How do you dispose of a CFL light bulb?
The EPA recommends these steps:
- Turn off any fans or heating and cooling systems so fumes are contained.
- Open a window and let the room ventilate for 10 minutes.
- Use cardboard to scoop and lift up the large pieces. ...
- Wipe down the area with a wet paper towel or old towel that can also be sealed up. ...
Can you dim CFL bulbs?
The packaging for standard CFL bulbs warns against using the bulb with a dimmer. If you try to dim a standard CFL, the bulb will flash, flicker or go out. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association warns that dimming standard CFLs will greatly shorten bulb life and may damage the dimmer switch.
What are CFL bulbs and how should they be used?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs may generally be used in enclosed fixtures as long as the enclosed fixture is not recessed. Totally enclosed recessed fixtures (for example, a ceiling can light with a cover over the bulb ) create temperatures that are too high to allow the use of a compact fluorescent bulb .
Do CFL bulbs really fire safe?
Very rarely, when a CFL bulb burns out it may produce a small flame creating a fire hazard. One consumer actually reported a four inch flame that ignited from the base of the bulb, do to the burnout of the bulb’s ballast.
Can any light fixture be a dimmable light?
Nearly all fixtures with standard sockets can be dimmed using incandescent or halogen bulbs. Many people use standard dimmers and controls to adjust the brightness of chandelier lighting to set the mood in the dining room.
What lights Cannot be dimmed?
Fluorescent lights work with a constant electrical current flowing through ionized gas in a bulb. This is why they take a few minutes to turn on and brighten. For the same reason, most florescent lights, bulbs, and strips cannot be dimmed.
How do you know if a light bulb is dimmer compatible?
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.
Do CFL bulbs dim over time?
Another reason you need more lumens is that a CFL will dim over time. It will lose 20 to 25 percent lumen power after 4,000 hours (40 percent of a CFL's 10,000-hour-rated life). Incandescent bulbs also lose lumens, but the life of these bulbs is extremely short compared with that of CFLs.
What happens if you put a non-dimmable LED in dimmer?
So, what happens if you use non-dimmable LEDs on a dimmer? Well, at best the bulb just won't dim properly. At worst, though, you might damage the bulb. You see, dimmable LEDs have special circuitry inside that allows them to respond to varying current levels or “pulsing” current waves to produce a dimming effect.
What determines if a light fixture is dimmable?
What makes a light fixture dimmable is the dimmer controlling it and the light bulb. So it is the light bulb that determines whether you can dim or not (and not the fixture).
What happens if you put a regular bulb in a dimmer switch?
Yes, you heard it right, one should never use normal light bulbs with dimmer switches because if you do so, the light will not perform well, it may appear fine in the beginning, but with time you will start noticing the difference in the intensity of the light.
Do all bulbs work with dimmer switch?
Check The Light Bulb Check if the light bulb you are about to use is dimmable. Dimmable light bulbs work fine on a non-dimmable circuit; however, non-dimmable light bulbs will not work on a dimmable circuit. You can find this information on product packaging or on our product listing pages.
What bulbs are suitable for dimmer switches?
Electronic dimmer switch are ideal as they tend to be more universal and are suitable for all bulb types such as incandescent, halogen and LED lights.
Is it worth changing CFL to LED?
LEDs generally cost more, but the long-term savings are often worth it. Even though CFLs were initially known for consuming less energy, they are still not as energy efficient as LEDs. LEDs also reduce the cost of replacement lamps and maintenance time and fees. CFLs last around 8,000 hours.
What is the problem with CFL bulbs?
Some of the disadvantages of compact fluorescent bulbs are that they are cold temperature sensitive, not recommended for enclosed fixtures, can have a higher initial cost than incandescent, have a longer warm up time, they may have limited color temperatures, do not dim nearly as smoothly, and dimming decreases the ...
Which is better LED or CFL?
LEDs are more efficient than even CFLs: A 16.5-watt LED bulb is equivalent to a 20-watt CFL and a 75-watt incandescent. A report from the DOE states that LED adoption saved consumers $14.7 billion in 2018.
Can all light bulbs be dimmed?
Maybe. Only some CFL bulbs are dimmable. The package or bulb should say if it's dimmable and tell you which dimmer switches are compatible. You may get varying results with different CFLs and their compatible dimmers.
Can all light fittings be dimmed?
Not all LED lamps or bulbs are dimmable, so it is important to find out if it is dimmable before you buy it. If you pruchase a lamp that requires a bulb, it is always indicated whether the lamp is suitable for LED light source and if the lamp is dimmable also.
What lights can be dimmed?
The most common bulbs that can be dimmed are:Fluorescent light bulbs. ... LED light bulbs. ... Incandescent and halogen light bulbs.
Can all recessed lights be dimmed?
The good news is that recessed lighting can be dimmable, and installing a dimmer switch is relatively simple. You can also purchase a variety of kits that allow for dimmable lighting in your recessed lights.
Why does my CFL bulb go out?
You’ll get flashes, flickers, or this bulb will go out when you dim a standard CFL. Dimmer switches may be damaged by dimming standard CFL bulbs. This is a warning from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
What is the name of the light bulb that replaces incandescent bulbs?
As an energy-efficient replacement for incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps, also known as CFLs, are available.
How much light output can a CFL bulb dim?
