Possibly a dumb question - but I'll ask it - RE Dimming Halogens?

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bjp_ne_elec

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Location
Southern NH
Please keep in mind they didn't have Halogen bulbs when I was in the trade, and I jsut got back in after 14 years.

Can you dim Halogen bulbs - I've got some recessed that call for Westinghouse GU10's? Customer wants some aimable recessed trims to highlight some photos on the wall and a spot just above the mantle. Always either worked with Incandescent or Flourescent - and know you can't dim Flourescents.

Thanks,

Brett
 
yes you can dim halogens. After prolonged dimming they will darken inside the glass, but returning them to full brightness will clear them up.
 
The only problem I've run into with dimming is with low-voltage lights. Sometimes they require a special magnetic dimmer that costs a boatload of money ($50 or so).

Halogens should dim like any other incandescent light.
 
bjp_ne_elec said:
..... and know you can't dim Flourescents.

Thanks,

Brett
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Actually, there is a type of fluorescent that you can dim. They're called "dimmable fluorescents". They require a special ballast, and a special dimmer switch. And they're pricey, but they do exist.

John
 
We dim flourescents on almost every job I do.

Roger
 
jeff43222 said:
The only problem I've run into with dimming is with low-voltage lights. Sometimes they require a special magnetic dimmer that costs a boatload of money ($50 or so).

Low voltage lighting, If its an electronic transformer lowering the voltage then they make special dimmers for them also. Different then dimmers for magnetic transformers. I believe they both require a neutral. I learned this reading the Lutron site, but then again there selling them.
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Fluorescent lights stay white when dimmed. Incandescent lights turn more yellow as they dim.

I'm not sure what happens to the color of halogen. I have a feeling they might yellow worse than the incandescent. Does anyone know?
 
Phillips makes a twist compact flourescent lamp that you can dim with a plain old regular Lutron dimmer. They are pricey. Last time I got a batch was a few years back and then they were about $25 buck a piece. The dimming only works down to about 20% and then the lamp goes dark. The customer gets what the customer wants if they pay and it meets code
 
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