Compact Fluorescent Lamp

CFLs generally get hot, and need to be formulated to be most efficient when they have stabilized in temperature. They are sensitive to temperature, by being dependent on mercury vapor producing 254 nm UV. Too cold, and there is not enough mercury vapor. Too hot, and the mercury vapor absorbs 254 nm UV.

Many CFLs have the mercury formulated into an amalgam so as to achieve optimum concentration of mercury vapor when the CFL has warmed up.

CFLs with outer bulbs have their tubing getting even hotter - so there is even more need for warmup. On the other hand, those actually do well over a wider temperature range once they warm up - and include most advised for outdoor use.

If you want CFLs that start brighter and have less need to warm up, go for ones with bare tubing rather than outer bulbs, and try for ones with larger tubing and larger overall size for their wattage. Ones with 15 mm tubing often start at half or a little over half of full brightness.

Ones with bare tubing warm up faster than ones with outer bulbs. If the design is for greater compactness and need for more warmup, then at least that will occur faster.

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

So, tell us from Australia where in England does one walk in off the street and find these to be the usual CFLs there. How about available at all in a retail store for that matter?

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

"Don Klipstein"

..... Phil

"Don Klipstein"

...... Phil

On the contrary for bathrooms - I like lights there to start at well below full brightness and then warm up.

And when I am going into the kitchen and need full bright light, I am going to be there for a while and can wait a minute for full light.

If you want faster warmup and brighter starting, get the more common ones with bare tubing.

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

It's generally not quantity of mercury, but whether or not (and how) the mercury is amalgamated, as well as presence/absence of an outer bulb.

Presence of an outer bulb generally requires use of amalgam to have mercury vapor concentration being good at "ultimate warmup".

CFLs that start brighter tend to have a narrower good working temperature range once they have warmed up.

If you want brighter starting and faster warmups, then avoid the ones with outer bulbs.

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

Here in USA, I have yet to see a spiral CFL having any reference other than yours as "Tornado", and I have yet to have a CFL with bare tubing fail to be a majority of the way warmed up in 1 minute from 18 C or above.

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

"Don Klipstein"

Some of the slowest lighting CFLs are made by Philips and use an exposed spiral - eg

The "warm up" time is stated to be 2 minutes.

The initial light level is about 10%, it depends on room temp.

Forget using one in a bathroom unless you leave it on all night.

..... Phil

"Don Klipstein"

Rooms are often colder than 18C and 1 minute to reach half brightness is an annoying wait or even dangerous in many situations.

.... Phil

They must keep all the bad ones especially for you.

Graham

Morrisons supermarket does the usual 'bent tube' CFL in Philips brand for 39p each or 3 for £1. They do stock fancy spiral ones too but not Philips.

Graham

"Eeysore"

Bloody TROLL !!

.... Phil

"Eeysore"

... Phil

Indeed you are. I have had ZERO problems with any CFL except dropping one once.

Graham

PINK SALMON !

"Eeysore"

Ignorance is NOT knowledge.

Red herrings are NOT valid points.

You pathetic bloody fool.

...... Phil

Exceptionally extreme dim-starting (according to figures I consider unverified) and slow-warming (what percentage after 2 minutes? 90%? 99%) spiral that I have yet to see anywhere except your citation.

I have Philips spirals that are mostly warmed up in less than a minute and at 1 second after power is applied they are a #@(# of a lot brighter than 10% of full even at 18 degree C ambient!

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

What I "have seen" being *notably absent* in *usual situations* with

Also, I have found and posted as such that taking half a minute to a minute to get to more than halfway to full brightness is often not so bad - I usually find that outright welcome in bathrooms!

Also, colder than 18 C is exception more than rule for rooms.

Furthermore, how the bleep often is light output of 20-25% of full "dangerous and also lacking escape from danger by waiting for half a minute to 45 seconds?

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

"Don Klipstein"

What a utterly stupid ass you are.

..... Phil