Disadvantages for Fluorescent Lamps

You can't light a Christmas tree with fluorescent lights.

While they are higher in efficiency and lower in total cost than incandescent (tungsten or halogen) lamps, fluorescent lamps do have disadvantages.

Temperature Sensitivity

Incandescent lamps are unaffected by temperature. The efficacy of a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) decreases at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit, making them impractical for outdoor lighting.

Flicker

All lamps flicker, but it is far more noticeable in fluorescent lamps.

Mercury

Fluorescent lamps contain small amounts of mercury, about four mg, versus no toxic substances for incandescent. Still, four mg is quite small, compared to the 500 mg of mercury in a thermometer.

Electrical Control Gear

Fluorescent lamps require electronic control gear to eliminate waviness and flickering, which adds to the cost of lamps. Even an old and inefficient incandescent lamp requires no such gear.

Limitations

Fluorescent lamps require an electrical charge between two ends, so the lights must be tube-shaped; thus they cannot be as small as incandescent or LED lights (for example, for use in flashlights or Christmas tree lights).

References

• "International Encyclopedia of Ergonomics and Human Factors, Volume 2"; Waldemar Karwowski; 2001
• "Facts and Fictions About Energy Efficient Lighting"; Bartlett and Beronius; 2002