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CFL Bulbs -
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GE's bulbs currently sold at our Walmart are marked "instant-on" - 0.5 seconds is NOT instant, in my opinion. You'd think this is a silly point to quibble, but if you're used to clicking on a light from a switch or turning on a lamp, the delay will often make you click twice. I've got several manufacturers CFL's - some light up instantly, others I would guess fall into the "instant-on" category. I'll be writing more about this soon, since the "instant-on" lights mysteriously disappear and are replaced by the warm (hot) glow of the incandesant bulb that I put into the back pantry...
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Instant On Test #1
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Lights of America - I don't have the packaging on this one, so they may not advertise "Instant On". That's what I usually look for so I'd be surprised if it didn't. There's a 1/2 second delay from the time the incandescent light comes on to when the CFL turns on. You, as well as anyone used to typical lighting will find this annoying, especially when you use a lamp not connected to a wall switch: I find I click it a second time, sometimes turning it off. My wife has a more creative solution: replace the bulb with an incandescent that turns on when you hear the "click"...
CFL Instant On Test 1 - video powered by Metacafe
Model:
Mfg: Lights of America
Store:
Cost:
Color Temp:
Equivelent: 40W
Watts:
Switch Test conclusion: DELAYED illumination
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Instant On Test #2 -
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Greenlite comes right on - hard to see any difference. This is what I like! I find that they tend to stay in their sockets, too (see comment on my wife's solution in test #1).
Instant On CFL Test 2 - video powered by Metacafe
Model:13W/ELS-M/A?
Mfg: GreenLite
Store:Big!Lots
Cost:$0.99
Color Temp:
Equivelent: 60W
Watts:13
Switch Test conclusion: Immediate illumination
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Instant On Test #3
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"Energy Smart 40" from General Electric also advertises "Instant On" on their packaging, but as you can see it's anything but instant:
Instant On Test 3 - video powered by Metacafe
Model: 87809 "Decorative" "energy smart 40"
Mfg: General Electric
Store:WalMart
Cost:
Color Temp: not listed
Equivelant Bulb: 40W
Watts:11
Switch Test conclusion: DELAYED illumination
More Bulbs Tested...
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