energy efficiency and neon/twisty bulbs

I recall hearing that neon bulbs are more efficient while operating
but are inefficient in the first minute or so as they build up
whatever it is they build up. Is this true and does is still apply to
neon tube lights today as well the twisty bulbs? Therefore it is more
efficient to leave a neon or twisty bulb on than to turn it on and off.

"bob" <[Only registered users see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered users see links. ]...

What they "build up" is temperature at the nodes. The metal has to be hot
enough to boil off some electrons which then travel through the tube
banging into the atoms of the gas, that emits light which hits the white
powder coating the inside of the glass and the powder glows (fluoresces).
"Efficient" is not a word I'd apply here since it only takes a minute or
two to come to operating temperature and then you'll leave it on for hours;
if you are going to turn it on and off several times an hour you may as well
leave it on, otherwise turn it off. Incidentally, the gas is not always
neon,
which glows red. Sodium will glow yellow and mercury will glow blue,
you'll have seen street lights in those colours. Better to say "fluorescent"
for this type of light emitter, ordinary tungsten bulbs are "incandescent".
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Dear bob:

"bob" <[Only registered users see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered users see links. ]...

Because they are emitting no light. Current draw is the same.


Applies to all fluorescent systems.


Turn it on and off at need. Make do with fewer bulbs. Switch to
LEDs when available / convenient. Go for minimizing energy
consumption.

David A. Smith

In news:j%Izk.73302$g27.363@newsfe10.ams2,
Androcles <Headmaster@Hogwarts.physics> mused:

"Myth Busters" did an alalysis of all types of bulbs, including
fluorescent bulbs, and, IIRC, their data showed that the 'break
even' point for incandecent bulbs was less than 0.1 seconds, and
that for fluorescent bulbs, it was something like 3 seconds.

"AllYou!" <[Only registered users see links. ]> wrote in message
news:c8idnWkT1ZCPL1LVnZ2dnUVZ_srinZ2d@posted.choic eonecommunications...

I don't care what mythbusters did, my room light
[Only registered users see links. ]
takes well over a minute to come to full brightness.

In news:BJOzk.111428$1l2.5596@newsfe27.ams2,
Androcles <Headmaster@Hogwarts.physics> mused:

You need a different light.

"AllYou!" <idaman@conversent.net> wrote in message
newsMmdnc0_M-DNVlLVnZ2dnUVZ_gadnZ2d@posted.choiceonecommunicati ons...
I have a different light. My desk lamp is incandescent, the room
light is only used when I have visitors. My monitors provide a lot
of extra light as well. You need to stay away from TV.