CFL Bulb Slow Response

The properties of a CFL bulb are not conducive for use with the rapid on and off patterns that occur with a typical motion sensor when in use. This is because, unlike a fluorescent bulb, the CFL not only requires significantly more time to become illuminated, but also degrades its performance from being turned on and off repeatedly over time.

Temperature

The temperature requirements for a CFL bulb are more restrictive than that of incandescent lights. As a result, a CFL bulb that is in an outdoor motion sensor may fail to illuminate due to an extreme drop or rise in the temperature.

Color Specitrum

CFL bulbs do not provide the same spectrum of "white light" as does an incandescent bulb. While the human eye can compensate for this, use of a CFL as an outdoor floodlight in a motion sensor security light does not provide the same color temperature to an area, making it less effective as a security floodlight.

CFL Contents

CFL bulbs, unlike an incandescent light, contains mercury. This makes a broken CFL bulb a safety and health hazard. Since security lights are not immune to damage from natural attacks as well as those from humans, the toxic nature of a broken use of the CFL bulb makes it unsuitable for a working relationship with a motion sensing lighting fixture.