CFL light bulb - Revision history

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

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Energy>Jmdonev at 16:56, 27 May 2026

2026-05-27T16:56:15Z

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	[[File:Parts_of_CFL_large.jpg\|360px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A CFL light bulb and the parts it contains.<Ref name=estar/>]]		[[File:Parts_of_CFL_large.jpg\|360px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A CFL light bulb and the parts it contains.<Ref name=estar/>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Compact fluorescent light bulbs''' ('''CFLs''') are a type of [[light bulb]] used for [[lighting]] needs in a wide range of applications. They are much more [[efficiency\|energy efficient]] than [[incandescent light bulb]]s which are currently still in wide use.</onlyinclude> Many countries are however trying to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs because of their poor use of [[electricity]], and are moving towards the use of CFLs and [[LED light bulb]]s instead.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Facts About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/files/pdf/equipment/CFL_Facts_e.pdf</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Compact fluorescent light bulbs''' ('''CFLs''') are a type of [[light bulb]] used for [[lighting]] needs in a wide range of applications. They are much more [[efficiency\|energy efficient]] than [[incandescent light bulb]]s which are currently still in wide use.</onlyinclude> Many countries are however trying to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs because of their poor use of [[electricity]], and are moving towards the use of CFLs and [[LED light bulb]]s instead.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Facts About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/files/pdf/equipment/CFL_Facts_e.pdf</ref>

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2020-01-31T05:10:15Z

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Energy>Jmdonev at 19:56, 30 January 2020

2020-01-30T19:56:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 30 January 2020
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	[[Category:Done ~~2018~~-04-30]]		[[Category:Done 2020-01-31]]
	[[File:Parts_of_CFL_large.jpg\|~~300px~~\|thumb\|Figure 1. A CFL light bulb and the parts it contains.<Ref name=estar/>]]		[[File:Parts_of_CFL_large.jpg\|360px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A CFL light bulb and the parts it contains.<Ref name=estar/>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Compact fluorescent light bulbs''' ('''CFLs''') are a type of [[light bulb]] used for [[lighting]] needs in a wide range of applications. They are much more [[efficiency\|energy efficient]] than [[incandescent light bulb]]s which are currently still in wide use.</onlyinclude> Many countries are however trying to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs because of their poor use of [[electricity]], and are moving towards the use of CFLs and [[LED light bulb]]s instead.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Facts About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/files/pdf/equipment/CFL_Facts_e.pdf</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Compact fluorescent light bulbs''' ('''CFLs''') are a type of [[light bulb]] used for [[lighting]] needs in a wide range of applications. They are much more [[efficiency\|energy efficient]] than [[incandescent light bulb]]s which are currently still in wide use.</onlyinclude> Many countries are however trying to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs because of their poor use of [[electricity]], and are moving towards the use of CFLs and [[LED light bulb]]s instead.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Facts About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/files/pdf/equipment/CFL_Facts_e.pdf</ref>

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2018-05-11T18:17:06Z

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Jmdonev at 21:39, 9 May 2018

2018-05-09T21:39:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, 9 May 2018
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	[[Category:Done ~~2015~~-09-06]]		[[Category:Done 2018-04-30]]
	[[File:Parts_of_CFL_large.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A CFL light bulb and the parts it contains.<Ref name=estar/>]]		[[File:Parts_of_CFL_large.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A CFL light bulb and the parts it contains.<Ref name=estar/>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Compact fluorescent light bulbs''' ('''CFLs''') are a type of [[light bulb]] used for [[lighting]] needs in a wide range of applications. They are much more [[efficiency\|energy efficient]] than [[incandescent light bulb]]s which are currently still in wide use.</onlyinclude> Many countries are however trying to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs because of their poor use of [[electricity]], and are moving towards the use of CFLs and [[LED light bulb]]s instead.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Facts About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/files/pdf/equipment/CFL_Facts_e.pdf</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Compact fluorescent light bulbs''' ('''CFLs''') are a type of [[light bulb]] used for [[lighting]] needs in a wide range of applications. They are much more [[efficiency\|energy efficient]] than [[incandescent light bulb]]s which are currently still in wide use.</onlyinclude> Many countries are however trying to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs because of their poor use of [[electricity]], and are moving towards the use of CFLs and [[LED light bulb]]s instead.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Facts About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/files/pdf/equipment/CFL_Facts_e.pdf</ref>
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	==How they work==		==How they work==

