In the battle of dimmable CFL vs. CCFLs, you need to understand what each one is before you can choose your side in the battle. Most know that CFL stands for compact fluorescent lamp. A dimmable CFL light bulb is a special form of this bulb that allows the consumer to use a dimmer switch to reduce the amount of light coming out of the lamp. CCFL stands for cold cathode fluorescent lamp. This is a form of CFL. It uses a cathode that does not receive direct heating. Many people are looking at these two options for keeping energy costs even lower. Dimmable CFL bulbs were the original solution people turned towards when the shift started away from traditional incandescent. But, they come with a major problem. Most people want to adjust their lighting from dark to light. A CFL needs to start at full power before you can adjust their light down. To accommodate this, you need dimming switches that can handle this warm up requirements. On the other hand, CCFLs work much the same as incandescent bulbs. They do not require a warm up before they are ready for dimming. You can use them with conventional dimming switches. This is an important aspect of the dimmable CFL vs. CCFLs debate.
When looking at the dimmable CFL vs. CCFLs, you need to keep a few things in mind. CCFLs offer some advantages that the dimmable CFLs do not. CCFLs have a longer life. They average four times the life of a typical dimmable CFL. They emit less heat as well. They come on instantly instead of taking a second to warm up enough to illuminate. They come with less flickering than a typical CFL does. They offer dimming with any dimming switch on the market and do not require special equipment. One of the major advantages is that manufacturers have been able to reduce the amount of mercury significantly in CCFLs in comparison to a dimmable CFL.
Before you make your decision in the dimmable CFL vs. CCFLs debate, you probably will look at price. A CCFL is typically more expensive than a dimmable CFL. However, with the longer working life, this brings the cost down significantly over time. They also come in many sizes and shapes not available in a CFL bulb. When making your decision, you should look at what works best for you. Save some money and see which lamp will fit your home best by shopping with us at 1000Bulbs.com.
