What is a 20W CFL equivalent to?

100W incandescent
Efficiency and running costs The higher the wattage, the higher the running cost. The light output from a 20W CFL isn’t the same as that from a 20W incandescent. Rather, a 20W CFL would be the equivalent of a 100W incandescent (roughly 20%).

Why CFL bulbs are bad?

The Bad: Fluorescent tubes & CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury gas (about 4 mg) – which is toxic to our nervous system, lungs and kidneys. So long as bulbs stay intact, the mercury gas is no threat. This means bulbs should be handled properly to avoid breakage.

What kind of ballast is used in CFL?

Compact fluorescent ballasts are used to manage the starting and running power sent to CFL lamps. As with other ballasts, you have several choices, including: * Magnetic CFL ballasts, which are an older technology.

Are CFL bulbs still sold?

Now CFLs, or compact fluorescent lamps, are slowly disappearing from stores. Home retailer IKEA stopped selling them in all its locations last year, and now manufacturer GE has penned a cheeky Dear John letter to the technology, saying it will stop making the bulbs in the United States.

Which is brighter LED or CFL?

LED VS CFL Brightness In short, LED and CFL as technologies do not have a difference in brightness intrinsically. Brightness is determined by lumens. A single CFL and LED bulb might have the same lumen (brightness) output but vary greatly in the amount energy needed to generate that level of brightness.

Why is CFL better than LED?

CFLs use 25-35% of the energy used by incandescent bulbs, but if you really want to make the biggest environmental impact on the environment, choosing LEDs is the way to go. Residential LEDs, especially those rated by ENERGY STAR, use more than 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.

Are CFL bad?

CFL bulbs are dangerous because of their mercury content. The researchers found that it would take weeks for the amount of mercury vapor in the room to reach levels that would be hazardous to a child. That can be avoided by quickly following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s simple procedure for safe cleanup.

What is the disadvantage of CFL?

Some of the disadvantages of compact fluorescent bulbs are that they are cold temperature sensitive, not recommended for enclosed fixtures, can have a higher initial cost than incandescent, have a longer warm up time, they may have limited color temperatures, do not dim nearly as smoothly, and dimming decreases the …

Does CFL need ballast?

All compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs require a ballast, which is often integrated. All HID bulbs require a ballast, which is sometimes integrated. No LED bulbs require a ballast, although some are engineered to work with an existing ballast. Incandescent and halogen lamps do not require a ballast.

Which is better CFL or LED?

Are CFL bulbs bad for you?

Why CFL is banned?

Like all fluorescent lamps, CFLs contain toxic mercury which complicates their disposal. In many countries, governments have banned the disposal of CFLs together with regular garbage. CFLs radiate a spectral power distribution that is different from that of incandescent lamps.