Compact Flouescent Bulbs or CFL CAUTION!

[Wayne M.]

I just want the membership know what happened in my kitchen yesterday.

I have a range vent hood that houses a regular lightbulb. In an effort to get more light from the limited wattage rating of the fixture, I put in a CFL. This lamp gets moderate usage almost daily. Yesterday, while sitting not far away, reviewing kids holiday projects, I saw a flash and a crackle not unlike the sound of MIG welding- not extremely loud, then the bulb goes dim. At this time, I get up and switch the fixture off. Now I'm yelling and most of the house comes in to see. At this time, we notice a noxious gas filling the room. Sort of like a burning plastic smell. I unscrew the bulb, which was not hot and put it out on the deck. Now were ventilating the house to dilute the fumes, which CAN'T be good to breathe.
Luckily, I have a now on the endangered species list, a 40 watt bulb in there.

I never did like those bulbs, and it's the only one I had in the house.

I can only imagine what would have happened if I weren't home and the light were on.

 

[JKosten]

Sounds like you need to run a LED lamp in there.

 

[Bill Stockard]

It probably overheated in that enclosed area. We have several CFLs and they are all in fixtures where they can get ventilation. Like conventional fluorescent fixtures, the ballasts get warm. 40-watt incandescent bulbs have their place and it's just another example of dumb laws passed by politicians.

Bill

 

[Regcabguy]

My father in law smuggles in 100w incandescent which we use for reading. 1500 lumens each but the incandescent rocks. Way brighter and yes I've tried the white light CFL's

 

[EDankievitch]

You've got to give the new LED's a try I have them in almost every fixture in the house. The new ones sold today are every bit as good if not better lighting wise than the old incandescent. They cost a few $$ to buy but I'm now saving almost a full month's electric on my bill a year.

 

[Wayne M.]

Bill, it's a vent hood that has external venting. I don't think it got hot.

Ed, I wasn't knocking LEDs. I haven't tried them yet. What I've seen in appliances and automotive, it looks promising.

 

[Regcabguy]

You've got to give the new LED's a try I have them in almost every fixture in the house. The new ones sold today are every bit as good if not better lighting wise than the old incandescent. They cost a few $$ to buy but I'm now saving almost a full month's electric on my bill a year.

Yeah,I will when they introduce a 1500 lumen one. The ones now seem to shade the bottom half of the bulb too. I'm only using incandescents in two fixtures. When I'm really feeling decadent I fire up the 50-100-150 watt one.
Our G&L bill here averages $65 here.
Costco's got some deals on 800 lumen LED's but they're not going to cut it.

 

[mpaulson]

As of Jan 1st 2014 they just removed the incandescent 100 watt and 75 watt bulbs here in Alberta. I was just at the local hardware store today and bought another 48 100w bulbs to add to the 50 or 60 100 watt bulbs and the 60 some 60 watt bulbs that I already have at home. I should be good for a few years. It cost me $59 bucks for the 48 bulbs where as one LED bulb on the shelf cost $38 bucks!!! And with what you guys are saying, they don't put out enough light??? I'm glad I won't need those for a while.

 

[Regcabguy]

As of Jan 1st 2014 they just removed the incandescent 100 watt and 75 watt bulbs here in Alberta. I was just at the local hardware store today and bought another 48 100w bulbs to add to the 50 or 60 100 watt bulbs and the 60 some 60 watt bulbs that I already have at home. I should be good for a few years. It cost me $59 bucks for the 48 bulbs where as one LED bulb on the shelf cost $38 bucks!!! And with what you guys are saying, they don't put out enough light??? I'm glad I won't need those for a while.

What a deal on the 100w's! I got some online but when they arrived they were only 9500 lumens. Sylvania's are 1500 lumens. Fluorescent tubes work super in the garage,just not happy with the illumination of the CFL's. California outlawed production of 100w's here and legalized driver's licenses for some illegal aliens. Way to go Moonbeam and legislature. Glad you got your priorities straight.

 

[crispyboy]

Wayne M. - we had one of those CFL's do the exact same thing (snap, crackle, pop plus small flame) in a standard table lamp. This happened about two years ago. I don't have much trust in these bulbs made of "chinesium".......

 

[Wayne M.]

Thanks for that info. I didn't see a flame due to the enclosed fixture. I had just did a massive cleaning under there. I can't imagine what could have happened if that happened with some cooking grease and I wasn't around to shut it off.

 

[p-Bar]

My father in law smuggles in 100w incandescent which we use for reading. 1500 lumens each but the incandescent rocks. Way brighter and yes I've tried the white light CFL's

Moonbeam is reading this and you probably have some black helicopters overhead right now leaving a large carbon footprint to bust you.:-laf

 

[Regcabguy]

Love the city and weather,hate the state politics.