Lamps & Shades

A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light bulb or an energy saving lightbulb, is a type of lamp (light bulb) designed to fit into roughly the same space as an incandescent lamp, but with the advantages of a fluorescent lamp. more...

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Many CFLs can directly replace an existing incandescent lamp.

Compared to incandescent lamps of the same luminous flux, CFLs have a longer rated life and use less energy. A CFL can save over US$30 in electricity costs over the lamp’s lifetime compared to an incandescent lamp.

On the other hand, initial purchase price of a CFL is often significantly higher than an incandescent lamp of the same output, and CFLs exhibit a different visible spectrum of light than incandescent lamps. CFLs may also be inconvenient due to size or incompatibility with existing light fixtures or dimmer controls.

Market

Globally introduced in the early 1980s, CFLs have steadily increased in sales volume. The most important advance in fluorescent lamp technology (including in CFLs) has been the gradual replacement of magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts; this has removed most of the flickering and slow starting traditionally associated with fluorescent lighting.

The market for CFLs has been aided by the production of both integrated and non-integrated lamps. Integrated lamps combine a bulb, an electronic ballast and either a screw or bayonet fitting; these lamps allow consumers to easily replace incandescent lamps with CFLs. Non-integrated lamps allow for the replacement of consumable bulbs and the extended use of ballasts; since the ballasts last longer, they can be more expensive and sophisticated, providing options such as dimming. Non-integrated CFLs are more popular for professional users, such as hotels.

CFLs are produced for both AC input and DC input. DC CFLs are popular for use in recreational vehicles and off-the-grid housing. Poor families in developing countries are using DC CFLs (with car batteries and small solar panels) to replace kerosene lanterns.

CFLs can also be operated with solar powered street lights, using solar panels located on the top or sides of a pole and luminaires that are specially wired to use the lamps.

Comparison with incandescent lamps

Lifespan

Modern CFLs typically have a life span of between 8,000 and 15,000 hours, whereas incandescent lamps are usually manufactured to have a life span of 750 hours or 1000 hours. These lifetimes are quoted according to IEC60969, which specifies that "life to 50% of failures shall be not less than value declared by the manufacturer". Some incandescent lamps have shorter designed lifespans, such as those used for lighting photographic studios and used in overhead projectors. In practice the lifetime of any actual lamp, CFL or incandescent, depends on many factors including manufacturing defects, exposure to voltage spikes, mechanical shock, frequency of cycling on and off and ambient operating temperature, among other factors.

Read more at Wikipedia.org