HOLY S my CF bulb burnt out LITERALLY

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the burning out of a compact fluorescent (CF) bulb, including concerns about safety, the materials contained within the bulb, and the variability in bulb lifespan. Participants share personal experiences and seek advice on how to handle the situation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their CF bulb burning out, noting it faded in and out, became dim and orange, and eventually stopped working, accompanied by a smell of smoke.
  • Another participant confirms that CF bulbs contain mercury but suggests that the amount is minimal and poses no danger.
  • A participant questions the safety of the situation, humorously suggesting they might take legal action if harmed.
  • There is a clarification regarding the materials in CF bulbs, with one participant correcting the misconception about phosphorus, stating that the phosphor coating is related to phosphorescence.
  • Concerns are raised about whether visible smoke is present or just a smell, with a note that CF bulbs typically do not fail catastrophically.
  • One participant shares their experience with bulb longevity, noting that some brands last significantly longer than others, expressing a preference for Phillips over GE bulbs.
  • Another participant expresses reluctance to return the bulb for recycling due to shipping costs, while reflecting on the usage duration of the bulb.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the safety and longevity of CF bulbs, with no consensus on the best brand or the necessity of returning burnt-out bulbs for recycling. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best course of action for handling the burnt-out bulb.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention varying experiences with bulb lifespans and safety concerns, but there are no definitive conclusions about the risks associated with burnt-out CF bulbs or the effectiveness of different brands.

Pengwuino
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HOLY S*** my CF bulb burnt out! LITERALLY!

OK UHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

My CF bulb... that's probably been in use for a year or 2... just burnt out... LITERALLY! It faded in and out and then it became really dim and a bit orange inside and then it became even mooooore dimmer and then it flat out went out. Now i can smell smoke. From what i remember... don't CF bulbs contain phosphorous and mercury?! Should i throw this thing ouside until the smoke is gone? Should i even evacuate this room? I am scared!
 
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It does contain mercury, but just very little so there is no danger.
 
Ok... but if i die, you'll be hearing from me!
 
Pengwuino said:
OK UHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

My CF bulb... that's probably been in use for a year or 2... just burnt out... LITERALLY! It faded in and out and then it became really dim and a bit orange inside and then it became even mooooore dimmer and then it flat out went out. Now i can smell smoke.
Wow! I can only imagine you've had an electronics failure and burned through a FET or somesuch.

From what i remember... don't CF bulbs contain phosphorous and mercury?!
Trace amounts of mercury (likely less than micrograms), but no phosphorus. You're getting confused with the phosphor (related to phosphorescence, not phosphorus) coating.

Should i throw this thing ouside until the smoke is gone? Should i even evacuate this room? I am scared!
Is there actually smoke billowing out from this thing, or do you only smell something? These bulbs are not supposed to die in a dangerous/catastrophic manner. The electronics eventually give out or the electrodes die and you can't ionize the gas any longer.

Anyway, I think you're supposed to send those back to the manufacturer for recycling. You most likely paid for the recycling cost when you bought the bulb.
 
Some CF bulbs burn out long before their advertised "10,000 hour" life. Others (even from the same batch) keep going. I have several bulbs that are at least 12 years old and are still going (all of them Phillips bulbs). While I have "burnt through" 3 GE "2D" bulbs, and 2 GE "Genura" bulbs in only four years. Methinks GE sucks and Phillips is da bomb.
 
There wasn't any visible smoke but you could smell smoke. It also made a weird noise when it went out. I'm suppose to send them back to the manufacturer? Pfff, i can't afford shipping these bulbs out :P

I suppose i got a decent amount of time out of this bulb considering it was on like, 16 hours a day for the last year or 2.
 

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