Another possible problem with CFL's

[kreed]

Was at a friends place, he had changed some of his incandescants to
CFL's about 6 years back, and a couple of them had failed. Opened the
fixture and found that parts of the white plastic internals almost
crumbling away when touched, but only where they would have been
exposed directly to the light. In another place a red coloured wire
crimp (similar to those automotive 3 way crimp blocks) and 2 white
cable ties had fallen to bits.

An identical fixture that had been left with the original incandescant
was fine.

Im starting to think these CFL's might not be very friendly to non-UV
stabilised plastics ?

 

[Phil Allison]

"kreed"

Was at a friends place, he had changed some of his incandescants to
CFL's about 6 years back, and a couple of them had failed. Opened the
fixture and found that parts of the white plastic internals almost
crumbling away when touched, but only where they would have been
exposed directly to the light. In another place a red coloured wire
crimp (similar to those automotive 3 way crimp blocks) and 2 white
cable ties had fallen to bits.

An identical fixture that had been left with the original incandescent
was fine.

Im starting to think these CFL's might not be very friendly to non-UV
stabilised plastics ?

** Good info there.

I have seen a few examples where bi-metal fluoro starters had basically
disintegrated due to high level UV light exposure right next to the tube.
Obviously, most starters and tube end fittings are made with UV stabilised
plastic.

But there has never been a need to worry about the plastic used for ES or BC
lamps - until CFLs came along.

Sods.



........ Phil

 

[Dorfus Dippintush]

Was at a friends place, he had changed some of his incandescants to
CFL's about 6 years back, and a couple of them had failed. Opened the
fixture and found that parts of the white plastic internals almost
crumbling away when touched, but only where they would have been
exposed directly to the light. In another place a red coloured wire
crimp (similar to those automotive 3 way crimp blocks) and 2 white
cable ties had fallen to bits.

An identical fixture that had been left with the original incandescant
was fine.

Im starting to think these CFL's might not be very friendly to non-UV
stabilised plastics ?

You've obviously never worked on fluorescent tube type lights.

Dorfus

 

[kreed]

You've obviously never worked on fluorescent tube type lights.

Dorfus

I have, and have seen this type of deterioration (including milky
coloured plastics turning brown) many times with Non-UV plastics used
near standard fluorescents.

The point that is being made here is that retrofitting incandescent
lamp fittings with CFL (that don't need, and might not have UV
stabilised plastics) could be risky, and these plastics now detiorate
due to the UV.

This is a potential safety hazard too, as In the case of some light
fittings where plastic threaded knobs or plastic clips are used to
secure glass domes/diffusers in place, if these plastics fail and the
glass drops from the fitting, it could hit someone cause serious
injury as well as scattering broken glass everywhere.

Another possibility is of terminal blocks, light sockets, maybe even
some insulation types on internal wires perishing, leading to risk of
short circuits or electric shock to anyone changing bulbs, cleaning
fittings etc.

 

[Dorfus Dippintush]

I have, and have seen this type of deterioration (including milky
coloured plastics turning brown) many times with Non-UV plastics used
near standard fluorescents.

The point that is being made here is that retrofitting incandescent
lamp fittings with CFL (that don't need, and might not have UV
stabilised plastics) could be risky, and these plastics now detiorate
due to the UV.

This is a potential safety hazard too, as In the case of some light
fittings where plastic threaded knobs or plastic clips are used to
secure glass domes/diffusers in place, if these plastics fail and the
glass drops from the fitting, it could hit someone cause serious
injury as well as scattering broken glass everywhere.

Another possibility is of terminal blocks, light sockets, maybe even
some insulation types on internal wires perishing, leading to risk of
short circuits or electric shock to anyone changing bulbs, cleaning
fittings etc.

The point I'm making is that this already occurs in standard fluorescent
tube fittings so it's nothing new. Tombstones and starters crumble at
the slightest touch, wiring insulation cracks. It's usually far more
economical to replace a complete light fitting then to repair it.

Dorfus

 

[Phil Allison]

"Dorfus Dippintush Fucking IDIOT "

The point I'm making is that this already occurs in standard fluorescent
tube fittings so it's nothing new.

** That is not any kind of point at all - you ASD fucked IDIOT.





....... Phil