Re: An end to high-energy bulbs

["Paul Bendall" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ok but why does a CFL take 20 - 30 seconds to get to operating
colour? Does the current inrush and then decay whilst the bulb is
warming up or is it an inrush and the colouring is just part of the
ultimate wattage, whwereby some is used to warm the gases rather
than emit light?

Paul
--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Richard" <rich_lists@...> wrote:
>
> That's actually one of the myths of fluorescents, the current is
limited by
> the ballast, not the tube, so the current used to heat is about
the same as
> that when its operating.
>
>
>
> There is a surge for a fraction of a cycle while the power factor
capacitor
> charges if its turned on mid ac cycle, but that's about it.
>
>
>
> Even if it was 5 times the run current (which is the inrush of a
typical CFL
> bulbs electronic ballast) then it would be over in  a split second
so still
> only worth a seconds runtime.
>
>
>
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of
> Simon Coates
> Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 12:43 AM
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Re: An end to high-energy bulbs
>
>
>
> In some situations an Incandescent can be more efficient than a
> Fluorescent. I'm thinking of garage lights where they are on for
less
> than a minute. The current needed to start the fluroescent will
outway
> the savings in such a short time.
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>