Fiat Lux!

[unixronin]

I just got back from the hardware store¹, where I discovered that multi-packs of commodity CFL light bulbs in standard 13W and 23W sizes are, at last, available² in "bright white" and daylight phosphors as well as only "soft white" — which is to say, dingy yellowish.

With any luck, I have bought my last "soft white" lamp.  EVER.

[1]  In this case, Lowes Hardware.

[2]  Available at least in the Bright Effects brand.  I don't know if other brands (Sylvania, for example) are doing it yet.

Comments

[otherbill.livejournal.com]

Great, now I can (finally) begin migrating our household over to those. Our hatred of yellow lightbulbs was the one thing keeping us away from CFLs.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

The one problem I've found migrating to CFLs is that there are sometimes tolerance issues. I've found the base contact on CFL bulbs tends to be just a fraction shorter than on incandescents, and if the base contact in the socket has list its spring temper due to being too hot for too long (which I find many of them have) it's sometimes enough to make CFLs fail to make contact. Adding a generous solder bead to the base contact in the socket solves the problem.

I don't know if all manufacturers are offering bright-white and daylight yet, or if all stores are carrying them yet. These were Bright Effects brand, and I found them at Lowes Hardware.

[mrakg.livejournal.com]

N:Vision brand {Home Depot carries them] has had the three basic types [Bright White, Daylight, Soft White] for quite a while...and they were rated very highly on light output and bulb longevity. Some of them are even dimmable.

My personal snicker is IKEA...they sell [PUSH] their non-dimmable CFLs....but half the lamp bases they sell have integral dimmers. This is generally known to be a Bad Idea.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yup, I've seen (and bought) N:Vision before. Lowes doesn't carry them, though, and my recollection is N:Vision sells only single bulbs for about $4-$6 each, not the four and six bulb packs for about $9.