Re: N:Vision CFL's

["Dan Wright" <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7JidnR3oxIIFb5nbnZ2dnUVZ_qLinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxx


>
> There are lots of competing claims, the most interesting among them being
> CFL equivalency ratings are overblown.  A poster to the discussion at
> wikipedia says that his tests show that CFL's claimed to be equivalent to
> a
> 100W lightbulb are actually noticeably dimmer.  This is something I mean
> to
> test since I "scored" a number of the N-Vision CFL's at Home Depot
> tonight:
>
> 762148549236.....9R4023 floodlight.....$7.47
> 762148582328.....23W 2Pk..................$7.97
> 762148581925.....19W 2Pk..................$7.97
> 762148581444.....14W Mini 4Pk...........$7.97
> 762148588429.....42W Bulb.................$9.97

Don't know where you are located but here in So Cal SCE is subsidizing bulbs
(N:vision in particular) at out local Home Depot.  I can get 4 PAR 30
interior flood for less than 10, 6 60 watt equiv for about that too.  If I
get there today I will note the prices and post them.

> Even though it's bigger than the bulb it's going to replace (and that's an
> issue) the 42W does indeed "snap on" to near full brightness much faster
> than the older bulb, a Lights of America triaxial bulb.  The 42W bulb
> comes
> with two plastic clips that are not mentioned anywhere on the package.
> The
> look like they could be used the way some lampshades have a wire clamp for
> the bulb that supports the shade, but it's hard to tell.
>
> The Nvoice in-store display had a staggering variety.  Some of the
> warnings
> on the bulbs are new to me (do not use near marine radios or in emergency
> exit signs).  I'll have to dig out my Gossen Luna Pro lightmeter so I can
> make some meaningful measurement if the CHA research committee stipulates
> it
> to be accurate enough for the purpose!  (-:

Indeed, we have high standards here ;-)

> The N:Vision bulbs work in my porch light, a fixture controlled by a
> generic
> X-10 wall switch.  No other CFL has been able to do that without flashing
> at
> about 4 on/off cycles per second.  I detect a slight pulsing but it's my
> wife, who's TDY, who will decide if that's objectionable.

Is it  dimmer?  Relay switches all have a snubber circuit around the
contacts which can cause flickering.  The answer is a change in components
value.  N:vision and other newer bulbs are more prone to this that older
ones.  I have seen the flickering only on single bulb circuts and not on
multiple bulb ones.  A voltemeter accross the load/neutral lines should show
it as well.

I also have one 60 watt equivalent in an exterior light that does not seem
to like the cold.  However, it looks to be more of a fixture issue.

> The light from the bulb appears much dimmer than the 60W incandescent it
> replaced, but that's understandable because it's 14W and that's equivalent
> to a 40W incandescent, IIRC.  Hard to describe the difference in lighting
> quality but the front door cam view has changed.  I'll probably test the
> 19W
> in that fixture next because I want good lighting for the front door cams.

We have found that the 60 and 75 watt equivalent N:visions are bright enough
immediately that any warm up time for full brightness is quite tolerable.
However it is much more obvious with the PAR 30 replacements.  Not sure as
to why, one would think they are the same internally.

The other point with CFLs is heat.  We have a Halo recessed shower fixture
that has a low heat protection threshold.  Even a 40 watt incandescent would
trip it even though it is rated for 60 watt continuous.  Electrician said
that it happens a lot with the shower kit, and said that changing it may not
fix it.  I put in a 60 watt equivalent N:vision.  More light and no more
heat issues.


Dan Wright