Three days ago yet another of our Bright Effects CFL bulbs dropped dead. This time I saw its spectacular death, as light flickered brilliantly through the dying bulb. Then there was an alarming smell that I soon recognized: the smell of a fried capacitor.
Capacitors have long been a problem in my electronics. I bought a video camera back in the 1980s with capacitors inside that were allegedly counterfeit. Just a few years into its life the camera’s electronics literally melted off the circuit board, rendering it useless. Most of my other CFLs died due to bad ballast electronics, too. I haven’t pried my dead bulbs open yet to check but it wouldn’t surprise me of all of them didn’t meet their maker due to bad capacitors (at least the one in February did).
One day, I hope a bulb manufacturer will create a replaceable ballast module like I’ve suggested.
