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gfretwell #173793 01/18/08 04:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 368
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I am just starting to convert my bulbs to CFL's as they burn out but I am having issues with my external fixtures.

Right now where I am in Canada its -30 and I find that the one CFL I am trying outside does not put out as much light in this weather compared to a regular incandescent bulb.

I came home from work at 5 am this morning and a birthday candle would put out more light than the CFL bulb over my door. When I installed the bulb in the fall the brightness was good at that time of day.

I don't know if its just the brand (Globe) that is doing this or just the nature of the product. I have not seen any CFL bulbs marked for cold weather use in any of the retailers.

Also for the ones in the house it took a little getting use to the short lag between turning the switch on and the bulb coming on.

mbhydro #173802 01/18/08 06:00 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 794
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Florescent bulbs, CFL or the old fashioned kind, don't do well in very cold weather.

wa2ise #173838 01/20/08 12:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 558
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I found that CFL's if they are outside in a cold climate and in a fixture that allowed air to circulate freely around the lamp, the lamp did not operate worth beans. Put that same lamp inside a fixture thats totally enclosed and they operated a lot better. There are ones that are good for outdoor use where the tube is enclosed in a plastic shield and they work fine all year round. The "Buglite" type are an example.

Rewired #173865 01/21/08 02:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 152
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Have 24 of them in my barn - unenclosed - they take about 5 to 7 mins to warm up and operate at maximum brightness but start off quite dim at 0°F. I never perceived a difference once they were warm though

Ann Brush #173872 01/21/08 06:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
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I noticed today one reason my light looks dim after checking the amber CFL bug light I took out and that it is a 23w light, the white one I put in was 13W. For some reason I thought they were both the same rating.

I will have to get a 23W white bulb next time I am shopping and see how bright it looks once it warms up from a frigid start. I am sure the 10W will make a difference.

mbhydro #173908 01/22/08 03:41 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
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My friend emailed me back. He tried a relay but that still didn't work. He then went and bought a $9.00 motion light and put in his closet, and he said it's working fine now. He wanted the CFL because it gave out "daylight" light that would give him the true color of his clothes. I gave him other options, but he was determined not to pay over $50.00 for a switch that was rated for CFL's and he definetly didn't want a regular incandescent bulb. He said he still paid less for the relay and the motion light, than for the right motion switch. I guess he's not counting drive time etc.... Pretty determined I'd say....

sparkync #174037 01/25/08 03:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
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I capitulated to the CFL (only slightly!) a few months ago and put one in an outside light on the back corner of my house while replacing it. It's a fully enclosed fitting, and even in the relatively mild winter temperatures of England I've noticed that on colder nights (in the 30s) it's taking a good 10 minutes to reach full brightness.

pauluk #174075 01/25/08 11:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 404
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We have them on the outside fixtures at my parents' house, where week-long stints of below-freezing weather is common. The failure rate is on average one a year; most are left on all the time, so there's no problem with warmup time.

noderaser #174082 01/26/08 02:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
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I have done some informal research on this. The one I am using has a relay. I guess that is why it works
I can't imagine you would have any problem if you used the Heath/Zenith motion detectors like they have in the PAR-38 luminaires. That is what I have in the garage for my CFLs.
I haven't tried my "inline" occupancy sensor yet (device type that directly replace a 2 wire switch) That is probably the one that will be trouble. They work fine with a few feet of rope light tho, so you don't need much load but that is incandescent.


Greg Fretwell
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