[ukmicky]

No Paul you are right as a fluorescent light bulb only uses about 1.5 times their normal wattage for a couple of seconds after start up. So in other words when you walk out the room turn it off.

[Karen W.]

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=14&utm_source=0&utm_medium=0&gclid=CLHc6or_k44CFVB1OAodaiuFFA

Fluorescent Bulbs 101

1. How do they work?
The process begins with a stream of electrons flowing between both ends of the bulb. The electrons interact with mercury vapor atoms that are floating inside the lamp. This sends the mercury atoms into a state of excitement. When they try to return to their usual state, photons of light are released. When these photons collide with the phosphor coating on the lining of the bulb, light is created.

2. How is this process different from the way light is created with regular incandescent light bulbs?
When light is created in ordinary light bulbs it is done through a process that emits heat. In regular bulbs, electricity heats the tungsten filaments inside the lamp.The filaments try to resist the electricity and this resistance is what causes the heat. The heat makes the filament turn "white hot," at which point, light is visible. Because the incandescent lights give off so much heat they require more electricity which results in higher costs for the consumer.

3. Do incandescent and fluorescent bulbs of the same wattage produce the same amount of light?
No, it only takes a 15-watt fluorescent bulb to produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

4. Conclusion?
Fluorescent bulbs are four times more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs and will also save you money in energy costs.

[paul.fr]

try again, paul. this time with better construction.

you turn your light switch on, yes there is a surge in electricity until the light is lit and the usage evens out. we choose to use a 100 watt bulb because it makes the maths easier - for me.

constant 10 hour usage uses 1kwh of electricity, yet people say that just by turning it on is the equivalent of 15 minutes of the light being on. so if you turn your light on and off 40 times that should also use 1kwh of electricity. try it, and check your electric meter before and after the "experiment". there is no way that you will have used 1kwh of electricty.

[paul.fr]

No Paul you are right

sorry, michael. i was typing slowly as you replied, but i did want to see that i was right in quots. it seldom happens (wink)

note: how do you type winks and stuff when there are no smilies to choose?

[kdlynn]

just like that

[paul.fr]

just like that

thank you, Tommy Cooper!

[Karen W.]

(.)
(0)

How was that!

[kdlynn]

who is tommy cooper?

[paul.fr]

(.)
(0)

How was that!

but what do they mean? i never use these things except here, and when doing quick replies there are no smilies!!!! i think i am showing my age (sad face, frown)

[Karen W.]

it is one open eye and winking.. whoops I have one wrong..
()
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[neilep (OP)]

I'm totally kerfuddled buy your confabulations !

For Kadie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Cooper

[kdlynn]

or just a semi colon and one of these guys )

[Soul Surfer]

I agree about the power aspect of flourescent lighting but there is also the lifetime aspect frquent turning on and of uses up the lifetime of the bulb because of the high stesses during start up.  this is also true of filament bulbs and quartz halogen ones

[Pumblechook]

There can't be much of 'power surge' when you switch on...  It is either too small or too fast a 'spike' (maybe both) to trip out the 5 Amp circuit breaker which most of us have on the lighting circuit these days. 

Even the full 14 kW max household supply for 5 secs is only 0.02 kWh but a 100 Watt load on for 10 hours is 1 kWh.

[techmind]

Fluorescent light in an eating-area may help slimming - by making food look less appetising. Chips appear a greeny-yellow, carrots just look wrong, and curry/casserole/stew brown comes out a greeny-brown yuk!
Ok, not everyone notices it, but I do!

At the moment I have tungsten in the kitchen and the dining room, but a compact-fluorescent in the hallway. It is striking how much the appearance of the food changes as I take my plate from the kitchen through the hallway to the dining room.