BIG CFL problem? Possible fire hazard?

Rustylugnuts · 09/02/2008, 08:20 PM

here I was just about to buy a spiral CFL bulb for my fuge when my wife's chemistry teacher goes and tells the class that there is a problem with CFL's electric ballasts that a couple of the people she knows has run into.

My wife relayed

Quote:

basically, when the power is interrupted, and the ballast (electric) kicks the bulb back on sometimes it doesn't come back on, and energy is going into it and it starts getting hot. fire fire fire a little beavis action there.

Has anyone run into this or knows someone who has?

Tang Salad · 09/02/2008, 08:22 PM

I've never heard of this problem.
I'd wait for others to confirm.

reefergeorge · 09/02/2008, 08:30 PM

I did a search, because I use them throughout my entire house.
All I found was a lot of people saying not to use them on a dimmer. The internal ballast is underrated, cheap, and can smoke.

J. Montgomery · 09/02/2008, 08:47 PM

I recently moved and the outlet for my ceiling fan (which had CF bulbs) had a dimmer for the lights. For the most part, they wouldn't turn on, and when they did they'd often have a strobe light effect. I put some regular light bulbs in there and everything is fine.

Logzor · 09/02/2008, 10:47 PM

I have run into this issue with a bulb I have trusted. I have a CFL hooked up to the common home depot reflector and for some reason the light was not coming on but the ballast was getting VERY hot.

It was like the power was going into the bulb but not lighting it. Have not had a problem since. I think it was because of the cheap reflector getting some salt creep or evap in it.

Rustylugnuts · 09/03/2008, 01:27 PM

So it is out there. What do you guys think? Is a reflector enough of a heat shield that if the ballast were to go bad that it would heat up w/o burning the place down or is the reflector trapping heat and part of the problem? Maybe a few holes drilled for ventilation might be in order.

Logzor · 09/03/2008, 01:33 PM

Well I have not had this problem with any other bulb in my apartment. Only on top of the frag tank with that home depot reflector.

I think that particular reflector is just a piece of garbage. I think a solution would be to buy a higher quality socket and buy a CFL with a build in reflector.

Rustylugnuts · 09/03/2008, 01:36 PM

I may try to see if a high quality CFL ballast can be wired up to a lights of America fluorex bulb. Good spectrum and replacements would be like 10 bucks.

Rustylugnuts · 09/08/2008, 10:34 PM

I'm going to try this out. Does anybody think I could use this ballast to fire up a 65w lights of america fluorex bulb?

stagefright13 · 09/08/2008, 10:50 PM

My whole house, garage and basement are all Compact florescent. And I have 2 Coral life CF fixtures. The only problem I ever had was the very small CF's in my hallway and bathroom blew out long before their stated life. But they get turned on and off alot.

And the ones that burned out were in glass or stylish glass thingies. But no fires or anything. But no experience with using metal next to them. Except the Coralife units wich look and work great..

I would call Hellolights and ask. They are very knowledgeable. And have purchased from there before with great service.

09/02/2008, 08:22 PM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	I've never heard of this problem. I'd wait for others to confirm. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

09/02/2008, 08:30 PM	#3
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I did a search, because I use them throughout my entire house. All I found was a lot of people saying not to use them on a dimmer. The internal ballast is underrated, cheap, and can smoke. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

09/02/2008, 08:47 PM	#4
J. Montgomery Mouth Pipetting Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 6,278	I recently moved and the outlet for my ceiling fan (which had CF bulbs) had a dimmer for the lights. For the most part, they wouldn't turn on, and when they did they'd often have a strobe light effect. I put some regular light bulbs in there and everything is fine. __________________ Josh

09/03/2008, 01:27 PM	#6
Rustylugnuts Powdered Toast Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 813	So it is out there. What do you guys think? Is a reflector enough of a heat shield that if the ballast were to go bad that it would heat up w/o burning the place down or is the reflector trapping heat and part of the problem? Maybe a few holes drilled for ventilation might be in order. __________________ And now back to my regularly scheduled lurking. Drill It! Current Tank Info: Buncha parts and tanks of various size. Nothing currently running :( Last edited by Rustylugnuts; 09/03/2008 at 01:34 PM.

09/03/2008, 01:36 PM	#8
Rustylugnuts Powdered Toast Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 813	I may try to see if a high quality CFL ballast can be wired up to a lights of America fluorex bulb. Good spectrum and replacements would be like 10 bucks. __________________ And now back to my regularly scheduled lurking. Drill It! Current Tank Info: Buncha parts and tanks of various size. Nothing currently running :(

09/02/2008, 10:47 PM	#5
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	I have run into this issue with a bulb I have trusted. I have a CFL hooked up to the common home depot reflector and for some reason the light was not coming on but the ballast was getting VERY hot. It was like the power was going into the bulb but not lighting it. Have not had a problem since. I think it was because of the cheap reflector getting some salt creep or evap in it.

09/03/2008, 01:33 PM	#7
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Well I have not had this problem with any other bulb in my apartment. Only on top of the frag tank with that home depot reflector. I think that particular reflector is just a piece of garbage. I think a solution would be to buy a higher quality socket and buy a CFL with a build in reflector.

09/08/2008, 10:34 PM	#9
Rustylugnuts Powdered Toast Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 813	I'm going to try this out. Does anybody think I could use this ballast to fire up a 65w lights of america fluorex bulb? __________________ And now back to my regularly scheduled lurking. Drill It! Current Tank Info: Buncha parts and tanks of various size. Nothing currently running :(

09/08/2008, 10:50 PM	#10
stagefright13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hatboro, PA USA Posts: 899	My whole house, garage and basement are all Compact florescent. And I have 2 Coral life CF fixtures. The only problem I ever had was the very small CF's in my hallway and bathroom blew out long before their stated life. But they get turned on and off alot. And the ones that burned out were in glass or stylish glass thingies. But no fires or anything. But no experience with using metal next to them. Except the Coralife units wich look and work great.. I would call Hellolights and ask. They are very knowledgeable. And have purchased from there before with great service.