yet.

Also British Gas sent us another lot in 2008, they have an indicated lifespan of 10 years. Again, not used yet as the original ones are still going strong.

It might seem I'm highlighting British Gas here, but I also got some free ones from Southern Electric also in 2008, I think. Again 10 year indicated lifespan, not been out of the box yet.

I also see here one from Powergen. Not sure when I received that, but the name itself gives a hint at low long ago that was. That one has an indicated 12 year lifespan.

Probably got a few more tucked away in the attic. I think, combined, they will probably outlast me.

Carrot007

Best use is to find someone moving house and let then use them so they can take their half decent bulbs with them! (while still conforming to the contract (not that it stop some people being nasty as you aint gonna sue over bulbs)).

matelodave

WE have three CFL bulbs in the hall where they've been for 10 years and will probably still be there in another 10. The rest of the house has forty odd LEDs all of which have been there for around eight years.

The only incandescent we've got is the one in my portable inspection light.

If you are happy with CFL's then use them, otherwise change incandescent bulbs over to LEDs but it's not worth swapping CFLs with LEDs to save money especially in lights that don't get used very often

A._Badger

tk47 wrote: »

I'll let you know my experience, when we get a failure.

We fitted ours back in 2005 when British Gas sent us some for free. They were said to have a 12 year lifespan, but are still going strong.

We got another couple in 2006 from British Gas, again free, but they oddly only have an 8 year indicated lifespan. Not even been used yet.

Also British Gas sent us another lot in 2008, they have an indicated lifespan of 10 years. Again, not used yet as the original ones are still going strong.

It might seem I'm highlighting British Gas here, but I also got some free ones from Southern Electric also in 2008, I think. Again 10 year indicated lifespan, not been out of the box yet.

I also see here one from Powergen. Not sure when I received that, but the name itself gives a hint at low long ago that was. That one has an indicated 12 year lifespan.

Probably got a few more tucked away in the attic. I think, combined, they will probably outlast me.

I hope you also do the lottery. The CFLs I have tried (both freebies and ones I have shelled out for) have been very disappointing.

Blackpool_Saver

Anyone remember rolling mercury around in your hand and passing it on in the classroom when we were kids?

A._Badger

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Anyone remember rolling mercury around in your hand and passing it on in the classroom when we were kids?

Funny you should mention that, I said it to someone just the other day. And do you remember when the doctor popped a mercury thermometer under your tongue when you were a child?