For many years now I've used flourescent light racks in my basement for tropicals in Winter. Mixed in w/ these I also have some 65W floods that direct lites from side. The last couple of years I've noticed that the floods are lasting increasingly less lon
ger. This is also noted among regular light bulbs around the house and "vanity" type bulbs in chandeliers and bathroom vanity lights.(They really don't last long).. It seemed I was continually replacing bulbs that were on for a while each day. More often a
nd more often.
I first got serious about monitoring this when I was building my outdoor kiln shed. I have a double 150W motion detector flood over the shed on top of the garage wall. Now, the two 150 W bulbs in there lasted about 12 YEARS!!. They come on for 15 minutes
when someone walks by at night. I'd imagine they are only on for no more than 50 hours PER YEAR. One burned out so I replaced them both about 4 yrs ago. Then when I was building my shed I noticed one burned out. These are a pain to get to and I have to bo
rrow my neighbors extension ladder and now lean out over the shed roof, sooooo, I got the two BEST Halogen flood bulbs they have at the local True Value. They were rated 90W and were 6,000 hour bulbs. Fairly expensive. Well, after 9 months one burned out!

The originals lasted 12 years!!
So I began to monitor light bulb lasting time and types. I found one brand that is pure junk. These are "discount" types and two brand names that aren't much better. The 65 W. MISER floods I use in the basement are 2500 hr bulbs. They are on for 14 hours a
day. Most don't last more than a month to 6 weeks.
Regular home light bulbs also burn out increasingly faster. I asked a couple friends in this neighborhood AND ANOTHER quite a ways away to pay attentioin to it.. ( I did this because the True Value guy says my voltage is probably too high! uh-huh!) Yep,
after they started to pay attention they agreed.
I mentioned it to the sales guy at True Value and told him I was "bringing some back" and I did, with the receipt from the date I bought them. He replaced a whole box full and agreed at least one brand was junk and had heard complaints of another. I told h
im if I buy 2500hour lights and get 350 hours out of them ( or less) I'm bringing them back, and I'd be bringing back my 6,000 hour expensive outdoor flood lites as soon as I can get to them. Well, in the last week I've had 3 bulbs go out in four days. All
well under the time listed. So, I've got receipts and working on another box of light bulbs to take back. The store guy says he'll speak with reps. And, according to him, American made bulbs have a tack weld on the lead attached to socket jacket while Me
xican, etc. bulbs are just crimped. Soooo, I began to monitor this. What did I find...they are all junk and don't last! I believe my neighbor is now saving bulbs! :)
BTW, I have NO problems with flourescent lites, in fact I find some bulbs will outlast the cheap ballasts in new shop lights.( I have 12 sets in my light racks) I never get my flourescent bulbs replaced as often as recommended so some are five years old!
The trouble is only with "filament" using bulbs and with spot, flood or home light bulbs.
So, anybody else notice this, or want to start keeping track. I imagine this is something most people would never notice.
Regards,
Dale " Too much time on my hands"Cochoy
, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
Specializing in power wood carving tools.
Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware

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