Is this really normal?

I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.
Thanks
Barry

"Barry" wrote in news:l-CdncdxQrNx9PLYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@adelphia.com:

I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.

I've never seen a CF fail on its own like that. The glass spiral may be cracked or broken, or the little inverter power supply in the base may have failed.
Do you have the URL for the site claiming this is "normal"?
--Damon

I looked it up again
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:-YBTvb_kF4QJ:www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi%3Dask%26s%3Dcfl+compact+flourescent+fire+hazard&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

Thanks
Barry
"Damon Hill" wrote in message

"Barry" wrote in news:l-CdncdxQrNx9PLYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@adelphia.com:
I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.
I've never seen a CF fail on its own like that. The glass spiral may be cracked or broken, or the little inverter power supply in the base may have failed.
Do you have the URL for the site claiming this is "normal"?
--Damon

"Barry" wrote in news:Vs2dnRu3aIti6PLYnZ2dnUVZ_v2dnZ2d@adelphia.com:

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:-YBTvb_kF4QJ:www.thegreenguide.com/ doc.mhtml%3Fi%3Dask%26s%3Dcfl+compact+flourescent+fire+hazard&hl=en&gl= us&ct=clnk&cd=1

Well, that's interesting. It roughly confirms my observation that CF lamps don't last as long in an enclosed housing with little or no ventilation--although I'm using several that way throughout my house. I find them to be slightly more reliable than incandescents.
So far as I can tell, CF lamps aren't a fire hazard any more than any other electrical appliance. The sole occasion I saw one in a hazardous condition was the biggest CF I'd ever found, which my cat knocked down and broke while it was on. The inverter did generate a bit of smoke and noise, until I turned off the power. So much for a $20 lamp...
--Damon

I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.

No, it is not normal to melt the plastic. Definately overheating.
I had one fail that was in an enclosed globe - definately caused by trapped heat, but it didn't melt or smoke.
Had two get broken - my fault, couldn't blame the cat!
Other than that, have had very good results with them.
CM

"CM" wrote in message

I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.
No, it is not normal to melt the plastic. Definately overheating.
I had one fail that was in an enclosed globe - definately caused by trapped heat, but it didn't melt or smoke.
Had two get broken - my fault, couldn't blame the cat!
Other than that, have had very good results with them.
CM

Thanks for the reply. This worries me. Mine was not enclosed, it was in the simple open type basement fixture. I'm going to consider replacing them all. Perhaps newer more recent ones won't have this problem. Mine do have the UL mark on them however.
Thanks
Barry

"CM" wrote in message

I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.
No, it is not normal to melt the plastic. Definately overheating.
I had one fail that was in an enclosed globe - definately caused by trapped heat, but it didn't melt or smoke.
Had two get broken - my fault, couldn't blame the cat!
Other than that, have had very good results with them.
CM
definatly not normal sounds like it couls be caused by a fault in the

manafurcaturing process. The flickering is normal but not tat amount of heat reporting this to the comaply would be a good idea cause they like to keep tabs so they can prevent it happening in future but it is likly to be somethig that happens in about 1 in 10000 cases or something.

You might send the bulb to the manufacture for analysis, and I would not be surprised if they sent you some replacement bulbs for your effort.
--
SeeYaa:) Harbin Osteen KG6URO
When American Citizens with dual citizenship pledges allegiance to the flag, to which flag do they pledge allegiance too?
-

"homeboy465" wrote in message

"CM" wrote in message I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.
No, it is not normal to melt the plastic. Definately overheating.
I had one fail that was in an enclosed globe - definately caused by trapped heat, but it didn't melt or smoke.
Had two get broken - my fault, couldn't blame the cat!
Other than that, have had very good results with them.
CM
definatly not normal sounds like it couls be caused by a fault in the manafurcaturing process. The flickering is normal but not tat amount of heat reporting this to the comaply would be a good idea cause they like to keep tabs so they can prevent it happening in future but it is likly to be somethig that happens in about 1 in 10000 cases or something.

I have replaced all the bulbs in my basement with Sylvania CF spirals. I was down there tonight when one suddenly dimmed. Then it flickered a little at the base and suddenly it is smoking. I quickly took it out. It is melted thru where the spiral meets the plastic. A quick search of sylvanias site found nothing. A quick google found a site explaining how this is normal as the bulbs burn out. It said it is not dangerous. Of course anytime I see something hot enough to smoke in my house and melt plastic, I get nervous. Is this really OK and safe.
No, it is not normal to melt the plastic. Definately overheating.
I had one fail that was in an enclosed globe - definately caused by trapped heat, but it didn't melt or smoke.
Had two get broken - my fault, couldn't blame the cat!
Thanks for the reply. This worries me. Mine was not enclosed, it was in the simple open type basement fixture. I'm going to consider replacing them all. Perhaps newer more recent ones won't have this problem. Mine do have the UL mark on them however.

It may be a fluke, just one defective unit that shorted out or something, maybe a bit of loose wire or solder. Good idea to keep flammables away from any electronic devices that *might* fail that way!
CM

The headline reads is this really normal?
Yes for california. But than normal is relative and this is california
Rick