IMHO, daylight looks best at higher intensities, although it's pretty good at VERY low intensities as well, but I agree, not for mood lighting, most atmospheric restaurants, etc, unless used for localized effect.
Note: All CFLs listed are Edison base unless noted, with the exception of some of the very largest, which are mogul, some of which are ballasted by the fixture, not the tube package. 277 Volt units are available in some of the larger sizes, and from TCP.
I agree with many of these posts. AFAIK, N:Vision are still made by Technical Consumer Products for HD. However, the apparently-exact-same 14W A-lamp CFL that TCP sells, is also available from Philips and Sylvania!!! There goes TCP originality that I thought it had. However, TCP is still a good brand; they tend to last their rated life or so if you don't abuse them (high ambient temps, etc).
TCP product can be ordered online from a variety of sites; google it. You often have to buy a case (12 or 24). There's even a 2W model available, in a couple form factors!! And 5100K, 4100K, 3500K, 3100K, and 2700K to boot! They also have a full spectrum model that actually is, CRI~90 or 92 (can't remember.) And some colored ones. (Feit has colored ones also.) (Feit also makes a 13w BLB spiral blacklight! Some other BLB CFLs at Spencer's and Nolico as well.)
I really seem to especially like the COLOR of the GE 6500K lamps from Wal-Mart and Target (pricier). They seem to be more neutral Daylight (on the Planckian, or near to it) than the TCP, which can often warm up to a greenish cast in the higher wattages.
Wal-Mart has a 10 W, 6500K very nice, neurtal Daylight 2-U tube Edison base CFL for aquariums. Hidden in the aquarium section. Made by LOA; very reliable.
Walgreens has several Feit Electric models in the 5800(?)K range, reasonably priced. Feit Daylights are also available from Nolico, inc. last I checked, and were 6,250K.
6400K PL-type lamps are commonly found. Wal Mart may still stock a model, in their novelty lighting section in Furniture.
8,800K, 10,000K, and 12,000K PL lamps are readily available online for reef aquarium use, but produce a very nice, pure white, cloudy-sky-like color, if you like that, which I do. Don't even have a reef aquarium! They're called "power compacts", and come up to 96 W! Actinic 03 available also in these. A violet, peak=420nm if good brand. Put a Rosco 349 Fischer Fuchsia gel in front and you cut out almost all the non-420nm light, while leaving 420 largely unscathed. You can see the "eye fish" swimming in your eyes. Probably blood. Even 445nm Royal Blue LED works for this. Some imposter Power Compact Actinic 03s are just regular blue.
Large Daylights are available as well, for High Bay lighting. Lots of 55, 65, 105, and etc. Watt, 5000K CFLs online. (pretty large in size.) and outdoor floodlighting, many of which are LOA, and I have had a few of these die. I don't install the large LOA units anymore (though they could have improved, for all I know.) Also, they run MUCH better with the cover OFF. 1.5X light output (yes, 1.5X!) and the light is neutral, rather than very greenish with the cover on. Draws more power from the ballast this way, but the ballast is cooled better as well. Put the cover back on if the temp falls much below 45 F or so, or output and efficiency suffer.
Lowe's has a Sylvania model at 5000K and now 6500K, but they're fairly pricey.
HD may get in the 14W four-packs again. I've found they have this little trick of doing a second rollout of certain product some months later. Note that the HD ones are TCP and 5500K.
LOA indeed HAS improved their quality over the years. 10 to 5 years ago, they were garbage. About half of them died long before their rated life. But their new 7W, 11W, and etc. available at Bog Lots does seem to be a good product, and the thin coils slightly increase the efficiency. If their lumen numbers are to be believed, they are probably the most efficient 7- and 11-watt sized Daylight CFLs out there. I have taken lux measurements and power readings of their inputs compared to other brands of similar size, and they are, indeed slightly more efficient than most, though you'd never notice it.
About 5 years ago, Bog Lots had a ~4100K lamp in various sizes made by "Sunbeam" (a cheap Chinese import.) They were complete garbage, esp. the larger sizes- ballasts died in months.
Gettin' L8. Gotta finish this up. :ironic: Cheers!
