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Atlanta, GA on Aug 04, 2011

Anyone have any experience with dimmable CFL lighting?

I am looking at installing CFL recessed lighting in the ceiling of my family room.... by installing new CFL housing units and baffled trim. Was wondering if anyone has used a CFL specifically made for dimming like GE's Energy Smart Dimming Spirals? I'm thinking there is a 60 second "start up" time till full illuminance, but other than that I'm hoping there are not other problems with dimmable CFLs..? anyone aware of other problems?

5 Comments

JL Spring & Associates Richmond, VA

You are in luck Susan...a short while back, a fellow had asked a similar question and set about a flurry of helpful discussion from HomeTalk members from all over the country. One of the contributors, James, in Atlanta had several exchanges...you can get the gist from one of his project detail posts...you can search on posts for CFL dimmers and see his views at: http://www.hometalk.com/e3a5daf3a5/project/6...
I hope you'll find your answers...best wishes, JL

on Aug 04, 2011 · Like 1
Susan C Atlanta, GA

Sounds good. Thanks, I'll take a look at James' post and search on other. Thanks for your response. This website is a great resource.

on Aug 04, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

James post is very good, the only thing I would add is make sure you purchase the correct dimmer. CFL lights use a special dimmer for the lights. Most that you see in big box stores are not the correct ones.

on Aug 04, 2011 · Like 1
Teresa D Snellville, GA

Maybe that's what happened with me. I purchased dimmable CFL lights and they do not dim ... at all. I turn the dimmer and nothing changes until I've turned it so far that they just go off.

on Aug 05, 2011 · Like 0
Susan C Atlanta, GA

Thanks for your reply Woodbridge and Teresa. We are used to seeing incandescent lights on dimmers and they work great, but with CFLs one you reach a certain low dim level they just cut off. and they don't dim the way incandescent lights do.
The talk on the web is that CFLs are a poor solution for dimming because of the way CFL technology is implemented... and that Halogen bulbs, even though they can be dimmed cause problems too... ...»
like a low humming noise... and the fact that halogen lights have to be brought up to full power one minute every hour, or you decrease the life span significantly. ..
so maybe dimming is not something I want to incorporate in my den. Since the recessed lights in the ceiling are not needed during the day, I'm gonna pick a CFL bulb that produces a nice,soft light for the evening and I can use lamps for task lighting where we need concentrated light to read the paper etc.

on Aug 05, 2011 · Like 0