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[–]RESERVA42 13 points14 points ago

My main living room light is a fixture with a dimmer. I put "dimmable" CFL bulbs in it, but they do not work very well. The dimmer's range is much shorter, they dim and brighten as the TV or fridge turns on or off, and one of the little ballasts popped and smoked the other day after about a year of use. It smelled really bad. So I put the old incandescent bulbs back in, and I'm so happy because they work so much better. Then I went to Walmart and bought 3 more packs of incandescent bulbs so that I'll have a lifetime supply for my fixture.

So, are these problems with "dimmable" CFLs universal and unavoidable? Is there something else I can use?

And as a side note... I have regular CFLs everywhere else in my house, and they work fine. I actually appreciate how I can put a 100W equivalent in a fixture which says "do not exceed 60W".

Also, I was visiting my brother-in-law at the Ritz (fancy resort). I looked in their lamps and saw they had halogen bulbs. What are those about? Are they expensive?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 6 points7 points ago

Great questions! Regarding the dimmable CFLs, you are correct in that it is still a developing product. New technologies are coming, and many promise that they can dim down to 1 or 2 percent, but we're a little skeptical about those claims. In a few more years, I'm sure dimmable CFL lamps will be much improved. Consider too that using your incandescent lamps, on a dimmer, also reduces their power consumption.

Regarding the halogens, they are actually considered energy efficient, since they produce approximately 20% more light than their incandescent counterpart. They're not too expensive either ($3-4 for a two-pack), but you have to watch out for their hourly rating. Most halogen "A style" lamps are only rated for 1,000 hours.

[–]thewrz 5 points6 points ago

The problem is the ballasts in your screw-in type dimmable CFLs are of pretty poor quality. I work at an engineering firm and we are constantly struggling with specifying a quality commercial ballast when designing a project. You see, even quality commercial grade 5 year warranty stuff still suffers from the relatively new technology that is dimmable fluorescents. Also, even reasonably nice dimmable ballasts only go down to 5% for T8s, and 1% for T5HO. And they're expensive. The balast alone for these fixtures is around $100 a pop. WHICH IS A LOT MORE than your puny screw in CFL ;) - think about what they skimp on in a $10 cfl...

So I wouldn't even bother with dimmable CFLs, not for the next few years. Wait. The technology is improving, but it's still pretty shaky, especially for "consumer" grade stuff (i.e. CHEAP!).

[–]youare_your_youre 0 points1 point ago

Dimmers for cfls exist today but CFLs require the conversion from mains AC to DC to high voltage AC to get light out of the bulb gas. if you start using a thyristor on this element, you get a very poor result out because the AC is being interrupted 60 times a second for a percentage of the duty cycle. if the interruption is too long then the high voltage which is responsible for your light will cut out.

what was existing in your house was a dimmer for a incandescent bulb which is only a resistive element. the slider controls the duty cycle of the thyristor. if you took a high speed camera of the bulb, you would see it turning on and off at 60hz.

[–]ThatOneAlt-Account 47 points48 points ago

How many of you does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 73 points74 points ago

One to screw it in, 20 FTEs to watch, and two to talk about it on reddit.

[–]davelog 16 points17 points ago

Now that incandescent light bulbs are being deprecated, what are the proper bulbs for the insides of Easy-Bake ovens, Lava Lamps, and hookers' bottoms?

[–]philbob8 12 points13 points ago

Also, how do you keep large groups of women from piling on you and demanding intercourse after they've found out at parties that you're a lightbulb expert?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 15 points16 points ago

Well, Phil, I am a woman, so this doesn't happen often. I'll ask my coworkers if this happens for them. I'm sure it does.

[–][deleted] 19 points20 points ago

A FEMALE lightbulb expert?! That's hot.

[–]xDeda 19 points20 points ago

That certainly does light up my day.

[–]whateverradar 6 points7 points ago

Delightfull

[–]jonelson80 1 point2 points ago

Watt a surprise!

[–]flutesmurf 1 point2 points ago

And she's bright too

[–]whateverradar 13 points14 points ago

for science, pics of your bulbs?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 13 points14 points ago

For science, I would have to wait until I got back into the warehouse.

[–]Thatguykalem 18 points19 points ago

Bulbs or GTFO.

[–]whateverradar 2 points3 points ago

ಠ_ಠ

[–]shake-zula 6 points7 points ago

I've heard that they're going to start rebranding the incandescent bulbs as "heat lamps" so that they can continue to sell them legally.

[–]Joelsomethingorother 1 point2 points ago

That's how they get imported to Australia at present

[–]PointyOintment 1 point2 points ago

I'm pretty sure specialty incandescent bulbs will continue to be sold, i.e., only general lighting incandescent bulbs are being banned. After all, they are better for some applications.

[–]redmercuryvendor 7 points8 points ago

Why did magnetic induction/electrodeless lamps never catch on?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 6 points7 points ago

Interestingly enough, it is starting to come back en vogue. Induction lighting is a great replacement for old HID fixtures. You can either retrofit an existing fixture, or get a new one. Most come with a full ten-year warranty too. It's also cheaper than LEDs too.

[–]yesukai 2 points3 points ago

Can you explain what induction lighting is and how it works? I'm curious.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 5 points6 points ago

There is a bulb component, similar to an over sized doughnut, that is powered by a high frequency generator. They are, by and large, designed to have familiar components, as in a ballast and bulb, but are much more efficient. I wish I knew more technical details about this, sorry!

[–]Philip_Marlowe 21 points22 points ago

Induction lighting specialist here:

Essentially, an induction bulb works similarly to a fluorescent bulb, but uses an electromagnetic field to excite the gases inside, rather than electrodes. The electrodes are usually the limiting factor on standard fluorescent bulbs, which is why induction bulbs tend to have far longer lives than induction bulbs.

