Mini spiral CFL question

[JohnR66]

1) Any brick&mortar source (midwest USA) for mini spiral style CFLs that are
under 9 watts? I can't find them anymore and I don't want want the ones with
the plastic bullet shaped cover.

2) I'm also looking for these in 12 volt versions 10 watts or less.

3) The popular 13 or 14 watt "60watt" replacement CFL mini sprial seems to
live up to the lumen and power usage claim, meaning around 60 l/w. How can
these be increased to 80 l/w or more? Longer thinner tube? (cold cathode)

Thanks,
John

 

[Victor Roberts]

1) Any brick&mortar source (midwest USA) for mini spiral style CFLs that are
under 9 watts? I can't find them anymore and I don't want want the ones with
the plastic bullet shaped cover.

I'm not in the Midwest. Even if I was, I would look for
specialized CFLs on the web before wasting gas to look in
different stores.

2) I'm also looking for these in 12 volt versions 10 watts or less.

First, the web. Otherwise, try boat and RV dealers.

3) The popular 13 or 14 watt "60watt" replacement CFL mini sprial seems to
live up to the lumen and power usage claim, meaning around 60 l/w. How can
these be increased to 80 l/w or more? Longer thinner tube? (cold cathode)

Unless someone develops a better phosphor, one with
so-called quantum splitting to make better use of the energy
in each 254 nm UV photon, you will need to reduce the energy
density of the lamp. That means a longer tube for the same
diameter, or a larger diameter for the same length (within
limits) or both. T8 lamps operate near 100 lm/W because
they operate at much lower energy density than CFLs.


--
Vic Roberts
http://www.RobertsResearchInc.com
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[Andrew Gabriel]

I can't help you; I'm a long way from the midwest - London, England,
but I'm surprised that you have difficulty finding these, they are
widely stocked by shops over here; there are actuslly two in the room
that I'm in at the moment. They usually seem to be 7 Watts, and ours
are 240V and E14 cap, rather than the E12 that I would expect them to
be over there.

I have a couple of 4W ones in lamps which are rather more
for decoration than for lighting. IIRC, they came from IKEA.
I've seen 3W ones.

 

[TKM]

I have a couple of 4W ones in lamps which are rather more
for decoration than for lighting. IIRC, they came from IKEA.
I've seen 3W ones.

IKEA is a good suggestion. They do stock the odd shapes and wattages.
Check that the color is what you want though.

Terry McGowan

 

[JohnR66]

1) Any brick&mortar source (midwest USA) for mini spiral style CFLs that
are under 9 watts? I can't find them anymore and I don't want want the
ones with the plastic bullet shaped cover.

2) I'm also looking for these in 12 volt versions 10 watts or less.

3) The popular 13 or 14 watt "60watt" replacement CFL mini sprial seems to
live up to the lumen and power usage claim, meaning around 60 l/w. How can
these be increased to 80 l/w or more? Longer thinner tube? (cold cathode)

Thanks,
John

I went to Home Depot. Kind of out of my way, but they have 9 watt and up
spiral in 2700, 3500 and 4100K n:vision brand. This is new for them since I
was their last. Finally a (almost) complete selection of spiral cfls up to
40 watts. I hoped for 7 watt, but these seemed to have vanished from most of
the stores. I'll have to check out IKEA. Another store called Menards has a
lot including colored and black light spirals, but that a 60 mile trip for
me.

One other question: I'm building a light box. It is simply 4 lamp sockets on
a strip. A plexi piece will cover the sides and top. Front will be open to
let heat out. Would it be better to use an aluminum reflector (flat mirror
sheet) or paint the rear board white. I'm thinking white paint for a
smoother reflection. Is plain white paint a more efficient reflector?

Thanks