Check In Here If You're Pissed Because...

[ElboRuum]

You want to replace all the bulbs in your house with CFLs, but 80% of them are dimmer switch controlled.

[Orrex]

1. We have two like that

And one of them is a chandelier with a bunch of small sculpted bulbs that I haven't yet seen in CFL format.

Also, since our house is older, a number of our ceiling fixtures don't have a glass cover per se, but instead have a plastic cover that clips directly onto the bulb. Even the newer CFLs that are shaped like conventional bulbs don't quite work, and the covers simply slip off.

So we're a bit stuck, unless we want to invest in new fixtures..


But in the other rooms and in the lamps where it's possible, we use CFLs.

[ElboRuum]

2. I did actually do a search for dimmable CFLs.

There are some made for incandescent dimmers, but none are carried at the local Home Depots or Lowes. I might order them online, because there are so many dimmables in my house that I find myself replacing them constantly. I would like to go a few years without having to do this.

[Lethe]

3. they had some at walmart last time i was there /nt

[Orrex]

12. Very cool!

What's the price range for those?

[ElboRuum]

17. Pretty Steep. $12.00 on average per bulb.

[Bake]

4. They don't work with dimmers?

I had no idea. I've replaced some lamps with CFLs, but they weren't on dimmers.

Bake

[ElboRuum]

5. Some do, but you have to look for them, you can't use standard ones.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I'm just pissed, and it has nothing to do with light bulbs,

Though I do get extremely angry when I can't see when it's too damn dark... We use those, too. Thanks for the chance to sound off.:hi:

[ElboRuum]

8. Here's to scattershot pissedoffishness...

:toast:

[Rhiannon12866]

15. Thank you, my friend! You made me laugh...

:rofl::hi:

[hobbit709]

7. 90% of our bulbs are CFL, the rest are usually not on more than a couple times a week.

[redqueen]

9. I only have two lamps like that.

Maybe 3.

Is it dimmer or just the low/med/medhi/hi things too? Or is that the same thing?

[mainegreen]

10. I'm pissed that CFLs dont fit in half of our sockets.

The bases get too fat too quickly on them.

[Redstone]

11. Easy fix: Just don't dim them. Leave the dimmer rotated to the "high" position, and

turn the light on and off by clicking (pressing) the knob. End of problem.

(Or replace the dimmers with switches at a cost of about $2.00 each and five minutes of your time. It's not at all hard to do.)

Redstone

[Zuiderelle]

13. Have you tried that? I have a few dimmers,and they make a buzzing noise with CFLs

On high or any other setting.

I was curious so had to look it up:

Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb with a dimmer switch?
To use a compact fluorescent bulb on a dimmer switch, you must buy a bulb that's specifically made to work with dimmers (check the package). GE makes a dimming compact fluorescent light bulb (called the Energy Smart Dimming Spirals®) that is specially designed for use with dimming switches. We don't recommend using regular compact fluorescent bulbs with dimming switches, since this can shorten bulb life. (Using a regular compact fluorescent bulb with a dimmer will also nullify the bulb's warranty.)

http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/ask_us/faq_compact.htm#dimmer

Most of the links I found agree that you need to use a bulb that is rated for dimming. At least they make those, I didn't know that.

[Redstone]

14. Yes. The ones in my office were set up like that, and they didn't buzz if the dimmer

was set on high. But I replaced the dimmers with switches anyway, because the ceiling fans (to which the light fixtures are attached) WOULD buzz with the dimmer set at high.

Why the hell anyone would want ceiling fans to be on a dimmer anyway is a mystery to me, only explainable by the fact that the people who owned this house before we bought it were insane.

Redstone

[kentauros]

16. Here's a dimmable CFL

at Real Goods and one for can-fixtures.

They also sell LED lights:
DC LED 2 watt
Pharox Led 4-Watt Light Bulb

Here's another source for "green lighting" :)