I could go on, but I'm actually just about to leave the office. Have a good weekend, everyone!

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 2 points3 points ago

Thanks, Phillip_Marlowe!

[–]BananaSaurus-Rex 2 points3 points ago

which is why induction bulbs tend to have far longer lives than induction bulbs.

the second one is supposed to be fluorescent?

[–]I_am_a_BalbC 2 points3 points ago

But...but... I have a question! Don't go yet!!!

Is there any health concerns in using electromagnetic fields? I've heard that some studies link electromagnetic fields from high tension power lines to childhood cancers. So... is it safe? Is this different from hight tension power lines? Whata think??

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 3 points4 points ago

We do have an induction lighting specialist, but he's out in the field today. I'll try to grab him and see if he can give a more detailed answer.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 5 points6 points ago

We actually do a lot of induction retrofits but they are best for large fixtures- parking garages, lots, warehouses, etc. We get a lot of interest in these types of uses. I think it's still evolving.

[–]pmarani 2 points3 points ago

Induction has a lower price point than LED (in general). They are used a lot on University of California campuses.

[–]youare_your_youre 1 point2 points ago

messed up radio among other devices, lots of noise all over the spectrum.

[–]Cyber_Cowboy 6 points7 points ago

Would it be possible (even if not economic) to put a single bulb in a reflective box with fiber optic leading out through out a home with the ends on dimmers to light a whole house off of a single bulb?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 7 points8 points ago

We have no idea, but I'd love to see an experiment.

[–]Sound_Doc 4 points5 points ago

Its out there, like this. This Old House also did a home with Fibre optic lighting a few years ago I remember, I thought at that time it would have caught on alot more.

[–][deleted] 26 points27 points ago

Anything bulb related, you say?

Very well. I want to plant tulips. When is the best time to plant them (I live in the North East USA) and what is the ideal soil for them to grow in? Any particular tips on how best to care for them?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 76 points77 points ago

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, and I would use a fertilized mulch. Also, I'm Dutch.

[–]Tactful 2 points3 points ago

When one of you has a really great idea, like a really inspirational epiphany... what do you do?

[–]Jew_Crusher 4 points5 points ago

I heard you guys would pay 2000 ducats for a very beautiful Tulip bulb. Do you guys still pay that much?

[–]maniacnf 8 points9 points ago

[–]essoffm 2 points3 points ago

Naw man, you JUST missed out! The going price dropped a few centuries back.

[–]hobodan 6 points7 points ago

  1. What is the best way to get rid of fluorescent light bulbs?

  2. What are your thoughts on LED lighting technology? Is it the next big lightbulb craze?

  3. Are LED lights better, or worse for the environment then fluorescent bulbs?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 14 points15 points ago

1 - The best way to recycle your lamps is to take them to a Big Box store, like Home Depot, that will recycle them for you at no charge. Many municipalities also offer free hazardous waste recycling (for paint, batteries, light bulbs, etc) to residents. The company I work for also offers pre-paid recycling kits for lamps and ballasts.

2 - LEDs are great, but you have to carefully consider where you use them. In terms of general lighting, they still have a long way to go. A good rule of thumb is looking at your return on investment. For LED lights, a 60-watt equivalent bulb costs 25 to 50 dollars. But a comparable CFL, that uses the same amount of energy, is available for $2. For some uses, specifically accent or Christmas lights, they are fantastic!

3 - It's hard to gauge the impact of either LEDs compared to fluorescent lights. Generally, the amount of mercury in a CFL or other fluorescent lamp is minimal. For example, 100 CFLs contain the same amount of mercury as a standard thermometer. By and large, the benefits to using alternative lighting technologies far outweigh the potential negative effects when you consider the entire environmental impact.

[–]PointyOintment 1 point2 points ago*

Regarding environmental impact, I've heard that CFLs, even if they're disposed of improperly, release less mercury than a coal-fired power plant would release to power an incandescent bulb instead of the CFL. I can't think of a less confusing way to word that, but basically, using CFLs reduces mercury emissions. Obviously this is only true/relevant if you use a coal-fired power plant.

Edit: here's how I wrote it in another comment.

A lot of the electricity in North America is generated by coal-fired power plants, which emit mercury (because coal contains mercury). I've heard that the energy saved by using a CFL instead of an incandescent bulb reduces the power plant's mercury output by an amount greater than the amount of mercury in the bulb, so it's a net reduction of mercury release even if all CFLs are disposed of improperly.

[–]GaetanDugas 2 points3 points ago

Just to piggy back on the recycling.

I'm Facilities Maintenance at a big box store and I'm in charge of handling the recyclables (batteries, bulbs, etc.) And we can only recycle Compact Florescent bulbs; the 4-pin "push" style and the regular "curly q" style of bulb, not the tubes, or circular bulbs. We constantly have people bringing in armloads of T8 and T12 bulbs and I tell them we can only recycle the CFL's.

If you bring in regular florescent bulbs to a Big Box, they'll just throw them in the trash. compactor.

[–]lets_discuss_ur_butt 16 points17 points ago

Should I be concerned if light bulbs faintly glow when I hold them?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 26 points27 points ago

No. That is kind of awesome.

[–]gandhikahn 5 points6 points ago

Florescent bulbs can be powered wirelessly.

[–]montage420 2 points3 points ago

So can incandescent.

[–]red_cat_dicks 2 points3 points ago

[–]nboylie 10 points11 points ago

Is it safe to crack open burnt out CFL bulbs and inhale the fumes?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 27 points28 points ago

I don't know, I'm going to get one and try. Wait, this is probably a bad idea.

[–]Afaflix 4 points5 points ago

the gas is not gonna hurt you ... the tiny tiny shards of glass that you just released, and the phosphorous coating of the inside of the tube on the other hand are definitely not healthy.

