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Can CFL bulbs be used in dimmer locations???

The Stigenator

The Stigenator

Lifer
I want to replace all incandescent bulbs with CFL. Problem is we got a few that are dimmer based. Like the one above the dining table..
The ones in the bathrooms areas are halogen bulbs so that i cant replace, but i would like to replace the rest with CFL.

So what should i do, just get some CFL and see if it can handle it? I could leave the dimmer in HIGH and use the ON/OFF mode.. so that will work. What happens if you accidently dimmer the CFL?
 
There are special CFLs that are dimmable. It'll specifically say so on the package.

If it doesn't, a few things can happen. They'll either not work or die early for the most part.
 
i was in walmart today.. i kept looking at teh GE bulbs.. they didnt mention being dimmable but i didnt buy them because i wasnt sure. I will pick them up tomorrow.
 
I know home depot sells them. The guy tried selling them to me when i was buying some halogen flood lights for the kitchen.
 
even on high i don't think dimmer is compatible. you could just replace the switch. dimmer cfl are harder to find, and you can bet they will say so on the package since they cost more.
 
Not a regular CFL bulb. They will flicker like crazy no matter what the dimmer setting is. i replaced the switch to a normal on/off because the energy savings were more important to me than the dimmer function.
 
Yeah, after electrocuting myself a few times, I replaced the dimmer switch instead of reverting to the incandescent bulbs.

This has two advantages:

1 - I save money.
2 - I feel manly for doing work on the house.
 
No, not usually.

There are new LED light bulbs coming out that produce better light, nearly no heat and a fraction of the power of the CFL bulbs.

The CLF's use mercury which is bad also.
 
Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
I want to replace all incandescent bulbs with CFL. Problem is we got a few that are dimmer based. Like the one above the dining table..
The ones in the bathrooms areas are halogen bulbs so that i cant replace, but i would like to replace the rest with CFL.

So what should i do, just get some CFL and see if it can handle it? I could leave the dimmer in HIGH and use the ON/OFF mode.. so that will work. What happens if you accidently dimmer the CFL?
Click to expand...

While we had the dimmer switch with the CFLs, the CFLs would buzz on any dimmer setting. We'd try to find some level on the dimmer where the lights wouldn't buzz, but every time we did, it would begin to buzz after a few minutes anyway. So, even on the highest setting with the on/off switch, the lights still sound like angry hornets.
 
Originally posted by: lokiju
No, not usually.

There are new LED light bulbs coming out that produce better light, nearly no heat and a fraction of the power of the CFL bulbs.

The CLF's use mercury which is bad also.
Click to expand...

The LED bulbs are a ways out from becoming mainstream. Comparably, the bulbs cost anywhere from 3x-6x that of CFLs. We're talking $20-$50 per bulb. Yes, it will pay for itself, but that's a huge upfront cost.

And while the light quality may be better, it's also not as bright. Adding to that, LED lights, for the most part right now, only work well in spot or accent lighting situations. They give too narrow of a beam, resulting in poor ambient lighting.
 
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