CF lights and dimmers

[bp100a]

Will a dimmer ruin the ballast of a non-dimmable CF light?

/harry

 

[Victor Roberts]

Will a dimmer ruin the ballast of a non-dimmable CF light?

/harry

More likely that the ballast will first ruin the dimmer and the lamp
portion of the integrated CFL. Once the lamp fails, then the ballast
will fail.

 

[George Elkins]

I realize it's slightly off-topic, but are there any dimmable CFs? I
haven't seen any yet in Home Depot/Loews.

Thanks,
George Elkins

 

[Victor Roberts]

I realize it's slightly off-topic, but are there any dimmable CFs? I
haven't seen any yet in Home Depot/Loews.

Yes! Just finished checking this for another project. Both GE and
Philips make screw-base products that are compatible with incandescent
phase control dimmers and other products compatible with incandescent
3-way sockets. I thought I had seen the Philips products at Home
Depot.

 

[Victor Roberts]

I realize it's slightly off-topic, but are there any dimmable CFs? I
haven't seen any yet in Home Depot/Loews.

3-way and phase control integral CFL lamps are also made by Technical
Consumer Products (TCP) under their SpringLamp brand.

 

[George Elkins]

Thanks.

Yes! Just finished checking this for another project. Both GE and
Philips make screw-base products that are compatible with incandescent
phase control dimmers and other products compatible with incandescent
3-way sockets. I thought I had seen the Philips products at Home
Depot.

 

[David Bangs]

TCP makes some very good dimmable fluorescent lamps that work with standard
incandescent dimmers. I've been using for my kitchen track lighting for
over a year with no problems or failures.

Goodmart has quite a variety, but you buy them by the case of 6. I'm using
the Uniflood R30s and a few R40s.
If the "bulb" does burn out, you can replace just that part using a four pin
spiral replacement.
These come on plenty bright immediately, with no flicker. Some flickering
occurs if you dim too low, especially when cold. Good warm color, but color
get whiter if you leave them full-on for a long time.

http://www.goodmart.com/products/bulb_compact_fluorescent_screw_in_base_dimmable.htm

I'm going to try the dedicated dimmable track lights. A great price value!
http://www.goodmart.com/products/Track_Light.htm

buylighting.com also carries TCP dimmable CFL's, and you can order them in
onesies.

--David Bangs

I realize it's slightly off-topic, but are there any dimmable CFs? I
haven't seen any yet in Home Depot/Loews.

Thanks,
George Elkins