[–]aktsukikeeper 2 points3 points ago

Won't there be mercury vapor inside? Mercury poisons your brain..

[–]hinterzimmer 3 points4 points ago

What can you tell us about planned obsolescence of light bulbs? Would it be possible to construct a long live (>5 years) bulb?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 6 points7 points ago

That's an interesting concept, and I recently saw a documentary that attempted to tackle that question. There are several long life alternatives, including American made bulbs, that are rated for up to 20,000 hours, but that falls short of the 5 year goal. The other important aspect to consider in developing such a long life bulb would be the costs associated with it. I think people would almost prefer to buy 6 replacements in 5 years than to but one super expensive bulb.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 4 points5 points ago

Another consideration is that most long-life incandescent bulbs are going to be dimmer, by as much as 20-30%. The balance is between longevity or output. Given the fever pitch over 100w bulbs, you can guess what people want more of - output!

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points ago

Somebody already constructed a >5 plus year incandescent lightbulb... 110 years ago, and it's been burning ever since. Were's MY 110 year lightbulb, dudes? Also: how's that possible?

[–]gumbos 2 points3 points ago

That 110 year bulb has an incredibly thick filament, which is why it hasn't burned out. However, very thick filaments also produce very little light. I remember hearing that this bulb isn't much brighter than a candle.

[–]LeoPanthera 8 points9 points ago

[Coruscation needed]

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 18 points19 points ago

We occasionally have flashes of brilliant wit, but more likely our flashes of light come from our brightly lit homes. Employee discounts!

[–]AnonForSenate 4 points5 points ago

Is it possible to get compact florecent bulbs (or something equivalent) that doesn't have that weird "look" (kinda a blue colour that makes everything look a tiny bit gross).

I really like the light that comes off a standard bulb.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 13 points14 points ago

They are getting better and better as the technology improves. CFLs are one of those "you get what you pay for" things. I have some higher end ones that I use at home that have the warmer, "yellower" light. Look at the packaging, and seek bulbs with a Kelvin temp of 2700-2800 or one that describes the bulb as soft or warm light. Kelvin is a more accurate and less subjective measure.

[–]peadith 9 points10 points ago*

This is misleading. Color temperature tells you where most of the power is across the spectrum but does not tell you how smooth (or devoid of peaks) the radiation is across the visible band. A lower color temp lamp can still be comprised of a bulb with sharp peaks in yellow and green because of a limited number of narrow band phosphors used and will still make everything look silly.

There's the CRI but it's complicated, few readily available lamps use it (especially in point of sale marketing), and I feel like humanity would eventually be considerably less retarded if manufacturers just provided a simple emissions plot with their product.

[–]Boodelijre 1 point2 points ago

Another color temp related question:

I work in an old pub (bruin café, I read you are dutch). And part of the appeal of such places is the dimly lit warm colored lighting. We use phillips 25watt flame bulbs that provide a nice dim, warm color. I've stocked a decent amount but ofc it's going to run out eventually. What would be the best alternative on the market?

I'd like to say we installed some alternatives already: A led sting coated in plasitc tube as a rim (koof) light, but we'd had to coat that with yellow and red spray paint in order for it to be not too bright/too cool, and some yellow led strips on our secondary bar, but these are a bit too bright imho (can't be dimmed) and the make for a really fake spectrum (can't distinguish a green 'english blend' tea bag from a grey 'earl grey one').

I used to work in theartre lighting for a while and therefore am quite passionate about the light quality and I don't really see decent options for ambiance lighting other then either replacing all light fittings with decently dimmable halogens atm. My little led stip paint coating worked out pretty well but that isn't really an option for lighting individual tables from above.

[–]karthmorphon 0 points1 point ago

When I have an idea, I never get the light bulb over my head like on TV and in cartoons/movies. Is something wrong with my bulb? How can I fix it?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 30 points31 points ago

I'd check the power source.

[–]ROBOT-DINOSAUR-NINJA 3 points4 points ago

Oh snap! Oh no you didn't!

[–]TiltedPlacitan 2 points3 points ago

When will american made LED light bulbs get competitive on price with CFLs?

I've ordered a number of LED bulbs from seemingly grey-market asian sources on eBay, and I've been quite pleased with the quality and price - though, of course, I wish it was cheaper. I use them in cold places, as CFLs take a while to warm up.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 6 points7 points ago

Sadly, we're not sure they will ever be competitive. There are very few manufacturers in the US that can compete in the market, and we doubt they will ever have the scale to compete on price with the overseas-made product. We love to source American made, but it gets harder every year.

[–]pmarani 10 points11 points ago

As an engineer working in the lighting field I will tell you this : LED products, in general, not purchased from reputable manufacturers will not operate for the length of time they purport to.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 9 points10 points ago

We absolutely agree.

[–]monkeysocks 3 points4 points ago

Which are the reputable manufacturers?

[–]sasquatch987 2 points3 points ago

How reliable are LED light bulbs? In theory they sound great but if they aren't manufactured well could they fizzle out after a year and wipe out all the cost savings?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 6 points7 points ago

We are starting to be impressed with LEDs. It took us a while for the technology to be good enough for us to endorse them to our customers. All of the manufacturers we use warranty their LEDs for a full three years. It takes a bit of the fear factor out of spending a lot of money on a dud.

[–]Simon_Plenderson 3 points4 points ago

What brands do you endorse to your customers as being reliable values?

[–]strong_grey_hero 2 points3 points ago

Ok, clear up the confusion for us. Are incandescents being outlawed? If so, which ones? When does this ban take effect?

Second question: Are there CFL's or LED's that can compete with incandescents in terms of light "quality"? I realize that's a vague question, but I'm looking for an opinion from an expert.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 3 points4 points ago

Lots of misinformation out there. Currently, 100w bulbs are being phased out, but there are also lots of exceptions to the EISA legislation. To be sure, you will need to start adapting your common bulbs to more efficient alternatives, but you have time. 75, 60 and 40 watt bulbs will be phased out in coming years too.

