CFLs and utility lights

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:52 am

I am going to begin building up a supply of 100 way incandescent bulbs for my Untility Lights. Before I do this, I thought I would put the following questions out there: 1) does anyone else out there use CFL lights in their utility lights and 2) if you do, do you notice any strobing effect?

BPR

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:29 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:I am going to begin building up a supply of 100 way incandescent bulbs for my Untility Lights. Before I do this, I thought I would put the following questions out there: 1) does anyone else out there use CFL lights in their utility lights and 2) if you do, do you notice any strobing effect?

BPR

I am curious as to why you would want to stock pile CFL bulbs. I think I understand the motivation to convert to using them but why stock pile them.

On the other hand, I know several people who are stock piling those incandescent bulbs that they use most but they are trying to avoid what they see as extreme high prices for bulbs.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:54 pm

dusty wrote:I am curious as to why you would want to stock pile CFL bulbs. I think I understand the motivation to convert to using them but why stock pile them.

On the other hand, I know several people who are stock piling those incandescent bulbs that they use most but they are trying to avoid what they see as extreme high prices for bulbs.

ryanbp01 said he was stockpiling incandescents, not CFLs. But he was asking if anybody else was using CFLs in their shop and how well they work.

I've been stockpiling incandescents for a while too, but don't have near the stockpile I wish I had. I hate CFLs, but not because of their price. The light from them hurts my eyes. The GE Reveal incandescent bulbs are perfect. I get very pleasant light from them, but the CFLs give me a headache. It also pisses me off that the US Congress has gotten involved in such crony capitalism on this level, but that's another topic for another forum.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:02 pm

If you have access to a 'Dollar Tree' store, they still have them(for now anyway). I be stocking up on '3 way' bulbs.

FWIW there is much difference in the color 'temperature' of various cfl lights. Some are quite 'warm'.

The ones I detest are the slow warmup ones.

I do not think the cfls would exhibit the strobe effect that the older fluorescents had due to their fluctuating due to line voltage frequency. I have not noticed, but since the overhead lights are fluorescent, that 'effect' has been ignored for decades.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:21 pm

I'm the other way. No, not that...

I do like the CFL's and can't convert to them fast enough. I do like some of the regular bulbs for a few spots where I want full light instantly especially where I use flood lights. There I prefer halogen lights.
In spite of many claiming that you can't use CFL's outside in cold climates I have used them in outside lights for years. It does take them a while to come to full light especially if it is down toward zero but they do come on. I have four 150 watt equivalent CFL bulbs (about 43 watt draw each) in a ceiling fan fixture in the current shop (not the new, new shop) up in the middle of the cathedral ceiling area and for most walk in the shop small jobs it is all I need to turn on.
CFL do not strobe, period...
We just recently took advantage of an offer from the power company (Duke Energy) for 6 CFL's for free. Just check a box on a post card and mail it. They came in about a week.
BTW, they now have "dim-able" CFL's.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:32 pm

heathicus wrote:ryanbp01 said he was stockpiling incandescents, not CFLs. But he was asking if anybody else was using CFLs in their shop and how well they work.

I've been stockpiling incandescents for a while too, but don't have near the stockpile I wish I had. I hate CFLs, but not because of their price. The light from them hurts my eyes. The GE Reveal incandescent bulbs are perfect. I get very pleasant light from them, but the CFLs give me a headache. It also pisses me off that the US Congress has gotten involved in such crony capitalism on this level, but that's another topic for another forum.

Yup, he sure did. This just goes to show what happens if I don't read well before I type.

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:43 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:I am going to begin building up a supply of 100 way incandescent bulbs for my Untility Lights. Before I do this, I thought I would put the following questions out there: 1) does anyone else out there use CFL lights in their utility lights and 2) if you do, do you notice any strobing effect?

BPR

One thing to consider is the frequency of turning the lights on and off. I was reading an article in Wired Magazine yesterday which indicated some of the issues with CFLs and their adoption. Among other things, one of the biggest issues is the time to warm-up and the reduced lifespan due to not enough time between turning the light off and turning it back on. Something to consider.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:11 pm

damagi wrote:Among other things, one of the biggest issues is the time to warm-up and the reduced lifespan due to not enough time between turning the light off and turning it back on. Something to consider.

So the old adage still holds true that if your knot going to use an incandescent bulb in 5 minutes, turn it off. With a fluorescent if knot used in 45 minutes, turn it off.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:12 pm

Two or three years ago Shopsmith had utility lights on sale. I bought one and put a CFL bulb in it. Works fantastic!

Now here is the rub. I know some CFL lights don't come on instantly some take a time to warm up. I don't know which ones or how to tell them apart.

I do know my neighbor installed some in this kitchen and it would drive me crazy, they come on very dim and over time 5 minutes or so keep getting brighter and brighter.

I'm told most of the new CFL and florscent lighting fixtures use electronice ballast and as such don't pulse.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:00 pm

I use flood lights inside my shop. Helps warm up the area in the winter.
I could not keep a bulb in my drill press from all the vibration. Garage door or ceiling fan bulbs did not last much longer. Switched to a CFL and been going strong for a few years now. Take a few to warm up in my unheated garage shop. Got into the habit of turning it on when I enter the shop so it is no big deal.