CFL bulbs with dimming capabilities are available. It doesn’t pose a problem to dim them down to about 20 percent of full light output.
Why do fluorescent lights turn black?
Lamp ends become black and will fail prematurely if filaments are not adequately heated. Dimming fluorescent lights are best accomplished with dimming ballasts.
Where are fluorescent lights used?
However, the use of fluorescent lamps is growing predominantly in residential areas, especially recessed downlighting and coves, and in situations where energy efficiency is a primary concern.
Where should a dimmer be installed?
To comply with the electrical code, the dimmer should be installed on the fixture rather than the receptacle. The same applies to conventional dimmers as well.
Do you have to pay more for dimmable CFL bulbs?
For dimmable CFL bulbs, you should expect to pay more than you would for a regular CFL. And that’s all there is to know about dimming compact fluorescent.
What is a CFL?
There are two types of CFLs: integrated and non-integrated lamps: CFL-i = integrated ballast, CFL-ni = non-integrated ballast. Integrated lamps combine the tube and ballast in a single unit. These lamps allow consumers to replace incandescent lamps easily with CFLs. Integrated CFLs work well in many standard incandescent light fixtures, reducing the cost of converting to fluorescent. 3-way lamps and dimmable models with standard bases are available.
How long do CFLs last?
CFLs typically have a rated service life of 6000–15,000 hours, whereas standard incandescent lamps have a service life of 750 or 1000 hours. However, the actual lifetime of any lamp depends on many factors, including operating voltage, manufacturing defects, exposure to voltage spikes, mechanical shock, frequency of cycling on and off, lamp orientation, and ambient operating temperature, among other factors.
What is a CFL light?
A compact fluorescent lamp ( CFL ), also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent light bulb ; some types fit into light fixtures designed for incandescent bulbs. The lamps use a tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and a compact electronic ballast in the base of the lamp.
Why do fluorescent lamps fail?
In addition to the wear-out failure modes common to all fluorescent lamps, the electronic ballast may fail, since it has a number of component parts . Ballast failures are usually due to overheating and may be accompanied by discoloration or distortion of the ballast enclosure, odors, or smoke. The lamps are internally protected and are meant to fail safely at the end of their lives. Industry associations are working toward advising consumers of the different failure modes of CFLs compared to incandescent lamps, and to develop lamps with inoffensive failure modes. New North American technical standards aim to eliminate smoke or excess heat at the end of lamp life.
How many lumens does a CFL have?
The luminous efficacy of a typical CFL is 50–70 lumens per watt (lm/W) and that of a typical incandescent lamp is 10–17 lm/W. Compared to a theoretical 100%-efficient lamp ( 680 lm/W ), CFL lamps have lighting efficiency ranges of 7–10%, versus 1.5–2.5% for incandescents.
Why does a fluorescent ballast make a buzzing sound?
This electromagnetically induced acoustic noise comes from the vibration of the magnetic core of the ballast subject to electromagnetic forces.
What is an electronic ballast?
Electronic ballasts contain a small circuit board with a bridge rectifier, a filter capacitor and usually two switching transistors, which are often insulated-gate bipolar transistors. The incoming AC current is first rectified to DC, then converted to high frequency AC by the transistors, connected as a resonant series DC to AC inverter. The resulting high frequency is applied to the lamp tube. Since the resonant converter tends to stabilize lamp current (and light emited) over a range of input voltages, standard CFLs respond poorly in dimming applications and will experience a shorter lifespan and sometimes catastrophic failure. Special electronic ballasts (integrated or separate) are required for dimming service.
Can I Dim a Fluorescent Light Bulb?
For fluorescent bulbs, a dimming ballast is required. The Lutron company invented the world’s first electronic dimming ballast some 30 years ago.
What is a CFL bulb?
CFL, or compact fluorescent light bulbs, are commonly found in most homes today. To use a CFL bulb on a dimmer switch, you must have a CFL bulb that’s specifically made to work with dimmers and dimmer switches. Several manufacturers, such as GE, make a dimming compact fluorescent light bulb.
Why does my LED light bulb flicker?
You may see flickering from the bulb, drop offs at low light levels, among other issues . And, ultimately, the LED driver or circuit will be damaged, causing the bulb to fail long before it should.
Do fluorescent bulbs match CFL bulbs?
While incandescent bulbs create a warm, candlelight look as they dim, light from a fluorescent bulb remains cooler in color, and many times does not match the color tone of the fully lit CFL bulb.
Can you use a regular fluorescent light bulb with a dimming switch?
Several manufacturers, such as GE, make a dimming compact fluorescent light bulb. It is not recommended that you use regular compact fluorescent bulbs with dimming switches since this can dramatically shorten the bulb life.
Can you change fluorescent lights with a dimmer?
Where fluorescent lighting is used in kitchens or dining rooms or family rooms, it is possible to install it on a dimmer.”. However, altering fluorescent lighting is not as simple as just changing the switch, such as with incandescent bulbs. A special fixture and compatible dimming control are necessary. And, although it is possible and more ...
Can you use a wall dimmer for fluorescent lights?
One question we often get from customers is “Can you dim fluorescent lights?”. The answer is yes, but certain considerations apply. It is possible to use wall dimmers for both fluorescent and CFL bulbs, but each requires a different approach and special hardware. A tabletop dimmer. Some dimmers such as this one are compatible with dimmable CFL ...
