CFL bulbs

[mountaingun629]

I haven't seen anyone in this thread address the availability of "severe duty" or "vibration" duty bulbs. Many machine tools like drill presses, milling machines, and bench grinders have a built-in light fixture and you usually use a bulb rated for heavy duty or vibration resistant duty. Many of these fixtures won't accept a CFL type bulb, so what to do about these special uses?
Will heavy duty bulbs still be available for these machines, or do we throw away hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of machines and buy new ones, or work in the dark?

Myron

 

[truckemup97]

Will heavy duty bulbs still be available for these machines?

Myron

There are some exceptions written into the law. Vibration resistant bulbs may be one of those, but I'm not sure. However, LEDs would work well in that situation. We've been testing them on trucks for several years, and they're pretty tough.

 

[n4zov]

I haven't seen anyone in this thread address the availability of "severe duty" or "vibration" duty bulbs. Many machine tools like drill presses, milling machines, and bench grinders have a built-in light fixture and you usually use a bulb rated for heavy duty or vibration resistant duty. Many of these fixtures won't accept a CFL type bulb, so what to do about these special uses?
Will heavy duty bulbs still be available for these machines, or do we throw away hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of machines and buy new ones, or work in the dark?

Myron

A good question. Another questionable application for CFL is for lighting radio/TV towers and bridges where lights are hammered by everything imaginable and are very expensive to change. There would have to be an exception to an incandescent ban or significant changes in CFL technology.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

A good question. Another questionable application for CFL is for lighting radio/TV towers and bridges where lights are hammered by everything imaginable and are very expensive to change. There would have to be an exception to an incandescent ban or significant changes in CFL technology.

How would you like to change those bulbs for a living??

Stairway to Heaven ? Climbing a 1768 ft Tower

 

[venomballistics]

at this point .. the next bulb type is liquid filled LED ... its more efficient and has no toxicity

 

[dickttx]

I tried these in several applications, none of which worked, specially reading.
I then realized that these were mandated by the same government that mandated low water toilets several years ago. I had to put them in our house we built 11 years ago. If you stand there a few minutes and hold the lever down, they will eventually clean out, after about twice the water as the old ones. Or you can flush about four times. This is also the same government that runs the post office and general motors, so you KNOW they know what they are talking about.

 

[mountaingun629]

I remember a couple of years or so ago that the traffic lights wouldn't work in some city (in Minnesota, I think) due to the new-fangled energy saving bulbs in new traffic lights they had just installed. They wouldn't light up in the cold winter temps.

Myron

 

[blujax01]

I haven't seen anyone in this thread address the availability of "severe duty" or "vibration" duty bulbs. Many machine tools like drill presses, milling machines, and bench grinders have a built-in light fixture and you usually use a bulb rated for heavy duty or vibration resistant duty. Many of these fixtures won't accept a CFL type bulb, so what to do about these special uses?
Will heavy duty bulbs still be available for these machines, or do we throw away hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of machines and buy new ones, or work in the dark?

Myron

The heavy duty types used in fans, ovens, etc. are exempt from the ban. These are smaller envelope, lower wattage (generally 40 watt "A-15") bulbs. Reflector type "PAR", "BR" and "R" used in recessed spot light cans are also staying. What'll be gone are the Type "A" ( 60 watt through 100 watt) and "PS" (3-Way) bulbs like you use in most everything else.
One of my clients is a big player in the lighting industry. I asked him about the twisted pair looks of the CFL's as well as their reputation for going slowly dim. His response wasn't encouraging.
"I just returned from our annual Vegas show and we discussed this at length. We figure that we'll all have to get used to it" he said, and shrugged his shoulders ...

 

[blujax01]

I remember a couple of years or so ago that the traffic lights wouldn't work in some city (in Minnesota, I think) due to the new-fangled energy saving bulbs in new traffic lights they had just installed. They wouldn't light up in the cold winter temps.

Myron

Another issue is that the older halogen and mercury vapor lamps radiated heat from the envelope and kept the lenses clear. The new LED's run cooler at the point of radiance and municipalities in the colder territories are having to add heaters to melt the ice. Of course, this added resistance heat negates any supposed savings and then some.
And on another rant (okay you got me started) it was mandated that school busses would use bio-fuel. Despite every maintenance person in the state warning the bosses that the fuel would freeze, they did it anyway. Guess what? The fuel had the audacity to freeze!
I do love my short-sighted, knee jerk government sometimes.

 

[OLDFED]

I just started using the CFL bulbs. I write the date of installation in permanent marker to see how long they last. I don't expect much and note that they provide different levels of lighting even when of the same wattage.

 

[chief38]

I'm with BobR on his one - I hate the new bulbs!!!

I actually stocked up on the old fashioned ones about 6 months ago after seeing that they are becoming harder and harder to get. I should have about a 6 to 8 year supply, and will fight the new ones as long as I can.

Not only do they take too long to heat up, but the light they give off (IMHO) is horrible. Oh, by the way, did I mention I did not like them?


chief38

 

[enfield]

I have a goose-neck desk lamp that's sitting next to my computer with an incandescent bulb in it. It's very light weight and, when I put a CFL bulb in it, the added weight of the CFL bulb tips the lamp over.

 

[JcMack]

Cousins Habib and Sabib are walking thru the bazaars in the "Black hole of Calcutta". Habib says "Sabib how many Americans does it take to make a lightbulb". Sabib says "Habib, we make all the lightbulbs now". Sabib again:: Oh yes Habib it's a joke you are making. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Sabib to Habib once more: That is so funny I will buy you a 10 year old wife today, at Wifes R Us store.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Diesel fuel by itself will kill most vegetation. It was the original Roundup.

Yea but mix it with a little 2-4-d and you get super killer I use both Round-up and 2-4-d, whatever I can scrounge from the farmers-they buy that stuff in 55 gal. drums. 2-4-d does a better job than roundup on the leafy vines I have around but the round up works the best on the limestone.

 

[johngalt]

The 2nd 60W of my 3 bulb lamp just burned out, so I put in another CFL. The lamp is now down to 1 incandescent plus 2 CFLs. I'm becoming less impressed with the quality of the light produced.

 

[tennexplorer]

Been stocking up on the old fashioned bulbs as well!
I will not use CFL's in my home.
A recent Safety Bulletin that I recieved at work shows them to be Fire Hazards due to Internal Electronic Ballasts, specificaly those coming from China!
I will probably have enough to will my kids,,,but in the great scheme of our Elected Elite they probably will mandate away any lamps or light fixtures that will except a standard screw base bulb!

I agree. I have four I have saved that have tried to burn up. I wrote CPSC and they showed no interest. Too busy trying to ban bullets I guess. I wrote the manufacturer and wound up corresponding with an engineer who was interested. Then he disappeared. They told him to shut up, I guess.