Compact Florescent(CF) lights have been quite a blessing to those off grid as well as on. The power savings of CF lights over normal incandescent lights made everyone like ourselves and early adopter. When it seemed like and overpriced luxury for most people, it made great sense to us. Many remote homes began to light up as the cost of these lights dropped. I remember paying $15-18 for a 60W equivalent bulb!
This tip is based on the notion that you CAN teach an old dog (me) new tricks (lights).
The higher power bulbs were more expensive so I tended to favor several low power lights spread around the room or house. Recently we purchased some GE 100W equivalent CF bulbs for the first time(26W). They happened to be be “daylight white” on the package. Not realizing there was any difference, I brought the pair home and put one in the hall.
Does it work?
The first thing I noticed was that they were dim. Was it defective? After about 3 minutes, wow! It was bright and bathed the hall in clean white light, not like all our other CFs that were yellowish colored. You wouldn’t think anything was yellowish until one of these new bulbs was placed near!
Back to Jackie’s roots
Jackie noticed and commented how she liked the new light. I reminded her of how it was like her parents house with all the naked 100W bulbs when we were dating. So she asked if I could replace the kitchen bulb with one of these new bright white ones. Again, after a couple minutes, wow, brightened kitchen. The need for some of the other lights are diminished with these “daylight white” bulbs. They are a hit, and I’ll be reading the labels on lower power lights in the future!
I think we’ll get one of these on the timer in the chicken coop to get those hens to increase egg production early this year. I found the following on Amazon, its not GE but it is full spectrum and only about 6 bucks each! 25 WATT MINI SPIRAL FULL SPECTRUM REPLACES 100 WATT INCANDESCENT BULBS (4 PACK)
Do you use CF lights? Which brand or type is your favorite? Tell us your best lighting tips below!
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We have been using spiral CF bulbs but a recent batch turned out much whiter and brighter for same rated watts. Turns out the new brighter bulbs are NOMA brand sold by RONA hardware in Canada, The older yellowish types are no name (blank white box) from China and sold in discount superstore. One other point about the no mane genericbulb. We discovered they would not turn on when used in winter on outside porch but the white one will turn on in cold weather. I’m told the difference is due to slightly more mercury. With proper recycling or disposal this should not be an issue.