It is true that dimmable fluorescent lighting does not have the dimming range of incandescent lighting. Lutron's HiLume ballast can take fluorescent down to 1% which is about the best that can be done. Below that and the lamp just goes out. Dimming LED has the same issues.

What happens if I put a regular CFL in a dimmer lamp and start to turn the level down? I'm asking before I do it because I would hate to "destroy" a perfectly good, expensive CFL.

I tried that once and it caused the CFL to flicker and shut off at certain points. Ended up taking it out cause is doesn't work very well.

Thanks.

On Feb 9 2009 I purchased 5 two packs of the FEIT Electric ECObulbs Dimmable Compact Fluorescent 23W=100. In the first week 3 fried. I spoke with their customer support and explained what I have and on their suggestion I replaced my 1000W digital dimmer switch with a 600W mechanical dimmer switch. I went back to Home Depot and they cheerfully replaced the bulbs. Since then 5 more have failed. For those of you that haven't done the math thats 80% failure in eleven days. today is Feb 21 2009. Unless FEIT can come up with a reasonable explanation for their products dismal performance I will be returning all 10 and going back to incandescent.

We purchased GE energy smart 65 dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs from our local Sam's Club for our new recessed cans in the kitchen. We were told that any dimmer would work but the bulb had to be dimmable. OK, now we are discovering that if only one bulb is on one dimmer it will work ... if more than one bulb is on a dimmer it will refuse to start either bulb. Anyone else have this issue?

I was looking at proper Halo recessed title 24 CFL's. There is a dimming ballast version, and it's $70 per can. Anyone tried those?