Re: How many of you use CFL\'s? and of what wattage
Well...the bulb arrived this morning...first reaction "Holy resistors, this thing's a monster! To give a sense of scale, the BASE alone, is almost exactly the length of a standard light bulb...and the tube section as long again, and wider. Thanks to this, is going to be a total nightmare to photograph...my camera hasn't got good depth of field in macro mode, and as such, getting it all in frame will be "fun"
Okay, time to see how it performs, not ideal timing given that it's midday, but what the heck, I'm impatient, been wanting to get my paws on this thing for two days now. Getting it into the intended fixture required removal of the shade...as it was too wide to fit through the hole! So I just set that aside for now, flick switch, *blink* *blink* WOW! That sucker's BRIGHT. The 425W equivilancy claim I can't comment on, but this thing totally blows a 250W incandescent clear out of the water, by a very considerable margin. Sure, it's 2700K temperature, but that's a heck of a lot whiter than the incan was.
If you have space for one in the fitting, and need serious light, this is what you need!
Will be putting up a page with photos in the next hour or so on my "LED & Lighting" page. Just look in that section for the "SaverLamp Super Spiral 85W 2700K" Entry.
Only problem I've found so far is that it's in the category of CFL's which don't like my illuminated light switch. (Puts two NE-2H lamps in series with the bulb when the switch is off). Some CFL's manage to charge a capacitor in the ballast from this mA or so, and eventually will get to a point that the cap will discharge through the tube, this visible as a flash. This one blinks very dimly about once every 6 seconds. Time to alter the switch I think!
Okay, I'll be kind. Here's a direct link.
LOZ Page: SaverLamps "Super Spiral" 85W 2700K
Chris M. If you haven't already ordered one, GO DO SO! Be intersting to see what a more professional bulb expert makes of this than me. Is certainly a necessary purchase for a collector though.