Dimmable flourescents?

What makes flourescents dimmable, is it the ballast or the bulb, or
both? What's the good dimmable flourescent (are there any CFLs?), and
are they compatable with X10 gear?

Thanks!

 

I have seen dimmable CFLs at Home Depot. Someone told me recently that
they couldn't find any there, but a Google search on "Dimmable Compact
Fluorescent" gave 6,500 hits and plenty of sources.

After the 1000th pop-up ad on my screen, I vowed never to buy another
X10. I have kept my promise.

Vaughn

 

It is the ballast, and they are noticeably more expensive, and rather
less
efficient when they are dimmed. I'd not recommend going that route.
There are CF 'Three-way" bulbs, which are probably adequate for
whatever your need is.

--Dale

 

I went in to buy some CFLs on sale. They were out and substituted
the dimmable version, so I didn't complain.
I stuck them in NON-dimmable fixtures. Both failed within six months.
The non-dimmable CFLs have been lasting twice that long.
I've never had a CFL last long enough to pay back the extra cost.
Sure, they're guaranteed, if you saved the receipt and are willing to
Pay the $6 shipping for a replacement, assuming the distributor is still
in business....Grrrrr.
mike

--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
Honda CB-125S
TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

 

the one I tried did not work all that well. you could dim it, but it did not
have the dimming range of an incandescent bulb.

 

Philips makes a 23 W "Marathon" CFL. Home Depot used to sell them, but
they stopped. They cost about $20 and work well with ordinary dimmers.
I've installed 20 at my church, with infant mortality problems covered
by the guarantee. The Philips web site graph of luminous intensity vs
power is quite linear, ie the lumen/watt output is almost constant as
they are dimmed, vs incandescents which get much less efficient.

Nick

 

Gee, I wonder what that means in English.

Nick

 

/*
Unknown
To:
Subject: Re: Dimmable flourescents?

Electronic ballasts are the way to go if you want to dim flourescents
but again make sure you use digital ones as these will give you from
2% to 100% dimming range although you will find lamp will not strike
on anythink less than 40% dim I have converted many luminaires to
dimmable and find ballasts made by vossloh schwabe are the most
efficient type with digital interface of 1 to 10 v dc I also recommend
using either their dimming interface or one from a company called home
automation based in the uk

There are other ways of dimming flourescents please let me know if you
want to know more

Dale hammond
( technical manager wirefield lighting 1993 - 1999 )

*/

Thanks Dale, I guess. What newsreader replies with Word files?