	A CFL light bulb works differently from an incandescent or halogen bulb. Incandescents and halogens work by passing an ~~electric~~ [[current]] through a filament, which in turn [[heat]]s up and produces light. CFLs instead send electric current through a tube (Figure 1) filled mostly with argon [[gas]], and a slight amount of [[mercury]] gas. These gases generate [[ultraviolet]] light, which excites [[atom]]s on the phosphorous coating of the tube, which in turn emits visible light.<ref name=estar>Energy Star. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Learn about CFLs'' [Online], Available: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_about</ref>		A CFL light bulb works differently from an incandescent or halogen bulb. Incandescents and halogens work by passing an [[electric current]] through a filament, which in turn [[heat]]s up and produces light. CFLs instead send electric current through a tube (Figure 1) filled mostly with argon [[gas]], and a slight amount of [[mercury]] gas. These gases generate [[ultraviolet]] light, which excites [[atom]]s on the phosphorous coating of the tube, which in turn emits visible light.<ref name=estar>Energy Star. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Learn about CFLs'' [Online], Available: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_about</ref>

	As mentioned above, CFLs take longer to start-up because the gases within the tubes must be at a high enough [[temperature]]. The ballast (Figure 1) helps to kickstart this heating by pulling more [[power]] from the [[outlet]]. Once the gases are sufficiently hot, which takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, the ballast regulates the bulb to lower power, and maintains high efficiency.<Ref name=estar/>		As mentioned above, CFLs take longer to start-up because the gases within the tubes must be at a high enough [[temperature]]. The ballast (Figure 1) helps to kickstart this heating by pulling more [[power]] from the [[outlet]]. Once the gases are sufficiently hot, which takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, the ballast regulates the bulb to lower power, and maintains high efficiency.<Ref name=estar/>

			== For Further Reading ==
			For further information please see the related pages below:
			*[[Incandescent light bulb]]
			*[[LED light bulb]]
			*[[Lighting]]
			*[[Access to non-solid fuel]]
			* Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page!]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-09-18T16:52:13Z

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Jmdonev at 02:56, 5 September 2015

2015-09-05T02:56:41Z

New page

[[Category:Done 2015-09-06]]
[[File:Parts_of_CFL_large.jpg|300px|thumb|Figure 1. A CFL light bulb and the parts it contains.<Ref name=estar/>]]
<onlyinclude>'''Compact fluorescent light bulbs''' ('''CFLs''') are a type of [[light bulb]] used for [[lighting]] needs in a wide range of applications. They are much more [[efficiency|energy efficient]] than [[incandescent light bulb]]s which are currently still in wide use.</onlyinclude> Many countries are however trying to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs because of their poor use of [[electricity]], and are moving towards the use of CFLs and [[LED light bulb]]s instead.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Facts About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/files/pdf/equipment/CFL_Facts_e.pdf</ref>

CFLs use about a quarter of the [[power]] that a typical incandescent bulb does. This means that a 13 [[watt]] bulb (a watt is a [[units|unit]] of power) produces the same high-quality [[light]] as a 60 watt incandescent.<ref name=nrcan/> These bulbs have the same brightness of 800 [[lumen]]s, therefore the CFL bulb accomplishes the same goal while using less [[power]].<ref name=nrcan/><ref>Energy Star. (Accessed Sept 4, 2015). ''Learn about brightness'' [Online], Available: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_lumens</ref>

CFLs take longer to heat up compared to other bulbs, however. Their start-up requires slightly more energy, but once running at a constant rate they are quite efficient with their energy use.

==Safety==
CFLs are safe and must meet proper guidelines to avoid fire and [[shock hazard]]s.<ref name=nrcan/> They do contain a small amount of [[mercury]], which can be a [[pollutant]] if disposed of improperly. Therefore CFLs should '''not''' be thrown in the trash, as there are most often designated recycling locations for a burnt out bulb. If a CFL is broken, there are proper guidelines to ensure safety; these can be seen [http://www2.epa.gov/cfl/cleaning-broken-cfl here] (EPA).

==How they work==

A CFL light bulb works differently from an incandescent or halogen bulb. Incandescents and halogens work by passing an electric [[current]] through a filament, which in turn [[heat]]s up and produces light. CFLs instead send electric current through a tube (Figure 1) filled mostly with argon [[gas]], and a slight amount of [[mercury]] gas. These gases generate [[ultraviolet]] light, which excites [[atom]]s on the phosphorous coating of the tube, which in turn emits visible light.<ref name=estar>Energy Star. (Accessed Sept 3, 2015). ''Learn about CFLs'' [Online], Available: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_about</ref>

As mentioned above, CFLs take longer to start-up because the gases within the tubes must be at a high enough [[temperature]]. The ballast (Figure 1) helps to kickstart this heating by pulling more [[power]] from the [[outlet]]. Once the gases are sufficiently hot, which takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, the ballast regulates the bulb to lower power, and maintains high efficiency.<Ref name=estar/>

==References==
{{reflist}}