Compact Bulbs Won’t Make You Look Ill

QUESTION: I’ve heard that replacing my bulbs with compact fluorescents will save $50 per bulb and reduce global warming. Will this type of bulb create that drab, corpse-like appearance?

ANSWER: New compact fluorescent bulbs produce excellent color quality--not the drab bluish hue of older ones. I use them exclusively in my own home, and no guests have checked my pulse lately to see whether I am still breathing.

You can save several hundred dollars overall by switching to compact fluorescent bulbs. They use about 75% less electricity than standard bulbs for the same light output. Since they operate much cooler, there is less chance of a child getting burned when touching one.

Many are the same size as standard bulbs to fit most lamps. There are new decorative globe, bullet and candelabra styles and the typical open bent tube designs. Reflector style compact fluorescents for recessed, task and spot lighting focus the light where you need it.

Although compact fluorescent bulbs initially cost more than standard bulbs, they last 10 times longer. Under normal residential use, a typical compact fluorescent bulb will last for three to four years. This is ideal for hard-to-reach ceiling fixtures, especially over stairways.

Compact fluorescent bulbs are available in 4-watt to 23-watt sizes. Keep in mind that bulb wattage refers to how much electricity it uses, not to how much light it produces. Light output is listed as lumens on the package.

Resist the temptation to buy a higher-wattage compact fluorescent bulb than you need. The approximate light output equivalent for compact fluorescents versus standard incandescents is: 4-watt / 25-watt, 11-watt / 40-watt, 15-watt / 60-watt, 20-watt / 75-watt and 23-watt / 100-watt.

Not all compact fluorescent bulbs are similar. Ones with an electronic ballast are best. Cheaper models with magnetic ballasts tend to flicker at start-up and may buzz. Bulbs with amalgam technology (should be listed on the package) operate better in varying temperatures and any position.

There are two basic designs of compact fluorescent bulbs. Integral designs include the ballast, base and bulb in one unit. Adapter designs have replaceable bulbs for lower overall costs, since the ballast lasts longer.

The newest designs are dimmable screw-in bulbs. These dim better than standard bulbs because the color quality remains good as they dim. There also are new coil-type spiral bulbs. These produce bright uniform lighting from a small bulb. Complete decorative ceiling fixtures are also available.

Write for or instant download (https://www.dulley.com) Update Bulletin No. 727, a buyer’s guide of compact fluorescent bulbs and fixtures, light quality, ballasts, styles and a room-by-room lighting guide. Please include $3 and a business-size self-addressed envelope and mail to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.

How to Bend Siding to Fix Storm Damage

Q: I am trying to bend some aluminum siding to repair a corner piece damaged in a storm. I do not have a professional bending brake to make a crisp, sharp corner. How can I bend it myself?

A: For those who do not know, a brake is a heavy piece of equipment, sometimes with a hydraulic cylinder, to bend long creases in sheet metal. They are too expensive for the average do-it-yourselfer.

Buy two pieces of metal angle at your hardware store. Lay each over the edge of a Black and Decker Workmate and tighten the siding between them. Start the bend by hand and then pound it flat with a hardwood block.

*

Letters and questions to Dulley, a Cincinnati-based engineering consultant, may be sent to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.