You know those nifty lightbulbs?

[BeanoNYC]

the ones that are like tiny curly flouresant (sp?) bulbs that are more energy efficient than normal ones? You buy a 15 watt and it throws off the same amount of light as a "typical" 60 watt? Well .... how come they don't want you using them in a dimmer?

 

[Greg]

Well .... how come they don't want you using them in a dimmer?

Dimmers are for incandescent lights only. Charlie's the electrical guy. Perhaps he knows why.

 

[BeanoNYC]

They dim perfectly........ just don't want a fire or something like that.

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

The lamps are called Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) and they won't dim perfectly for long...they will eventually stop working and may cause an overheating condition where a fire condition could result...

Why? Dimmers work by stopping /starting power to the lamp thus causing the filament to operate dimmer than full on.... CFL’s are magnetic ballast’s with a gas lamp and will not operate the same way without ballast style "dimmer" to control the desired effect...I have seen the results of CFL on standard dimmers...not a pretty sight...

CFL’s have their place but dimming them is not one of them…put them in lighting fixtures where you desire the same illumination levels (night/security lights) and if you operate the lamps for three-hour starts they’ll last the hours listed on the carton...they will not last anywhere near the advertised life-span if you run them one, two, five, twenty-minutes … :blink:

If you want low energy, long-life lamps with an average of 10% energy savings and up too and in some cases exceeding 2,500-operating hours go to a lighting store or electrical supply house (I don't believe WM, HD, or L will be all that helpfull with these lamps) and purchase the specific wattage you desire...which by the way will be dimmable and the purchase cost will be much less than the CFL's... :idea:

 

[BeanoNYC]

If you want low energy, long-life lamps with an average of 10% energy savings and up too and in some cases exceeding 2,500-operating hours go to a lighting store or electrical supply house (I don't believe WM, HD, or L will be all that helpfull with these lamps) and purchase the specific wattage you desire...which by the way will be dimmable and the purchase cost will be much less than the CFL's... :idea:

Thanks Charlie, but I don't understand this statement ... could you explain this a bit further? ..... Sorry
.

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

If you want low energy, long-life lamps with an average of 10% energy savings and up too and in some cases exceeding 2,500-operating hours go to a lighting store or electrical supply house (I don't believe WM, HD, or L will be all that helpfull with these lamps) and purchase the specific wattage you desire...which by the way will be dimmable and the purchase cost will be much less than the CFL's... :idea:

Thanks Charlie, but I don't understand this statement ... could you explain this a bit further? ..... Sorry
.

Typically incandescent lamps (light bulbs) are rated for 120-Volt usage at a rated wattage (40, 60, 75, 100, etc...) for 750 or 1,000 life-span hours...the leading incandescent lamp manufacturers produce energy saving models of those lamps that are lifespan rated for up to 2,500 operating hours those replacing is less often...because they are a premium product, I don't believe Walmart, Home Depot or Lowes sells these lamps...

 

[BeanoNYC]

Ok, now I get it .... thanks.