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That viral video claiming microwaving CFL bulbs saves electricity? I actually tested it.
So last week my aunt sent me this Facebook video of some guy claiming if you microwave a CFL bulb for 10 seconds it makes it run more efficient and cuts your electric bill. I figured it was nonsense but I had an old dead bulb lying around so I tried it in my kitchen microwave for science. Well the bulb didn't get any brighter lol but it did start smoking after about 8 seconds and the microwave smelled like burnt plastic for hours. I looked up the actual wattage draw with a Kill-A-Watt meter before and after and there was zero difference in power use. Turns out the whole thing is just a recycled hoax from 2012 that keeps getting shared because people want a quick fix for high bills. Anyone else seen their relatives falling for this one and how do you talk them out of it without sounding like a jerk?
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alice9284mo ago
Honestly I used to think the magnet thing was real too til I saw the actual bills.
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stellat464mo ago
Yeah the microwave thing is just asking for trouble, that burnt plastic smell is from the bulb's base melting. My uncle kept sending me stuff like that about magnets on the meter so I finally sat down with him and showed him my power bill breakdown on the utility website. I pointed out how most of his cost was from the AC and water heater, not lighting. Once he saw the actual numbers in a pie chart it clicked for him and he stopped sharing those videos. What finally got through to him was showing how the math didn't work, maybe try that with your aunt?
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jessica9214mo ago
Start by asking your aunt to show you her actual utility bill side by side with yours, that's what got through to my cousin's dad too. The thing about these viral hacks @stellat46 is they prey on people who don't see the bigger picture, like how most power use is hidden behind walls inside big appliances. I notice this pattern everywhere now, not just with electricity stuff but with car maintenance and even health advice online. People latch onto these simple magic bullet fixes because they're easier to understand than the boring reality of AC units and water heaters running all day. Once you show someone the real numbers in a simple chart it breaks that spell and they see how silly the magnet trick really is.
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