Are circular fluorescent lights dimmable?

A friend of mine just called me and asked me this question? I told him that
I think they are not dimmable, but I am still checking.

He said someone has him putting up a flush mounted circular fluorescent
light in a kitchen ceiling, and she wants to have it put on a dimmer switch.

On Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:03:02 -0400
"TomR" wrote:

Are circular fluorescent lights dimmable?
SYLVANIA 30-Watt 3,000K Warm White Circline Dimmable Fluorescent Tube
Light Bulb (Common: 9-in; Actual: 9-in)
http://www.lowes.com/pd/SYLVANIA-30-...l-9-in/3365866

"TomR" writes:

Are circular fluorescent lights dimmable?

A friend of mine just called me and asked me this question? I told him that
I think they are not dimmable, but I am still checking.

He said someone has him putting up a flush mounted circular fluorescent
light in a kitchen ceiling, and she wants to have it put on a dimmer switch.

Nope.

Florescent lights need an internal transformer to pump up the voltage
so that the electrons can jump from one end to the other. Attempt to
reduce the power and the electrons will no longer be able to make
that jump at all. The only practical way to dim a florescent is
to put a shield in place.

--
Dan Espen

Dan Espen writes:

"TomR" writes:

Are circular fluorescent lights dimmable?

A friend of mine just called me and asked me this question? I told
him that I think they are not dimmable, but I am still checking.

He said someone has him putting up a flush mounted circular
fluorescent light in a kitchen ceiling, and she wants to have it put
on a dimmer switch.

Nope.

Florescent lights need an internal transformer to pump up the voltage
so that the electrons can jump from one end to the other. Attempt to
reduce the power and the electrons will no longer be able to make that
jump at all. The only practical way to dim a florescent is to put a
shield in place.

Well, should have Googled before pressing send.

I do get hits on:

dimmable round fluorescents

This page discusses the issue:

http://donklipstein.com/f-dim.html

(Don posts here.)


--
Dan Espen

On 9/19/2016 11:03 AM, TomR wrote:
Are circular fluorescent lights dimmable?

A friend of mine just called me and asked me this question? I told him that
I think they are not dimmable, but I am still checking.

He said someone has him putting up a flush mounted circular fluorescent
light in a kitchen ceiling, and she wants to have it put on a dimmer switch.



Any fluorescent is dimmable with a dimmable ballast. Therefore, if the
fixture contains a dimmable ballast, it's dimmable capable.

On 9/19/2016 8:20 AM, Dan Espen wrote:
"TomR" writes:

Are circular fluorescent lights dimmable?

A friend of mine just called me and asked me this question? I told him that
I think they are not dimmable, but I am still checking.

He said someone has him putting up a flush mounted circular fluorescent
light in a kitchen ceiling, and she wants to have it put on a dimmer switch.

Nope.

Florescent lights need an internal transformer to pump up the voltage
so that the electrons can jump from one end to the other. Attempt to
reduce the power and the electrons will no longer be able to make
that jump at all. The only practical way to dim a florescent is
to put a shield in place.

GE makes dimmable circline lamps; http://goo.gl/cSNyTN The data sheet
says to write to GE for recommended ballasts.

On Monday, September 19, 2016 at 11:02:42 AM UTC-4, TomR wrote:
Are circular fluorescent lights dimmable?

A friend of mine just called me and asked me this question? I told him that
I think they are not dimmable, but I am still checking.

He said someone has him putting up a flush mounted circular fluorescent
light in a kitchen ceiling, and she wants to have it put on a dimmer switch.

Then he should have the specs and/or installation instruction for
the actual fixture which will have the information. A typical one is
not dimmable, but apparently there are some that are.