CFL Burns Home Down

[Phil Allison]

"ian field"<

You can significantly increase the bulb life expectancy by fitting a surge
inrush limiting NTC thermistor salvaged from a scrap SMPSU,

** Bollocks.



....... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"

That's because it was designed to modern safety standards.



Just how stupid are you ?

** Not as stupid as you are - pal.

It's written on the box ...

** Sometimes there is some tiny print saying " not suitable for dimmers" -
or sometimes a weird symbol is used.

Mostly there is no advice about timer switches, movement detector switches
or the like - which can be just as bad.

However - there never any WARNING of there being a FIRE hazard !!!

Plus, once the CFL lamp is separated from the packaging, most have no usage
advice at all.

There is a legal issue here, not simply a technical one.



...... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"

It would be covered in the USA by UL standards.

** Shame how they are NOT COMPULSORY even in the USA !!!!

If cheapskate importers choose to sell unapproved CFLs then THEY should
pay the
bill. And be prosecuted and if necessary placed in insolvency and
completely
shut down.

** As usual - Stevenson has not the faintest idea what he is crapping on
about.

No compulsory labelling, warnings or fire safety standards for CFLs exist.

They are sold like any other electronic product - with EMC approval, basic
electrical safety and little else.




...... Phil

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"

** Shame how they are NOT COMPULSORY even in the USA !!!!


** As usual - Stevenson has not the faintest idea what he is crapping on
about.

No compulsory labelling, warnings or fire safety standards for CFLs exist.

They are sold like any other electronic product - with EMC approval, basic
electrical safety and little else.

I do not know any US state that does not require its own electrical approval. At
Neve we used LA City approval which most other disrtricts were prefectly happy
with, as it was one of the toughest.

Pure UL approval would have been better but those guys are idiots.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"

** Not as stupid as you are - pal.


** Sometimes there is some tiny print saying " not suitable for dimmers" -
or sometimes a weird symbol is used.

Mostly there is no advice about timer switches, movement detector switches
or the like - which can be just as bad.

However - there never any WARNING of there being a FIRE hazard !!!

Plus, once the CFL lamp is separated from the packaging, most have no usage
advice at all.

There is a legal issue here, not simply a technical one.

In truth I don't really disagree with you.

What you are saying is that nitwits should be able to use them without thinking
twice in any fitting. That would be ideal.. It may take a few years more though.
In the meantime can't they read the damn instructions ?

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

Eeyore put finger to keyboard and composed:

My brother installed a CFL in a 3-stage dimmed touch lamp and
[fortunately ?] short circuited the triac in the dimmer.

Did he have truly no idea CFLs aren't (usually) dimmable ?

You can be intelligent *and* ignorant at the same time.

Tell me about it ! ;~)

A lot of
people don't understand the problem. It requires a public education
campaign by the same authorities that mandated CFLs, or at least a
*prominent* warning on the box, or on the lamp itself. And even if
there was a warning on the box, how many people would expect to have
to read instructions on how to use a planet-saving light bulb?

You mean people don't like reading anything they think they can get away
with not reading.

In any case I believe CFLs should be able to tolerate misuse, even if
they fail gracefully as a consequence.

They could. At more expense.

A final thought. I wonder how CFLs cope with brown outs?

No problem here but then we don't exactly get brown outs often.

That's something that is out of our control.

I pretty much agreee. But who ever reads the instructions anyway ?

A public awareness campaign is IMHO the only way to deal with this.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"

** Never heard of CRT monitors or TV sets burning home down ??

Actually I haven't. As in NEVER. But this is the UK ! The home of BS. (
British Standards). And the fused plug !

Graham

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"

Phil Allison wrote:


In truth I don't really disagree with you.

What you are saying is that nitwits should be able to use them without
thinking
twice in any fitting. That would be ideal.. It may take a few years more
though.
In the meantime can't they read the damn instructions ?

** Stop thinking like a pedantic engineer and start believing in the dictum
of Murphy - ie, if it can go wrong it will.

The "instructions" on CFL packaging, such as they exist, are UTTERLY
AMBIGUOUS and therefore TOTALLY USELESS in preventing accidents.

CFLs are a * CONSUMER * item sold as a general purpose replacement for the
humble light bulb - the use of which is familiar to everyone.

