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DSO Electric Cooperative Inc. | 201 Dakota Drive | Solomon, KS 67480 | PO Box 286 | 1-800-376-3533

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Compact Fluorescent Light

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  1. Products & Services
  2. Compact Fluorescent Light
parts_of_cfl_large.jpgHow do CFL bulbs work?

Compact Fluorescent Lights or CFL's produce light differently than incandescent bulbs, in an incandescent electric current runs through a wire filament and heats the filament until it starts to glow. In a CFL, an electric current is driven through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury vapor. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent coating (called phosphor) on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light.

CFL's need a little more energy when they are first turned on, but once the electricity starts moving, use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. A CFL's ballast helps "kick start" the CFL and then regulates the current once the electricity starts flowing.

The entire process typically takes 30 seconds to 3 minutes to complete, which is why CFLs take longer than other lights to become fully lit. CFLs with decorative covers like globe or reflector shapes have a unique design challenge that results in the tradeoff of a slower warm up time, which is why these CFLs take longer than bare spirals to reach full brightness.

Older CFLs used large and heavy magnetic ballasts that caused a buzzing noise in some bulbs. Most CFLs today - and all ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs - use electronic ballasts, which do not buzz or hum.

News & Updates

Thursday | December 1, 2022

Improving Your Position

Improving Your Position Ken Hedberg, President of DSO Board of Directors Seasons greeting to my fellow member-owners of DSO. As we are now in the m...
more
Tuesday | August 2, 2022

PROPER LOAD MANAGEMENT BENEFITS EVERYONE

PROPER LOAD MANAGEMENT BENEFITS EVERYONE By: Derrick Rutherford Most are familiar with the kilowatt-hour (kWh) entry on your monthly electric stat...
more
Thursday | June 30, 2022

On the Line

On the Line by Michael Olberding Earlier this year, I wrote an article about drought and high wind. I hope that is all behind us now. With summer thu...
more
Tuesday | May 17, 2022

Interruptible Residential Rate

Sign up for the New Interruptible Residential Rate As summer approaches, DSO is getting more sign-ups for the interruptible residential rate. When t...
more

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Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

DSO Electric Cooperative, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives is a national network of electric cooperatives across 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy cooperatives stand as a source of power and information to their 32 million member-owners every day.

©2023 DSO Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • About Us
    • Vision, Mission, & Core Values
    • Members Policies
    • Bylaws / Rules & Regulations
    • Cooperative History
    • Seven Cooperative Principles
    • Capital Credits
    • Rates
    • Forms
      • Auto Pay
      • Apply for Service
      • Budget Billing Plan
      • Light Outage Form
      • Prepaid Agreement
      • Request for Donation Form
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • Directors and Consultants
    • Annual Meeting
  • My Home
    • Why Is My Bill So High?
    • Energy Savings
      • Energy Saving Tips
    • Office and Payment Locations
    • Payment Options
    • Residential Budget Billing
    • Transfer Service
    • Smarthub Signup Instructions
  • My Business
    • Energy Saving Strategies
    • Sector Reports
    • Technology Applications
  • Outage Map
  • Products & Services
    • Co-op Connections Card
    • Air Source Heat Pumps
    • Geothermal Heat Pump
      • Heat Pump Rebates
      • Certificate of Installation
    • Water Heater Energy Efficiency Program
      • Water Heater Rebate
    • Compact Fluorescent Light
      • CFL Color
    • TESCO
      • Surge Suppression - Information Request
  • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Youth Programs
      • Youth Tour Information Request Form
    • Kansas Country Living
    • DS0 Scholarship Program
  • Renewables
    • BioMass
    • Geothermal Energy
    • Hydrogen
    • Hydropower
    • Solar Energy
    • Wind Energy
  • Safety
    • Education
    • Phone Scams
    • Safety
      • Electric Shock Safety
      • Energy Theft
      • Flood Safety
      • Generator Safety
      • Holiday Lighting Safety
      • Inside Safety
      • Outdoor Safety
      • Hot Weather Safety
  • 4KW Solar
  • Capital Credits
  • Contact Us