It seems to me that dimmable CFLs must do a two step with a standard light dimmer. I have one overhead lamp I don't mind throwing a specific bulb/dimmer combo on it, and spending some money on.
What dimmers/bulbs work well?
Jeff
I never dimmed a cfl, but I have 4 foot T8 on dimmers and its not the same as dimming incandesants, they dotnt dim very low and the color gets redder as its dimmed. I would test it before committing. I have heard some cfls that are advertised as dimmimg dont dim.
Hi, Once I bought dimmable CFLs and replaced incandescent bulbs. It did not even last a year, it became just regular CFL. Even when it worked, the dimmable range is very narrow.
haven't found any yet, although just recently CFL-specific dimmers from Lutron have appeared in the Borg.
As of last year, I would have said "none" as I tried 4-5 different brands of CFLs on a standard Lutron dimmer and they ranged from "awful" to "unsatisfactory." Returned all of the CFLs for refund and stuck in 100W incandescents.
nate
I bought 8 dimable CFL spotlights (at costco) for my kitchen. They don't dim at low as the old incandescent but they do work well enough for my needs. I used the same Luron (or similar) brand dimmer I'd been using on the incandescent's. One of the big differences is that at some point as you go toward "dim" they just cut off and they don't all cut off at the same point. Between full and half bright they all work ok. You can get them down to about 30% perhaps and still have them all on. Below that and they start to wink out. Sometimes in the middle of the night I will dim them "up" to where only one of two of them wink on at a low level for the few minutes I am up for water.
Not many.
Luton sells a dimmer that is supposed to work with dimable cfl's. I think your results will still vary. Florescent lighting just doesn't dim well. The price tag on the dimmable cfl's is still too high for my taste.
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