[darkpuppet]

OAC_Sparky,Apr 18 2007, 08:03 PM Wrote:

paolo,Apr 18 2007, 06:35 PM Wrote:then they need to ensure that all cfls are dimmable by the deadline.. otherwise some government building will have dozens of lightbulbs smashed onto.
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The problem with dimmable flourescents is that the efficiency savings are lost once you run it under the 100%. Opposite of incadescents.

You need to maintain a minumum power level to maintain the electron flow and gas ionization. It's this threshold power that consumes 70% of the total power used for the lamp.

The problem with making laws like this is that the idiots in charge have no idea of the science involved.

Everyone here knows how flourescents work, right? Unlike incadescents, flourescents lamps are considered hazardous waste. Everyone will think they're great until the waste collection stops taking them in the garbage and start making you return them to a hazardous waste depot, probably for a fee.
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yeah.. I keep saying that the hazradous waist from these things is gonna be a bitch.... I guess only time will tell.

And you're correct about the dimming... however, CFL bulbs with a quick start ballast, (not pre-warmers or kickstarters) should work in dimmers, and there are some spiral bulbs that will indeed work with dimmers (down to about 20% of the original brightness).

I remember seeing something on the discovery channel about dimmable flourescent lighting in office buildings. And the technology is out there that can keep the filaments at working temps, while reducing the current to dim the light... my flourescent desk lamp at work does this... tho the dimmer is a 3-position dial with very audible detents.

I wish the government would have put the effort towards LED lighting, which is, in my opinion, the more compelling technology. A district in Raleigh (I think I posted something about this some time ago) made the swap to LED... power savings of CFL, but more weather-proof, durrable, and longer lasting.

My biggest beefs with CFLs...

- They contain hazardous materials and should not be disposed of in regular garbage, yet nobody is told this.
- They cost a lot more to buy initially.
- They have a half life. That extended lifespan of CFL is measured down to as low as 30% of the bulb's original brightness.
- They don't stay as bright as day one --Depending on the phosphours of the CFL, I measured with a lightmeter a near 10% drop in output in the first 3 months from a 45 watt CFL. The initial drop-off tends to be steep, tapering off over time (all of my bulbs over 6 months need about 5 minutes to get up to their maximum brightness).
- Most CFLs won't operate below -15C -- I expect a darker than usual winter this year!

I dunno.. I just don't think they put enough thought into this..