Hi All
I've asked questions before about various lighting controls, like X-10, but here's a new approach for me.
I know flourescent lights can't be controlled with a simple dimmer, but are there systems that can dim flourescent lights? My preference would be to dim the new screw-in type of "bulbs", the ones that look like corkscrews. These are small and could almost be used in place of regular light bulbs, (in fact I have in other places in the house) but they eat less wattage.
Right now in my HT I have installed 10 insulated pot lights, and will add another 6 or 8 in the back half of the room. A total of 18 or so. Even if I use halogen lights at 50 watts, that's almost a kilowatt of energy, at full brightness. To save a bit of expense, I am using 35 watt halogens where I don't need so much light.
It may seem like cheapskate thinking, but energy costs are really starting to hurt in Ottawa Canada, and I am looking at any way I can to save in the electricity bill. So, lower wattage light sources, with dimmers are top on my search list.
But if you have any ideas on this, or know of any equipment, please let me know. Thanks, Tom.
I've asked questions before about various lighting controls, like X-10, but here's a new approach for me.
I know flourescent lights can't be controlled with a simple dimmer, but are there systems that can dim flourescent lights? My preference would be to dim the new screw-in type of "bulbs", the ones that look like corkscrews. These are small and could almost be used in place of regular light bulbs, (in fact I have in other places in the house) but they eat less wattage.
Right now in my HT I have installed 10 insulated pot lights, and will add another 6 or 8 in the back half of the room. A total of 18 or so. Even if I use halogen lights at 50 watts, that's almost a kilowatt of energy, at full brightness. To save a bit of expense, I am using 35 watt halogens where I don't need so much light.
It may seem like cheapskate thinking, but energy costs are really starting to hurt in Ottawa Canada, and I am looking at any way I can to save in the electricity bill. So, lower wattage light sources, with dimmers are top on my search list.
But if you have any ideas on this, or know of any equipment, please let me know. Thanks, Tom.