Compact florescents and SLOW startup

[JHZR2]

Hi,

Each time I need to replace a lightbulb, I put in a compact florescent... Usually work great.

Recently I replaced the bulbs in the fan/overhead light in my kitchen. The bulbs that were in there before were Philips 'director' type bulbs. Kind of different in shape from a norbal bulb, and with some sort of reflective coaqting inside to channel light in one direction - and with a heavy translucent layer over the whole bulb.

Anyway, one died, and I needed one for another light fixture upstairs, so I figured it was a good time to put CF bulbs in the kitchen light since its on so much.

I found at the HD the exact same shape bulbs, like these 'director' bulbs that were in there before. They are CF bulbs inside f a glass housing.

The problem is that when I turn them on, it takes nearly a minute for them to get to full brightness. when they do, the 14W, 50W 'equivalent' is brighter than the 75w incandescent that it replaces... but it is very annoying that it iakes so long for them to start. I dont have this issue with other CF bulbs, they all start instantly, or flicker barely once.

Now, the fan/light fixture has a remote-control operation, and the remote has dimming function on the light control (same button). I have made sure the dimmer is set to maximum, as evidenced by light output and absence of hum, as well as startup time.

So, my question is, what should I do? Is there anything that I can do? Is this normal for some CF bulbs? Sure, four 14W bulbs use less power than one 75W bulb they replace, but leaving them on all the time to avoid warmul annoance isnt the greatest plan either.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

JMH

 

[Gary Allan]

Some of my CF bulbs take about 30 seconds to come to full brightness. All those that I note this on are "globe" type and they're so old I can't really recall who made them without climbing up and taking one out. I have replaced one or two ..but

I'll add one comment just due to your dimmer function. If it uses an SCR (typically noted by a clicking noise) it has shortened the life of my son's CF in a ceiling fan application. His is kept at FULL too.

 

[huffmuds9320]

Good job replacing a burned out incandescent with a compact fluorescent. Save some energy. Since the fixture you are replacing with is dimmable, I would buy the kind of compact fluorescent that are dimmable. Its a nice feature to have given you have the option to dim.

Most newer fluorescent bulbs will start instantly but still take at least half a minute to be 100% brightness. I haven't bought any new Philips brand yet, but my older Philips Marathon fluorescent takes a while to warm up. The ones from Home Depot I got recently works fine, warms up fast and instant start. I don't have a problem with the slow warm up, I kind of like it in a way. For example, if I wake up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water, its nice to have the light gradually brighten up. Lets your eyes adjust to the light better.

Depends on how often you turn on the light in that particular fixture. If its on and off for a short time, then its better to use regular incandescent. If its on for at least half an hour at a time, then compact fluorescent. By the way I believe the 14W is 60W incandescent equivalent. 75W equivalents are usually 19-20W fluorescent.

 

[rpn453]

My father had a compact flourescent a few years ago that was like that. I think a lot of them were like that when CFLs first came out. They didn't have the initial delay, but took quite a while to come on to full brightness. What brand are they? You should be able to find ones that come on quickly, even in specific designs.

I use CFLs for all my lighting and they turn on quickly and last a long time even if turned on and off regularly.

 

[JHZR2]

Interesting, thanks for the info...

The ones I got are n:vision (the brand that HD stocks), and are brand new stock, just in. Definitely should have better performance than the older ones. I guess it wuld be smart to test the bulb in a regular (non dimed) socket and see if the behavior is the same... I know that none of my other CF bulbs act this way.

I have not been sold on dimmable CF bulbs. I got a 3-way 'touch sensor' socket, and a 3-way CF bulb, but they were incompatible. Ill have to look more into them. One thing that I want to maintain is the right overall bulb look - just because of the way the fixture is laid out. Ill have to look further into the other dimmable ones anyhow, and hope for the best with these ones...

Thanks!

JMH

 

[drm7]

I just put in a bunch of the n:vision (from HD). I have noticed that the ones that are supposed to be like sunlight take 30 seconds or so to get full brightness. I decided I don't like their bluish tint. I bought the middle color that is white and I like those. I also bought a few of the regular ones and they are yellowish like incandescents. But they are way cheaper than the white/sunlight ones. I'm hoping to see the difference on my electric bill. I don't mind a slower start if I save $$$.

 

[brianl703]

Some bulbs are like that..try a different brand.

Usually it is the ones that are in a globe, as opposed to the "twister" style, that can take a while to warm up.

 

[Papa Bear]

I'm waiting for LED bulbs, they should be the norm soon. I think that CF's are a temporary technology that will fade out as LED's become available.

 

[Papa Bear]

Gary, do they use SCR's in the dimmers...or a TRIAC ??
Mabe DIAC's and TRIAC's fall under the SCR category

 

[Razl]

I have the same issue with the CFL that have that outer glass cover. I have a bunch of R30 recessed CFLs that are really slow, again they are covered.

The spiral ones I got cheap in a multipack at HD fire up to almost 100% brightness right away but don't look as aesthetically pleasing for recessed or open light fixtures like ceiling fans. There's just not much you can do.

