I agree that early CFLs were terrible for domestic use. Several years 
ago, being a professional environmentalist, I changed nearly every bulb 
in the house. I was disappointed because of 50 Hz flicker (well, 100 Hz 
really!), poor lifetime, cold light, long start-up time, poor 
reliability and high cost (about the equivalent of $10 each). They were 
all made in the USA (I was told the European ones weren't available). I 
think I must have taken 20 back for guarantee replacement. 
Little-by-little, they were replaced by European and Chinese ones with 
warm phosphors, faster start-up, high-frequency (flicker-free) 
"ballasts" with minimal mercury and 1/3 of the price. These seem to be 
lasting their advertised lifetime -- can't really say, as I've replaced 
only one in ~5 years. I'm now entirely satisfied. I'm also amazed at the 
great variety of shapes, styles and sizes that are sold now, including 
traditional bulb-shaped ones. I recently installed a new light and went 
to Leroy-Merlin for a decorative CFL; it took me half-an-hour to find 
what I was looking for, such was the choice. I would guess they must 
have had 200 or more different types of CFL on their shelves, which 
occupied a whole aisle.

Brian

On 29/08/2012 00:29, Bob Landman wrote:
> A very interesting discussion about what's inside these new devices.  Have any of you torn one of them apart to see how well they are made?  You'll be amazed at the poor quality of the components in a lamp that's supposed to have a 10 year life.
>
> -Bob Landman
>
> IFTLE 98 Lester the Lightbulb vs CFL and LED : the Saga Continues
> By Dr Phil Garrou
>
> In IFTLE 63 [ see IFTLE 63, "Bidding Adieu to Lester Lightbulb http://www.electroiq.com/blogs/insights_from_leading_edge/2011/08/iftle-63-bidding-adieu-to-lester-lightbulb.html] back in Aug 2011 IFTLE attempted to make the case that our little 25 cent friend Lester the incandescent bulb had gotten a bump rap as he awaited extinction on death row.
>
> It's not that the claims of the newer technologies (CFL and LED) using less power than incandescent bulbs are invalid, but rather what appears to be the  bold faced lie that their much greater cost is compensated by their decades long lifetimes that upsets all Lester supporters.
>
> http://www.electroiq.com/blogs/insights_from_leading_edge/2012/04/iftle-98-lester-the-lightbulb-vs-cfl-and-led-the-saga-continues.html
>
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