[Boatanchors] OT Another Harbor Freight Bargain

[rbethman]

Sorting the facts is fairly simple.  Locating a U.S. made CFL, *even* @ 
$20 each, is near impossible!

This particular topic has been beaten to death on several List Forums.

I'd love to SEE the U.S. made product!  I know that within a one hours 
drive in ANY direction from where I live, THEY are NOT on the shelves!  
The ONLY thing is the "Chinese Junk".

CFLs, other than having a fluorescent tube for illumination, have NO 
other comparison in common whatsoever!  Anyone that remotely *tries* to 
use the old  fluorescent tube to enter into the discussion is tossing a 
solid Red Herring into the discussion!

The circuitry in a CFL is far removed from that used in the old style 
tubes - PERIOD.

Bob - N0DGN - Knows stinking fish when passes by!

On 2/25/2011 12:59 PM, Ron Trepka wrote:
> NOT SO and I know about CFLs.
>
> Before you cast comments about a concept you might want to sort out the facts.
>
> I was directly involved with the release of a CFL from a well knows US manufacture.
>
> I cooked them , shook them life tested and put them into an EMC/EMI chamber.
> Yes , they make noise and so does your switch mode power supply but if it carries a CE certification , you are pretty safe to not interfere with other devices and if they do , it is possible to quiet the system down.
>
> If designed correctly , CFL are a great deal for lighting and power consumption. .... lets see.... the industry has been running florescent lamps for 50 years  with good results.
>
> I have been running quality CFLs  for the last 20 years and only now have I seen some end of life failures.
>
> You trouble stem from buying a $2 lamp.  Good quality CFL will run about $20 each.
>
> I have never needed to purchase any CFLs but I have run a few that came to me and you are ABSOLUTELY correct that the China stuff is complete junk, makes noise and has the life of a fruit fly.
>
> NOT ALL CFLs ARE THE SAME.
> ---
> Ron