CFL life

[Chris Hunter <cjhunter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

'wondered what people are getting .... because ours seem to fail
rather sooner than we expected ...

we have CFLs both indoors & out ... the inner ones (Philips 16W
bulbs, in table-lamps & pendant's) are switched maybe twice a day, on
average, and seem to die after around 1000 cycles / maybe 4000 hours
of use ... and the outer ones (Omicron, IIRC, 3W bulbs, in bollards)
are switched about twice a week, and three of the eight have failed
after about three years ... say 300 cycles & well under 2000 hours ...

either way, that's well under the 8000 hours usually mentioned, and
by the time they die they are not only taking a while to come-on
properly, but they are also are down to half-brightness, too ...

We have a couple of 20W long life CFLs, too, used under shelter
outside, and they seem rather better, on brightness & life, but they
are less easy to find ...

Chris