Dangerous CFLs

I submit for your consideration that compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are dangerous. We are told that they must only be used vertically, base down. Unfortunately, many light bulb sockets aren't set up that way. Here are some results of that:  

 

Comments

[Jerry Brown]

This is important information. Where did you find it?

[John D.]

The upper two photographs are from my own kitchen. The lower two are from my mother-in-law's bathroom. I have both lamps set aside.

[John D.]

Just to add:

In 1978, we bought a new Volkswagen Rabbit. The owner’s manual asserted that the car could be expected to lose a quart of oil every two-thousand miles. Eventually, the company was forced to do a recall for defective rings after numerous Rabbits had their engines seize up. After our car was recalled and repaired, it stopped using oil. The so-called “normal” condition was anything but normal.

In 1983, we bought a used 1979 Oldsmobile 88. The owner’s manual said it was normal to hear a hissing sound when braking. Suddenly one day, the master-cylinder failed and we lost our power-assist for the brakes. Luckily, nobody got hurt. When a new master cylinder was installed, there was no more hissing noise. Again, the so-called “normal” condition was anything but normal.

With CFLs, I hold that smoke and browned and deformed materials are signs of a process that is not under control and again, that a so-called “normal” condition is anything but normal.

CFLs are supposed to be used base down, but also, they are supposed to replace incandescent lamps in legacy installations, many of which do not provide the required base down mounting conditions.

I am not comforted by any assertion that CFLs do not pose a fire hazard when overheated. Overheating leading to the self-evident physical damage shown in my photographs is by definition in my view, an unsafe state of affairs.

[Carl Schwab]

John,
I have been using CFLs of the type you have cited. My reasons were that I had some locations where replacing bulbs is a PITA. Being a cautious sort I replaced two where I could visually check them anytime to see how they performed. So far I have no complaints-----it happens one is vertical, bulb down, and the other is horizontal. I will now look more closely----Thanks. BTW I don’t like this style because I have many socket locations where I have to use a “neck-length-extender” to prevent the base of the CFL from “bottoming” preventing contact. Another PITA. I think this is enough of a PITA that CFL suppliers are reconfiguring the envelope to make replacement standard. Again thanks for the “heads-up”.
Carl Schwab