Quality is harder to judge, but most LED or CFL bulbs are designed to replicate incandescent light. I've seen blind tests where people actually prefer CFL to incandescent!

[–]DreadPirateBrian 5 points6 points ago

Why would blind people care about the kind of bulb at all?

[–]Cyber_Cowboy 2 points3 points ago

I do know that in Germany incandescents were banned (at least in some form) and a company started selling them is miniature heaters....

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

Why do my incandescent bulbs in my two kitchen ceiling fans last a couple of weeks at best with limited use?

[–]iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiij 0 points1 point ago

Is it true that a light bulb has hydrogen in it to stop it from lasting forever?

[–]Drakosfire 0 points1 point ago

Whatever happened to the idea of using the flicker of fluorescent bulbs flicker to transfer data? How much does the average household spend in electricity lighting with incandescent vs CFL?

[–]nycbuilder 1 point2 points ago

If I cut a ballast out of a fixture and wire directly to the fixture in order to power an LED bulb that has its own driver will the UL rating be void and or would it be Illegal in NYC?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 2 points3 points ago

We honestly have no idea. It would depend on the bulb- some are designed to run with a ballast and some are not- meaning some are appropriate for retrofit and some for replacement. As far as the law, we won't tell if you don't. UL rating is only tested for the bulb's designated purpose.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 3 points4 points ago

There are lots of considerations. By and large, you're best bet would be to consider fluorescent alternatives wherever possible. Fluorescent lamps produce significantly less heat than incandescent and especially HID (metal halide or high pressure sodium) bulbs. We do have some fluorescent spirals that give off the same amount of light as a 500w incandescent too, so you have many options.

For the bulb that dims based on voltage, you'd have to keep with an incandescent one for that. Feel free to contact us directly and we can give you more specific guidance for sure!

[–]ceeman 1 point2 points ago

So why did the fancy bulbs I bought 7 years ago still work and the ones from 2 months ago already go out?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 2 points3 points ago

Depends on type, usage, quality. Can you provide more detail and we can troubleshoot a little more?

[–]Cyber_Cowboy 1 point2 points ago

I suffer from very bad migraines, incandescent lights never caused problems but florescent bulbs, tube or CFL, aggravate them. I keep hearing talk about legislation to do away with them, and it is definitely getting harder to go into stores and get incandescent bulbs. Am I doomed to having my head explode when I can't find them anymore?

[–]Jew_Crusher 0 points1 point ago

Whats the best priced, longest lasting, most energy efficient light blubs I should put in my lamps?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 2 points3 points ago

CFL matches all of those requirement. The ROI on good quality CFLs is about 8 months. It adds up quickly! Estimates say that you can save up to 20% on your monthly electric bill by switching to energy efficient lighting.

[–]Blakrat -1 points0 points ago

Whyyy oh WHYYYYYYYY is there two (or more) different ways to screw in a bulb! why not just ONE way to screw in a bulb!

[–]jonathanrdt 0 points1 point ago*

1: With the recent announcement that funding to enforce the 2007 Legislation, which outlaws the 100w incandescent light bulb as of 1/1/2012, what does that actually mean? Will I still be able to buy 100w incandescent bulbs? Can companies still make and/or import them?

2: Are full spectrum 100w incandescent bulbs exempt from the legislation? (Not sure if they count as 'colored'.)

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 2 points3 points ago

To be clear, it's not an outright ban (unless you live in California). The onus falls on the manufacturers, and as you said, enforcement funding has been removed from the budget. We will still be able to get them, as ours are generally classified as "rough service" bulbs, which are exempt from the legislation.

As for your second question, I believe they are also exempt, but I/we are not totally sure as the legislation is vague on full spectrum lights.

[–]Piratenerd 0 points1 point ago

So if I were to build a watercraft to travel all the major waterbodies on the planet with, lets say me and my friends had a cranium and two crossed femurs below it as logo and we were searching for a container filled with circle shaped metal objects with great value, what kind of light bulb would you recommend to install in previous mentioned watercraft? We're looking for some high end gear so that our potential isn't held back by faulty equipment. Thanks in advance.

[–]godhelpmenow 0 points1 point ago

Regarding legislation: the enforcement for the 2007 energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs has been de-funded, how will the industry react? Is the de-funding expected to be permanent? Will all of the investment in new technologies be wasted only to have incandescents imported from Asia?

I've heard a lot about the new "Switch" LED bulbs (http://switchlightbulbs.com/). Are the bulbs as good as they are portrayed in the media? When can I buy one?

[–]Earthstripe 0 points1 point ago*

My home has one of these weird bulbs in the fixture in the 'office' and my bedroom. It claims to be a 200w equivalent, and I must say it brightens the room quite nicely, but no retail shops in my area seem to sell them. Not Warlmart/Target, nor Home Depot or Menards (They sell other round fluorescents, but not this type). One listing I found for it referred to it as a 'commercial' grade light or something of that nature.

My question is - what is this thing and how did it end up a main fixture in my house? Were they big for a while and now not carried? Are they generally just a commercially-used fixture, but for some reason the previous owner installed one?

It's a nice bulb, but I'm not a fan of paying $15-$20 for a replacement.

[–]jnulynne 0 points1 point ago

What are easy bake ovens going to be powered with in the future? I bought my niece one in 2010 and had a hard time finding the correct light bulb for the oven then, the higher wattage bulbs.

[–]sardonicsalmon 0 points1 point ago

I have an old floor lamp that I bought at an estate auction. The buld's base is larger than normal bulbs. Can you ID this for me and better yet, point to to somewhere that I can buy a couple of them?

Thanks for your consideration on this.

