GarageBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Okay, my Home Depot ones suck, the warm GE ones are too warm. I used to be able to find $20 Panasonic CFLs which lasted me about 10 years, but cant find them anymore. Anyother options?
Best CFLs? (to replace regular lightbulbs)
- Thread starter GarageBoy
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
What is wrong with Home Depot ones? (N:vision I assume your talking about)
I like the the 3500K version in the red packing. I have not lost any since getting them a couple years ago.
I used to like Sylvania, but a couple 23 watt ones burned out too early. They were mounted base sideways in a completely open fixture so heat wasn't the issue.
I got some Meijer store brand ones and they are good so far.
When shopping, avoid the ones rated in the color temperature range of 2700 - 2900. 3000 kelvin is okay if you like warm colors. I like 3500 and 4100 kelvin. Anything higher is just too white or cool white to me.
I like the the 3500K version in the red packing. I have not lost any since getting them a couple years ago.
I used to like Sylvania, but a couple 23 watt ones burned out too early. They were mounted base sideways in a completely open fixture so heat wasn't the issue.
I got some Meijer store brand ones and they are good so far.
When shopping, avoid the ones rated in the color temperature range of 2700 - 2900. 3000 kelvin is okay if you like warm colors. I like 3500 and 4100 kelvin. Anything higher is just too white or cool white to me.
damn_hammer
Enlightened
I've used the N:vision 60w, and 40w equivelants in the GREEN package for several years. I haven't found a CFL that's been closer to a soft white incan bulb. The brand Lowes carries claim to be soft white, but aren't in my opinion ... cold color. I've also tried the brand that Sams club carries, and didn't like. Hope this helps.
blasterman
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1,802
Pretty much any 2700k CFL is going to match incan very well, and be much more efficient.
3500k is probably what the OP is looking for, but they are uncommon in big box stores. The ones that look 'bluish' are usually 5500k and higher.
Most stores tend to only carry either 2700 or +5500k CFLs, which means you have a choice of either light orange or blue, while 3500-4100k typically gives the best subjective neutrality (and is weirdly the hardest to find). Some day maybe I'll figure that one out.
Menards here in the Midwest has a nice live display set up in their lighting aisle showing various CFLs and color temps which greatly helps consumers decide which light to choose. Too bad all stores don't do this because it shows just how nasty the higher temp CFLs are.
GarageBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
I hate their short life spans; I've already toasted around 4 in a year (horizontal mount- ceiling fan with no diffuser or anything (bare bulb)
That's because you are using cheap CFLs. 'Home store' CFL's are typically very limited on their applications.
ddawg16
Newly Enlightened
Ceiling fans are a poor application to use CFL's....the fan vibrations reduce the life of the electronic ballasts..
I have been using N:vision CFL's for almost two years now, the 60 watt bulbs both spiral and A bulbs draw 14 watts (decent savings). The color is very close to incans and the daylight color mixed with the soft white in some rooms look neat. What made me make the switch was a 4 pack of these were under $4, The startup is kinda slow but for the price..:thumbsup:
I've had pretty "good luck" with GE Soft White (2700K) 13w (60w equiv) CFLs.
There is a caveat -
about 3-4 years ago when I started to use CFLs -I bought GE spirals because they were the easiest and most economical to find.
They did burn out much earlier than expected and I was counting the hour rating (8000 hours) not the "5 years" advert.
I phoned the GE 800 number and complained - they asked me to retain the prematurely burnt out bulb and sent me a post-paid container to return it to them, and enclosed a $10 coupon - with which I bought more GE CFLs - I had more bulbs burn out on me earlier than expected - each time GE sent me a $10 coupon - but no longer required me to send any back. So in that way I built up a stock of CFLs since WalMart had packs of 6 for about $10......
All 3 of the earlier burnt out bulbs had a black surround insulation at the base - my more recent ones have a white insulation of which one burnt out prematurely.
I also have older earlier 10w (40w equiv) versions with black insulation of which one is used with an auto timer and is on for about 11 hours/night - and that lasted well over the spec'd 8000 hours before burning out.
I have not had any premature burn outs since then.
So at least with GE CFLs - if they do not last as spec'd - like the earlier black insulation 13w - complaining to GE used to get a $10 coupon - and that gets a pack of 6 CFL's as replacements.......
You might want to try mixing a Soft White (2700K) and a Daylight (6500K)
- combined they seem to give quite a nice light -
but then I like the Soft White (2700K) on their own
- so tastes may differ.
Please see my ad-hoc experiment in Post #48 (link) in The future looks bright?
Personally, I use 5000K color temperature bulbs.
My cheap hardware store Feits actually work fairly well, which surprised me. Pretty much instant on after the first couple times you use them.
Neptun appears to make very good CFL's (including their dimmables), instant on (even dimmed, for the dimmables).
Energy Miser/Longstar CFL's appear to have something of a warmup time, from a few seconds to about a minute for one of their R30's.
Global Consumer Products/Overdrive CFL's appear to have a long warmup time as well, and their dimmable kind of sucks. Also a much lower lumen/watt efficiency.
My cheap hardware store Feits actually work fairly well, which surprised me. Pretty much instant on after the first couple times you use them.
Neptun appears to make very good CFL's (including their dimmables), instant on (even dimmed, for the dimmables).
Energy Miser/Longstar CFL's appear to have something of a warmup time, from a few seconds to about a minute for one of their R30's.
Global Consumer Products/Overdrive CFL's appear to have a long warmup time as well, and their dimmable kind of sucks. Also a much lower lumen/watt efficiency.
Radiophile
Enlightened
If you live in an area with an Ollie's Bargain Outlet check out their lighting area for CFLs. I've bought most of my CFLs there usually for less than $1.50 per CFL, and I've only had a few fail in 10 years. Most of them now are warm white, but occasionally you'll find some cool white. For the price I won't complain about one that's a little too cool or warm.
I replaced the 6 incandescent floods in my Mom's kitchen with CFL floods at $4 each. She was unimpressed until I told her that instead of 360 watts when she flipped the switch, she's now only pulling 90 watts.
I came across an unusual CFL about a year ago. It's a 40 watt swirl equivalent to about a 150 watt incandescent and it's huge. The diameter is about 5" and it's about 8" long. I have no idea what it's intended for, but it's hanging from a bare bulb fixture in the laundry room and it's output and good white color are great for doing laundry. I went back for another a couple of days later and the 50 or so left were all gone!
I replaced the 6 incandescent floods in my Mom's kitchen with CFL floods at $4 each. She was unimpressed until I told her that instead of 360 watts when she flipped the switch, she's now only pulling 90 watts.
I came across an unusual CFL about a year ago. It's a 40 watt swirl equivalent to about a 150 watt incandescent and it's huge. The diameter is about 5" and it's about 8" long. I have no idea what it's intended for, but it's hanging from a bare bulb fixture in the laundry room and it's output and good white color are great for doing laundry. I went back for another a couple of days later and the 50 or so left were all gone!
The best place to get high quality CFLs is Bulborama.com, but there not cheap tho...
