One for the electrical experts...

[TheFaQQer]

Each bulb is 40W and with the dimmer on full, low and behold the power drawn was 160W exactly (bulbs strangely draw a precise amount of power). Even dimmed to an acceptable level it still draws about two thirds of the electricity. Mine was about 100W when I set it at a level you'd be comfortable with.

lo

HTH

[threaded]

When you dim your lights with a standard dimmer switch does it then use less electricity?

Not really, often more, until it is nearly off.

What about halogen lamps? I have one with an in line sliding dimmer, does a fat resister just burn up my Kw's?

If it is a big fat resistor it will feel warm and yes, if it is some variable mark/space thingy, yes, if it is some fancy variable frequency jobby, no.

I've been searching the net but keep coming up with conflicting answers.

You don't want to go reading any of the crap found laying about on the net, it'll do your head in, eventually.

[xoggoth]

Dimmers reduce current to bulb, therefore must reduce power.

[threaded]

Dimmers reduce current to bulb, therefore must reduce power.

Nooooo, dimmers control the temperature the filament attains, lower temperature means less light.

[EqualOpportunities]

Nooooo, dimmers control the temperature the filament attains, lower temperature means less light.

How do they do that then?

[threaded]

How do they do that then?

In a multitude of ways.