Dimmer question

Community Playground General Discussions
1

I bought 2 dimmers at RS on sale. My kitchen has those funky candle like light so i know if will work. It says on the box “NOT FOR MOTORS OR CFL” I assume because CFL bulbs can’t handle it. I found a few CFL’s that allow being dimable…Will they work? I have the GE 45606 switch.

Thanks!

2

As long as the bulbs are incandscent you will be fine - dimmers do not work with CFL’s because the CFL’s bleed electricity when off causing the light bulb to flicker. 8)

3

I too have found some 16 watt “dimmable” CFL’s on sale at Radio Shack. On the side of the packaging is written “Designed for use with all dimmers rated 600 watts or less, manufactured after 1995.”

This style of bulb that has an outer shell around the spiral CFL body. On the bulb base is printed “Use with most dimmers” and also “ANALOG DIMMING” 16W 120 VAC 60HZ 240mA

I think this type of bulb has active circuitry (in addition to its ballast) that allows for the dimming function. But the question remains are they going to respond properly to an electronic type dimmer (vs a traditional manual dimmer) of the type (Zwave modules, etc) that is used amongst home automation enthusiasts?

Below is an excerpt from a Wikipedia entry on CFL bulbs:

Only some CF lamps are labeled for dimming control. Using regular CFLs with a dimmer is ineffective at dimming, can shorten bulb life and will void the warranty of certain manufacturers.[66] Dimmable CFLs are available.[67] There is a need for the dimmer switch used in conjunction with a dimmable CFL to be matched to its power consumption range, many dimmers installed for use with incandescent bulbs do not yield acceptable results below 40W, whereas CFL applications commonly draw power in the range 7-20W. The marketing and availability of dimmable CFLs has preceded that of suitable dimmers. The dimming range of CFLs is usually between 20% and 90%.[68] However, in many modern CFLs the dimmable range has been improved to be from 2% to 100%, more akin to regular lights. There are two types of dimmable CFL marketed: Regular dimmable CFLs, and “switch-dimmable” CFLs. The latter use a regular light switch, while the on-board electronics has a setting where the number of times the switch is turned on & off in quick succession sets a reduced light output mode. Dimmable CFLs are not a 100% replacement for incandescent fixtures that are dimmed for “mood scenes” such as wall sconces in a dining area. Below the 20% limit, the lamp remain at the approximate 20% level, in other cases it may flicker or the starter circuitry may stop and restart.[69] Above the 80% dim limit, the bulb will generally glow at 100% brightness. However, these issues have been addressed with the latest units and some CFLs may perform more like regular lamps. Dimmable CFLs have a higher purchase cost than standard CFLs due to the additional circuitry required for dimming. A further limitation is that multiple dimmable CFLs on the same dimmer switch may not appear to be at the same brightness level. Cold Cathode CFLs can be dimmed to low levels, making them popular replacements for incandescent bulbs on dimmer circuits.