 Spork
join:2011-07-13
Methuen, MA | reply to fifty nine
Re: CFL Comerical Electric brand burnt and melted bulb said by fifty nine:said by Nick_L:I'm curious, does anyone know of any evidence that failing CFLs have ever actully caused property damage? I use a fair amount of CFLs at home and haven't personally experienced this type of failure, but it is a scary prospect.
I heard of one person whose house burned down because of a CFL. But that's because they put it in an enclosed fixture with a dimmer. We've got (8) 100w equivalent dimmable CFL's in recessed fixtures upside down with white plastic covers to make the recessed fixture enclosed in the basement. They've been on various levels of brightness for 6-8 hours non-stop without any issues. I'd be curious to find out what other contributing factors existed to lead to a fire.
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"Every once in a while, declare peace....it confuses the hell out of your enemies." |
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| said by Spork:We've got (8) 100w equivalent dimmable CFL's in recessed fixtures upside down with white plastic covers to make the recessed fixture enclosed in the basement. They've been on various levels of brightness for 6-8 hours non-stop without any issues. I'd be curious to find out what other contributing factors existed to lead to a fire.
From what I gather it was mostly because they used a non dimmable CFL with a dimmer.
I'm not sure whether it's the dimmer or the CFL that caught fire.
I have PureSpectrum dimmables in one room of my house and they work pretty good. No heat issues either. |
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Spork
join:2011-07-13
Methuen, MA | said by fifty nine:From what I gather it was mostly because they used a non dimmable CFL with a dimmer.
I'm not sure whether it's the dimmer or the CFL that caught fire.
I have PureSpectrum dimmables in one room of my house and they work pretty good. No heat issues either.
The ones I'm talking about are PureSpectrum as well. Great price and good quality.
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"Every once in a while, declare peace....it confuses the hell out of your enemies." |
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boombie
join:2000-12-01
Milwaukee, WI Reviews:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to skj
I have nothing but cfl's in all of my lighting.
Which way was the base facing?
Most screw in cfl's need to be base down to help reject heat from the bulb. I have seen some that the base was up get a little melty due to the heat. Or in the case of can lighting, it needs to be open at the top to release heat. |
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 skjWelcome to the far side of realityPremium,Mod
join:2002-04-04
Gone South
Charter Internet/TV
Earthlink DSL
CenturyLink
ISP b2b etc
Cisco
| The base was face up in a recessed ceiling light. I have used CFL's for years in these lights and have not had any problems with any other brand. While base down may be preferable, I have not seen anything, unless I have missed it, indicating they could not be used in this manner. It was not in an enclosed fixture or on a dimmer circuit.
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Reality is the leading cause of stress among those who are in touch with it.--Jane Wagner |
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| reply to skj
Just had an Earthtronics CFL die after 6 months. POS. I have the receipt, so maybe I'll return it under warranty so they can send me another POS bulb. |
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 IowaCowboyWant to go back to IowaPremium
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA
·Comcast
 ·Verizon Broadban..
| reply to skj
I buy CFLs from reputable manufacturers such as GE or Sylvania as they have been in the light bulb business for years (GE has been making light bulbs for decades, if not a century). The GEs and the Sylvanias may be more money but I have had better luck with them and the best luck with Sylvania.
I use CFLs in most of my fixtures (due to the high electric rates in the New England area), but I still use incandescent lights in my security light (not compatible with CFLs) and the full bath (steam from the shower kills CFLs pretty quickly).
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All of my CPE (including my EMTA) is customer owned. The only Comcast owned equipment in my house is the CableCards in the two TiVO boxes I own. |
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| I've had GEs die quickly and some burn up, because they're still Chinese made pieces of crap.
Sent the EarthTronics CFL back for a warranty replacement. Paid $5.35 in postage to return a bulb that cost $4.89.  |
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 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | said by aannoonn :I've had GEs die quickly and some burn up, because they're still Chinese made pieces of crap.
Sent the EarthTronics CFL back for a warranty replacement. Paid $5.35 in postage to return a bulb that cost $4.89.
That's what they figure. A person won't spend the money for postage that's more than they paid to start with. |
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| reply to aannoonn
said by aannoonn :Sent the EarthTronics CFL back for a warranty replacement. Paid $5.35 in postage to return a bulb that cost $4.89.
I had 3 of those EarthTronics CFLs. Now I see a second one is noticeably dim.
Anyone have a good source for 25 W (or equivalent) ceiling fan bulbs? |
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 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
·Charter
 ·surpasshosting
 ·voip.ms
| reply to skj
»www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R···Id=10051
You can 40 watt in store. There are 25W available through many online retailers.
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...because I care. |
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| reply to skj
I swear I recognize that bulb exactly, or it's the stuff I'm smoking.
A few years back I bought a big blister pack, like 12 bulbs, from the store and I remember they had no real brand name. The bases were all that beige plastic, not white, and writing were the same color as in the pic. There were little vent holes between where the bulb tubes enter into the ballast/base housing.
