Question about flourescent bulbs + dimmers

[smilingcat]

ARRGHHHH!!!!

Flourescent light on a dimmer is a big NO NO! Dimmer's do some really bad thing to the voltage on the line and there is circuit, called a ballast, which is used to light the flourescent bulbs. The ballast can't handle the voltage from the dimmers and both the flourescent light bulb and the ballast can be damaged permanently.

This is about as simple as I can explain. Please don't plug CFL lights into a socket with dimmers.

I work with some really geeky engineers who wear flood water pants with white socks. No pocket protectors nor masking tape across the bridge of their glasses. Still, they are really geeky!! Gawd, if I were married to one of them, I would be so embarrassed on how they dress.

Smilingcat

[onimity]

ARRGHHHH!!!!

Flourescent light on a dimmer is a big NO NO! Dimmer's do some really bad thing to the voltage on the line and there is circuit, called a ballast, which is used to light the flourescent bulbs. The ballast can't handle the voltage from the dimmers and both the flourescent light bulb and the ballast can be damaged permanently.

This is about as simple as I can explain. Please don't plug CFL lights into a socket with dimmers.

I work with some really geeky engineers who wear flood water pants with white socks. No pocket protectors nor masking tape across the bridge of their glasses. Still, they are really geeky!! Gawd, if I were married to one of them, I would be so embarrassed on how they dress.

Smilingcat

Ok, I appreciate the simple explanation, but the bulbs I tested specifically stated that they could be used with dimmer switches. They nevertheless flickered horribly when dimmed, as I'd heard was the case with these bulbs. I wouldn't use them in a dimmer, but they work find when not dimmed. Your mileage may vary.

Nice to hear about the sartorial ineptitude of your colleagues, though. I am doubtless described the same way, but I like to think I have qualities better than my fashion sense. No engineer would ever masking-tape a pair of glasses, BTW. Duct tape holds so much better.

Anne