gar
Senior Member
- Location
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Occupation
- EE
090305-1741 EST
Here is a slightly different question than the original post.
Today my son asked if there would be any advantage to using CFLs in his outside lights by the garage and front door. After we talked it over the answer was no.
The controls on these lights have both a photocell and motion sensor that control a soft start and dimming function. The current bulbs are 60 watt incandescent. The logic is that during daylight hours the lights are always off. At dusk the lights turn on dim with a soft start. If motion is sensed, then the light is increased to full bright. These are standard 120 V bulbs, not 130. There have been no burnouts.
If the dimming function did not exist, then from a power perspective one might consider CFLs for power cost reduction.
If we assume 4 60 W fixtures this is 240 W. Per year this might cost 1050 KWH or 0.12*1050 = $126 . With the dimming function the cost is closer to $40/year.
Would the CFL work better? Probably not. A CFL has temperature problems and may not work well in the enclosure and dimmer function might not be compatible.
He has no burn out problems and thus the best solution is to use incandescent.
.
Here is a slightly different question than the original post.
Today my son asked if there would be any advantage to using CFLs in his outside lights by the garage and front door. After we talked it over the answer was no.
The controls on these lights have both a photocell and motion sensor that control a soft start and dimming function. The current bulbs are 60 watt incandescent. The logic is that during daylight hours the lights are always off. At dusk the lights turn on dim with a soft start. If motion is sensed, then the light is increased to full bright. These are standard 120 V bulbs, not 130. There have been no burnouts.
If the dimming function did not exist, then from a power perspective one might consider CFLs for power cost reduction.
If we assume 4 60 W fixtures this is 240 W. Per year this might cost 1050 KWH or 0.12*1050 = $126 . With the dimming function the cost is closer to $40/year.
Would the CFL work better? Probably not. A CFL has temperature problems and may not work well in the enclosure and dimmer function might not be compatible.
He has no burn out problems and thus the best solution is to use incandescent.
.
