[nathanm]

Okay, so it's not audio related necessarily but what the hey.  It's got to do with electricity at least.

I have flourscent-bulbed desk lamps that quite noticably (and repeatably) change their color temperature when I smack them.  When I first turn them on they are glowing with a warm yellow but when the outside of the lamp housing is struck the light immediately changes to a much more neutral\more blue color cast.  Does anyone know the technical reason why this might occur?  Thanks!

[Monolith]

Are these 3000k lights?  If so, you're probably knocking around the additives that change it from a 5000k light to a 3000k light.  My understanding is that the additives are used to make flourescent lights appear more "incandescent" in nature (i.e., yellow).  There are also expensive additives in some lights to increase the CRI (color rendition index) number.

I'm just wondering if you're not seeing the "true color" when you give it a smack.

[nathanm]

They are: Westinghouse GX23 2700K 13-watt bulbs

So it might be something to do with the gas inside the bulb?  I must say I prefer the smacked-state color cast over the "native" one.  I am just surprised at how consistent the effect is.

I do have a D5000 lightbox right next to the desk lamp and the difference in color temperature is considerable.  The bulbs are indeed quite pricey.

[Monolith]

I've been converting my home and garage lighting to 5000k lights.  Once you get used to the white light as opposed to the yellowness of the 2500-3000k lights it's tough to go back.

[OBF]

Have you used any of the newer T5 flourescents?  I believe they have a high CRI (higher than 80) and 4,000-10,000K depending on what you want.

[Monolith]

Have you used any of the newer T5 flourescents?  I believe they have a high CRI (higher than 80) and 4,000-10,000K depending on what you want.

Philips "Natural Light" series is 5000k with a CRI of 92.