Energy

[Ernie]

All,

The following, from
http://lightingdesignlab.com/articles/switching/switching_fluorescent.htm ,
is consistent with the studies I've read concerning CF starting current:

"When you turn on a fluorescent light bulb (correctly called a "lamp"),
there is a very brief jump in current when the ballast charges the cathodes
and causes the lamp to start. This inrush of current can be many times
greater than the normal operating current of the lamp. However, the spike of
current draw normally lasts no longer than 1/10th of a second, and draws the
equivalent of about 5 seconds of normal operation. So, if you turn your
fluorescent lamp off and on more frequently than every 5 seconds, you will
use more power than normal. So, normal switching of fluorescent lamps has
very, very, very little effect on a power bill."

If CFs use more power, then they have some kind of magical effect on my
electric meter, because my electric bills went down appreciably when I
converted. And at $0.40 each at my local Home Depot, they are as cheap or
cheaper to buy than incandescents.

- Ernie


> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 
> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Sarah Fox
> Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 2:12 PM
> To: Pianotech
> Subject: Re: Energy
> 
> 
> Hi Andrew,
> 
> > Above all do not put those new fluorescent bulbs 
> everywhere.  That is 
> > one
> > of the biggest scams going.  They use as much energy in the 
> split second 
> > the ballast gets the light going as a comparable 
> incandescent does in ~two 
> > & a half hours.  They don't belong in closets, bathrooms, 
> > little-used-bedrooms etc.  Use them only where they are 
> left on at least 
> > three hours a day (break even point for savings).
> 
> Sounds like urban legend to me.  A 110V, 20A circuit can 
> handle 2200W of 
> load, equivalent to 36.6 60W light bulbs.  In theory, the 
> 37th bulb would 
> trip the breaker.  Now, take 1.5 hr of 60W power consumption, 
> and squeeze it 
> into 1/36.6th of the time, and that would be on the threshold 
> of tripping 
> the breaker too.  That time period is 2.46 min, which is much 
> greater than a 
> "split second" of startup.  Any shorter startup time 
> (consuming the same 
> amount of energy) would trip the breaker.  In fact if you were to 
> concentrate the same energy draw from that 2.46 minutes to as 
> short as a 
> second, you'd be sending a whopping 2943 amps of current to 
> that little 
> bulb, which would surely cause it to explode.  At the very 
> least, it would 
> trip the 150A main breaker.
> 
> In fact I've started up numerous little fluorescents at the 
> same time, for 
> instance when coming home and turning on all the lights.  No 
> problems.  My 
> energy bills are much, much lower since I've converted over.  
> In fact the 
> savings are double in the summer, because I don't have as 
> much heat (from 
> incandescent bulbs) to air condition.  Winter savings are much more 
> moderate, and in fact there would be no difference at all for 
> a house that 
> runs entirely on electric coil heat (the most inefficient 
> form of electric 
> heat).
> 
> I'm not sure where you heard this one.  It's not on the urban 
> legends page. 
> However, math doesn't lie.  Unless you're talking about a 2.5 
> minute split 
> second (or in my experience, at least a half hour split 
> second), the watts 
> just don't add up, at least not inside *my* breaker panel!  
> It would be such 
> a pity if this myth spreads too far, because there is 
> potential to slash 
> lighting costs by 75%.
> 
> My only precaution to people about the fluorescent bulbs is 
> that they have 
> trace(?) amounts of mercury in them.  Use them with caution, 
> and recycle 
> them appropriately.  Don't put them in table lamps, unless 
> you're absolutely 
> certain the lamps won't get knocked over.
> 
> I'm anxiously awaiting the cost feasibility of LED panel 
> lighting, but I'm 
> not yet convinced that they're a smart choice for home use.  
> (They're great 
> on the boat, though!)
> 
> Peace,
> Sarah
> 
> 
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