[–]sagapo3851 0 points1 point ago

How would one light a bulb wirelessly, without having electricity shooting through the air?

What is the proper way to clean up from a broken fluorescent (3') bulb?

I hear there are certain times when using a compact fluorescent is bad?

[–]NoUmlauteAllowed 1 point2 points ago

How dangerous is one broken CFL if it's not taken care of.

I want to hear the facts not the better safe than sued talk.

[–]PucktheFauxlice 0 points1 point ago

I am a photographer looking for GU10 LEDs that simulate as close to natural sunlight as possible.

Does this exist? would you mind pointing me to some ?

If not, what would be the next best option in terms of 1) Longevity 2) Energy Efficiency

thank you

[–]Altavious 0 points1 point ago

Why are Ceramic Metal Halide bulbs not more commonly used for grow lights?

[–]lighting_design_dude 0 points1 point ago

When will OLED technology become commercial and affordable?

[–]pmarani 0 points1 point ago

LRC Rensselaer ? I'm on the west coast so I'm curious as to where abouts you guys are at?

[–]Ill_shoot_anything 1 point2 points ago

Are you members of the light bulb cartel that controls and sets the amount of hours a bulb can be used before it burns out (planned obsolescence)? relevant

[–]finally_cracked 1 point2 points ago

I'm looking into getting some black lights for parties and such, any recommendations between incandescent and florescent?

And by that I mean which would you recommend for getting the better "black light" effect?

[–]shirebrew 1 point2 points ago

I understand that if you use a dimmer, you're still using same amount of power because the rest is turned to heat by the dimmer. Is this true?

[–]swabbie 1 point2 points ago

Any thoughts on the Google Light Bulb?

I haven't heard much about it since it was announced last May, but the idea of getting home automation tech downsized to utilize an individual LED light bulb is amazing to me.

[–]Kripposoft 1 point2 points ago

Why do my bulbs burn out like once every month in my bathroom when they work for way longer in other rooms?

[–]metalhead 0 points1 point ago

I have track lighting with four lamps in my living room. They take the flood light type bulbs. I switched to CFL flood lights a year ago. The bulbs for two of the lamps have burned out in a matter of months when they should be lasting 5+ years according to the package. Is it just bad luck with the bulbs or could there be a problem with the fixtures?

[–]one_is_enough 0 points1 point ago

Are there any scenarios in which a typical CFL will last the 5 years claimed by the replacement guarantee, or do the manufacturers just know that very few people will keep receipts that long and/or bother to claim the replacement?

They do last longer than incandescent but not enough to offset the price difference, in my experience.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

Favorite color temperature

[–]GianterGinger 0 points1 point ago

How do I get free bulbs legally? Will you give me free bulbs?

[–]mkultra123 0 points1 point ago

As I understand it, CFL bulbs contain mercury. Isn't that, you know, bad?

I know people are supposed to recycle them, but let's be realistic: A significant percentage of CFL's are going to end up in landfills because people either can't or won't recycle.

Are we saving energy but adding mercury to the environment?

Followup question: How bad is it really if I break a CFL in my home?

[–]jpxxx 1 point2 points ago

Are (generally-non-smokable) plants able to utilize non-growlite artificial lighting? Is there any benefit to one type or another?

[–]faultlessjoint 0 points1 point ago

Is it true that CFLs should not be installed in any fixture in which the bulb does not sit upright? I've heard that it is actually a fire hazard for a CFL to be pointed downward.

[–]you_are_shelfish 1 point2 points ago

how bad are CFLs going to be in landfills. I know you are supposed to recycle, but I seriously doubt more than 2% ever will.

[–]Shaysdays 0 points1 point ago

We have a lamp that seems to wear out bulbs MUCH faster than they're rated for- I know I should probably throw it out, but how does that happen?

Also, how many times do you accidentally type 'blubs' in an average week?

[–]hgpsycho 1 point2 points ago

I just wanted to say that this is a great post, you really brightened my day.

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 2 points3 points ago

I see what you did there!

[–]sula_nebouxi 0 points1 point ago

Is it true that leaving lights on will use less electricity than turning them on and off when leaving the room?

[–]anelectricmonk 0 points1 point ago

I work in the cosmetology industry as a hair stylist/colorist. Any and all salons I've worked with have major lighting problems - too warm, to dim... Their main goal has alway been to be able to get the truest sense of color when coloring a clients' hair, while still maintaining lighting that will not stray TOO far from what the client will be seeing in their car mirror once they get outside into natural light and start checking themselves out. Do you have any suggestions?

[–]lightbulbsfolks[S] 2 points3 points ago

We are back answering questions! You are looking for full spectrum lighting. More than likely, depending on your fixtures, there is a full spectrum lighting option for your fixtures. We would recommend using a full spectrum bulb- it's as close as you'll get to daylight. Good luck!

[–]thinkswithportals 0 points1 point ago

I have a contractor telling me there's a significant difference in the heat output of T5 bulbs versus T8 fixtures. Is this true? Also, is LED or halogen preferred for lighting of artwork for galleries?

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]GooseZen 0 points1 point ago

What's the most energy-efficient type of lighting that can safely be used outdoors in extremely cold winter conditions, such as the Canadian prairies?

I've got motion-activated lights on my house, and if I use CFL's that are supposedly rated for outdoor use, they take quite a while to warm up to produce light when its -10ºC, and I'm lucky if they turn on at all when its -35ºC. I've got a sheltered light housing, but that doesn't seem to do anything to help them. Halogens seem to use almost as much power as incandescents, and I don't know how they're rated for winter conditions.

Thanks for the AMA, and any input you can provide.

[–]PopesMasseuse 0 points1 point ago

How many lightbulbs should I eat before I start glowing?

[–]Ilovebobbysinger 0 points1 point ago

Are you electricians/engineers?

