How Dimmers Save Energy
Do dimmers really save on energy use?
The key to answering this question is understanding how dimmers really work.
Many consumers and even a few electricians think that dimmers work by converting unused electricity to heat at the dimmer switch.
It’s true that many old rotary dimmers worked this way; they were rheostats that took the excess energy when dimmed and converted it to heat.
Today’s dimmers use a “Triac Switch”. When dimmed, these switches cut the flow of power to a light fixture up to 120 times a second.
While the circuit is switched on and off many times a second, the human eye and brain don’t register this flickering. What we see is a constant light output.
And dimmers do save. Dimming your lights an average of 50 percent can cut your electric use a whopping 40 percent over time and make your bulbs last 20 times longer!
More Dimmers Ideas and Advice:
A Quick Guide to Using Dimmers
Smart Home Wireless Remote Control Dimmers and Apps