QUOTE (Darren @ Sep 2 2009, 07:04 PM)
I know where I'm going tomorrow.
A 100w CFL gives out the equivilent of about 60w filiment light. The wattage refers to the power as light is measured in Lumens. Therefore you need more to provide the same light levels
Dimmer switches cannot use CFL as they are designed to work at a set power level. Dimmers can cause them to explode.
The wattage i.e.100W in an incandescent lamp refers not to the light output but to the electrical power consumed by the device.
The 100W equivalent given for a CFL refers to the amount of light given out by the lamp is equivalent to a 100W incandescent.
A 100w equivalent CFL uses approximately 20W of electrical power.
Dimmer switches cannot cause the CFL to explode.
They just need a certain voltage to light and this is not achieved at the lower settings of a dimmer switch.
They just give out a constant level of light and will trigger when the dimmer is turned up to reach a sufficient voltage.
One thing I've noticed though is that most, if not all, of the boxes my low energy bulbs have come in say they cannot be used in enclosed light fittings.
So we have a problem there unless we get rid of all such fittings!