[–]Petit_Hibou 0 points1 point ago

This isn't a question, just a gripe. The reason I won't buy anything but the antiquated eco-terrorist incandescents is because the light from the other kind is horrible. It is blue (or bluish-white at best) when all anybody wants is warm yellow-white light. I want my house to look like a home, not the forensics lab of an alien spaceship. Why on earth can't this be resolved?!

[–]Pointy130 0 points1 point ago

Why is it that my CFLs never last as long as my Incandescents? I have incandescents that I've only replaced once in the ten years I've lived here (and with other incandescents, which are still fine) which get regular use, but I have to replace my CFLs every few months under the same usage. As far as I know, my house has standard wiring, so I doubt there's an issue there.

[–]Zeretul4 0 points1 point ago

My chem teacher told me those spiraly "green" lightbulbs are actualy much worse for the environment because of the chemicals inside them, and we are only using them because they are the best alternative to the tungsten filament kind since we are running out of tungsten. is this true? (not about tungsten running out, i already know that.) ive been wondering this but keep forgetting to google, and figured i may as well ask you when i saw this.

[–]ceestep 1 point2 points ago

I often go long periods of time without coming up with any really good ideas. The ones I do come up with are relatively dim. Is it possible to use fluorescent or LED light bulbs in the socket that appears over my head? I would like to have bright ideas again. Thanks.

[–]me_thats_who -1 points0 points ago

If I throw away a bulb in a trash can....will it explode and cause a fire? And or just plain cause a fire?

[–]moorechez67 0 points1 point ago

Who is making money off of recycled CFLs?

[–]maharahji 0 points1 point ago

I'm someone with frequent migraines and am looking for ways to light some of my rooms with very soft ambient light. Preferably with the direct light source being hidden being an object.

This brings to mind fully enclosed lamps, but finding bulbs that can emit a very soft (almost frosted) sort of light is quite difficult.

I've had some success using christmas lights strung up around, but it just looks goofy.

Can you recommend any very soft/dim lightbulbs or lighting solutions? I've got 40w incandescents in many of my sockets, but even those feel way too bright at night.

[–]kivarenn82 0 points1 point ago

This is more a question of efficieny, heat and hydro costs than ACTUAL lighting.

I live in BC and it is currently winter (well as winter as it gets in victoria).

I typically use CFL in my home since they are reputed to be the most efficient choice for lighting.

However, since it is winter, along with the current state of hydro being cheaper than gas, would it be a better solution to switch to incandescent bulbs to supplement my house heating?

[–]KrunoS 0 points1 point ago

What can you tell me about the lightbulb conspiracy theory? Otherwise known as planned obsolescence.

There are documents pertaining to a steep drop in the useful life of lightbulbs from about 25 thousand hours, to 1 thousand in a matter of around 3 decades.

[–]dogasus 0 points1 point ago

Thanks for the ima a few light bulb questions:

I have crappy light fixtures with fluorescent light bulbs could i replace them with 3-5set of track lighting would that be enough light? (Livingroom, kitchen,dining room, bedroom)

Recently ive bought 15 to 30 watt bulbs ge/sylvania etc they keep going out after a few months, why ? i have some old no name ones that have been working for about two years.

Do you see led bulbs as a viable alternative if so when will the price go down?

Thanks again,

[–]yarpirate 0 points1 point ago

This is probably the most interesting IAmA I've read in a while. Thanks for doing it!

My question:

I have a 3-socket light fixture attached to a ceiling fan in my room with CFLs in it. Recently, one burned out. I unscrewed it to find the glass tube near the ballast seemed to be "bubbled" out. These were hanging at about a 45 degree angle relative to the ceiling and wall, so they weren't hanging straight down. Is it possible the heat generated was enough to melt the glass, or is it more likely that it was simply a factory defect? I remember buying Phillips bulbs, because I assumed they were a quality brand when I bought them.

Thanks again!

[–]YearsWithoutLight 0 points1 point ago

You know these things? Do they exist for PL-9 bulbs?

[–]ropers 1 point2 points ago

I have a sort of fundamental question:

I'm sort of familiar with the electromagnetic spectrum, and I understand that colours correspond to frequency/wavelength, and that the overall light output of a lighting fixture, to be fully described, would need to be represented by a graph like the ones in this picture. After all, some lamps emit most of their photons at a certain wavelength where as others emit photons more broadly spread, all over the spectrum.

So why is that not done? Why doesn't every bulb have such a graph on its packaging, and maybe some reference graphs, so people can see how this current lamp's emission curve compares to e.g. your average 60W incandescent lamp?

What I'm instead finding on the packaging is lumen and "colour temperature". I don't fully understand these. How do they correspond to the aforementioned graphs? What part of the information do they represent? Is lumen just a total count of photons from anywhere on the visible spectrum, regardless of wavelength/colour? I'm particularly hazy on what the colour temperature can tell you as compared to the aforementioned graphs.

[–]PointyOintment 1 point2 points ago

What do you think of my idea for a (hopefully) immortal lightbulb?

I started by looking at how fluorescent bulbs fail. From Wikipedia, the main failure modes (not including the ballast) seem to be sputtering of the electrodes/burning-out of the filaments and absorption of mercury vapor into the phosphor.

Sputtering/burnout can be solved with an electrodeless (induction) lamp, because there's no electrode/filament to sputter/burn out.

Then to prevent absorption of the mercury vapor, I'd put a layer of glass/plastic/other material inside the phosphor layer, so all three parts are isolated. (Though Wikipedia says that mercury can be absorbed by glass too…) I haven't looked into what kind of glass would be good for that, but I don't think Wood's glass (used in older blacklights) would be a good choice because it transmits UV less well after long-term UV exposure (solarization) and is susceptible to thermal shock. In the Wood's glass article it says that modern blacklights use non-filtering glass (for strength) with filtering enamel, so I guess glass like that would work. It doesn't need to filter out visible light anyway. This glass-phosphor-glass sandwich would probably be difficult to manufacture, unfortunately.

