CFL Brightness

[seekermeister]

Since my overhead kitchen light has begun to flicker, and I have always disliked it, because it is too dim, and too high for me to reach the fixture to replace the bulb. Maintenance will do the climbing, but all that he has is 60w CFL bulbs, like what I already have.

Therefore, I'm going to spring for the bulb, but am not sure which would be brighter...a 100w (equivalent) of 6500K, or a 150w (equivalent) 3000K. Neither is cheap, so I intend to order only one...which would be the brightest?

 

[Golden]

65OOK : it outputs higher heat intensity because it is truly brighter.

These "equivalent" bulbs are a gimmick in my opinion : designed to make us feel good about buying lower wattage bulbs that achieve so called "equivalent" lighting needs and less "harm" to the environment.

 

[seekermeister]

I believe that you are right about the motivations for their ratings, and I'm very certain that with two bulbs of the same wattage but different colors, that the higher color rated one would be the brightest, but it is when mixing wattage and color ratings that I become less certain. For instance, if there were a 60w bulb rated at 6500K, I would doubt that it would be brighter than a 150w 3000K bulb. I'm just not sure exactly where these cross the line? As far as heat goes, that is another consideration, because maintenance thought that it would be okay to put a 150w bulb in the kitchen fixture, but then I'm not as sure as he is. It appears to be a glass globe of ~ 1', without any ventilation visible, but then I have never seen it directly from the top.

 

[pricetech]

I've always used the 100 watt equivalent bulbs and have been happy with them. They consume about 23 watts as best I recall.

Heat has never been a problem with any of my fixtures, some of which are enclosed.

 

[seekermeister]

I went ahead and ordered a pair of 100w 6500K bulbs, for the reason that I couldn't find anywhere to order 150w 6500K bulbs in a quantity of less than 6, which was more than I wanted to pay. These bulbs may not be as bright as I would like, but they definitely will be brighter than I have now.

 

[Win7User512]

The CFLs are a load of crap. They are dimmer than the gov't wants you to think.

It is all about "feeling good" about the "environmentally friendly" bulbs.

 

[seekermeister]

A long time after the fact, but the kitchen light only went out yesterday, so I had postponed changing bulbs until now, because I get nervous that high on the ladder. What I wanted to ask is that when I flipped the switch on, it took about a minute for the bulb to stop making a loud crackling sound, something like arcing, and to stop flickering. Now it seems to be normal, but it leaves me wondering. I have another bulb, but they are so expensive, that I can't afford to waste any, and I don't want to climb that ladder any more than I have to. Is this a characteristic of bigger CFLs, or is it a fire hazard?

 

[pparks1]

I've never heard my CFL's crackle or flicker as they come on. Some come on somewhat dim and brighten over about 30 seconds. I have about 25 CFL's in every socket in my house. While perhaps not as bright, they did drive down my electricity bill...which I did appreciate. And now it seems like prices have really dropped. I remember paying $5 a bulb or so when I first put them in, but recently bought an 8 pack of the 14 watt bumbs and it was about $10. So, like $1.25 to $1.50 per bulb.

I do disagree that these last 5-7 years. Perhaps it's the older wiring in my house. I'm lucky to get 2-3 years out of a CFL bulb.

 

[seekermeister]

Since I don't pay the electric bill, cost was not the reason for my choice...at least not the primary one. I just wanted the coolest bulb possible, since the globe is unventilated (plus, I wanted something that would last, so I wouldn't have to replace it soon). I had thought that the bulb that was there was a CFL, but found that it was only a 60 watt incandescent, so this bulb is a lot brighter...at least with the globe off. I'll have to see what it is like with it on, because it is sort of a cream color that will reduce the brightness. I would just leave it off, but I know that the apt. manager would complain about that.

I've been thinking about it, and I've come to the conclusion that it was not the bulb acting up, but the light fixture itself. Since I had the bulb screwed in normally, there must be something in it that isn't quite right. I was trying to save the maintenance man from having to do this job, because he is more nervous than I am about the height, and I have a better ladder than he does for the job, but I may have to call him in anyway. I will wait to see if it acts up any more first.

 

[Win7User512]

Some come on somewhat dim and brighten over about 30 seconds.

Aside from they seem dimmer to me overall, I REALLY hate that it takes time for them to brighten to their brightest. I like to turn on a light and have it at the brightest right away.

I have about 25 CFL's in every socket in my house. While perhaps not as bright, they did drive down my electricity bill...which I did appreciate. And now it seems like prices have really dropped.

Wow. How do you get so many into each socket? :sarc:

 

[Britton30]

Heat shouldn't be a concern seeker, the CCFL's run cooler than the equivalent incandescent type lamp. I am using several and I don't notice any brightness difference but they do have a warm up cycle to reach full intensity, but it is short.
The EPA or some agency here in the US have a ban on using incandescent lamps at some point so CCFL will be our only choice, which may be the reason for the price drop.
6500K is a lot "whiter" than a standard bulb, while 3200K-3600K more closely resmbles the normal type bulb in color output.

 

[seekermeister]

I guess it must be a difference in the way that they are made, because I haven't noticed a prolonged warmup period on any of my CFLs. It takes maybe a second, and they are at full brightness. As far as how dim that they are, that depends on the wattage and color of the bulb. I have a 3000k 150 watt equivalent bulb over my desktop, and a 100 Watt Equivalent 6500k in the kitchen, and the difference is like between night and day. Eventually, I will probably convert all of my CFLs to 6500k. I really like to be able to see what I'm doing.

 

[Britton30]

Yes the 3000K will look yellow in direct comparison with the 6500K. As a rule of thumb, 5000K is considered to be the color of light on a full sunny day with sun at its highest spot in the sky. Our brains tend to normalize our perception of light color if only one source is present.
But we'll tend to see whiter light as "brighter" even if the source has the same output, in candle power or lumens.
I have the 6500K in my kitchen as well, very nice.

 

[seekermeister]

One benefit of 6500k, is that it makes a good grow light. Maybe I'll put some plants in the kitchen.