I guess that's a TCP! Some brands are better than others, GEs can be considered safe overall. I use them since a couple of years and they've never dangerously failed at EOL.
In most CFLs the cathodes' continuity is used as the EOL shutdown protection, with a fusible resistor as a backup in case something worse happens. This system is the most efficient on intermittent use, if you turn the lamp off during the EOL, it won't turn back on because one of the cathodes is open, it'll sometimes turn off by itself, but not always, and that's the problem with CFLs in commercial application! Those are turned off rarely, if at all. The operating position also has a great impact on the CFL's end of life.
Phillips Altos are horrible, but most of their other laamps seem to be very good. I've heard bad things about Sylvania's CFLs, thoguh I wanted to be sure. Sylvaina HID and incnadescent lamps are very good though. GE has started to go down hill since they outsourced all their plants from Hungary to China....
The older Philips CFLs were great too and the old magnetic ones (if they fit) are good too. And remember CFLs are junky partly because the companies designed them that way too..........
The CFLs in the living room of the house I am renting a room in already started aging after 6 months, they now start out dimmer and take longer to warm up. They already have lost some initial lumens too. Man, what lousy bulbs they are! I am really tempted to change them to halogen.
Yes those are actually at a strip mall...I remember this pic, it did catch fire (that one that did) but it didn't burn down the mall...
Hey Joe, use Self Ballasting CMH! I saw there was Self Ballasting CMH lamps outside of entrance of the Empire State Building, which used to be incandescent!
I was pretty clear. I was respondign directly to Dave's comment, which was right before mine. He said "I am really tempted to change them to halogen," so i responded saying "I'd change them to halogen too if I were you. If they're recessed can lights and you have the extra $$$ I'd go for LED."
Yep that's right the CFLs are at my place, although I didn't put them in. I don't think the landlady would notice if I changed them, but she doesn't care that I fix the lights in her house since I am a big help. I did replace a few CFLs with incs or halogens already, mostly because they started warming up too slowly.
I actually had a CFL floodlight base melt before to nothing, then a little spark/fire for 3-5 seconds. This was 4 yrs. ago and luckily outside in the snow for a Christmas display along with 10 others. The other 10 burnt out shortly after that a year later but silently with no "show". I don't remember the brand, but they were (23w ?) 100w equivalent. I had one in the house too, but that went out at the same time about, and silently. So I know the weather didn't affect them. I got them all in a contractor pack, but I don't remember where. Seems like they were "MADE" to burn out at a certain time. SCARY!
Yep that's planned obselescence for you. I dislike the Curly Fry Lamps, but my parents don't seem to mind the fact that those hunks of cheap plastic could set or house up in flames!! Is there a reason why when a CFL has been used on a switch for a while it will start making a "pop" sound?
A friend had one that BLEW UP last month! The glass tubing blew to pieces! Likely a ballast short. I have heard of others having CFLs flame out. No wonder sales of CFLs have dropped a lot here.
For ONCE you actually got me there! I will RUE your day boy!!!!!!
In most CFLs the cathodes' continuity is used as the EOL shutdown protection, with a fusible resistor as a backup in case something worse happens. This system is the most efficient on intermittent use, if you turn the lamp off during the EOL, it won't turn back on because one of the cathodes is open, it'll sometimes turn off by itself, but not always, and that's the problem with CFLs in commercial application! Those are turned off rarely, if at all. The operating position also has a great impact on the CFL's end of life.
Hey Joe, use Self Ballasting CMH! I saw there was Self Ballasting CMH lamps outside of entrance of the Empire State Building, which used to be incandescent!