We just bought enough Energy Star spirals to replace the rest of our traditional bulbs (we'd started in some rooms about a year ago). When I put a bulb in a lamp that has 3 light settings, the bulb hummed quite loudly (and wouldn't dim). We also put the bulbs in a ceiling fan that has the capability to dim as well, and they all started humming when we tried to dim them. My husband says he thinks that since they're running on gas that they need full power to work, so the dimming effect won't work. Are we just doing something wrong, or are we stuck without the option to use dimmers?
2007-04-22 07:56:05 · 14 answers · asked by elizabeth_ashley44 7 in Environment
Some will and some wont. Usually the label on the package will say if the bulb is dimmer compatible or not.
From what you describe the bulbs you have are not dimmer compatible.
I just did a google search for "dimmer compact fluorescent" and found the link below for a dimmable energy saving bulb.
Maybe you could sell the bulbs you can't use to a Friend who doesn't need dimmable bulbs and then buy these.
2007-04-22 08:00:46 · answer #1 · answered by Engineer 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Those bulbs will be damaged by a dimmer. I think there are some special ones that will work, but read the package carefully. If the label does not allow dimmer use, assume it is forbidden. Probably, if you had read the label on your bulbs, you would have seen a warning not to use that bulb in a dimmer.
2007-04-22 08:16:45 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem. My house has some energy savers and I tried to put them in dimmers and they didn't work. They hummed, didn't turn instantly on, flickered, and weren't as bright as the normal bulbs... even though the number of lumens was higher. Also be aware almost all of the bulbs that we bought lasted only about 5 months, but we recieved a full refund.
One website I found said that the type of bulb my family had won't work in dimmers, so I quit on putting them in dimmers.
2007-04-22 10:44:05 · answer #3 · answered by michiganfan 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The florescent type of bulbs will not dim. In fact you can actually wreck the bulb if you try to dim it. I learned that the hard way..
But a new bulb that is even more energy wise compared to the florescent bulbs are the new LCD bulbs, which are dimmable. There harder to find and cost a little more but they use even less power then the florescent and last even longer. If you do a search on-line you can find them. From what I know the LCD bulbs are dimmable..
2007-04-22 21:09:27 · answer #4 · answered by LokoLobo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only ceratin ones. Be sure to read the label on the package. The ones that work in a dimmer will specifically say so. If it doesn't say, then the answer is no.
2007-04-23 02:47:58 · answer #5 · answered by John F 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Florescent bulbs operate on a voltage that maintains the current through the gas,if a dimmer is used the voltage drops to where the current is not maintained and the light goes out.
2016-05-21 01:47:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These Energy Star bulbs are really miniature fluorescent tubes and are not usually dimmable - not even the regular tubes are. I have read about some unique ones that can be dimmed but never saw them in the stores.
2007-04-22 11:56:02 · answer #7 · answered by springday 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the brand i have a GE energy saver in my dimmer lamp and it works wonderful.
2007-04-22 17:25:19 · answer #8 · answered by Aztec_Angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't use energy savers in dimmers. They will never work properly, sorry.
2007-04-22 08:01:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have to buy ones that were produced to allow dimming. The regular ones won't.
2007-04-22 08:04:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