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From: Timur Tabi on 20 Jul 2010 16:07
The light fixture above my bathroom mirror holds eight light bulbs in
an array. When the house was built nine years ago, I used normal
incandescent bulbs.

I replaced these bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and now I have
an odd problem. When I flick the light switch, sometimes the bulbs
will all flash for a instant and then all turn off. If I turn the
light switch off and back on again, the bulbs might stay on, or they
might flash again. Typically, I need to turn the light switch off-and-
on again about 3-4 times before the bulbs will stay on.

Can anyone explain to me why this is happening, and what I can do
about it? It's driving me crazy.
From: "Malcom "Mal" Reynolds" on 21 Jul 2010 02:40
In article <32ab852b-fd4c-4171-ac32-f10ffced3b7f(a)z10g2000yqb.googlegroups.com>,
Timur Tabi <timur(a)tabi.org> wrote:

> The light fixture above my bathroom mirror holds eight light bulbs in
> an array. When the house was built nine years ago, I used normal
> incandescent bulbs.
>
> I replaced these bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and now I have
> an odd problem. When I flick the light switch, sometimes the bulbs
> will all flash for a instant and then all turn off. If I turn the
> light switch off and back on again, the bulbs might stay on, or they
> might flash again. Typically, I need to turn the light switch off-and-
> on again about 3-4 times before the bulbs will stay on.
>
> Can anyone explain to me why this is happening, and what I can do
> about it? It's driving me crazy.

FWIW CFLs are not recommended for use in humid environments
From: Timur Tabi on 21 Jul 2010 19:57
On Jul 21, 1:40 am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" <atlas-
bug...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote:

> FWIW CFLs are not recommended for use in humid environments

Well, the CF bulb in the shower has worked reliably for years. It's
just the ones over the mirror that don't. They're a different brand
and style, but I was hoping someone here would be able to explain the
odd behavior I'm seeing.

Something similar also happens in my garage, except instead of
flashing, the light just doesn't turn on.

I never had any problems with my incandescent bulbs.
From: Gary Heston on 21 Jul 2010 20:59
In article <1c2405e1-6786-4e8b-a2c9-1e22ea1afd2e(a)q12g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>,
Timur Tabi <timur(a)tabi.org> wrote:
>On Jul 21, 1:40�am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" <atlas-
>bug...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote:

>> FWIW CFLs are not recommended for use in humid environments

>Well, the CF bulb in the shower has worked reliably for years. It's
>just the ones over the mirror that don't. They're a different brand
>and style, but I was hoping someone here would be able to explain the
>odd behavior I'm seeing.

>Something similar also happens in my garage, except instead of
>flashing, the light just doesn't turn on.

>I never had any problems with my incandescent bulbs.

You might check the sockets for corrosion, check the voltage in the
sockets, and try swapping out half the bulbs with incandescents.

All fluorescents pull a lot of current briefly when turning on. If your
wiring has bad connections, small wire, or any other problem causing
resistace, the eight hitting at once could be causing a significant
voltage drop, which could interfere with the starting circuit.

Checking the voltage with one bulb out when the switch is flipped
might let you see the drop, if you're using an analog meter.


Gary

--
Gary Heston gheston(a)hiwaay.net http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

If you want to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,
go plant trees.
From: GregS on 23 Jul 2010 11:52
In article <Qbadndq5w_FkCtrRnZ2dnUVZ_sGdnZ2d(a)posted.hiwaay2>, gheston(a)hiwaay.net (Gary Heston) wrote:
>In article <1c2405e1-6786-4e8b-a2c9-1e22ea1afd2e(a)q12g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>,
>Timur Tabi <timur(a)tabi.org> wrote:
>>On Jul 21, 1:40�am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" <atlas-
>>bug...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>>> FWIW CFLs are not recommended for use in humid environments
>
>>Well, the CF bulb in the shower has worked reliably for years. It's
>>just the ones over the mirror that don't. They're a different brand
>>and style, but I was hoping someone here would be able to explain the
>>odd behavior I'm seeing.
>
>>Something similar also happens in my garage, except instead of
>>flashing, the light just doesn't turn on.
>
>>I never had any problems with my incandescent bulbs.
>
>You might check the sockets for corrosion, check the voltage in the
>sockets, and try swapping out half the bulbs with incandescents.
>
>All fluorescents pull a lot of current briefly when turning on. If your
>wiring has bad connections, small wire, or any other problem causing
>resistace, the eight hitting at once could be causing a significant
>voltage drop, which could interfere with the starting circuit.
>
>Checking the voltage with one bulb out when the switch is flipped
>might let you see the drop, if you're using an analog meter.

Also try 7 CFL and one incandecent. Switch may be bad.

greg
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