Code Question

[Jim Aparicio]

Hi, I'm trying to help a neighbor who purchased a home with a warranty. The home has all fluorescent lighting that was installed with incandescent dimmers. So the lights buzz real bad when you dim them, they even have a slight buzz at full undimmed. These switches are not listed for use with fluorescent fixtures and, to me, its common sense that these are wrong. The warranty company came out already and told them " if they work we're not fixing them." However, if this problem can be described as a code issue, the issue will be fixed. Any help citing a code for this or is it just common sense issue? Thanks

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Do these fluorescents have dimming ballasts? You need special ballast and dimmers

 

[jap]

Do these fluorescents have dimming ballasts? You need special ballast and dimmers

Would a standard fluorescent ballast even think about dimming if you simply put a line voltage dimmer ahead of it?

I'd think you'd have some immediate issues if one was to put a dimmer ahead of a standard non-dimming ballast.

I'm going to have to try that and see what happens.

JAP>

 

[MAC702]

If I was the warranty company, I might balk as well.

It will depend on the contract, but it may very well be that this is not "broken," by the terms of the contract. This is merely a preexisting stupidity.

It may or may not matter, but I would assume the dimmers were first, and the lighting was later "upgraded" from incandescent to fluorescent.

 

[GoldDigger]

Do these fluorescents have dimming ballasts? You need special ballast and dimmers

To address the OP's specific situation:
1. Are these CFL or conventional linear fluorescents?
2. Linears will generally have a label or instruction on them (fixture or ballast) which prohibits using them on dimmer circuits. Violating that manufacturer listing instruction itself a code violation.
3. CFLs may have a dimmer prohibition or a requirement to use a "compatible" dimmer type. Violating that would also be an indirect code violation.

 

[raider1]

The code section that would address listed CFL bulbs and dimmers would be:

110.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, Use, and Listing
(Product Certification) of Equipment.
(B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be
installed and used in accordance with any instructions included
in the listing or labeling.

The typical CFL bulb fall under UL Product Category [Lamps] Lamps, Self-ballasted and Lamp Adapters, OOLR

In the use and installation section of OOLR it says in part:

These products may be used with dimmers unless marked to prohibit such use (e.g., "DO NOT USE WITH DIMMERS" or "NOT FOR USE WITH DIMMERS").

Dimmers fall under UL Product Category [Dimmers] Dimmers, General-use Switch, EOYX

In the Marking section of EOYX it says in part:

Dimmers may include one or more of the following installation-related markings:

On the dimmer:

"For Control of Permanently Installed ______ Lamp Fixtures Only," or the equivalent. The blank identifies the type of lighting (luminaire) load, such as "Incandescent,""Fluorescent" or "Low Voltage."

Chris

 

[tom baker]

And to add to what Chris said, 110.3(B)