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From: normand@tekig1.UUCP (Norman Dodge)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: long lasting lightbulbs
Message-ID: <1827@tekig1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Jan-85 12:54:24 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig1.1827
Posted: Mon Jan 28 12:54:24 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 30-Jan-85 05:31:11 EST
References: <-28400@cadovax.UUCP> <6100001@hpfclv.UUCP> <255@oliveb.UUCP> <155@phri.UUCP>
Reply-To: normand@tekig1.UUCP (Norman Dodge)
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 22
Summary: 

Lightbulb lifetime is also influenced by lightbulb quality.  They are NOT 
all the same!  Over the last 18 years I have kept accurate records of all 
brands used in my house.  This was done by penciling the brand of the 
replacement bulb and the date of replacement in the light fixture.  The 
result is that Sylvania brand bulbs burned 75% as long as Westinghouse.  
And Westinghouse lasted only half as long as General Electric.  For the 
past 5 years we have been using GE exclusively.

As mentioned in previous articles, reducing the voltage on the bulb can 
greatly increase the lifetime.  This can be accomplished by using bulbs
rated at 130 volts or by the use of a resistive device of some nature in 
series with the bulb.  Another good method is the use of light dimmers in
place of normal light switches.  Dimmers, especially the low cost ones,
do not usually put the full power line voltage across the bulb.  With the 
dimmer full on, the bulb operates at a lower voltage and will last longer.
When the dimmer is set to a lower level, the bulbs may last for many years.  
We have a dimmer in our bathroom and one on the light by our driveway.  The
four bulbs in the bathroom have been used daily for the last 18 years and
are still the original bulbs!  The driveway light is on every night from 
dusk to dawn and has been replaced 4 times in 18 years.  One of these times
was because rain water leaked on it and cracked it, and another was when it
was shot by a BB gun.