A quick question regarding the life expectancy of a CFL....

I have a 16 watt switch-start 2D lamp that is rated at 10,000 hours based on 3 hours per day burning time - However this lamp is lit for 16 hours per day... so does this mean that it will last more than 10 thousand hours, or less?   


 

I have never heard of that before. But it might because some lamps like HID's will last longer if you run them for awhile like 10 hours before shutting them off and not turning them on and off.

Yes, longer burning cycle per start SHOULD lead to greater number of LAMP life hours (likely 15,000 to 20,000 hrs on this lamp) but since you're using it more, it might burn out in fewer years than if you used it only occasionally. (If it's an off-brand Chinese made lamp, all bets are off).