CFLS Glowing Purple

[iaov]

This my 1000th post and I thought I'ld celebrate by asking a question. It is 10 below zero here right now and supposed to get realy cold tonight. I was just out in my garage where I have CFL's and I notice that besides being dimmer than normal they are also glowing purple colored, Any one have any ideas on the physics behind this? PS My wife says if I make it to 2000 posts she may be out celebrating with someone else!

 

[electricalperson]

my guess is that there cold. maybe thats the reason why there purple

 

[iaov]

Thats a great guess!! Even with my limited abilities I had already figured that out. What I'm hoping for is to learn a little something about the physics of this phenomena. I have a 4 ft. light over my bench that doesn't come on at all when the temp drops below 15 degrees or so.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

PS My wife says if I make it to 2000 posts she may be out celebrating with someone else!

How do you feel about this? :smile:

 

[mdshunk]

I think that's the glow of the cathode you're seeing. It always glows purple, but since the phosphor of the lamp is so dim, you're more prominently seeing the purple of the cathode. (TV tubes glow purple and blue, if you're old enough to remember peeking in the back of tube-type TV's)

 

[mdshunk]

How do you feel about this? :smile:

 

[bradleyelectric]

I think its time for you to move south. We don't see the purple glow here.

 

[iaov]

How do you feel about this? :smile:

I have mixed feelings about it. She is a wonderfull woman and a hottie to boot, but her knowlege of electricity and code are limited.

 

[iaov]

Your explanation makes sense Marc.

 

[augie47]

I think its time for you to move south. We don't see the purple glow here.

probably sounds a lot like what the "misses" said..... only she mentioned his moving south ALONE

 

[iaov]

I've been telling her for years that I am a delicate tropical animal that should migrate south for the winter. She wouldn't be real sad to see me go but she won't send me money!!

 

[Greg Swartz]

And I thought it was cold here!

Started out at 10 below... topped out at 7 degrees for a few minutes. Mostly hovered around 0...

Phoenix is starting to sound good again!

 

[hardworkingstiff]

Just turned off my window air-conditioner in my converted garage to office. Worked in a T-shirt today.

 

[iaov]

It was 34 degrees and raining yesterday afternoon. Dropped to 2 degress and stayed there all day today but since the sun went down its getting cold!!I would love it if I never saw another snow flake or purple CFL again in my life.

 

[jim dungar]

It is 10 below zero here right now and supposed to get realy cold tonight.

That's what you get for living "up nort". Down south here, in Oshkosh, it is -7?, according to the TV. I don't know the local temperature because my remote sensing unit is not right now.

The merury in the lamp does not vaporize suffciently at these temperatures, so all you see is the cathodes. This is why cold weather starting requires special ballasts.

 

[brantmacga]

It is 10 below zero here right now and supposed to get realy cold tonight.

Its about 10 below 80 here right now and is supposed to get really nice tonight.

You northern folks are a different breed, i swear. How do you manage to live in that year after year? Even the birds know better.

 

[sfav8r]

I just checked the CFL out in front and it looks normal. Of course it's 46 degrees right now here in California ...Yeah I know it's annoying, I'm just trying to make myself feel better because I was looking at my new mortgage payment...

 

[jrannis]

Windows are open for fresh air. I had the AC on, set at 74, and it just shut off because its nighttime and its 68.5 outside. It takes a while for the house to cool off.
The only purple we see here is the orchids blossoming on the back porch.
Is there that much quality of life up there guys?

 

[hardworkingstiff]

How do you manage to live in that year after year? Even the birds know better.

LMAO, that was funny!

But it sure gets hot in the summer.

 

[iaov]

LMAO, that was funny!

But it sure gets hot in the summer.

LMAO too. I wish I could answer the question why do we put up with this. The obvious answer is that my ancestors were morons, however that does not lead to a good explanation as to why I've stayed here!! I'ld like to think that I'm as smart as some birds, but I have no evidence to support it.