Replacing MH with CFL Revisited

[washnvac]

Just fyi-- I have had about 8 out of 24 fail. All but one within the first week. The last one went at about 8 months. Still under warranty, though. 1000bulbs.com did not seem too concerned about it. They just went ahead and sent out replacements; not requiring return of the defective ones.

 

[6t7gto]

Checked the voltage...120.5 volts.
The light fixtures have been totally gutted. Sockets wired direct.
I am up to five failed bulbs now.
I have installed 13 so far.
Spoke with 1000bulbs a little while ago.
She said no problem replacing the bulbs.
She sent me the RMA form already.
I'm going to wait a couple of weeks to see if any more fail before requesting an RMA.
Sounds like they will just send out replacement bulbs with no need to ship the defective ones back.

 

[bigleo48]

Sounds like a bad batch of Chinese bulbs. I have noticed a much higher failure rate and a much lower lifespan than advertised on all CFLs.

 

[washnvac]

much lower lifespan than advertised on all CFLs.

Another fyi--- I just had one go out yesterday. My install date was 10/13/10. It burns 24/7 in my auto bay. So that is about 12,000 hours---2000 more than it is rated for. It was the 105 watt mogul base full spectrum bulb.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

My 5 test bulbs came the other day and I wanted to get one in to see what it looked like. Wow, that is quite the tight fit in the Hubbell wallpack with a glass lens! To get it to fit I had to take off the bracket that holds the socket and flip it over, put a double bend in it to raise the socket and tilt the base of the bulb in. I also had to lower the reflector and leave off the 'ballast cover'. Does that sound about right? I'm trying the FC105-S50HMOG from 1000bulbs.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

You do realize that is a 277V bulb, don't you?

BTW, If anyone is using my lights for reference, keep in mind that they are NOT Hubbells as most of you have. Mine are Lithonia TWP and TWHs and the bulbs mount horizontally.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

You do realize that is a 277V bulb, don't you?

BTW, If anyone is using my lights for reference, keep in mind that they are NOT Hubbells as most of you have. Mine are Lithonia TWP and TWHs and the bulbs mount horizontally.

I realize that. We ran all new bay light conduit under the roof two years ago and changed the voltage from 120v to 240v. I wanted to try the 277v cfl and see how it worked/if it would work. All of my other washes are still wired 120v.

 

[MEP001]

If you have 277 available, you might want to move a breaker and wires to get it to the fixtures. 240v may work, but the bulbs aren't going to last. There are 240v CFLs, but 1000bulbs doesn't have them.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Thanks Mep. I don't have 277v, my single Phase is 120/240. When I ordered the 277v bulb I half thought it would be like the T5 fixtures where they will work with anything from 110v up to 277v. When I read the box today and it didn't specify anything other than 277v, I called 1000bulbs to ask. Unfortunately, the guy I talked to didn't have a clue. I guess I'll know soon enough.

 

[6t7gto]

Last night, all 13 were working.
Just left the wash a little while ago.
Lost another one.
6 have failed so far.
Up to a 30% failure rate.

 

[washnvac]

Up to a 30% failure rate.

My 8 out of 24 is 33.33%. You are right there.

 

[6t7gto]

Lost 3 more.
Total of Nine have filed now.
Up to 50%.

 

[Randy]

Lost 3 more.
Total of Nine have filed now.
Up to 50%.

Something has to be wrong with a failure rate that high

 

[soapy]

I was in Lowes and they had 4 foot T8 twin bulb waterproof fixtures for $54 each. They are not as good as T5 HO but are still more efficient than CFLs. This is a pretty good price from what I have seen.

 

[2Biz]

Lost 3 more.
Total of Nine have filed now.
Up to 50%.

I'm with Randy....Something has to be wrong. I put in (9) 85w and (3) 45w bulbs from 1000bulbs and all are still working fine a year later...Surely the extra heat from the 105w bulbs are not causing this probelm?

Do you have three wires going to your fixture? 120v hot, common, and ground? Some older fixtures/buildings ground through the conduit....Have you checked for a ground issue?

 

[Jim L.]

I agree...something has got to be wrong. For over a year I have been replacing my 175w MH's with 105w CFL's as they burn out.. To date I have done 7 with no problems.

This is what I have been using.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/8257/FC105-S50MOGOD.html

 

[6t7gto]

I definitely have a 120 volt circuit to my lights.
One black wire...hot.
One white wire...neutral.
One green wire...ground.

Keep the ideas coming.
david

 

[2Biz]

Just one more thing? Have you checked voltage under load? Just a thought? I guess we could just resort to the fact you got a bad bunch of bulbs!

 

[Indiana Wash]

I was in Lowes and they had 4 foot T8 twin bulb waterproof fixtures for $54 each. They are not as good as T5 HO but are still more efficient than CFLs. This is a pretty good price from what I have seen.

Not even close on lumens per watt.

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

Not even close on lumens per watt.

All these threads about lighting...
I think I no longer care about lumens per watt.
Lumen = amount of visible light emitted
Lux = lumens per square meter at the place where you want the light.

I did some measurements with a lux meter, and the results surprised to me

I converted the light standards above my vacs from 400W MH to 105W CFL.
Lumens reduced from 23500 to 7150.
MH measured 8 lux, CFL measured 6.
To the naked eye, I could detect a difference (side by side) but not much and only from a distance.
I know those are low lux #s, but standing at the vacs I took out a book and could read it with no hesitation. Visibility from the street sufficient to identify people & see details of what they are doing for security purposes was no problem.

I'm still doing measurements and evaluating my methods, but at the moment my conclusion is that lumens are not what we should be counting.