I don't understand why I can't find a fast firing covered bulb. After all, they still use the spiral type of CFL inside. Maybe it has to do with heat dissipation.

 

[97tbird]

the one CFL that I have (spiral type GE) takes about 1 min to cometo full brightness. I will be getting more CFLs for the house soon.

about the LED's: will they also have a standard "screw type" base, so that it can go into normal, existing sockets?

 

[OriginHacker21]

I do not think that Florescents are meant to be in dimmers. I read this somewhere online - if so - then ALWAYS make sure the dimmer is off or max setting for brightness.

Great lights - especially the "natural" light ones - makes for great reading.

LED lights are the future...

Edit: Wow they are expensive!

http://www.theledlight.com/120-VAC-LEDbulbs.html

 

[Win]

Quote:

---

So, my question is, what should I do? Is there anything that I can do? Is this normal for some CF bulbs? Sure, four 14W bulbs use less power than one 75W bulb they replace, but leaving them on all the time to avoid warmul annoance isnt the greatest plan either.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

JMH

---

AFAIK, yes.

I have compact flourescent lamps exclusively in the new building I just built, including the exact reflector lamp you are describing in some fixtures, and they exhibit exactly the same warm up characteristics you are describing.

All of the frosted and globe type CFL bulbs have an exaggerated start up light deficit, likely because the globe or frosting attenuates what little light there is on start up.

It is less of an issue in a commercial setting where the lamps go on, and do not go off again, for ten or twelve hours. I just enjoy the energy savings, and don't worry much about it.

I use CFL's everywhere I possibly can, at home and commercially. Today's CFL's are considerably better than the ones available only a year ago.

 

[Papa Bear]

Sure LED lights are expensive. Remember when it cost $800 for a HiFi VCR ?? Today they are $29.95. It's in the marketing.
Just wait a while and the price will slowly come down the ladder until LED's will be a buck a bulb.
Also the LED engineers have to be able to build an LED that will FAIL in a given time. A quality diode should last forever.
Engineering has brought us 1000 hr lightbulbs that fail in their 1100th hr....THAT'S ENGINEERING !! They will have to be able to replicate that on the new LED's before they mass market them. Just my

 

[TallPaul]

I just started using these ice cream swirl type compact fluroescents and noticed they come on about a second after flipping the switch and do take a while to get to full brightness.

Question: Anybody know how they compare to regular bulbs heatwise?

 

[Papa Bear]

Quite cool TP, you can hold it in your hand whlie it's on.

 

[1sttruck]

I've been using compact fluorescents for over 12 years now in our place, and still have some of the original Phillips 'earth lights' that I put in. A whole slew of Panasonic CFL died quickly, only a few of those left now, which will make me hesitant to buy any other Panasonic products. I also have some GE and whatever is offered at Costco.

Some of the lights that I've tried have a poor color temperature, hum, and don't fare well in cooler temps, so it's worth buying a few to try out before stocking up on a sale.

 

[OriginHacker21]

I use the Wal-Mart "Natural Light" spiral bulbs that are really bright that simulate 120-100watt light bulbs. I've had them for almost a year now - perfect bulbs for reading books and homework. They don't get very hot - I can hold them in my hand after 2-3 hours and they are "warm" but nowhere near hot. (about $9 each).

I've gotten a few "cheap" (normal yellowish glow) spiral bulbs for my family. They died out within a month. Don't get those. You get what you paid for here.

Also - I notice no "warm up" time for my bulbs. They seem to be 100% bright at startup.

 

[Papa Bear]

I installed a CF in the outside fixture at the side door. Takes it about 20 seconds to come up to speed at 32F (0C.)

 

[huffmuds9320]

Ice cream swirl, I like that term. The spiral design seems to be the most common design for compact fluorescents. There are fewer of the 3 u-tube kind now.

Although compact fluorescents produce a lot less heat than incandescents, many of them say "not for totally enclosed or recessed fixtures." I guess it would shorten the bulb life in enclosed fixtures. There are some that can be used in those fixtures.

Costco carries the Philips and the Conserv-Energy brand (likely relabled Feit Electric). Speaking of Panasonic compact fluorescents, I bought a few a few years ago from Home Depot. I bought them since the box state approved for totally enclosed fixtures. They don't carry them anymore for some reason and can't find them anywhere else. Lights of America ones are hit or miss from my experience. A few of them burned out within a few months and I only have one left still working.

As for color temperature, the most common are the Soft White or Warm White. They are usually in the range of 2700K to 3000K so its close enough to the soft white incandescents. Then there are the cool white kind in the range of 4000K which is more or less like the fluorescents in office buildings. Natural light, full spectrum are usually in the range of 5000K to 5500K. And daylight are in the range of 6000K to 6500K, they appear more blue tint color. Not all the bulb packaging list their color temperatures. ALso there is a CRI (color rendering index) rating sometimes, the higher the more accurate the color. For example full spectrum fluorescent may have a CRI of 91 whereas cool white has about 75 or so.