What is advantages of CFLs

1. Lumen Efficiency 6 times higher than Incandescent lamps The luminous efficiency of compact fluorescent lamp is 60-65lm/w, while incandescent lamp is just 10lm/w, it is 6 times more. For example, the luminous flux of an 10W CFL is equivalent to that of a 60W incandescent lamp.

2. Lifetime over 5 times longer than Incandescent lamps The rated life of an incandescent lamp is 1,000 hours, while the rated life of a compact fluorescent lamp is usually more than 5,000 hours, it is 5 times longer life.

3. Full range of color temp. for choose. Incandescent normally offer 2700-3000k light, while CFL can offer 2000k~17000k different color of light.

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How to distinguish the quality of CFLs

1. Check the quality from the testing report

   1. Real wattage According to IEC standard, real wattage of lamp should be >=85% of the rated wattage. The real wattage of most cheap quality lamps is just 50-70% of rated wattage.

   2. Lumen efficiency According to standard, wattage<15w, efficiency should >55lm, wattage>=15w, efficiency should >=60lm. For low quality lamps, the efficiency is just 30-50lm.

   3. Normally CRI is around 80Ra, but low quality lamp’s CRI is just 60-70, the objects will lose its true color and not good to eyes.

   4. Lumen maintenance Standard lumen maintenance of CFL is around 85% after 2000hrs lighting, but that of low quality lamps is just 50-70% after 2000hrs lighting, and becomes dark after 2-3 months lighting.

   5. Color temp. Standard color temp. is within +-200k of rated color temp.. Low quality lamps never care about the color temp. range, some is more than 500k different from its rated color temp.

   6. Power Factor Standard low power factor value is around 0.50, lower PF means larger wastage in using power.

   7. Lifetime

2. Check by your eyes and hands

   1. Appearance of the lamp Plastic shell: Good quality shell using anti-fire and hear materials, so it is fire-proof. Logo/mark print: Good quality lamp looks good with very clear mark printed and not easily to be erased. Tube: The whole glass tube looks good, and the white coating looks uniformity. Ballast: Good quality lamp has full using components, which not only for lighting, but also protect the circuit. Base: Good quality lamp use cooper base instead of iron base

   2. Light output during lighting When turning on a tri-band phosphor CFL, the light only reaches the normal luminance after several minutes, bright and tender, while the light of halogen powder lamp reaches the maximum luminance on turning on, and the lighting color is pale and weak.

   3. Lifetime Good quality lamp’s brightness is not much different from beginning after 3-6 months lighting, and the life will last over 1 year. Low quality lamp’s brightness decrease quickly with the time goes, and the lamp burn out after 6 months.