skip to main content

dimmable CF recessed lights w/ warm, not white light

16 years ago

I've been noticing that the compact fluorescent bulbs in our cans make the yellow/gold paint look much greener at night. I would love to find compact fluorescent lights that are dimmable and that give off a warm glow. Do these exist? Or do I need to use incandescent to get the color I want?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

brutuses
16 years ago
There are different color rendering flourescents, but most are not dimmable. I use the incan. GE Reveal bulb in fixtures I want to show true colors and give the brightest light, along with having the choice to dim. I can't remember the brand of flourescents I have in my lamps, but I bought them at HD and they are called "daylight" bulbs and give off the equivalent of a 100w incand. I'm waiting for them to come out with a "daylight" flourescent that is dimmable. None as yet as far as I know.
casey3
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the advice brutuses -- that was helpful. Will look for the "daylight" ones and like you hope they make daylight CF soon!
Related Discussions
Hopefully Last Decision -- Light Bulbs for Recessed Cans
Q
Comments (17)
I went with dimmable CFLs in my basement. I had approximately 15 cans on one switch (and one other smaller section with approximately 8 bulbs on its own switch) and although I bought a 1000 watt max dimmable switch, the wattage (60w x 15 = 900 watts) would result in the switch becoming very warm to the touch. Also, the heat generated by all those bulbs made the room too hot. There are GE 15w CFL dimmable bulbs that look exactly like regular 60w floods (the spiral light bulb is inside another glass bulb that is identical in shape to a regular flood bulb). They sell at Walmart for about $12. I think they come with a 5 year guarantee, but I never keep receipts. I think I have had one burn out in about 2 years. I never see these bulbs for sale at Home Depot or Menards, but Walmart has carried them for years. As another post above mentioned, it does take a minute or two for the bulbs to get to full brightness, but once they're lit you would never know you're using CFLs.
...See More
Dimmable LEDs for recessed lighting
Q
Comments (1)
I'd be wary of the the eBay one. There's a reason it's so cheap. According to the information, It's a total of 3 watts of energy usage. Right now, the brand spanking newest LEDs in use are roughly 95 lumens per watt. It's not using those. But assuming it were, it would give you 285 lumens. And that would also be assuming a 100% efficient driver. Which it isn't. The LR6 puts out 650 lumens. Remember too that lumens aren't the end all for LEDs. You want to know the exit lumens. A bulb might produce 300 lumens, but by the time you take into account driver loss, optic loss, and other losses, the exit lumens can be 200. The important thing about the LR6 is that the 650 mark is exit lumens. This is one of the reasons there aren't any energy star LEDs yet. There is too much crap out there with so many varying results. Up until now I've never seen a PAR lamp which can compete with an LR6. But that doesn't mean I've written them off. I'll soon be receiving some Par 30's using the 95 lumens per watt chips along with other LED products using the next generation of LEDs. They're not cheap, but if they put out the light they claim, they'll be worth it.
...See More
Need Help - Recessed Lighting - Vaulted Ceilings and Color Temperature
Q
Comments (1)
I would go with the 2700k for most areas. except for a study/ work area that would be used late into the night. A higher color temp impairs the production of melatonin which could result in difficulty sleeping. Use the flat ceiling can & trim if the angle is <= 15 degrees. The CR6 and similar lights (RT6, ...) tend to have more light spillage than the BR or PAR bulbs used in recessed lighting i.e. - less of a spotlight effect. Some people may find it tricky to get the lamps fit. If the ceiling is high - 10' or more, indirect / cove lighting may be more elegant and practical.
...See More
Do you have a favorite light bulb for recessed lighting?
Q
Comments (6)
Chiming in because I can sympathize. As you have found, my local stores carry the warm white or daylight bulbs only, as well. I seem to be happiest with the 3000 to 4000 range, but I can only find them online. In the past, I have ordered on Amazon, and the overheads were 3000k, from Sunco Lighting. I also required dimmable bulbs. Honestly, I just want to be able to run to the store to buy a bulb. We recently moved, and right now, I have a mix of daylight bulbs in the overhead cans, and soft white in the table lamps and wall sconces. Several of my bathrooms currently have a mix, which is not working at all. The warm whites are fine in the table lamps, but I want something a little less harsh in my overhead cans, and something a little bit crisper in my bedside lamps, and overhead sconces in my powder rooms. I think light bulbs should not be this difficult. The bulb aisle in the store is massive, and I still can't buy what I want off the shelf.
...See More
coffeehaus
16 years ago
I looked for a bulb that fits your requirements on the Environmental Defense Fund "Find an Energy-saving Light Bulb" checklist. While no daylight color/dimmable bulb came up, I did find 7 warm white/dimmable CFLs that matched your needs. Check it out...and details of each bulb include ratings by customers, price range, where to buy, and lots of other interesting info.

Here is a link that might be useful: Find an Energy-saving light bulb
caligirl_cottage
16 years ago
Thanks for the link coffeehaus, that's really helpful. I like that you can put in the parameters of the bulb you're looking for and it spits out some options (as well as reviews). I would think the warm/white dimmable ones would work well for most applications in the home.

Related Stories

LIGHTING Get Your Home's Recessed Lighting Right

By Elements of Style

Learn the formula for how much light a room needs plus how to space downlights, use dimmers and more

KITCHEN DESIGN See How Wood Warms Modern White Kitchens

By Samantha Schoech

Have your shining all-white kitchen and warmth too, with this natural material that keeps starkness at bay

BATHROOM DESIGN 15 Ways to Warm Up Your Bathroom for Winter

By Becky Harris

Keep the chill away in body and spirit with everything from warm colors to high-end bathroom features

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: Warming Up in Fort Lauderdale

By Becky Harris

How do you make a palatial-style home cozier more intimate? With organic touches, a soft color palette and resized trim

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: Warm Modernism in a Notable 1930s Home

By Becky Harris

Wood, leather and warm browns give the basement in this Keck and Keck home in Chicago an inviting air

HOUZZ TV FAVORITES Houzz TV: Flickering Virtual Fireplaces to Warm Your Heart

By Bryan Anthony

Sit back and enjoy a crackling fire set to seasonal music and surrounded by ideas for your own dream living room

LIGHTING What to Know About Switching to LED Lightbulbs

By Karen Egly-Thompson

If you’ve been thinking about changing over to LEDs but aren't sure how to do it and which to buy, this story is for you

LIGHTING Personal Spaces: Homeowners Work Their Pendant Lights

By Laura Gaskill

See how all kinds of rooms are getting a lift from hanging lights, both budget-friendly and glam

REMODELING GUIDES How to Get Your Pendant Light Right

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

Find out where to place a hanging light and how high it should be

UNIVERSAL DESIGN How to Light a Kitchen for Older Eyes and Better Beauty

By Sheridan Interiors, Kitchens and Baths

Include the right kinds of light in your kitchen's universal design plan to make it more workable and visually pleasing for all

Sponsored

More Discussions

help with counter/backsplash decision

13

wood wrap for under the island

2

How would you change this layout for a bigger kitchen?

0

Kitchen hardware help

0

what to do with this chimney?

1