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Why do Compact Florescent Bulbs burn out so fast?!?

Melensdad

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
When the government do-gooders sold us on the idea of CFL light bulbs the sales pitch was "they save money in the long run because they last for many years." Honestly the old bulbs, while very expensive, did last for years. I have some that are at least 10 years old that still work.

BUT something has changed.

When I put in a new CFL bulb its a crap shoot if it will even last a couple months!!! I'd say I have a failure rate of 50% within 3 months on any newly purchased CFL bulbs.

For $6 to $12 per bulb CFL, versus about 50-Cents for a traditional bulb, I expect it to last a very long time. But the new CFL bulbs don't. Doesn't seem to matter which brand, but the cheaper bulbs seem to fail at a higher rate.

I like the light output of the CFL bulbs. I like the energy savings of the CFL bulbs. But the cost is becoming outrageous since too many of them fail in such a short time. They are no longer "cheaper in the long term" now they seem to be a "waste of money."
 
One of Obama's job plans Bob, would you please keep up ................ :poke:
 
Repeat this slowly to yourself......Chinese quality. I have not bought any in over 5 years but the ones I bought 10-12 years ago are still working fine. The one in our stove hood is on almost 24/7 and does fine even with grease needing cleaned off it which I do several times a year.
 
Yup, the old ones lasted. The new ones - it's a crap shoot.

Don't forget that they are hazardous materials when broken. No logic in this decision - just more feel good politics.
 
Chi-Com reward for buying our worthless fucking debt. EPA followed up immediately with new regs which made it impossible to make them in the USA because of the mercury content...but it's OK for the Chi-Coms to send that shit over here. I think that every burned our CFL should be sent back to the Congress for them to deal with. They wanted them for us, so they need see how well another of their policies has failed...BASTARDS!
 
I've had only a few outside flood lights fail and we buy from Lowe's. They replace them as well as take the old bulbs back to dispose off. Other than the few I've had fail I've not noticed much difference between those I buy now and did when they first came out as far as lasting.
 
muleman said:
Repeat this slowly to yourself......Chinese quality. I have not bought any in over 5 years but the ones I bought 10-12 years ago are still working fine. The one in our stove hood is on almost 24/7 and does fine even with grease needing cleaned off it which I do several times a year.
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Must have jinxed myself.:hammer:Had to replace this one today. And it was Chinese and lasted 5 years of almost continuous being on. Put in another of the 4pack that was up in the cupboard. I have another Identical one in the center light in the kitchen. It is the same age but it gets turned on/off a lot.
 
Bob i stayed with the old style bulbs and just turned them off i did try an experiment with led's this spring as cfl's dont work in the cold led's work just fine at - 20 to this point i'm impressed i have noticed my light tubes for the larger lights are also junk i just have to replace every one in the fall and remember we never use lights in the summer this far north
 
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