Can I use energy-saving bulbs with dimmers?
 

I've just changed the bulb in my kids room to an energy saving one, but they have a dimmer fitted.

It doesn't dim, which is fine, but is it still safe?

I'm assuming the lower power isn't going to be a risk, but I wanted to ask.

Anyone know?

I use an energy saving bulb in my front room with a dimmer and it works fine, bit slow to get full power from it but after that it's fine

Not afaik

i wouldnt have one as main bulb , it would drive me crackers

I seem to remember that dimmers work by rather crudely turning the power off a back on again - but very quickly

And this is incompatible with the way energy savers work - not sure on the safety aspect though

doesn't seem to matter how I set it, the light stays the same ..

You can buy energy saving dimmers either in halogen or led iirc

Triac controlled resistor capacitor charge network. Effectively chopping the mains sine wave to deliver a lower average voltage.

it is safe, nothing will happen.

but is it a halogen or led power saver?

If it is just one bulb and you want it to dim, you need to get either a compatible dimmer or a bulb. either are readily available.

but if you have a chandelier full of LED's, then you can just replace one of the bulbs with a regular bulb and it will allow to dim all of the chandelier as it works kind of like a capacitor.

There is a video on photonicinduction's youtube channel on how to cheese all of this marketing. (actually one of the few educative non-destructive videos on that channel)

I use dimable LED's in just about every room. It's important to install a low load dimmer switch (0-120 watt etc) for them or the bulbs may flicker and or the dimmer may buzz.

Auraglow sell a 10w LED light that can be dimmed by a remote control. It can also be set to glow any colour. Perfect for a kids room.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AURAGLOW-R...item2c6ef6a1e2

Just a single hanging er.. thing ..

Cheers all