Is a CFL or an incandescent bulb the most efficient for 30 second use?

[Nagel]

Like the titles says, which is best out of a compact fluorescent bulb or a filamented incandescent for short use.

 

It's for a toilet and 40 watt filamented compared to the equivalent CFL. Switch on, have wee, switch off. Which will use less power?

 

Are CFLs efficient for short term use or do they draw a lot of current to start up?

[anywebsite]

I think anything over about 2 minutes is going to be more efficient if it's a cfl. They do need more current to start up than to keep running, but not that much more.

 

With a 40W bulb it'll probably cost you about 0.005p or something like that every time you turn the light on to have a pee, assuming you don't turn another light off while you pee to make up for it.

 

So it's going to make no noticeable difference whatever you do, you could probably have it floodlit & top up your tan every time you have a pee for a penny.

 

CFLs last longer, need replacing less often, are dirt cheap & easy to find. So they're probably your best option.

 

LED lighting is even more efficient, doesn't have high startup current, is available in even lower wattages & lasts longer too, but they're still a bit more expensive to buy the lights, especially higher powered ones.

[Rupert_Baehr]

Have you considered LED lighting?

 

Or a couple of dabs of luminous paint on your willy?

[Hots on]

 

Or a couple of dabs of luminous paint on your willy?

 

:hihi:

[the_rudeboy]

LED lighting is even more efficient, doesn't have high startup current, is available in even lower wattages & lasts longer too, but they're still a bit more expensive to buy the lights, especially higher powered ones.

 

Standard LEDs and CFLs have a very similar luminous efficacy, both producing around 60 lumens per watt. So they're both equally efficient. LEDs have been developed that produce over 200 lumens per watt, but these are specialist and unlikely to be available for use in the home at present. Only a matter of time though.

[Phanerothyme]

I'd go with LEDs, especially if you don't need much light - just enough to aim.

 

I always thought flat panel cultures of phosporescent algae would be the thing for night lighting. Just slap the wall gently to release waves of luminescence.