It a particular type of CFL cannot be SAFELY installed by a child ( or
vision impaired or non-literate person) in any light socket in the house -
forget performance or life span - then it SHOULD NOT BE ON SALE !!!

Making their use compulsory in every home and lamp socket without compulsory
safety regulations in place is COMPLETE INSANITY.

In Australia, we can thank the Global Warming freakoids, the Green Nazis
and the dopey Federal government for this.



...... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"

Actually I haven't. As in NEVER.

** Then you are an ill informed damn fool.



...... Phil

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"


** Then you are an ill informed damn fool.

Doesn't happen in the UK. Fused plugs and all that stuff must help.

Electrical fires are all but unknown here. By design.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

"ian field"<


** Bollocks.

Predictable Allison response.

Graham

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"

Actually I haven't. As in NEVER. But this is the UK ! The home of BS. (
British Standards). And the fused plug !

** Well you have now.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/ne...et-led-to-fatal-coventry-fire-92746-21356939/

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/insura...ticle.html?in_article_id=404453&in_page_id=34

http://exactproductsinc.com/WordPress/?p=942

It is one of the common causes of house fires, since the plastic cases of
most TVs and PC monitors are highly flammable PLUS give off toxic fumes
when burnt.

Hence the dead toddler in the first story.



...... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"

Doesn't happen in the UK.

** ABSOLUTE BOLLOCKS !!



....... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"

Predictable Allison response.

** Yep - a perfectly correct one.

Unlike your mindless, asinine piles of pommy drivel.



...... Phil

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"

** Stop thinking like a pedantic engineer and start believing in the dictum
of Murphy - ie, if it can go wrong it will.

I'm well aware of Murphy.

The "instructions" on CFL packaging, such as they exist, are UTTERLY
AMBIGUOUS and therefore TOTALLY USELESS in preventing accidents.

Not in my experience in the UK. Maybe we have better packaging ?

CFLs are a * CONSUMER * item sold as a general purpose replacement for the
humble light bulb - the use of which is familiar to everyone.

Yes, I see exactly where you're coming from. The consumer has a reasonable right
to expect equivalent performance. Up til recently the CFL was a product for
'nerds' if you like. Now it needs to be made universal.

It a particular type of CFL cannot be SAFELY installed by a child ( or
vision impaired or non-literate person) in any light socket in the house -
forget performance or life span - then it SHOULD NOT BE ON SALE !!!

Making their use compulsory in every home and lamp socket without compulsory
safety regulations in place is COMPLETE INSANITY.

I agree with you more than you might imagine.

In Australia, we can thank the Global Warming freakoids, the Green Nazis
and the dopey Federal government for this.

Little doubt about that.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"

** Try reading the thread - it is about fire hazard.

Not one word exists from makers about this risk in their "instructions".

Looks like I'll have to try one in such a situation.

I'm a great believer in energy efficiency but NOT at the risk of electrical
safety.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

** Well you have now.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/ne...et-led-to-fatal-coventry-fire-92746-21356939/

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/insura...ticle.html?in_article_id=404453&in_page_id=34

http://exactproductsinc.com/WordPress/?p=942

It is one of the common causes of house fires, since the plastic cases of
most TVs and PC monitors are highly flammable PLUS give off toxic fumes
when burnt.

Hence the dead toddler in the first story.

Sorry, did you dig up these stories from the 70s when high dissipation tubes were in use ?

I have personally NEVER heard of such a fire. Were these sets *properly* CE certified ?

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"


** ABSOLUTE BOLLOCKS !!

CITE !

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

"Eeysore"

** Yep - a perfectly correct one.

Unlike your mindless, asinine piles of pommy drivel.

NTC thermistors DO help bulb life, as does a quiescent current too btw.

Graham

 

[Phil Allison]

"Eeysore"
Phil Allison wrote

Sorry, did you dig up these stories from the 70s

** Read the damn dates on the stories

- you congenital, monumental bloody ASS !!

July, 2008 October, 2005 August, 2008 !!!!


It's a FLAMMABLE PLASTIC FIRE !!

Only takes ONE HOT RESISTOR to initiate !!!

For god's sake man - get real.





....... Phil