CFL outside

[Kurt Ullman]

How well do CFLs hold up in outside lights. I live in central Indiana and while they probably should withstand the summer with little concern, how about winter?

[Bill Stock]

We've had them for years in semi enclosed fixtures (supposed to be a no no) outdoors and they last just fine. They do take a while to light up when it's minus 30 though.

[Kurt Ullman]

*I* take awhile to light up when it is minus 30 (g). Thanks for the reply.

[hallerb]

maybe bad luck mine dont last long.

ours is in a pole light on a dusk dawn sensor and timer. timer shuts light off from midnite till 6 am.

other than those hours it comes on as needed. occasionally in middle of day during a storm.

replacing at least twice a year.

tried a outdoor CFL it died in 2 months and cost 20 bucks

[RickH]

This what they are best for, I dont care for em in the house, but they do well outdoors especially if you hate changing the carriage lights.

[Steve Barker]

I have several in completely enclosed fixtures both inside and outside. They all last a long time. In fact, i've never had to replace any except the ones shaking around in the ceiling fans.

s

[Red]

I use the yellow CFL bug lights - figure they are made for outdoor use. I use mine primarily for security and they usually burn 24/7. Current one (GE) is guaranteed for 10,000 hours and is still burning with 10,300 hours on it.

Red

[Dante M. Catoni]

Your dusk dawn sensor might be causing the premature failure of your CFLs. Try CCFLs instead.

Dante

[Eric]

Some dusk-to-dawn sensors are just plain designed wrong for CFL's, the original one on my light was basically a photo controlled dimmer. Thats ok with regular bulbs but it will kill a std CFL in no time. I replaced the photo eye with one that has some circuitry that snaps it off or on completely - no in-between states and it has some hysteresis so theres no flickering from on to off when the ambient light is right on the edge. Once that was done, my 3 bulb CFL driveway light has worked flawlessly since last April using std indoor type 60 w equiv CFL's in an enclosed fixture. Go out at dusk and watch your bulbs start up (but let it do it naturally, dont cheat with your thumb on the sensor) and watch for flicker or if you put in a regular incandescent bulb watch and see if it flickers or starts out dim - if so junk your photo eye and get one thats really a "photo-switch". When the outside light is dark enough the light should snap-on just like a light switch. Note that there should be a delay too, e.g It has to be dark enough for x minutes - then bang the light comes on. And conversely in the morning it has to be light enough for x minutes then the light snaps off. Eric

[hallerb]

My sensor is built in the pole, so I will try rewiring it adding sensor in outdoor box on home and disconnecting light pole sensor.

The pole light sensor is junk quality, it fits in knock out on pole. A incandescent bulb failure often took out sensor too. Which is why I changed to CFs.

The sensors have lasted a long time since the change to CFs

[Harry K]

Dunno how long mine have been out there. I _think_ I replaced one of the two once and I did replace the other a year or two ago. No special bulb, just a multi pack of el cheapos I picked up at a discount house. They also burn 24/7. They are there because I got tired of repacing bulbs every few months. Now using them inside the house. Other than a couple of small lamps in the bed room, the bath is the only place I don't have CFLs or regular flourescent fixtures.

Harry k

[Red]

The bug bulbs have a yellow translucent cover over the spiral tube, giving it some added protection from the weather. But then my jelly- jar fixtures have their own covers, so I don't know if that's an issue. Summer bugs, especially nighttime swarms of fire ants can be a real problem so I use the bug bulbs.

Red