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Using CFL bulbs with a dimmer

  • 25-01-2010 8:38pm
    #1
    irishguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,305 ✭✭✭


    I replaced a normal bulb with a CFL on a dimmer (I know i shouldnt) it seemed to work fine. So whats the disadvantage with doing this? Do they not last as long?


Comments

  • #2
    mazthespark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 630 ✭✭✭mazthespark


    they do work but from experience it isnt good for them because they are designed to work on 230v so electronics dont really like it. i have tried the "dimmable" models to not much avail. even the dimmers they say are designed for dimming cfls have the same effect. instead of dimming steadily they seem to jump down in stages


  • #3
    eoghan.geraghty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 419 ✭✭eoghan.geraghty


    Your cfl will only work effectively, as you know by now, with the dimmer turned up all the way, this shouldn't affect the life of the bulb at all, but the dimming function is redundant.
    As maz says even cfl designed to dim don't do it very well.


  • #4
    irishguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,305 ✭✭✭irishguy


    eoghan.geraghty wrote: »
    Your cfl will only work effectively, as you know by now, with the dimmer turned up all the way, this shouldn't affect the life of the bulb at all, but the dimming function is redundant.
    As maz says even cfl designed to dim don't do it very well.

    Well it still does dim, but its not very smooth.


  • #5
    eoghan.geraghty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 419 ✭✭eoghan.geraghty


    irishguy wrote: »
    Well it still does dim, but its not very smooth.

    When I say effectively I mean a dimming without a constant flickering as with your cfl on the dimmer switch, you couldn't sit watching tv with a cfl flickering on a dimmer could you?
    Not being smart just clarifying.


  • #6
    irishguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,305 ✭✭✭irishguy


    eoghan.geraghty wrote: »
    When I say effectively I mean a dimming without a constant flickering as with your cfl on the dimmer switch, you couldn't sit watching tv with a cfl flickering on a dimmer could you?
    Not being smart just clarifying.

    Well it only flickers when its turned down. You can dim it down a bit without it flickering. I need to take out the dimmers really


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  • #7
    danjo-xx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,395 ✭✭✭danjo-xx


    irishguy wrote: »
    I need to take out the dimmers really


    Are they not the type that you can leave them full on and just push em on and off like a plain light swtich would save replacing them.


  • #8
    Stoner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,952 ✭✭✭✭Stoner


    irishguy wrote: »
    Well it only flickers when its turned down. You can dim it down a bit without it flickering. I need to take out the dimmers really

    That's what I did, just replaced the switches with normal rocker type units, people kept twisting the the dimmer unit and moaning about how it did not work regardless of how many times i explained to them not to and that it was damaging the lamp and it need not be added to the things to do list.

    By poeple I mean my wife.


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