Caution with CFLs

 I recently lost 2 26W (100W equivelant) GE helical CFLs (FLE26HT3/2/SW) in 1
day due to having a 10,800 BTUH window air conditioner on the same circuit
causing low line voltage.  Apon inspection it appears that in both bulbs the
same .1uF 250 VDC metal film capacitor (104J250) failed with it's guts
partially blown out and the end cracked loose.  The main fusible resistors
in both bulbs are still good so I plan to replace the failed capacitor and
hope they start working again.  I will let you know how it goes.

Word to the wise: The bulbs say 120V on them for a reason, if you plan to
use CFLs I would check your line voltage and make sure they are on a circuit
that doesn't experience many sags and surges (such as from... oh say maybe a
compressor cycling... DOH!!

BTW I love GE CFLs as I had 1 that lasted for 5 years 3 months and a week
and it was on 24/7/365 almost the entire time.

 

Daniel Who Wants to Know wrote:


Just how low ? I've always thought that 120V circuits were nuts. Europe doesn't
have this problem with our 230V circuits.

Graham

 

There are other problems.

230V circuits in the U.K. aren't as stable as the 120V systems in the U.S.
The voltage can vary from +10% to -6%.  In 2008 it will be widened to +/-
10%.  In the U.S. voltages are maintained +/- 5%.

At 50 Hz it seems like there would be more problems with pusations in
lighting systems.  Maybe you all have figured out a way around this but it
seems like a big disadvantage.  There are stepper motor applications where
there can be an adjustability in 60 increments because we have a 60 Hz
system.  The UK system is inferior by about 17% on the frequency (60 Hz vs
50 Hz) which is a huge disadvantage.  Even Japan who uses 240V has upgraded
to 60 Hz in the western regions.

Plus, the higher voltage seems unsafe for everyday residential circuits.
Maybe you blokes are saving money on copper wire by using the higher
voltages or else the appliances are built more cheaply due to the higher
voltages.

The U.K. seems to stand alone in plug and wall socket types.  But, there are
fuses located within your plugs.  Since these are at maximum 13A, do you
really use residential devices which can draw 2800 watts?  In the U.S. we
would have the option to use a 220V circuit to use this much power at a
residence and to do this both wires would be fused with the center nuetral
and a ground for safety.

If we travel it's not too difficult to get an adapter to use our devices
overseas except for the frequency problem.

Mark

 

Mark Fields wrote:


Actual UK wall sockets don't vary by +10/-6%. That wide tolerance is purely a
politically inspired 'fudge' to make all Europe appear to have a common voltage.
The UK was previously officially 240V and aside perhaps from new construction
where a new substation is fitted, it's still 240V (and very stable).

Graham

 In Canada the standards are +/-10%. In the home the line loss is
limited (by wiring code) to 5% (I think). I doubt +/-5% is acheivable
to home a few miles from the nearest distribution centre. That a tough
spec over a piece of wire when the customer can vary their load
uncontrollably.