jedwilli Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I'm installing 75 dimmers in a house and the entire house has the new CF can lights. The lights work fine in the on position, but in the off position the lights flicker. Using a voltage meter it appears the dimmers are still providing .29 Volts through the dimmer in the off position. Is there any solutions for me here? I really don't want to replace all 75 dimmers with switches - and we've already spent $1500 on the CF bulbs in a effort to make the house a little more green.Thanks in advance for your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henniae Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Sorry you are finding this out the hard way, but don't use the C4 dimmers with CFLs. A C4 dimmer does not switch the power on/off like a C4 switch does. There have been several threads on this forum on this topic. I am surprised you C4 dealer did not know that the dimers might not work with the CFSs. If you replace all the dimmers with C4 switches your problem will be solved, however you will never be able to dim the existing CFLs. You could replace the CFLs eith CFLs that can be dimmed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedwilli Posted February 17, 2008 Author Share Posted February 17, 2008 The problem seems to go away when I put multiple CF bulbs on a dimmer... meaning if I have two or more CF's on a dimmer they do not flicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henniae Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 The problem seems to go away when I put multiple CF bulbs on a dimmer... meaning if I have two or more CF's on a dimmer they do not flicker.This is because the small amount of current that leaks out of the dimmer due to the TRIAC is not enough to power the starter circuit in more than one CFL. This does not negate the fact that the C4 dimmers are not designed or rated to be used with normal CFLs.I would encourage you to search this forum or contact your C4 dealer about using C4 dimmers with standard CFL bulbs. C4 dimmers are not rated for use with normal CFLs nor does C4 recommend that dimmers be use with normal CFLs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedwilli Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 Thanks Allan. I'm going to swap out all my dimmers for switches- hate to do it - but at this point I think it just makes the most economic sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
str1der Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Thanks Allan. I'm going to swap out all my dimmers for switches- hate to do it - but at this point I think it just makes the most economic sense.So are you going to be looking to sell some used dimmers for a good price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stash Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 I'd be willing to buy some used dimmers as well!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpugh Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 We used a dimmer attached to a normal light bulb and a relay to switch a load of CF's. Works a charm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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