Why do CFL's go bad?

[jadaro2600]

Why do CFL's go bad? ...what makes a Florescent tube go bad?


edit:
Other than dropping them! Dammit.

[jadaro2600]

I just took one of these CFL's apart after it had burned out, and if I hadn't dropped it would I have been able to use the bulb for my experiements?

Other than this, there's quite a bit of circuitry involved under these housings; after dissassembling the houseing, the whole inside of this thing bas charred black.  Something literally burned up in it.  Are these things really safe at all?

I mean, the thing died in such a way that the two leads from the AC source are melted completely through!  They seem to have touched some part of the circuit near a diode...or something that melted to death.

Wow, these little things are a treasure trove of parts!

[jadaro2600]

I seem to be the only one posting on this thread, I decided not to repost an old idea, but bump this one.

My friend described to me, something that I found disturbing:  He said that his lamp fell over, it had a CFL in it at the time.  He said that it broke, twist bulb and all, and that it remained lit .. as if to say, it continued to arc even though the bulb had shattered.  He went on to say that he had to unplug it from the wall to get it to stop.

Is this even possible?  Am I not hearing about the horrors of these types of devices?

[the_big_m_in_ok]

...Is this even possible?  Am I not hearing about the horrors of these types of devices?

Well, I can give you another 'horror'.  CFL's are a source of mercury, I've been told.  Breaking one is the worst thing you can do.

Also, be careful.  High voltage(usually 1,000-2,000 VAC) is required to initially light the bulb, but ballast circuits are designed to lower the maintenance voltage to avoid wasting power after the bulb is lit.

--Lee

[kooler]

hey,
i have never had a GE cfl to go bad so far...
but the other i have noticed.. that the transistor goes or the inductor...
but alot of the sylvania bulbs .. filament or gas get weak


hope this helps