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From: charless@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Charles R. Sullivan)
Newsgroups: ca.environment,sci.electronics,misc.consumers.house
Subject: Compact Fluorescent Varieties (Was Re: Recycling LIGHT BULBS?
Summary: Lots are available--there's one for you.
Message-ID: <10215@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 15 Jan 91 18:44:49 GMT
References: <1991Jan7.072625.27315@informix.com> <820002@hpcc01.HP.COM> <1991Jan9.171802.509@amd.com>
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Reply-To: charless@cory.Berkeley.EDU
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There are a lot of different CFs available--there is probably one that overcomes
your objections to the others.

In article <1991Jan9.171802.509@amd.com> phil@brahms.amd.com (Phil Ngai) writes:
>
>I don't like the compact fluorescents at OSH. They are ok, but
>not very bright. My favorite is the Lights of America Q-lite,
>available at Target and Home Depot. It's equivalent to a 75
>watt, vs the 60 at OSH. Also, I think they are non-radioactive
>while the OSH Panasonics do have radioactivity, and the Q-lite
>turns on in a more attractive way. The Philips SL*18 is also
>nice but only the Home Club sells them and they are by far
>the most expensive product with no significant advantage over
>the Q-lite.
>
>I have four Q-lites in my bathroom. I used to object to CFs because
>they weren't bright enough (you can't get them in a 100 watt
>flavor) but I think I have solved that problem now with my 300
>watts (equivalent) of light.
>
>--
>seifert@asylum.sf.ca.us is responsible for the
>Ethernet slide latch.

There is at least one 100W equivalent availble.  It is an electronic one 
made by panasonic, and available by mail from Save Energy Company in 
San Francisco (800-326-2120).
(For those of you about to post saying "I have a Panasonic
electronic, and it's only a 75W equivalent," Panasonic makes at least two
different electronic bulbs.)

An important thing to know if you are trying a CF lamp for the first time
is that, although it comes on almost instantly, it takes a few minutes to reach
full brightness.  I have known several people who have been fooled by this,
and thought the CFs they were trying were no good. 

Small amounts of radioactive elements are sometimes used in the starters of 
magnetic ballasted lamps.  It's not enough to be dangerous, but if you 
don't like it, you can just stick to electronic ballasted lamps--they don't
need starters, and so never have radioactiviy.

If size is your concern, there are some very small ones available.  The
Dulux EL series from Osram is quite small, 2 1/4 inches diameter; the 
length depends on wattage.  If this still isn't small enough, there is
one system that has a ballast that plugs into the wall.  You plug your
lamp into the ballast, and screw just the actual fluorescent tube into
the socket of your lamp.  It is smaller in diameter than an incandesant, 
and it only sticks 4 1/2 inches out of the socket.

I've tried and liked these last two.  I've also tried and liked the reflector
version of the Dulux EL.  No, I am in no way associated with the Save Energy
company, but yes, their catalog is the best source I've found for CF lamps,
and I recommend it to anyone interested in the above lamps, and more.

Just for completeness, if you think fluorescent color is bad, you probably
haven't seen the new CF lamps.  If you've seen the good color in the
new CFs, and want it for other flourescents--it is available.  For
example try the GE SPX30 for an incandescant color, the SPX35 for
a slightly more white, less redish-yellowish color.  SP30 and SP35
are cheaper.  Other brands have equivalents, ask or a cross reference.


Charlie Sullivan                                     charless@cory.berkeley.edu