[Boatanchors] OT CFLs

[Clarke, Tom AIR4.0P NATOPS]

Interesting data!  It makes sense that the higher power lamps fail more
often = more heat. Same for inverted and horizontal mounting.

Anecdotal info: I replaced the 40 w incandescants in my six driveway
lights over three years ago and have had no failures.  They cycle on and
off each evening and the incandescants only lasted a couple of months. I
am not convinced of the safety of these Chinese CFL's, so I haven't used
them in the house. 

>From the tales heard here on the group, I can safely conclude that
engineering and QA are unknown processes at the factories in the PRC!

Tom- W4OKW

-------------------Original Message--------------------
From: rbethman [mailto:rbethman at comcast.net] 
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 1:30 PM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] OT CFLs

This is very similar to my experience with these.

The one fact of note:  If they are used in an installation with the base
down, and always left on, THEN you can expect a "respectful" useful
lifespan.

When they are mounted either horizontally, or base up, they do NOT have
as long a lifespan.

When used in a constant turning on and off manner, the lifespan is
atrocious!

Bob - N0DGN

On 2/25/2011 1:19 PM, J. Forster wrote:
> Some years ago, Home Depot had a special on 60 W equivalent CFLs 
> (something like 4/$10). I bought 20 or 30 and have been using that 
> stash ever since.
>
> Of that lot, 3 or 4 failed within weeks - often smoking some but no
fires.
>
> Others ran for a year or more, but less than 20,000 hours.
>
> A few have been runnng 24/7/365 for over 5 years now.
>
> I also have a few 25 W and 150 W types. Anecdotally, the higher power 
> ones have shorter lives.
>
> -John