CFL colors

[jducoeur]

And while I'm consulting with the Uni-Mind:

Compact fluorescents are getting steadily better. In particular, the new ones seem to turn on a good deal faster than the previous generation did, which alleviates one of our big annoyances with them. But the other is still there: we just plain don't love the colors.

Yes, it's a somewhat irrational bias. But the fact is, we grew up used to incandescents. We think of indoor light as having that slightly yellow-creamy color of traditional Soft White bulbs, and we *like* that. So it's disappointing that we haven't yet found a CFL that mimics that at all well. There's been a lot of movement towards "daylight" or "full-spectrum" CFLs, but we find those much too white in many circumstances. The color feels harsh and over-bright, and frankly looks terrible in some of our rooms: places that felt warm before come out really cold in the whiter light.

So here's a question: has anyone come across a good CFL that is both quick-starting and has that old-fashioned tone? It would be a fine thing for peace at home. (I would like to up our CFL usage, but msmemory cares about the color even more than I do...)

Comments

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Some of the bright ones work OK in lamps with beige shades, to tone down that overbright white.

In our kitchen, we have three lights in the fan, at least two are "soft white light" from FEIT Electric. Not sure where I got them, although Home Depot is likely. They don't seem too glaring to me, despite being 100 Watt equivalency. Black and green package; 4 per package.

[jducoeur]

Some of the bright ones work OK in lamps with beige shades, to tone down that overbright white.

Yeah, we do that in a few places. The sticking points, though, are the ceiling lights under simple glass, where the color of the bulb comes through very strongly.

at least two are "soft white light" from FEIT Electric.

Okay, might try one of them. Thanks!

CFL's

[hudebnik.livejournal.com]

I've mail-ordered from TopBulb a couple of times. They have an enormous array of light bulbs -- CFL's, germicidals, traditional fluorescents, halogens, etc. -- each described in terms of wattage, lumens, base, height, width, weight, and color temperature. Look for 2700K, which is about what the traditional incandescent bulb produces. We have a number of such bulbs, and through a lampshade you can't tell them from an incandescent. Most of them come up to full brightness within five seconds or so, although some models seem to take closer to a minute.

Re: CFL's

[doubleplus.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's really useful! The previous owners of our house were mad for dimmer switches, which has made it really tough trying to use CFLs.

Re: CFL's

[jducoeur]

Useful information -- thanks!

Re: CFL's

[mindways]

I'll second the "look at color temperature" comment. 2700K CFLs aren't exactly the same as incandescents? But they're closer than most fluorescents are, especially with something which provides a slight tint/hint of warmth - lampshade, or gel, or whatever.

Re: CFL's

[jducoeur]

especially with something which provides a slight tint/hint of warmth - lampshade, or gel, or whatever.

Yeah, but the problem here is that we're talking about pure glass covering, or none at all. We've already switched some of the lamps with shades over to CFLs, and those generally work fine, but the ceiling lamps under glass don't look right, and those are the majority of the house. So the actual bulb color is crucial in most of these cases...

Re: CFL's

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

I've painted the inside of a few glass shades with a transparent yellow paint, to get that effect. Probably more trouble than it is worth, though.

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

I don't recall a brand name, but Home Despot seemed to have a range of different-spectrum CF bulbs. One was more orange/yellow, if I recall.

[jducoeur]

Hmm -- I'll have to check that out. I hadn't come across a more yellow one yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if the bulb manufacturers are catching on...

[cellio]

The ones at Home Depot come in three flavors: the blue package (I think labelled something like "daylight", and way too freakishly blue), the green package (we had these for a day until we found out about dimmer switches; too white but not as bad as the first), and the red package (between the two in whiteness, according to the packaging).

(Edited to correct an error in which is which.)

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

There is a lot of variation between not only brands, but within the same brand (as they change suppliers). Additionally, the 'color' has a number of aspects: color temperature (not true color temp since they are gas emitters, and flourescing powders) and Color Rendering Index which tries to evaluate how naturally our eyes are rendering the colors in that light. So, you may have to hunt around.

Worst case, since they are behind flat glass get an appropriate color lighting gel.

Presumably, the bug light versions are _too_ yellow.

[tafkad.livejournal.com]

Cool info! I'm using up the existing incandescents in my house before buying the CFLs, although I did get one CFL as an experiment a few years ago. It takes too long to light up, and it's horribly dim, so I have to supplement it with incandescents. I hate the thing, and the bitter irony is that it will last for years, so it seems counterproductive to throw it out.

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Modern ones come on almost instantly, and get a little brighter from there. They come in up to 200 watt equivalent, should be bright enough. If you recycle your incandescents now, I grant guilt free recycling of that old POS CFL.

[the-nita.livejournal.com]

Yah, I'm canadian...

I was wondering what lightbulbs had to do with the Canadian Football League.

I'm also apparently tired.

CFL disposal?

[yew-hall.livejournal.com]

Not related to CFL colors, but are CFL's really as bad in land-fills as I've heard? (mercury!) Sure, they do last longer & use less energy, making them more cost-effective, but I don't want to promote creating a different problem... I have held off converting for this reason.

Re: CFL disposal?

[jducoeur]

Yes, I gather so -- they have to be recycled carefully. Not a *huge* issue, since they last so long, but definitely an inconvenience...