What types of luminaries/bulbs are compatible with a dimmer switch?
Remember dimmers need enough load to support the amount of wattage/lamps that are going to be connected to it. If there is too much wattage supplied to the dimmer then problems of over heating and over loading will damage the dimmer. So make sure that you know the total amount of wattage being used and find out how much load the dimmer can support before making a purchase. Incandescent: • become warmer in color when dimmed • minimum dimmer rating is 600 watts – 2000 watts • simple to use and inexpensive Fluorescent lights: • special dimmers are required to handle fluorescence • the fluorescent ballast must be a dimming type connected to a compatible dimmer switch • FL is usually more expensive to dim and might not have the full capacity to do so. FL will dim only from 100-50%, but will not dim below 50% Low-voltage lights/low-voltage track lights: • Low-voltage lights/low-voltage track lights: • also can dim regular and mixed loads of incandescent lamps, and low voltage lighting • thes
