Imhotep's Lab Interactive FAQ

We need the Radiant Oscillator because mandated use of CFL,
as built, as is, is a bad idea!

Using a CFL in a recessed, a typical metal & glass globe
or outdoor fixture will overheat and destroy the CFL !!

The electronic circuitry of these bulbs will fry in typical replacement use.
This will cost you more than just what you pay the electric company as well.
You will have to replace your light fixtures ALSO!

I'm ignorant, I thought fluorescent ran cool.
I know the fluorescent tubes run cool and can be touched.
These CFLs run hot, but why does the glass bulb run really hot too!! Why?

"Excess heat doesn't bother an incandescent lamp, and temperatures well in excess of 100°C won't cause them any problems at all. " - Rod Elliott article (suggested reading for all) http://sound.westhost.com/articles/incandescent.htm

Then you put a CFL into a fixture designed for a HOT running incandescent and POOF it dies.
... and I thought it was the cheap $1 store CFLs I was buying.

The heat buildup allows for many points of failure in the electronic circuitry.

"... maximum ambient temperature for an operating CFL is 50°C, it will only take a few minutes to reach this temperature. ... Do not use CFLs in fully enclosed light fittings !"

"... there will be an enormous consumer backlash when long-life lamps (CFLs) fail well before their supposedly short lived incandescent predecessors ever would. The environmental impact of thousands of prematurely failed compact fluorescent lamps is also a disaster - especially when you consider the energy that went into making them. This will (not might) result in exactly the reverse of what governments are "planning" - with a net energy loss and a huge consumer outcry."

"... A 10W CFL in a 3 liter enclosure is over temperature in just over 10 minutes."

Light Fitting Suitability?? See http://sound.westhost.com/articles/cfl-f03.gif

Electric companies are talking about charging the residential customer
for our "dirty" (Power Factor) electric usage, while we are mandated to
use these dirty CFLs.
They make commercial customers fix poor Power Factor usage but
plan to charge the residential customers.

Remember if you are being told "it's a good thing", always ask yourself:
"How am I getting screwed?"
because it isn't being done for your benefit, no matter what they tell you.


CFL Deficiencies ...

* Comparatively expensive
* Medium to high technology
* Wide variety of non-reclaimable materials used in manufacture
* Poor Colour Rendering Index (CRI) - typically 60 - 70
* Commonly fail prematurely if subjected to repeated switching cycles *
* Cannot be used at very low temperatures (< -20°C, but often higher)
* Cannot be used at high temperatures (> 60°C, but often lower)
* Relatively poor power factor (around 0.52 seems typical for better versions)
* Cannot be dimmed with common light dimmer circuits
* May suffer instantaneous failure with moisture ingress (condensation, etc.)
* Disliked by many people (not always for valid reasons)
* Will not fit (and cannot be made to fit) many fittings designed for miniature lamps
* Unsuitable for totally sealed light fittings (they will get too hot, and the electronics will fail)
* Moderately high initial (inrush) current when switched on (20-100 times operating current !)
* Must be recycled, or no tangible environmental benefit can be claimed
* May (will?) cause local interference on AM radio and possibly TV picture (analogue TV only) because of EMI
------------- above from article at http://sound.westhost.com/articles/incandescent.htm
* fumes during failures, melting plastic (don't use as a night light)
* shouldn't be used unattended (timers, etc.)
* probably will cause our electric prices to increase?

That is so right. Thats how we got all most of our bulbs for experimentation. With a home filled with recessed lighting or ceiling fan glass recess the heat has nowhere to go but fry the circuits and take out the components. This heat build up problem also effects the life span of the new LED lights that are coming out in the market to fit into 110 sockets as well. If it has a circuit it cannot withstand the high temperatures without there being some cooling. And you are right nowhere in any literature is it telling people this. I am completely amazed at the progress being made with the IROL (Imhotep Radiant Oscillator lite). I dont think it will be very long before we have a solid state low wattage long lasting cfl to help light our homes with.

Yes yes, it is exciting to watch, as I see it from my seat in the peanut gallery.
I comprehend the leaps in discoveries but know not how any of it works.

The idea was mentioned once about fixing the power factor only on the CFL.
Is this too complex an issue due to each bulb circuit is
different to be addressed?

I've now learned that the CFL has soooo many problems.
Not mentioned above: Light switch sparking and Harmonic Distortion.
The Harmonic Distortion, from what little I understand of it,
sounds like major issue by itself and could be more of a problem
than the power factor alone.
It effects not just the location it occurs at but has a cumulative
effect on the local power grid, degrading everyones power.

Don't be fooled. I found a ?good? CFL for $9.98 EACH !!! with power factor
above 0.9 but it had a Harmonic Distortion of 150% .. What's the POINT?!!!

You are correct about the Harmonic Distortion. We came across that information in our research as well. Most of our information came from the european CFL's which are in fact power factored. And the harmonic distortion eliminated. The european companies are taking this very seriously and have created a 8 pin chip that goes into their cfl circuits. it is a super complicated circuit. From our research about the power correcting of North American cfls it seems to be of a complicated fix than at first expected. Imhotep will be releasing his findings in the power factor thread within the next few months. motors are pretty easily power factor corrected and there are many in the home. Its actually worthwhile doing it on some of the home appliances. The research is still in its baby steps but rest assured as soon as my husband has concrete findings he will be releasing them so that everyone can benefit the monetary savings!