Dimmer or normal switch

AlexUK_3 · 24 February 2011 at 7:41PM

Are dimmer switches reliable? As we trying to decide on 8 spots in gargae conversion and whether to have a dimmer control? Gad this is only thing for whole room we can't decide on! Room is just a playroom.

Thanks for any advice

shandypants5 · 24 February 2011 at 7:45PM

Mine are reliable but be careful what you buy,
if its for certain types of halogen lamps you need something like a "trailing edge" type dimmer or it wont work right.

I am not sure of the technicalities but I remember having to swot up on it when I fitted our dimmers several years ago.

Dave_C_2 · 24 February 2011 at 8:23PM

Remember that dimmer switches don't work with bog-standard energy-saving light bulbs (or is it the other way round

)

You need either dimmable energy saving light bulbs or standard tungsten filament bulbs.

Dave

pompeyfaith · 24 February 2011 at 8:31PM

Remember that dimmer switches don't work with bog-standard energy-saving light bulbs (or is it the other way round

That is not the case now would of been when they first came out, but technology has moved on and I have seen energy savers that do work with dimmers.

Lots of my lights have dimmer switches. Can I fit them with energy saving bulbs?

Most energy saving bulbs aren't fully compatible with dimmer switch circuits at the moment. A standard dimmer switch will simply make the bulb flicker: annoying for you and not good for your bulb.
The Osram Dulux El Dim is currently the only fully dimmable energy saving bulb. However, there are plans for more to be developed later this year.
There are also energy saving bulbs that can be used with 'staged dimming'. This requires a special sort of dimmer with three separate settings - high, low and off.

http://ebulbshop.com/