CFL update

[unixronin]

Today, I secured a socket extender for use with that n:vision daylight CFL bulb I picked up yesterday.  Result:  Bright, white, pleasant light, and a decent amount of it.  I think I like these bulbs.

Minor downside:  The top turn or so of the bulb protrudes above the top of the torchiere's bowl.  I think I can live with that, and the next time I buy new lights, I'll just buy them with the shape of these bulbs in mind.

Oh -- and, of course, that every other light in the house now looks yellow ....

Bulb details: n:vision model ESM27, SKU 230-520, 27W, 5500K, 9-year warranty, $6.97 at Home Despot.  The manufacturer actually makes medium-base CFLs up to 42W (claimed 150W equivalent), but I don't know whether those are 5500K bulbs.

Comments

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

We have been using CFLs for several years. The newer ones are much better, but the things to be aware of are, they don't light up to full brightness immediately, and they gradually dim over time. Welcome to the 21st (fruitbat) century.

Next new technology to watch, quantum dots.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I've been watching them progressively get better and more useful. We tried some in 2001, when we lived in Tracy, California, and I can only describe the light as grey. The ones we bought in North Carolina in 2003 or so were better and brighter, but really strongly yellow. This is the first CFL I've tried that provides what I consider acceptable light output both in quantity and in color balance. It's actually a really nice, very pleasant light, and something about it almost makes the room feel cooler and more comfortable. (By more, I think, than can be accounted for merely by the absence of the excessive waste heat output of an incandescent bulb.)

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

And I have been appreciating your updates. We last bought bulbs almost three years ago. I still have a stash in the closet. They really do last.

I would probably see a change in my electric bill if I did not have eleven computers running full time... (But two of them are powered by the windmill.)

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I would probably see a change in my electric bill if I did not have eleven computers running full time... (But two of them are powered by the windmill.)

I hear you there. A major portion of our power bill (and heat load) is undoubtedly computers and their monitors. Hopefully, we've bought our last CRT; 1920x1200 LCD monitors have now come down far enough in price that when my 24" Sun 90D10 finally fails, I should be able to replace it with an LCD. I'll be keeping the Sum GDM-5410 flat-screen CRT on my gamebox, though; LCDs are great for "real work" where I can run them at native resolution all the time, but not all games support that native resolution even now (or run decently with the resolution turned all the way up), and my experience is that at anything but native resolution, LCD monitors look like ass.

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

LCD monitors look like ass.

Wonder if dr_nebula has an LCD monitor....

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Maybe he should get a Honda GoldWing. You know, one of the new ones with the airbag...?

[fatcook.livejournal.com]

We bought GE Natural light bulbs a while back. We didn't notice a difference until we had to put in a new bulb that wasn't a Natural light. Good Grief!! Half my kitchen turned yellow. It's horrible and hotter as well, trust me, living in Phoenix you notice this.