CFL, or compact fluorescent light bulbs, are commonly found in most homes today. To use a CFL bulb on a dimmer switch, you must have a CFL bulb that’s specifically made to work with dimmers and dimmer switches . Several manufacturers, such as GE, make a dimming compact fluorescent light bulb.
Can I use CFL bulbs with a dimmer switch?
A: No. The majority of CFL bulbs sold today are not dimmable . A CFL bulb that cannot be used on a dimmer will have the statement “not for use with dimmers” or “do not use with dimmers” marked directly on the bulb. ... Recently, dimmers have been introduced designed specifically for CFL (and LED) bulbs.
Do CFL get dimmer over time?
Another reason you need more lumens is that a CFL will dim over time . It will lose 20 to 25 percent lumen power after 4,000 hours (40 percent of a CFL’s 10,000-hour-rated life). Incandescent bulbs also lose lumens, but the life of these bulbs is extremely short compared with that of CFLs.
Do dimmer switches work with all bulbs?
One of the most utilitarian bulbs, incandescent bulbs work with any dimmer switch on the market. ... However, if the voltage is too strong, these bulbs may burn out. A dimmable fixture is one way to conserve energy and increase the lifespan of an incandescent bulb.
What bulbs can be used with a dimmer switch?
Incandescent and Halogen light bulbs work well with dimmer switches. However, due to many advances in lighting technology, CFLs and LEDs are catching up and do a good job, the same as incandescent light bulbs do. When getting bulbs for dimming, be sure that it’s compatible with your switches.
What happens if you use non-dimming CFL bulbs on dimmer switches?
There’s some really good info about the science of CFLs and dimmers here, but basically the problem is this: CFLs have less resistance than incandescent bulbs, which means that the floodgates are opened when they are exposed to the electrical fluctuations that a dimmer sends, and they actually can consume up to 5x the ...
What happens when you put a non dimmable bulb on a dimmer switch?
If you install a non-dimming LED bulb in a circuit with a dimming switch, it will likely operate normally if the dimmer is at its 100% or fully on . Dimming the bulb, will likely cause erratic behavior such as flickering or buzzing and ultimately may cause damage to the bulb.
How long can you leave a CFL on?
CFLs use about 75 percent less energy, plus each bulb can last up to 10,000 hours if used correctly. Super energy efficient CFLs, they use about 75 percent less energy than regular incandescent bulbs, and each bulb can last up to 10,000 hours if used correctly.
How long does a CFL bulb last?
Fluorescent, or CFL bulbs, are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but not as efficient as LEDs. The average lifespan of CFLs is about 8,000 hours , compared to the 25,000-hour lifetime of LEDs. That comes out to about three CFL bulbs for every one LED purchase.
Does CFL need ballast?
All compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs require a ballast , which is often integrated. All HID bulbs require a ballast, which is sometimes integrated. No LED bulbs require a ballast, although some are engineered to work with an existing ballast. ... Incandescent and halogen lamps do not require a ballast.
Is it OK to use dimmable bulbs without a dimmer?
The short answer to this question is: Yes , you can use dimmable LEDs without a dimmer switch, just like normal light bulbs. ... This means that LED retailers can now offer dimmable LED bulbs at a comparable price to non-dimmable versions, so holding stock of non-dimmable LEDs is becoming unnecessary.
Do dimmer switches need special bulbs?
A modern dimmer switch switch functions the same way as if you turn a light ON and OFF really fast. These switches are designed to work with CFLs, Halogens, and Incandescent light bulbs. But the bulbs need to be of the latest technology and must have the feature of dimming to allow it to be used with a dimmer switch.
Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer switch?
LED bulb flickering can be traced in almost every instance to a non-compatible dimmer switch in the lighting circuit. ... LED bulbs don’t have glowing filaments. When the dimmer switch goes off and on many times per second , the LED bulb becomes a flickering strobe light.
Can I use energy saving bulbs with a dimmer?
So do energy efficient light bulbs work with dimmer switches or not? Well you can certainly plug them into your existing light sockets and control them with a dimmer switch. ... The modern energy efficient bulb is a compact fluorescent lamp which works in a completely different way to the traditional incandescent bulb.
How can I tell if my dimmer switch is LED compatible?
Check Your Existing Dimmer
The type of dimmer switch and it’s minimum/maximum load range will indicate the compatibility with LED light bulbs. Trailing edge dimmers work best with LED light bulbs and leading-edge dimmers work best with traditional incandescent and halogen light bulbs.
How many LED lights can you put on a dimmer?
Varilight recommend putting no more than 10 LED lamps on one dimmer module. You can put multiple lamps on one plate, so if you have a three gang dimmer plate you can put thirty LED lamps on the plate in total (10 on each module).
