"flaky" maxlite compact fluorescent

[Choise76Smu]

maxlite compact fluorescent sks20eaww

20w "listed e225999 y124" (FCC #?) probably bought at a dollar store type store. no other info because packaging gone missing.

recently i put it inot a two lamp fixture. after the light switch had been turned off a long time, i reentered the room, and noticed this bulb was infrequently flashing, as if some kind fo charge was building then discharging.

possible complicatoins.

3 way (2 locatoin) switch, this switch has the neon(?) indicator in the switch. light fixture is the light kit part of a ceiling fan (the fan motor had not been running) the other bulb is a different model (costco purchase) CF of mfr?, label: bpce13/t8.

further: any other CF (including a 2nd costco) in the fan light, with this costco CF, does not cause any bulb to flash.

this post is most likely a FYI, and not a problem that needs fixing, because the "flaky" bulb does not flash where i've installed it in a fixture with 3 other bulbs (one is another CF, one a halogen)

[Anthony Matonak]

[e-mail] wrote: ...

turned off a long

as if some kind

...

This is exactly what is happening. The light is getting a small current from somewhere and this builds up in the internal power supply/inverter and lights up the lamp briefly. This happens a lot with X10 controllers because they send a 'sense' current through the light even when they are turned off. If it's a multi-lamp fixture then a simple fix is to put in a regular incandescent bulb in one socket. The resistance from that bulb will drain off any small currents. Of course, if you don't have some kind of remote controller like an X10 then you might want to get an electrician out there to fix the wiring.

Anthony

[Joseph Meehan]

[e-mail] wrote: ..

That neon indicator on the switch is using the light as part of it's circuit and that is the source of the power. Slight differences in designs will cause some CFs to flicker and others not. Put another switch without as indicator and the problem will go away.

I don't know if this could be a problem for the CF or not.

[TKM]

There's likely no damage being done to the lamp. The current is a few mA -- not enough to seriously cause the cathodes of the CFL lamp to sputter. That would shorten lamp life. Any other harmful damage would have to involve heat or voltages beyond the standard line voltage.

TKM