Then the final problem is degradation of the phosphor with age. I don't know how this happens or how to fix it, and I don't know if encasing it in glass would help at all. Maybe it could be avoided with proper phosphor selection.

Obviously this needs more work, but do you lighting experts (or anyone else) think it's a good idea so far?

[–]ut000tu 0 points1 point ago

what is the biggest light bulb ever created? is there a simple way to replace a light bulb once it goes out?

[–]itsEDjustED 0 points1 point ago

I just changed a bunch of 48" florescent tubes. Throw the old ones in the trash or place in the recycling box?

[–]platipress 0 points1 point ago

It seems that every light fixture that is hooked up to a dimmer switch makes a high buzzing sound when dimmed. Is this just inherent in the design, or is there a way to fix this?

[–]SwimmingNaked 0 points1 point ago

I'd like your take on an idea I've had...

I'd like to create (if it doesn't already exist) a screw in device that charges a battery attached to a ring of LEDs, and the center of the device is bulb receptacle. So, if the power goes out, the ring circuitry detects that, and lights the LEDs for emergency lighting. You could screw this into any standard receptacle and the limitation is just that if you have a globe covering the fixture you'd have less space. This would alleviate the need for separate emergency lighting on generator or UPS power.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

There is an odor-eliminating bulb? Seriously?!

[–]Siurrose -1 points0 points ago

So everyone knows it takes more energy to turn light bulbs on and off than it does to keep them running. I would like to know long a light bulb will run for on the same energy it takes to turn it on. This will help make the decision weather to turn it off or leave it on when your not using it for a short while. Thanks.

[–]yeshmin 0 points1 point ago

What are the advantages of an LED over a CFL bulb, and what are its disadvantages (aside from price)?

[–]whatevrmn 0 points1 point ago

Why are bulbs smaller than they once were? Why does my kitchen fan work properly with incandescent rather than florescent? The fan is a year old and requires those bulbs that are small. When I put florescent bulbs in they flickered too much. Now that I have incandescents in it works better, but it lights up really good for the first 5 seconds and then dims a bit. It's been doing that since I put the fan in. It's a Harbor Bay if that mean anything to you.

[–]uneoneuno 0 points1 point ago

I once added a second cap, in parallel, to a S51 ballast in order to overdrive a Metal Halide - HPS (a Ushio S400D to be exact) blub from the standard 400w to around 430w. Increased light output, more heat, shorter bulb (possibly ballast) life. Think the cap was 7.5uF.

Would it be unsafe to do the same with a Phillips 400w CMH (ceramic metal halide) bulb running on the same S51 ballast? I understand that new ceramic metal halide bulb's arc is under some pressure and has been prone to explosions. Would adding a second cap to the ballast adversely effect this bulb-endangering safety-or should I go for it?

[–]spicymeataballa 0 points1 point ago

Why is it that HIDs use less energy than halogen lights but produce more light?

[–]adnan252 0 points1 point ago

If I, hypothetically, sat on a a light bulb and it, hypothetically, got stuck in my rectum, what would be the best means of removing it?

[–]datac3210 0 points1 point ago

I ordered some full spectrum light bulbs from Amazon to get a natural look in my living room... but everything looks too "blue-y". Why is that? Shouldn't it look more like sunshine.../yellow-y?

On a related note, I used to have an awesome 1000w halogen lamp in University that was the best for reading... apparently they don't make those anymore (too much fire hazard?) how can I get sunlight style light in my house?? I want it bright!

[–]_shaman 0 points1 point ago

hey OP check out what I'm working on. www.arva.us. View the catalog. Energy efficient lighting is the future.

EDIT- I know I didn't ask a question, just giving a nod to members within my industry.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

I have no windows at work. Where can I get a cheap full spectrum florescent tube-style bulb, about 3' long or so?

Would such a thing be useful?

[–]Arkki 1 point2 points ago

Film "The Light Bulb Conspiracy" blamed the light-bulb industry for intoducing concept of blanned obsolence abd of reducing the life-time of all light bulbs to rouchly 1000 hours. What is your view on this issue?

Are there any companies that give, say 50 000 hours lifetime for normal 40w light bulb? Engineeringwise, how could their life time be increased?

[–]valupaq 0 points1 point ago

I have a large light I've mounted on the back of my house. I think it is a sodium bulb, it gives off a super bright very yellowish light, but it seems to " cycle". It will work for 4-5 min at a time then shut off and flicker back on as if I had just turned it off and back on at the switch. Any ideas on what to replace?

[–]FSMCA 0 points1 point ago*

Why do my recessed lighting bulbs burn out in about 6 months or less? 75watt incandescent.

-edit- also what the hell is with all these CF bulbs saying they are = to a 100 watt bulb, but really seem to put out what looks to be a 60 at most. I end up just buying the biggest CF that will fit, is there any problem with that?

[–]nofxortiz 0 points1 point ago

I'm a student and I'm trying to set up a good study area in my apartment. I'm wanting to buy the type of lights they have in libraries and classrooms, I think they're all-spectrum bulbs?? If you have any idea as to what type of bulbs or lighting I would need and how expensive it is I'd appreciate it.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

I stocked light bulbs at Lowe's for a while and there were literally hundreds of different kinds of light bulbs that were, to my untrained eye, wholly indistinguishable. Why is that?

[–]vintrexsyrax 0 points1 point ago

How you make acl lamps so bright?!?!?

[–]Bootyndabeach 0 points1 point ago

What kind of lights would you recommend for a film student who is in need of cheap lights to light my sets with?

[–]GueroCabron 1 point2 points ago

What kind/amount of pollution is involved in creating/destroying compact florescent bulbs?

