Anyone found new incandescent lights to be less bright? (China: coupon, 2014)

[FueledByBlueBell]

We started using the new incandescent lights in our kitchen primarily because the regular ones would burn out frequently. Once we started using the new lights, however, we noticed that they aren't as powerful as the old lights. The light isn't as bright and doesn't even reach the work surface. I hate to go back to the old lights, but maybe it is the brand? Anyone else have problems with this type of lighting?

[CptnRn]

Are they really new incandescents or some of the new Compact Fluorescent light bulbs, with the spiral tubes? The CF bulbs take some time to warm up and reach full luminosity, but they still seem a little dimmer to me then the incandescents they are supposed to be comparable to.

Probably all of the lightbulb companies are doing whatever they can to stay competitive, including making incandescents that are less luminous if they can reduce the energy consumption a bit. For example the "double life" 60 watt bulbs may have longer life but probably have thicker filaments that burn cooler and put out less lumens of light in order to burn longer.

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by FuledbyBlueBell

We started using the new incandescent lights in our kitchen primarily because the regular ones would burn out frequently. Once we started using the new lights, however, we noticed that they aren't as powerful as the old lights. The light isn't as bright and doesn't even reach the work surface. I hate to go back to the old lights, but maybe it is the brand? Anyone else have problems with this type of lighting?

i don't know if the light isn't as bright BUT i'll say using incandescent light bulbs is definitely not bright

why are you still using incandescent light bulbs anyway? they are more expensive; they generate a lot of heat (90% of the power they draw goes to producing heat instead of light); and the light color is not as pleasant as energy saving light bulbs -- something you can get for about $1 each these days. (a lot of coupon discounts available)

I got 4 for free a few months back (after coupon).

[atxcio]

Also, the government is actually phasing out incandescent bulbs. 100Ws to be gone by 2012, 60W in 2014...

Specifics of Existing Incandescent Phase Out - 2007 Energy Bill

The new CF bulbs don't seem to have the big delay in achieving full brightness. I haven't noticed that they are significantly dimmer, but I guess they could be. You could always go for a higher wattage CF bulb. The standard replacements seem to be 15-17 watts, but you can get 20+ watt ones.

[FueledByBlueBell]

These are not the spiral bulbs and I was totally wrong- they are CFLs, and they are awful.

[stillkit]

So far as I've been able to determine, all the CF bulbs are made by American companies in China. The reason probably has to do with pollution controls, but I don't care about that. I do care about supporting American workers so I won't buy the things.

Y'all shouldn't either. In fact, you shouldn't buy anything which has been offshored for cheap labor or any other reason. With millions of our people out of work, those companies can either bring those jobs back or lose the sale.

And, be sure and e-mail them WHY you won't buy them.

[timfountain]

The problem I have with CFL's is the time they take to get to full brightness which is especially apparent when the ambient temperature is low. I have seen them completely fail to start in outdoor settings at freezing temps. Also whilst they might be energy efficient, they are full of mercury and other environmentally damaging chemicals (note they should not even be disposed of in the regular garbage).
My final problem with them is they do not seem to last. All the enticing figures they put on the packaging talk about amazing long lifetimes and good return on investment….it seems like the cheap crap (i.e. most of them) only last 12-18 months with average use before they die. In most cases it is the starting circuit not the actual CFL that goes (again crappy under-engineered components from china that are designed to fail prematurely). I changed all my bulbs to CFL's as the regular ones died, but recently I have been putting back regular bulbs, as the payback just doesn't seem to make sense financially

- Tim

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by FuledbyBlueBell

These are not the spiral bulbs and I was totally wrong- they are CFLs, and they are awful.

Your statement has a contradiction. Almost all CFLs have a spiral construction - even if the package looks semi-normal (like a floodlight).

As said before - buy a higher wattage CFL if you want more light. They still use far less electricity than an incandescent of the same light output.

I have found that the really cheap CFLs do NOT last anywhere near as long as claimed. So I usually buy GE or similar brands at Sams Club.

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by timfountain

The problem I have with CFL's is the time they take to get to full brightness which is especially apparent when the ambient temperature is low. I have seen them completely fail to start in outdoor settings at freezing temps. Also whilst they might be energy efficient, they are full of mercury and other environmentally damaging chemicals (note they should not even be disposed of in the regular garbage).

that's the first generation CFL's. The recently produced CFL's take far less time to warm up to full brightness. But they still contain mercury.

LED's might be the answer after all. They are far more efficient than CFL's and can last really long.

My final problem with them is they do not seem to last. All the enticing figures they put on the packaging talk about amazing long lifetimes and good return on investment….it seems like the cheap crap (i.e. most of them) only last 12-18 months with average use before they die. In most cases it is the starting circuit not the actual CFL that goes (again crappy under-engineered components from china that are designed to fail prematurely). I changed all my bulbs to CFL's as the regular ones died, but recently I have been putting back regular bulbs, as the payback just doesn't seem to make sense financially

Quality control problems ... part of the learning curve (and cost) of cheap labor in China, since most of them are made in China.

[chickenfry]

i'm stocking up on regular old light bulbs, no mercury to be concerned about.