Compact Fluorescent Lighting Reviews
Including energy efficient LED light bulbs, CFL bulbs, and future technologies.

A nice very small CFL. It claims 2700K, and is nice and warm. Should fit in most fixtures. Does not mention enclosed spaces, so I would probably not use it inside a closed space.

OK, it looks like a lightbulb, and is totally enclosed in glass. No more dusting bugs out of your spiral bulb.

The good - nice clean design, good color (it’s warm, and 2700K, and has good color. You won’t notice it in a lamp. It claims a 5-yr or 8000 hr life. Seems to pull about 13 watts.

The slow - the package says it starts slowly, and it does.  For a light that goes on and off alot, like a closet, you won’t like it. You can watch the tube slowly brighten from the base up.

As you can see, it is very small, and will probably fit in just about any fixture.

I did not see reference to use in enclosed fixtures, so I’d probably avoid that.

Great bulb. Good color. Use it in a place that stays lit for a while at a time.

The OttLite is a brand I’d not seen, and decided to try a bright white CFL. I’ve had some requests for reviews of whiter color bulbs or daylight bulbs.

Overall - it’s very white and looks to be a 100 watt replacement. It claims to be instant on, and is. It claims to use 25 watts, and on my killawatt, it reads 22 watts. Package claims 8000 hrs. Box indicates a 1-year warranty.

Good Bulb for your office or reading chair, but not the living room or dining room.

The light reminds me of the new LED Christmas lights. During the day, it’s fine, at night, it’s kind of odd - like a huge LCD computer screen light.

Good Color, Good Size, Good Bulb

The Bright Effects 60 watt globe CFL is marked as a G25 bulb. It’s marked as having soft white light, but you have to look for it carefully. It has the Energy Star marking, and says it lasts for 7 years. The fine print says it’s warranty is for 2 years. Wattage is marked at 12 watts. My measurement indicates 8 watts.

The fine print says not to directly expose to the weather, and the usual about not using it with timers and dimmers. No mention of use in an enclosed fixture. The bulb itself says that if exposed to water, install it base up/ bulb down. The unit looks to be sealed.

I installed one in the exposed globe fixture in the bathroom, and - drum roll - my wife didn’t notice.

Good Bulb, Good Color, Dimmer Compatible, but not Dimmable

The Sylvania Dimmable CFL is marked as ’soft white’ and says 2700K on the package.

The color is a replacement for an incandescent bulb, and is rated as a 100 watt replacement, with a 7 year life. It says it uses 24 watts, and puts out 1500 lumens. Using a Kill-A-Watt, it is using 18 watts.

The dimmer function is not a dimmer, it just cuts out. There may be certain switches that work better than others. When I get a chance, I’ll buy a set of different switches, and see what happens.

Some notes from inside the package - don’t use it on a timer or photocell, don’t totally enclose it, don’t use it outside where not protected. A note I have not seen: “light output has more than 5% decrease when lamp is used in base down position”.  If you’ve got suggestions on what that means, post a comment.  The wattage with bulb up, and bulb down appears to be the same.

Bulb Color - Harsh OK. Dimmable CFL - Bad. Heat - Good.

Update 12/23/08
The color is acceptable, but now that it’s been in use for a while, the bulb takes a few minutes to brighten up. It will only light up with the dimmer fully ‘on’, and even just a bit off, and it’s dark. I think a better term is ‘dimmer compatible’ as opposed to dimmable.

Reviewing the ecosmart 16 watt dimmable flood. Costs about two dollars more than more than an incandescent R30, so I have high hopes. Label says it is soft white 2700K. 75 watt equivalent. 750 lumens.

It is marked as good for ceiling cans, as well as flood fixtures. It is also marked as good for wet weather if the base is up (light shining down). It is about half an inch longer than the R30 incandescents, and looks the same in the ceiling can.

The dimmer we have is current technology (2 years old), and is driving just the one bulb. The bulb drops out early when the dimming starts.

The color starts out very good, and after several minutes takes on the classic CFL Death Pall.

Good Bulb
The n:vision CFL line is one of my favorites.

The 23 watt bulb is marked 2700k and is marked warm on the package. It is good for living rooms and kitchens. I’ve been using them for a while. My wife does not notice when I switch them out.

Many manufacturers don’t mark the kelvin, or light temp. I like that this one is marked.

The bulb is 4 3/4 inches tall, and just under 2 1/2 inches in diameter.

My comparison Sylvania bulb of 100 watts - regular tungsten - is 4 inches tall and 2 1/2 inches in diameter, so this compact fluorescent should fit in most fixtures.

The package says it should be in an enclosed fixture if it’s used outdoors, so it appears to be OK in a closed fixture.

The bulb starts gradually - you can watch the spiral warm up. It is quiet - no buzzing.

Light quality/color: Good
I have had this in use for a long time. Years? Color goes well in the living room.

Size
Total height is 6 inches, diameter is 2 1/2 inches. Fits in our lamp - barely.

Comments
The plastic housing is turning brown on top. I will revise this post with wattage and heat.

The amount of light is acceptable for the wattage. Subjective measure of course.

Starts like a bulb should. Again not scientific, but not noticed one way or the other.

Good Bulbs
Nice light, that works in your home; long life, not too toasty. I’ll be measuring temperature and voltage soon with an infrared thermometer, and a Watt Meter.

Bad Bulbs
Glaring blue green. Rotten for indoors. Hot. A waste of money, because you didn’t buy them for the garage.

www.GoodBadBulbs.com