[–]rainydayman15 0 points1 point ago

If i were to insert a standard 60W light bulb into my anus is there any health implications ?

[–]Franglais 0 points1 point ago

Does GE having a monopoly, discourage any technological advancement on the lifetime of a light bulb?

I heard one of Thomas Edissons light bulb is still running after creating it.

[–]CokeCanNinja 0 points1 point ago

How many PSI does it take to shatter a common CFL bulb?

[–]mr_orpheus 0 points1 point ago

There's one episode in the television series Scrubs where Dr. Cox, Turk, and Janitor are trying to remove a (what I guess is a standard shaped incandescent) lightbulb from a patient's rectum. Janitor's remark of said bulb being stronger around the top but weaker around the base leads to the doctors' using the solution of inserting some type of balloon up and behind the bulb and inflating it to push the bulb out the patient's rectum. Is Janitor's statement true? A lightbulb is stronger around the top compared to its base?

I saw this on the IAMA frontpage and Scrubs was all I could think of. Thought I might as well.

[–]BuckyLaGrange 0 points1 point ago

I got some light bulbs from philips that claimed to look like daylight. They are literally just blue light bulbs, nothing at all like any daylight i've ever experienced. I checked for a sticker that might be protecting the surface of the bulb that needed to be peeled, but no such thing existed. Why did Philips sell me blue light bulbs? Is there a legitimate reason they were so far off? Or are they just idiots?

[–]snottgorilla 0 points1 point ago

Can I use a regular halogen bulb from walmart instead of a halogen bulb from petsmart for my pet turtle?

[–]this_is_your_dad 0 points1 point ago

How come the incandescent bulbs I bought 20 years ago lasted years and now they only last months. Is it greed or sloth?

[–]captainmiggles 0 points1 point ago

Is there some device that would allow an older lamp shade to wrap the new energy saving spiral bulbs as if it were a normal light bulb? Im having to put my lamps in corners and lean the shade against the walls ...

[–]mvw2 0 points1 point ago

Are there any new technologies on the horizon that you in the industry are hearing about?

[–]user2011 0 points1 point ago

Can you recommend an led lamp for growing dutch tomatos?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

I'm setting up an office at home in my basement with very low natural lighting. What is the most awesome lighting I could get to enjoy my days in my new office.

[–]spazbucket 0 points1 point ago

for some reason any bulb type other than incandescent burn out at a high rate in our home what could this mean?

[–]bluelyon 0 points1 point ago

What's the bed bang for my buck in the bulb world?

[–]PointyOintment 0 points1 point ago

A few years ago, when we had our house renovated, we bought and moved into a small house several blocks away. When we moved in, we found lightbulbs with strange power ratings in the fixtures, e.g. 81 W. The house was older (~1950s) and I don't think the bulbs had been replaced in a while. Do you know anything or have any information about these? Is it likely that they were 130 V bulbs that somehow got printed with their 120 V wattages?

[–]201smellsfunny 0 points1 point ago

What's your take on "dirty electricity" with CFLs?

[–]Retuna 0 points1 point ago

How well do LED bulbs handle the cold? I just started installing LED MR16s outdoors in a recessed fixture. It doesn't get directly exposed to moisture but it'll definitely get cold in winter. The box says maximum operating temperature is 50C, but what about the minimum?

[–]tacosofdeath 0 points1 point ago

Where can i buy the brightest light bulbs for my room that will fit in a standard light bulb socket

[–]manbearpigboy 0 points1 point ago

To be frank, my bulbs are shit. Watt do you recommend?

[–]grodasy 0 points1 point ago

How many certified lighting experts does it take to change a lightbulb?

[–]InvalidWhistle 0 points1 point ago

Do you ever see a time in the future when household light bulbs are a thing of the past?

[–]ickpoo 1 point2 points ago

What is the light bulb that looks like a compact fluorescent but doesn't have a screw in bottom instead has two prongs?

[–]glschoen 0 points1 point ago

Is it true a light bulb can be made to last forever?

[–]FreestyleDoctoress 0 points1 point ago

Does your company make lightbulbs like this?

[–]IastE -1 points0 points ago

can LED lights be recycled?

[–]cheechwizard 0 points1 point ago

because of this thread, i just bought
10 x 100W Light Bulbs Standard Bayonet (BC) Fitting

[–]ninjagrover 0 points1 point ago

Is planned obselence still big in the industry?

[–]CalebEast 0 points1 point ago

What is the best bulb I could use as a crack pipe?

[–]Shepy 0 points1 point ago

Have you ever had to deal with a similar situation to this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My5BQTKsa0w

[–]use2diggit 0 points1 point ago

Does a T3 and T8 Florescent bulb require different types of ballasts?

[–]Jaduardo 0 points1 point ago

How regulated / reliable is the "hour rating" on light bulbs?

I recognize that the failure rate is statistical... bell curve... etc., but I replace a lot of lightbulbs while saying to myself, "There is NO WAY that bulb saw 2000 hours of use since I last replaced it."

[–]pomegranati 0 points1 point ago

what's the best method to extract an intact incandescent bulb out of a rectum?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

I hope you're still here OP, what are your experiences on lifetime and efficiency of fluorescent tubes and different temperatures?

I heard that the smaller ones (like T5) need higher temps to work efficiently. But what is the max. temperature at which they loose efficiency or lifetime?

I'm building my own fixtures with different colour temperature flouros to simulate the natural sunlight over a day (with a micro-controller and dimmable ballasts to switch bulbs from dawn to dusk) so I'm interested in how to enclose the bulbs to gain the optimal temperature...

It's a hobby project at this time with a few prototypes, but I believe this kind of product can be very useful to people with an irregular day/night cycle.

[–]enzo32ferrari 0 points1 point ago

are lightbulbs really designed today to fail so you keep buying them?