Just installed my first compact fluorescent light bulb.

[ka jowct]

I've got 3-ways on our bedroom lamps & they're fine.

I thought at least one or two of your guys would have read something into that post by now.

[Racer X]

trying not too.... I have found out that in my 3 ways, one gives up early..........

[Robert M]

Hi everyone,

Been using compact fluorescent bulbs for year. Have always lasted much longer than incandescent bulbs. The only ones that were a problem were dirt cheap no-name brands. Replaced those with one from a reputable brand and problems vanished. That said, the lighting store I go to for bulbs, fixtures, switches, wall plates and related items said to stay away from dimmable fluorescent bulbs. They exist but they are unreliable. He said to wait a year or two for the technology to mature. I suspect they'd say the same thing about three-way fluorescent bulbs. That and he said to stick with a reputable brand. No-name brands tend to be problematic. My experiences support what the staff said to me.

Robert

[GGD]

Robert M wrote:
That said, the lighting store I go to for bulbs, fixtures, switches, wall plates and related items said to stay away from dimmable fluorescent bulbs. They exist but they are unreliable. He said to wait a year or two for the technology to mature.

I wonder if they've heard of this dimmer/bulb combination and have any opinions. I've been tempted to give it a try.

http://www.lutron.com/CMS400/page.aspx?id=22117

It might be that the only way for the technology to mature is for the dimmer to change and this might be the first attempt at that.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

The only incandescent bulb in my apartment is the one in the fridge. I have not had a single CFL die in the last year.

[ztirffritz]

I'm still waiting for someone to start making cost competitive LED lighting.

[Racer X]

I saw a bunch of different configuration LED light bulbs in multipacks at Costco this weekend. Floods, mini base candelabra bulbs and at least a third type.

[mattkime]

LEDs may be viable by the time current CFLs reach end of life (as stated on box)

[Article Accelerator]

In addition to the frequently strange color temperatures of CFLs, their poor color rendition indexes, their mercury and other heavy metal content, and their un-dimmability (at least not without special CFL types and/or very expensive dimmers), it has now been determined that, at least in colder climates, the energy savings aren't near what they appear to be:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/...bulbs.html

[AAA]

My wife just stepped into the room I put the CFL. First words out of her mouth

"Man, that thing does not give off much light in here"

I guess I'll have to wire another bulb in there.

My garage is currently two 150 Watts and one 100 watt. I'll need about 4 100 watt equiv CFLs for that room.