Ask me anything about Light Bulbs!

[mrcantrell]

Hi Everyone;
I work closely with a major worldwide light bulb manufacturer and have extensive knowledge of light bulbs. For what I don't know I certainly have access to the answers.

Feel free to ask me questions about light bulbs, and associated topics.

[Blunt]

Hi,
I'm looking for a light bulb that's similar to GE Reveal, but I want it in an energy efficient CFL. Is there such a thing?
I hate the 'daylight' type light.

[Pete_Coach]

Why are my CFL bulbs not really putting out the equivalent light they say they replace? I have two lamps, one has a 100 watt regular bulb and the other has the CCFL equivilent and there is a clear difference, the cfl being much "duller".

[mrcantrell]

Hi,
I'm looking for a light bulb that's similar to GE Reveal, but I want it in an energy efficient CFL. Is there such a thing?
I hate the 'daylight' type light.

Are you looking to replace an incandescent (ie regular) light bulb? I'm going to answer on the assumption you are.

Long story short, what you're looking for is a CFL where the Colour Temperature is 3000K.

Long story, GE Reveal which is the same as lots of other manufacturers incandescents, differentiate themselves by have neodynium in the gas mix. The neodynium is used to tweak the colour spectrum and to increase the colour temperature of the lamp.

Colour temperature is how white the light output is from a bulb (measured in Kelvin or K), not how bright. The higher the colour temperature the whiter the light, for most people the light begins to look blue as the colour temperature increases. I can get into this more if anyone is interested.

Most incandescent light bulbs are 2700K, so most people have come to prefer that colour, even though there is no good reason. The GE Reveal (although I can't find a concrete number to support this I'm going out on a limb and assuming it's the same as every other manufacturer) is around 2900K (which is closer to halogen).

If you want to more closely match the GE Reveal look for a CFL with a Colour Temperature or CCT of 3000K or there abouts.

[mrcantrell]

Why are my CFL bulbs not really putting out the equivalent light they say they replace? I have two lamps, one has a 100 watt regular bulb and the other has the CCFL equivilent and there is a clear difference, the cfl being much "duller".

'Dull' can be 2 things, it can be Lumen output (or light output) or Colour temperature. If it's Lumen output then you're simply not getting the same amount of light from the CFL. If 'dull' is yellow, then you need a whiter colour temperature, most people see white as 'bright' even though it really isn't.

You have 2 options I can suggest.

i) Try to figure out the Lumen Output from the 100 Watt that you are trying to replace and look for a CFL with similar Lumen output. Much easier said than done.

ii) Try a bulb with a higher colour temperature. If you look on the ballast (the base) of the bulb it may say what the colour temperature is, if so just go up to the next colour temperature step offered by your prefered manufacturer. If not, try 3000K to start, and move up if that doesn't satisfy.

[15-20_God]

how many RFD'ers does it take to screw one in?

[mrcantrell]

how many RFD'ers does it take to screw one in?

All of them.

What's the difference between a pregnant woman and a light bulb?

Answer: You can unscrew a light bulb.

[sjb110]

'you can unscrew a light bulb...'

[felix2000]

Just finishing doing lots of reno's to the house and lighting changes were a major part. Since CFLs can't be dimmed and other than using regular old bulbs is there anything else that can be used that's dimmable and more power efficient?

Thanks

[ricoboxing]

are those Sunbeam CF bulbs at dollarama any better or worse than the Globe or Phillips ones at HD?

[mrcantrell]

Just finishing doing lots of reno's to the house and lighting changes were a major part. Since CFLs can't be dimmed and other than using regular old bulbs is there anything else that can be used that's dimmable and more power efficient?

Thanks

There is an entire line of Dimmable CFLs on the market now from most manufacturers. Just make sure you buy the ones that specify they are dimmable.

[mrcantrell]

are those Sunbeam CF bulbs at dollarama any better or worse than the Globe or Phillips ones at HD?

Definately. But Globe is also garbage.

There have been a LOT of problems associated with no name CFLs (Globe is not a manufacturer, so who's making the product in their box???) including excess buzzing, shorter bulb life, excess mercury, inconsistant colour temperatures, steeper mortality curves etc etc etc.

For a few cents more buy a brand name from a manufacturer who you trust and stands behind their product. I'm not saying it'll be perfect, but at least you have a huge name to smear through the mud if you have problems.

I could go more into the reasons to buy CFLs from the manufacturers you know and trust over the no name, but I think I'd bore you.

[tareks]

Are there energy efficient T3 halogen bulbs - equivalent to 100W?

[UberDave]

I'm planning on installing a 48" fluorescent fixture with two T-8 tubes in my garage to replace the 100W type-A bulb that is there. The garage is a single car garage and I want the light to illuminate the back of the garage as much as possible but the fixture wiring is in the middle so that's where I have to mount it.

Should I mount the light perpendicular to the garage (ends toward side walls) or parallel (ends of light toward door and back)?

[poohsing]

we've replaced all of our lightbulbs with CFL. Where can I recycle the old lightbulbs that still function?