Another possible problem with CFL's

Was at a friends place, he had changed some of his incandescants to CFL's about 6 years back, and a couple of them had failed. Opened the fixture and found that parts of the white plastic internals almost crumbling away when touched, but only where they would have been exposed directly to the light. In another place a red coloured wire crimp (similar to those automotive 3 way crimp blocks) and 2 white cable ties had fallen to bits.

An identical fixture that had been left with the original incandescant was fine.

Im starting to think these CFL's might not be very friendly to non-UV stabilised plastics ?

Reply to
kreed
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"kreed"

** Good info there.

I have seen a few examples where bi-metal fluoro starters had basically disintegrated due to high level UV light exposure right next to the tube. Obviously, most starters and tube end fittings are made with UV stabilised plastic.

But there has never been a need to worry about the plastic used for ES or BC lamps - until CFLs came along.

Sods.

....... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

You've obviously never worked on fluorescent tube type lights.

Dorfus

Reply to
Dorfus Dippintush

I have, and have seen this type of deterioration (including milky coloured plastics turning brown) many times with Non-UV plastics used near standard fluorescents.

The point that is being made here is that retrofitting incandescent lamp fittings with CFL (that don't need, and might not have UV stabilised plastics) could be risky, and these plastics now detiorate due to the UV.

This is a potential safety hazard too, as In the case of some light fittings where plastic threaded knobs or plastic clips are used to secure glass domes/diffusers in place, if these plastics fail and the glass drops from the fitting, it could hit someone cause serious injury as well as scattering broken glass everywhere.

Another possibility is of terminal blocks, light sockets, maybe even some insulation types on internal wires perishing, leading to risk of short circuits or electric shock to anyone changing bulbs, cleaning fittings etc.

Reply to
kreed

The point I'm making is that this already occurs in standard fluorescent tube fittings so it's nothing new. Tombstones and starters crumble at the slightest touch, wiring insulation cracks. It's usually far more economical to replace a complete light fitting then to repair it.

Dorfus

Reply to
Dorfus Dippintush

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