Question about low-energy bulbs...

[Dead_Parrot]

The fluorescent type, not LED: Has anyone installed them in outside lights? I'm toying with the idea of fitting one, but don't know how they stand up to cold and damp: It's well out of any rain, but it can get quite foggy here...

:shrug:

[Warpy]

1. I've had one on my porch for 10 years

in all sorts of weather. I've replaced the bulb twice.

I've been pretty happy with it, although the one I have doesn't throw quite as much light as a 60W incandescent bulb does.

[Dead_Parrot]

4. Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to hear...

I didn't want to put one in and have it go fizzle after a month...

[ima_sinnic]

2. I have had one outside for about a year and a half with no problems

--here in Florida. It gets rained on pretty hard sometimes (it's inside a glass thing that is not leak-proof), and of course for half the year the humidity is like warm soup.

[Dead_Parrot]

6. lol. If they can survive FL weather, they'll take anything... nt

[Jane Austin]

3. We have them on the lantern-style porch lights by our side and back

doors.

I sure like them.

Edited to add: Ours aren't protected from the weather, except by their own glass panels, and we can have some pretty wild weather here in rural Texas.

[Dead_Parrot]

8. Thanks...

Sounds like I'm worrying for no reason :)

[sce56]

5. They have some that are weather proof and if you have a

timer, motion detector or photo cell to automaticaly turn on dusk off at dawn make sure it is NOT rated for use on incandescent lamps only

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Good point

I'm more finger-orientated, but I'll file that away for future use.

[WePurrsevere]

9. We're in NNY where weather is a roller coaster ride. We've used them both

inside and outside for a few years now without any trouble. B-)

[NNadir]

10. The indicate on the label that they have minimal operating temperatures.

Mercury freezes at -39C, so they will definitely not operate below this temperature. Probably the vapor pressure of mercury is too low at temperatures even higher than that.

Although the bulbs are very efficient, they do give off some heat. They may therefore brighten the longer they are on on cold nights if they are isolated from winds by an enclosure.

[Dead_Parrot]

11. If it hits -39C, I'm moving!

...The light bulbs will be the least of my worries! :) The cheapo ones I buy don't have much information with them, but I'll give it a go and see what happens. Probably nothing, by the looks of it...

[NNadir]

14. Good points.

All of the bulbs in my home are fluorescents. They all work fine.

[skids]

12. We've got a porch light, it's been OK. n/t

[One_Life_To_Give]

13. Slow to start in cold

I have had a pair in the Garage for 6+ years. Only complaint is they are slow to brighten up in the colder weather. I don't know if the newer models stiull have this problem or not.

[hunter]

15. The newer bulbs do reach full brightness quicker.

I actually liked the old slow-to-brighten bulbs. If your eyes were adjusted to the dark and you turned them on they came up gradually and didn't momentarily blind you.

We live in a mild climate so temperature hasn't been a problem with outdoor lights. Compact fluorescents do seem to attract more insects then incandescents, however. I've seen yellow compact fluorescent "bug lights" but I haven't tried them.