Changing A Dead Halogen Bulb For A 3-Way CFL

Originally recorded March 31, 2019.
The bulb from the table lamp in the living room had finally burned out, so it was time to replace it. Fortunately, just a few days before this happened, I had just bought a few 3-way CFLs from the local market right down the block from me, so I figured this was the perfect application for a 3-way bulb, and it was perfect timing.
Although I did have to pay a little more ($10 a bulb to be exact, yikes!), since it's convenience prices, and well, Chian, I went ahead this one time and made the impulse purchase since I didn't have any 3-way bulbs in the hoard. Not saying that I'm proud of that or that was smart, but that's what I did. This one is branded under the Western Family Foods company out of Tigard, Oregon. Not too bad for a CFL, though for 10 bucks a bulb, I honestly could've done MUCH better.
As of the time I'm publishing this video 4 months later, the 3-way CFL is still in there and working just like the day it was bought. We'll see how that holds up. It doesn't get used that much at all, but it's still nice to have it there for when we need it. Worst part however, is that if it dies in a year or three, because again, Chian, that's $10 I'll never get out of that. For $10, it should last at least a good 10 to 15 years. Lesson learned folks, don't make impulse purchases that likely aren't going to get you your money's worth out of the stuff you buy.

[@jaykay18]

Spensive, but decent. They probably did medium-low-high to ensure the bulb would start up, that's my guess. Yeah, CFLs are no incandescent, but close enough, and way better than LED. You should be good for awhile.

[@lizboz]

That's what I figured. Yeah, CFLs are WAY better than any err eee dee. I have a whole box full of them. I even have one of those old Sunbeam 24 watt bulbs from 2001 with the vent holes in the base, and it does work.

[@jaykay18]

I think all of those Sunbeam bulbs I had died. I had a video on one that did, I spent them all in that fixture, and it gets a fair bit of use turning on and off, so that's why. I have some other CFLs that I put in 13 years ago that are still working just fine. Those don't see near the amount of use, but when I do turn them on, they just work. And yet oddly, one other one I have, installed in the vent hood over the stove, has also lasted just an inordinate amount of time, and that works great time and again. Granted that doesn't have as many hours on it as a general-use bulb would, but it's certainly held its own and doesn't owe me anything.

[@lizboz]

I saw that video. I even have the same MaxLite bulbs as like what you replaced the Sunbeam with--I have two of them. Both also work. All of them do, I certainly wasn't going to waste money on ones that didn't! I'm hoping this one will last me a fair amount of time. When I bought that CFL, I got two others that are a little bit different, but they're branded under the same name. I forget the wattage on them, but I think it's either 30/70/100, or 50/100/150. I hope to find a good use for them one day.

[@jaykay18]

3-way CFLs are pretty rare, especially these days. I have a very early one that uses a round skinny bulb that goes about 6" in diameter that's 3-way. Never see that again, that's for sure.

[@lizboz]

Wow, SIX INCHES?? Never seen one like that before. Would you happen to know the brand of it off hand?

[@MinecraftPro97k]

Oh boy! I bet a tree-hugger is gonna complain about it containing Mercury. Yeah I doubt it would even explode or something. It's rather completely sealed, so the Mercury isn't going anywhere.

[@lizboz]

That part about the CFLs being sealed is incorrect. If you drop a CFL, you will break the spirals on it, releasing small amounts of mercury vapors into the air. CFLs have exploded before, but only from the base, where the electronics are. Haven't had that happen to me yet, although one day me we might see with the bunch of CFLs I have, but jaykay18 has had that happen to him before a number of times. Usually what happens is, when it fails, you might hear a buzzing coming from the base, followed by a loud POP, and then finally a little puff of magic smoke, and that's typically the end of it, then you just smash the bulb yourself anyway.