Why don't low energy bulbs work with dimmer switches?

Question

It's really irritating. What are we going to do when they become law? Will mood lighting become a thing of the past, unless you get on a ladder and change the bulb for a lower wattage?

Also they tell you that they're equivalent to 60w or whatever, but they don't give the same light you would expect at that rating.

I'm not impressed, and I can't say I've seen any discernable drop in my electricitty bill, either.

Answer 1

from this web page ....

In most cases low energy light bulbs can’t be dimmed because of the way the circuit is designed (it contains semiconductors). However, manufacturers Megaman have come up with a design that offers incremental dimming. It's a start, but its unlikely to be compatible with your existing switches. Dimmable low energy ceiling spotlights are also available, and although we don't stock them, you'll find some over at ebulbshop.

Answer 2

You're correct, (most of) the current 'low-energy' lamps are not dimmable. The ones that are require an 'old fashioned' dimmer switch that reduces the overall RMS voltage of the mains by switching off part of the a.c. cycle. Even then they aren't continuously dimmable from full off to full on, rather they go in 4 discrete steps. Still it's a start.

The amount of light the low-energy bulbs give out changes over time. When you first switch them on they're quite dim and warm up over a period of about 30-60 seconds to become full brightness. However, over a period of several months the 'full brightness' level reduces and the bulbs get dimmer.

Also, they don't like being turned on and off, it's best to leave them on permanently if you can, although obviously you're wasting energy that way !

The thing to watch out for is LED lamps. These are already available from some suppliers e.g. Maplin etc., but apparently aren't dimmable yet. Also they aren't very bright as such, but they are definitely the up-coming solution. I'd say we'll all be using LED bulbs in 5-10 years time !

Answer 3

A typical incandescant bulb is just a hot glowing filament in a vacuum (so it doesn't burn up). A typical dimmer switch pulses energy to the bulb. The longer "ON" period of the pulses, the brighter the bulb. Your eyes don't notice the pulses because the bulb still glows for a moment (although a bit dimmer) during the "OFF" period. Low energy bulbs are essentially florescent type and cannot handle these pulses.

TK

Answer 4

Inside the base of the low-energy fluorescent bulb is a small circuit board containing a pusle-width modulator integrated circuit, a power MOSFET transistor, and a few other components to make the tube light up.

This circuit requires a steady AC voltage to operate properly, and standard dimmers 'mess' with the AC so they can't operate properly. As one guy above stated, there are special bulbs that allow for use with dimmers, but even then there are caveats.

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Answer 5

It sounds to me such as you fried the two the compact fluorescent and the dimmer in one shot. they don't many times bypass on the comparable time, yet whenever you administration a CF bulb with a dimmer that's specific that one is going to over warmth and burn out. i'm assuming which you have carried out some preliminary troubleshooting like checking the two bulbs in a lamp which you already know is working. in case you have not, this could be a competent concept. you may in simple terms have a tripped breaker and not a blown dimmer. If the dimmer has certainly long gone undesirable and you want to interchange it your self, I recommend which you swap off the potential on the circuit breaker and as you're taking it out of the wall be valuable to rigorously mark the place all of the wires bypass on the swap. you may even take some digital photos of it as you're taking it aside. when you have it out take it to the ironmongery shop with you so as that they are able to verify it up for you. as quickly as you're lower back abode in simple terms opposite the approach you used to take it out. As for the bulbs, there's a sort of CF bulb it is quite dimmable. i've got not considered a lot of them yet they do exist. sturdy success

Answer 6

It's the same kind of reason your television won't work on half its design voltage. The circuits are not designed for it. They are designed to produce the required amount of light with the minimum energy consumption. If you want mood lighting, use incandescent bulbs. You can dim them continuously, and they usually have a more pleasant, warmer color balance. Keep your compact fluorescent usage for general lighting, especially lights which spend a lot of time on.

Answer 7

If you keep the dimmers low you will be saving energy that way.

Answer 8

They can be dimmed, you just have to get the right kind of dimmer switch.