Interesting post.  Where can I find these current absorption profiles?

For a little more analysis of the cost of CFLs and some actionable advice for selecting which lights to replace with CFLs, this may be helpful: http://visibleenergy.blogspot.com/2008/02/which-bulbs-to-replace-with-cfls.html
In the interest of full disclosure, this is a link to my blog. 

Hi Peter,

             I totally agree with you about the high impact over the power quality. Nobody tells the people the complete story, I guess some hidden intentions from manufacturers, politics and others.....

The effect of what you have described is a real problem, which is not dealed with seriously. Last spring a large department store in Stockholm city decided to be Green and changed all spots and lamps to CFLs. The Zero in local three phase transformer station burned and shut down the electric supply in the area. Off cause the utillity company rushed out and doubled the zero line and all works well. It is not the first time it happens. The question if it really saves energy, well above pulses shows that but not as much as you might think.

Some say it a temporary problem as the LED lamps are comming  .. sooner than later, so I hope we do not make the same mistake with them in the era of the EUP directive.

CFL lamps indeed gives distorted waveforms.

Still its an energy saving device.

In presence of harmonics Power as per IEC definition is 

                                             _n=¥

Active Power (KW) =  S V_n . IL_n . Cos (f_n)

                                  ^{n=1                                         where n is the harmonic number.}

Now the bad effects of harmonics can be reduced considerably by usage of Harmonic Filters (tuned or active filters).

Better use the energy efficient CFL lamps that can save energy and then with appropriate filters to reduce the bad effect of harmonics. I think should be a better approach.

In Comment No. 2 - The Power factor of CFL is mentioned as PF=0,633 leading.

Does CFL has a leading factor? I don't believe so. Might be clerical error.

Along with the Harmonic Distortion, low PF has a predominant role, in case of CFL. High Power Factor CFLs are there to comensate for. Also, less harmonic, being with harmonic filters.

Anyhow, CFLs are near to be replaced with OLEDs!

This is very interesting.  is there anyone who has done experiment posted o'scope shots of the sinewave shape?

-Doug

I have always found the compact fluorescent lamps to be a fold better than the incandescent lamps. We can see that the power quality of the compact fluorescent lamps is something which can be seen just when we install it. I still, however, do not understand as to why people run after incandescent lamps. They are just becoming fools in my opinion, becoming fools because of the sly advertisements! Those pople who fall for advertisements are the ones who buy these lights.I have also seen that these lamps are good for the health of the eye as well. Hence less consulting the medical areas for eye problems!