This is from the Neptun Dimmable CFLÂs Operating Instructions, but is an insight into why dimmables may not dim.

Installation

? Unpack and install your new Neptun Dimmable CFLs

? It is recommended that you use the same model and wattage Neptun lamp on any one

dimmer.

? It is also recommended that you do not leave any incandescent or halogen light bulbs on

that dimmer once you have installed the Neptun Lamps, (doing so does NOT create any

type of hazard, rather it simply may interfere with the functionality of the dimmable

CFL)

Operation

? The very first time you turn on your new Neptun Dimmable CFLÂs it is recommended

that you let the bulbs "burn in" for at least one hour. (Subsequent start-ups should only

require a 1 to 2 minute warm up before proper dimming can be achieved.

? After the initial one hour burn in, you may dim the lamps in to any level you desire down

to 10% and the lamps can be left at the dimmed level of your choice for as long as you

like.

? Dimmers with decreased mechanical ranges may not dim the lamps all the way down to

10% and dimmers with extended mechanical ranges may dim the Neptun CFLs to a point

where they turn off.

Troubleshooting

? The Bulbs stay bright even as the dimmer is adjusted to the lowest level.

o Some dimmers do not have enough of a mechanical range to dim compact

fluorescent light bulbs. Dimmers available on the market today have not been

designed to work with dimmable CFLs, rather Neptun designed dimmable CFLÂs

to work with available dimmers. However, some dimmers lack the mechanical

range to dim bulbs that are only 16 watts when they were originally designed to

dim 100W bulbs. When this is the case you may not see any dimming from the

CFL even when you slide your dimmer to the bottom of its range, at which point

you may call Neptun directly for a recommendation on a replacement dimmer.

? When dimmed to the lowest level, some of the bulbs turn off and some stay on and/or

some of the bulbs flicker.

o Unlike incandescent light bulbs, CFLÂs have up to 30 electrical components

inside each bulb. The numerous diodes, transistors, capacitors and so on, all have

slightly different tolerances which makes it very difficult to make the lowest

level exactly the same in every lamp. However, as the lamps burn in and age, you

will see more uniformity from the bulbs at the low end. Also, letting them warm

up longer provides better uniformity at the lowest dimming levels.