lonewolf wrote:I've read the constant hype surrounding CFL's and contrast this with my direct experience. There is zero correlation.
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Could my negative view on CFL's be power supply related? Sure. But I rather effing doubt it.
OTOH, the experience you report with such terrible results with CFL's is SO far off the profile of everyone I have ever discussed them with, that it makes me suspect there must be SOME unusual variable in your situation.
Have you tried more than one brand of CFL bulb? One room? One socket, etc?
My girlfriend got pissed when a relatively expensive (8 or 10 bucks) 150 or 200 (I forget which) CFL replacement bulb for her kitchen failed in about a year. It hung upside down, and was physically a big sucker which was different than all such bulbs I'd used.
I suggested we try again, and if it failed quickly again then we avoid them for THAT application. As it worked out, the replacement was fine, so it must have been one bad bulb. Thinking about it, I can't recall replacing another bulb of that type, and I've been converting to them for me, friends, and family for what seems like a decade or so.
When you consider the energy problems we have and how much electricity we could save the planet if everyone used efficient lighting WHERE APPLICABLE, it's just staggering the difference it can make, so I hate to just see people discard a whole technology or tell friends it sucks because of a personal experience.