Can Incandescent Bulbs Work With Fluorescent Dimmers?
When the popularity of compact fluorescent bulbs rose due to their high energy efficiency, technology followed with a new kind of dimmer switch to be used specifically with the bulbs. Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs come in a variety of types themselves, and their compatibility and efficiency may vary with modern dimmer switches. Does this Spark an idea?
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Original Dimmer Switches
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Traditional dimmer switches work by adjusting the amount of energy coming to a light bulb by means of two sheets of metal. When the level of contact between the two sheets of metal increases or decreases, the bulb becomes brighter or dimmer. Fluorescent light bulbs typically do not work well with this technology.
Modern Dimmer Switches
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Modern dimmer switches are more complex and work by altering the positive and negative voltage fluctuations in the alternating current (AC) coming to the bulb. Whenever there is a change in voltage, or a zero voltage, the bulb flickers out. This happens about 120 times per second in a bulb used in the United States.
Modern dimmer switches make a bulb brighter by making it switch on very quickly after every instance of a zero voltage. For dimmer settings, the switch takes longer to turn the bulb back on, creating a dimmer light.
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Bulbs Used with Modern Switches
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As incandescent bulbs alter their brightness in the same way, they may be used with modern dimmer switches. Incandescent bulbs are more sensitive to changes in the AC than fluorescent bulbs and may come to a dimmer setting with just a small movement of the modern dimmer switch.
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References
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