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Types of Light Bulbs to Use With Dimmer Switches

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From Quick Guide: Introduction to Light Bulbs

Summary: How to know what kind of light bulbs to use when installing a dimmer switch; follow these easy step by step instructions from an expert on electrical wiring in this free home improvement video.

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By William Whitton
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Bill Whitton is a retired electrical contractor with a specialty in home remodeling. Other experience includes: Electrical and mechanical inspector for the Colorado Springs Airport...read more

Series Summary

Dimmer switches are devices that can alter the brightness of a light. Many homeowners prefer to slide the brightness of their lights indoors to varying degrees instead of being limited to a simple on or off selection. There are a variety of types of dimmer switches available to someone looking to do some minor home renovation or improvement projects. The procedure for installing such lighting tools is simple, but does require some basic safety and wiring knowledge.

In this free video clip series, our expert will walk you through installing a dimmer switch step-by-step, demonstrating everything from bulb choice to wiring techniques. Learn how to turn off the circuit breaker, insulate bare screws, as well as what kind of tools you will need before beginning to install a dimmer switch in your home.

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Video Transcript

"Hello, my name is Bill Quiten and I'll be showing you how to install a dimmer switch in place of an existing on/off switch. Let's talk about dimmer switch limitations. Dimmer switches work fine with incandescent bulbs because they have metal film elements and we can bury the energy to them. In contrast, fluorescent bulbs will not work with typical household dimmer switches, because they work on the gas principle and require a minimum voltage to operate. So only use incandescent bulbs with dimmer switches. One last thing about bulbs, there's a type of fluorescent bulb that's also round and might be mistaken for an incandescent bulb. Key words to look for would be long life, so don't use long life fluorescent bulbs that look like incandescent bulbs."

eHow Article: Types of Light Bulbs to Use With Dimmer Switches

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