Can You Use A Dimmer Switch With Fluorescent Bulbs

Furthermore it takes the correct type of dimmer switch like those made for incandescent or led lights won t work with fluorescent lights and a fluorescent light fixture that s rated for dimming.

Can you use a dimmer switch with fluorescent bulbs.

A dimmer switch won t work with the standard ballast in a fluorescent light. They will tell you on the package not for use with dimmer. Occasionally when a halogen bulb burns out it will destroy a dimmer switch but. In order to achieve this you ll have to tear the wall open.

The easiest way to ensure that your light bulbs and dimmer controls are compatible is to check the lamp s manufacturer spec sheet or dimmer compatibility sheet. The answer is absolutely not dimmable leds when installed in a non dimming switch will operate at 100 output and will run just as well as if they were installed with a dimming switch. You cannot use most fluorescent lights with a dimmer. The main problem is that standard dimmers are not perfectly compatible with all dimmable fluorescents even if the fluorescent says so on the package.

Because of the added expense of these fixtures they are common only in commercial applications. The answer is yes but certain considerations apply. You need to install a special dimmer ballast and this won t work in all fluorescent fixtures. Some dimmers such as this one are compatible with dimmable cfl bulbs.

In fixing the dimmer switch to the fluorescent bulb you can t make use of the regular cable. Unfortunately that is not the case and the same is true of dimmable fluorescent bulbs paired with fluorescent dimmers. And second you need a dimmer that is compatible with your bulb. There are special dimmers and ballasts which when used together provide the fluorescent lighting that can be dimmed.

Dimmers aren t as necessary for c f. Instead you are way better off getting a dimmer specially made for fluorescent lights or cfls. A common fluorescent bulb will not work with a dimmer installed for incandescent lighting. It s also possible that the existing screw holes won t work with the ballast mounting screws in which case you ll need to drill new holes for them.

What this does is it runs between the wall switch and the fixture. Instead you ll have to make use of a three wire plus electric cable. Bulbs for the purpose of lowering wattage because they are drastically reduced already. Most i m not sure about all aren t compatible.

For energy efficiency install motion sensors.