Re: CFL reviews?

["Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx>]

Rather than searching for "friendly" CF bulbs, why not just block them from
causing a problem.  That's the approach I took with the ceiling cans here,
and we use several different brands of CF bulbs without a problem.

The fix is simple:  Install a small  Leviton 6287 Noise Block in the lead
from your switch to the CF lights.  Then whether the CFs are either a signal
sucker or noise source, their effect will be blocked from effecting anything
else.  The 6287 is rated 5 amps, and can feed a string of ceiling cans.  You
can install it at the first fixture in the string if there isn't room behind
your switch.

FYI, an early Lights of America CF bulb had a cap directly across its AC
input.  The old Philips "Earthlight" worked fine with X10 - and was even
dimmable.

Jeff

"random735" <random735@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1150564547.972209.173250@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I've got a bunch of Commercial Electric CFLs (bought at home depot) in
> my house..what i really like about these CFLs is the "quickstart"
> technology...they come on immediately, just like an incandescent bulb.
> What I don't like is, of course, the x10 signal suck (or noise
> generation?).
>
> Has anyone done an in depth analysis of various brands of CFL to
> determine which ones suck the least signal or generate the least noise?
>  And ideally, an analysis of how fast they come on.
>
> I don't really care about dimmability, just noise/signal suckage...
> googling didn't really turn up anything beyond "CFLs suck signal" which
> of course i already knew and at $3-4 a pop, i hate buying random CFLs
> to test, especially since i can't just "use it until it dies" since
> that will be 5-10 years, ideally.
>
> I know, i need to get an ELK and do the assessment myself..it's on my
> list.  And yes, i now have jeff's XTB (well, one, anyway...probably
> will need 1-2 more in the end) and it definitely helped, but i've got
> at least one fixture w/ 3 CFLs in it that i can turn on, but not off.
>