Dabu
Well-Known Member
I've been switching out a cool 30 watt CFL with a warm, 40 watt CFL. From the beginning, the 30 watt bulb seemed almost brighter than the 40. I've been using one for a couple days, then switching for a couple days. Well, recently, I took the 30 out and put in the 40 and turned it on.
It flickered and buzzed; it didn't used to do that. I took it out and put in the 30 watt. Everything worked perfect. I figured maybe it just needed a chance to cool down. I plug the 40 watt back in, and it flickers still. I think maybe it just needed 2 minutes or so to warm up. Several minutes later, still slight flickering (I could wave my hand in front of it and I would see stripes). I'm assuming it was flickering 60 cycles per second or so. Either way, I turn it off and unscrew the bulb. I hold it for awhile by the flourescent part and set it on the floor to cool off. Long after it should have been cooled down, I brushed my leg against the metal screw part and I felt what I thought was a sharp burn, but it left no mark. I didn't mind too much until I picked it up and put my hand against it and I felt what almost seemed like a shock. I go 'what the hell?' and set it down. [10 minutes later] I go and press my finger against the metal tip and it shocks me again. This time distinctly a shock and not a burn.
I know with normal light bulbs you can never get shocked because they don't store significant electrical charges in them, but with the CFLs, they have a built-in ballast, so what the fuck?
P.S. The shock isn't the static shock that you normally feel. It's the kind of shock that goes right to your bones, lol. I know it's not a life-and-death thing, but still. It's no fun being shocked by a faulty CFL bulb with stored up electricity in it.
It flickered and buzzed; it didn't used to do that. I took it out and put in the 30 watt. Everything worked perfect. I figured maybe it just needed a chance to cool down. I plug the 40 watt back in, and it flickers still. I think maybe it just needed 2 minutes or so to warm up. Several minutes later, still slight flickering (I could wave my hand in front of it and I would see stripes). I'm assuming it was flickering 60 cycles per second or so. Either way, I turn it off and unscrew the bulb. I hold it for awhile by the flourescent part and set it on the floor to cool off. Long after it should have been cooled down, I brushed my leg against the metal screw part and I felt what I thought was a sharp burn, but it left no mark. I didn't mind too much until I picked it up and put my hand against it and I felt what almost seemed like a shock. I go 'what the hell?' and set it down. [10 minutes later] I go and press my finger against the metal tip and it shocks me again. This time distinctly a shock and not a burn.
I know with normal light bulbs you can never get shocked because they don't store significant electrical charges in them, but with the CFLs, they have a built-in ballast, so what the fuck?
P.S. The shock isn't the static shock that you normally feel. It's the kind of shock that goes right to your bones, lol. I know it's not a life-and-death thing, but still. It's no fun being shocked by a faulty CFL bulb with stored up electricity in it.
