New CFL's Burning Out

Just started a small grow with'

Nvision 120v / 27w CFL daylight lights. After about 3 days the lights started to burn out. After 5 days all 3 of the CFL's in the fixture no longer work. I know I wired the light up correctly but I am going to double check. Is it common for CFLS to burn out ? Where all CFL's meant to hang upside down ?

cfl can hang upside down, have a good cheek of your wirering? and wot bulb do you have in your home? cfl will last 7 years or moor,,

I have cfl all over my house and in a veg room and all are hanging upside down and sideways. None has burnt out yet. I know most cfls dont want to be on a dimming fixture they will burn out if the power is not full. Make sure all wires are sealed good and grounded.

dog said:

cfl can hang upside down, have a good cheek of your wirering? and wot bulb do you have in your home? cfl will last 7 years or moor,,

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Ia will check the fixture and wiring today. "What bulb do you ahve in your home?" I am not sure I understand that question. I did list the make and model the bulb above. I am in the US

wott bulbs do you have in your home? like in your liveing room, bed room,? if thay keep blowing its the wiering? or you are geting a power spike??

dog said:

wott bulbs do you have in your home? like in your liveing room, bed room,? if thay keep blowing its the wiering? or you are geting a power spike??

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Mostly incadesent, a few CFLS, and something bright and hot in the ceiling lights. I do have the occaisional short life bulb here and there but nothing like 3 bulbs in one fixture in 5 days. The house is roughly 2 years old and we do suffer from the occasional spike. I am thinking its the wiring in the fixture.

Going in check the wiring and the ground in a few hours..

I am still having problems. I have double and triple checked the wiring and all looks good. I also made sure the light was properly grounded. I will need to climb back up into the attic and check on more thing tonight.

Is it normal for a CFL to flash EVER SO slightly ? When I unscrew the bulb and screw it back in the very minor flashing stops.

could be moisture. are you misting?

it looks to me that you have a earthing folt? as cfl cant take power surges like incadesents can, that why you cant use dimer's with cfl, is it just happin in one room? as if it is, you no the folt is in there? if its all your home, then it cud be the electrc meter? i wood call out an eletrician? and ask your next door neighbor if thay have any prob's

dog said:

it looks to me that you have a earthing folt? as cfl cant take power surges like incadesents can, that why you cant use dimer's with cfl, is it just happin in one room? as if it is, you no the folt is in there? if its all your home, then it cud be the electrc meter? i wood call out an eletrician? and ask your next door neighbor if thay have any prob's

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Thanks for the reply. I have to run for work right now and will read about "Earthing Folt" when I return. I am grabing power from a light mounted in the attic if that helps any.

What about the flashing.. ITS VERY MINOR.. Is this normal ?

yes you do get a bit of fliker with cfl,,

Chosen said:

Just started a small grow with\'

Nvision 120v / 27w CFL daylight lights. After about 3 days the lights started to burn out. After 5 days all 3 of the CFL\'s in the fixture no longer work. I know I wired the light up correctly but I am going to double check. Is it common for CFLS to burn out ? Where all CFL\'s meant to hang upside down ?

Click to expand...

I had the same problem with that brand ....try the GE brand. I switched and all is OK. They work ok in normal operation outside and around the house but in the cab I have that problem....not sure what it is.

dog said:

it looks to me that you have a earthing folt? as cfl cant take power surges like incadesents can, that why you cant use dimer's with cfl, is it just happin in one room? as if it is, you no the folt is in there? if its all your home, then it cud be the electrc meter? i wood call out an eletrician? and ask your next door neighbor if thay have any prob's

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Thanks for taking the time to reply here. I have been thinking about this issue all day. I am going to call an electrician tomorrow and schedule someone to come out and take a look. The house is only two years old.

I have seen the LIGHT.... Looking back I have always had problems. We consume WAY to many bulbs in this house in general. The issue has never effected us much because incandescents are so cheap and and I have 5 UPS's around the house protecting the most valuables. I even hear the UPS's occasionally beep to indicate an influx in the voltage. My wife sealed the deal when I asked her about her experiences as her comment was "The twisty ones dont last more than a few weeks".


Here is my solution until I get an electrian out here. $36.00 in bulbs later.



+ REP and thanks again..


Edit; I justed walked the house and have no doubt you are correct. Devices not owned by me are not plugged into UPS's. Almost all of them have had issues; modems, DVR's, even postage machines...