Put CFLs on a Dimmer Switch
Compact Flourescents (CFL) have become all the rage over the last few years. With the U.S. Congress passing a law essentially banning the incandescent lamp by 2014, we’re now seeing a wave of new energy efficient lighting, particularly CFLs, on the market.
Many folks ask, “Can I use my CFLs on a Dimmer Switch?” The answer is, that depends. It depends on whether or not your CFLs were specifically labeled as “Dimmable” CFLs. Regular CFLs that do not have this designator should not be used with a dimmer switch. The lights will likely not dim at all, the bulb life will be shortened, and it may ruin the fixture. With CFLs at a price premium over their incandescent counterparts, you don’t want to blow out a regular CFL by making this mistake.
If you have a light on a dimmer switch and you want to move to CFL bulbs, you’re in luck. In the last 24 months, Dimmable CFLs have hit the market en force. There are now dozens of brands of CFLs, including large bulbs that make great replacements for incandescent bulbs, particularly in recessed lighting fixtures (also called “can” lights).
As you probably already know, CFLs dramatically reduce the energy cost of lighting your home. The average dimmable CFL will use about one quarter of the energy of a similar dimmable incandescent bulb. And, with manufacturers making substantial strides in the matching the more popular color of incadescent bulbs, there’s now very little visual sacrifice in moving to CFLs. Dimmable CFLs take this innovation one step further, by giving us back the mood lighting we so desperately need!
photo courtesy of Haeretik.
Comments & Conversation on this Article...
Ask your question in our Home Improvement Help Forums.
Otherwise, leave a note here!