Florescent/Energy Saving Bulbs?

Question

Some years ago, I red that florescent bulbs take a surge of energy to get them started. What I red said that if you turn the light on and offf more than 3 or 4 times, it uses up as much energy as if you just left it on all day. Does anybody who knows what they are talking about know anything about this?

Answer 1

this question was put to the test on an episode of myth-busters a while back and it was proven that it takes no more energy to turn the bulb on than it uses when it is burning, so turn off when you leave and you will safe money

Answer 2

Fluorescent Light bulbs get a surge of voltage from the ballast to "strike" or cause the gas in the tube to "fluoresce".  Energy is measures in watts which is voltage multiplied by current.  

It matters little how much you step up the voltage to get the fluorescent bulbs to light up if the total watts used remains as small as the incandescent bulbs.  

From memory, I might be wrong, the Mythbusters measured the total load in watts to start and run the bulbs.  My only issue with that episode is that the voltage spike is so fast that their measuring instruments may not have been able to detect/respond to it.

Overall though it seems that their conclusions are correct, it don't make no difference.

The real difference in energy saving is to only use lights that you need to use and turn the rest off.

Answer 3

That is NOT TRUE. Fluorescent lights use no more power starting up than they do running for one second. The only reason not to turn them off and on all the time is that it shortens the bulb life. You will not waste electricity; you will just have the bulbs burn out early.

Answer 4

Florescent lights use a ballast to get them started.  Yes, the ballast surges to get the bulb lit...but, I don't believe that they will use as much wattage on multiple start up's as an incandescent bulb.