EVERY ONE OF THOSE BULBS went out in the same fashion as the one in the picture above. Now they lasted for a good long time, but when they went they went with sparks, smoke, and very bad smells. |
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bbear2Premium
join:2003-10-06
94045
kudos:3 | reply to skj
The thing that most people don't realize about CFL longevity is that is related to the on/off cycles. CFLs do not like to be cycled on and off quickly. We're talking like a minute on then off several times a day. That surely will burn them out fast. If you turn on a CFL and leave it on for a least 10-15 mins, that will extend the life. The problem is, this is contrary to what most of us grew up with. Once we started doing this, all of our CFLs have lasted for years, even the $0.25 ones; base up and some in enclosed fixtures. Picked up this tip from a local HD sales person. |
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Spork
join:2011-07-13
Methuen, MA | said by bbear2:The thing that most people don't realize about CFL longevity is that is related to the on/off cycles. CFLs do not like to be cycled on and off quickly. We're talking like a minute on then off several times a day. That surely will burn them out fast. If you turn on a CFL and leave it on for a least 10-15 mins, that will extend the life. The problem is, this is contrary to what most of us grew up with. Once we started doing this, all of our CFLs have lasted for years, even the $0.25 ones; base up and some in enclosed fixtures. Picked up this tip from a local HD sales person.
I don't buy that 'myth' either. Kids have been turning CFL's on/off in rapid succession for years. Maybe it's taking time off the back end of their life span but most are going on 7-9 years old now after taking that type of treatment.
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"Every once in a while, declare peace....it confuses the hell out of your enemies." |
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 pikePremium,MVM
join:2001-02-01
Washington, DC
kudos:3 | reply to IowaCowboy
said by IowaCowboy:reputable manufacturers such as GE In my job, I work very closely with a senior GE engineer that has 30+ years in with the company. Know what he told me GE stands for? Good Enough. I won't mention publicly what division he's in, but I will say it's not consumer products.
Hate to put it this way, but it's 2012 and the only thing that matters is profit. Quality is completely irrelevant to big conglomerates any more. My employer spends millions of (your tax) dollars on GE equipment annually only to have it rarely function on delivery, and often burn up in service. And GE simply tells us "tough shit". They're the only ones that can make the specialty stuff we need so we have no choice.
If this is their attitude on $100,000+ components, I can only image the garbage they're producing on the consumer side of things. I vowed never to buy their crap years ago in protest of the headaches I deal with at work. |
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 49528867Premium
join:2010-04-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL
kudos:3 | said by pike:In my job, I work very closely with a senior GE engineer that has 30+ years in with the company. Know what he told me GE stands for? Good Enough. I won't mention publicly what division he's in, but I will say it's not consumer products. You cannot spell garbage, without GE. 
Wayne
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"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard |
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Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | said by 49528867:said by pike:In my job, I work very closely with a senior GE engineer that has 30+ years in with the company. Know what he told me GE stands for? Good Enough. I won't mention publicly what division he's in, but I will say it's not consumer products. You cannot spell garbage, without GE. Wayne You're entitled to your biased opinion Wayne but a GE Imaging unit found my very small lung cancer. To me GE is great. So you can continue your hateful rants but many of us just filter you out. |
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Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1
1 edit | reply to pike
said by pike:said by IowaCowboy:reputable manufacturers such as GE In my job, I work very closely with a senior GE engineer that has 30+ years in with the company. Know what he told me GE stands for? Good Enough. I won't mention publicly what division he's in, but I will say it's not consumer products. Hate to put it this way, but it's 2012 and the only thing that matters is profit. Quality is completely irrelevant to big conglomerates any more. My employer spends millions of (your tax) dollars on GE equipment annually only to have it rarely function on delivery, and often burn up in service. And GE simply tells us "tough shit". They're the only ones that can make the specialty stuff we need so we have no choice. If this is their attitude on $100,000+ components, I can only image the garbage they're producing on the consumer side of things. I vowed never to buy their crap years ago in protest of the headaches I deal with at work. Disgruntled employee who feels he was not fairly treated (promoted). The fact he stayed there 30+ years debunks his assessment of GE or he's the biggest Hypocrite in history. Apparently he had no problem accepting his pay and benefits from that no good company. |
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49528867Premium
join:2010-04-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL
kudos:3 | reply to Jack_in_VA
Yes, I am sure they are to you....
Though I find it funny that you sure don't like some of their products at all.
»www.gedigitalenergy.com/SmartMet···plus.htm
Wayne
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"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard |
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Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | Wait just a minute dude my opposition to smart meters has absolutely nothing to do with the company that manufactures the product that others want to utilize to advance their own political agenda on citizens worldwide.
GE is probably only one of the companies manufacturing this product.
So to stretch your own agenda to discredit me forget it. I recognize a flame here. |
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