What is a CFL, or Compact Fluorescent? Compact fluorescents, referred to as compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL's, use 66-75% less electricity to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb. They produce light through fluorescing phosphors instead of a heated filament.
Who was the inventor of Fluorescent lightbulbs? The discovery of using a fluorescent phosphor coating to produce light was discovered by Nikola Tesla, who also tried to popularize the new find. Nikola displayed the new form of fluorescent lightbulbs to the world during the 1893 World's Fair.
When was the first CFL introduced for sale? CFL's were globally introduced by Philips and Osram in the early 1980s. They have been increasing in sales for years as their quality gets better, price and size decreases, and more people find that they save in energy costs by using CFL's.
What different shapes of CFL's are there? CFL's range from U-shaped, tubular, ring(circle), spiral(swirly), globe, flood, etc... There are many shapes to decide from, but the spiral shape is designed to reduce heat build-up, and also emits light more evenly.
What different types of CFL's are there? CFL's are sold as either an "integral" bulb/ballast combination, or "modular" system, which will have one or more pin-based bulbs that can be replaced while re-using the ballast.
What does the ballast on an integral CFL do? The ballast on an integral CFL has five major components inside. A PTC Thermistor for flicker free startup, radio interference suppressor, switching transistors, lamp current stabilizer, and an electrolytic capacitor for flicker free operation.
What benefits are there to using a modular CFL? Modular CFL's ballast and base can usually be reused five bulb replacements. Most ballasts are rated at 50,000 hours. This will result in less money spent replacing the bulbs. Modular CFL bulbs are also cheaper than integral CFL's because you are not paying for the integrated ballast.
Will a CFL fit into my incandescent fixture? Some larger screw-based CFL's can be difficult to fit into fixtures designed for incandescent bulbs. However, many CFL's on the market are only slightly larger than a standard incandescent bulb.
How will the build up of heat around my CFL affect it? CFL's installed on an enclosed fixture designed for incandescent bulbs may overheat. This can reduce both light output and lifespan. Even with optimum conditions, light output from a CFL will decrease over its lifespan.
If I use my CFL's a lot should I consider buying a modular system? For highly used fixtures, you may want to consider replacing your existing screw-based incandescent fixture with one designed for CFL use. A fixture with a hard-wired ballast that uses pin-based CFL's.
Why is a CFL more efficient than an incandescent? CFL's have a gas charged tube. Electricity passed through the bulb creates a chemical reaction that produces the light. This process results is a cooler running, more efficient light, emitting more lumen's while using less power. Incandescents create light by sending electricity through a small wire. 90% of the electricity is emitted as heat, not light.
What should I do when my CFL burns out? CFL's contain trace amounts of mercury and should be disposed of in the same way other hazardous waste products are. If no option to dispose the CFL is in your area, you can throw it away in your household garbage. Reduce the risk of bulb breakage and contamination, by placing it in a sealed plastic bag before throwing it away. Never incinerate CFL's as this will release mercury in its most hazardous form.
CFL's contain mercury! Should I be worried? A very small amount of mercury, four milligrams, is inside the glass tubing of a CFL. It would take between 250 to 1000 CFL's to equal the same amount of mercury that is in a standard home thermometer. CFL's emit no mercury when they are in use and are not a danger if handled properly.
Can a CFL be used on a dimming circuit? A standard CFL on a dimming circuit is a fire hazard. Only a dimmable or 3-way CFL can be used on a dimming circuit, but they are a slightly harder to find. Even at full brightness, if the CFL is not marked for dimming, do not use it on a dimming circuit.
How many watts does a CFL use compared to an incandescent?
40 watt incandescent (9-12 watt CFL)
60 watt ... (13-18 watt)
75 watt ... (19-24 watt)
100 watt .. (25-30 watt)
120 watt .. (31-36 watt)
What does the color temperature (K) displayed on my CFL or CFL package tell me about the bulb? Color temperature of light is rated in degrees Kelvin (K). A candle being rated at 1500 degrees Kelvin emits a "warm" light with some red tint. "Soft" light being 2700 degrees Kelvin emits a mostly yellow light. At 4000 Kelvin, a "Cool White" light is considered neutral, and emits a mostly white spectrum. A "Daylight" light being rated at 6500 Kelvin emits cool light with a blue tint.
Should my CFL flicker? Better quality compact fluorescents should have no visible flicker. Lesser quality CFL's might flicker or delay at startup. Make sure to test separate brand model's before you purchase a large stock of CFL's.
Can CFL's be used in extremely humid environments? CFL's can be used in high humidity and salt-air environments. However, they should not be placed in locations where they might come in direct contact with water.
This information was wrote by me, and found through various websites. Do not COPY to be used for anything but personal use without my permission to do so.
