I pretty much ALREADY know the answer, but am gonna toss this out anyhow. So, on each outer bay of my pole barn I like a night light so have used a cheap screw in day/night switch with a long life incandescent bulb that works pretty well. I have always noticed, however, when those lights first come on they tend to oscillate a while n sort of warm n build up to full brightness (takes maybe 3 seconds or so).
Being a "Green" (yeah right) sorta guy (actually dont wanna pay REMC more then I have to) I try those energy saving fluorescent lights BUT THAT DAY NIGHT THINGY SORT OF FRIES THEM IN A COUPLE DAYS GRRRRRRRRRR Sooooooooo I see these big enclosed flood light lookin energy saver bulbs at Mendards (120 watts of light for 23 watts use) and give them a try SURE ENOUGH THEY ONLY LASTED TWO DAYS GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
It seems those cheap day/night briefly oscillating fixtures dont breed well with the CFL light bulbs and fries the elecronics somehow. So I gotta either find a day/night controller thats compatible with the CFL bulbs or just stick in a full time CFL and let them burn till they die.
Any thoughts or ideas out there?????
John T (Hey I was an Electrical NOT Electronics Engineer remember)
Full Version: Cfl Lights
put them on a timer. i put some on an electric water heatrer timer. there is one catch you have to run 220 to the timer because the motor that runs the clock runs off 220. just tie one leg of each 110 to the clock and run only the wire for the lightrs off one leg of the 220,making it just use 110. i've been running two electric motors off this set up for two years and it still works great with no problems. you can save a few bucks by putting them on motion detectors
A gent on YT Mag said ACE Hardware has CFL compatible day/night controllers so thats where Im headed before I fry anymore bulbs
John T
John T
John
I got two of those CFL bulbs runing outside. One in the front yard and one on the pole barn. They are controlled by the generic photo clell type sensor. Been working flawless for I don't know how long.
The one on the pole barn used to be mercury vapor. I took the innerds out of it, ran the juice straigh thru to the socket and left the same old photo cell in place. It works like a champ.
I have had troubl with the 150 watt equivalent lighting in the winter, but the 100 watt equivalent work fine all the time.
I got two of those CFL bulbs runing outside. One in the front yard and one on the pole barn. They are controlled by the generic photo clell type sensor. Been working flawless for I don't know how long.
The one on the pole barn used to be mercury vapor. I took the innerds out of it, ran the juice straigh thru to the socket and left the same old photo cell in place. It works like a champ.
I have had troubl with the 150 watt equivalent lighting in the winter, but the 100 watt equivalent work fine all the time.
CFL, does it mean "cant find light"? 
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