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From: steve@maths.warwick.ac.uk (Steve Rumsby)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Security light switches and CF blubs
Message-ID: <1991May21.135918.27168@cs.warwick.ac.uk>
Date: 21 May 91 13:59:18 GMT
Sender: usenet@cs.warwick.ac.uk (Network News)
Organization: Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, UK.
Lines: 22

I'm just about to move into a new house. Being a security conscious person,
I was planning to install a few smart light switches, the sort that switch
lights on and off either when it gets dark, or according to a timer. Also,
being an environmentally friendly sort of person, I was planning to sprinkle
compact fluorescent bulbs around the place.

Now the problem. After a small amount of research, I have been unable to find
any smart switches which say they will work with fluorescent bulbs. Arrrgghh!
Those lights which will be automatically controlled are some of the ones which
I would want to use CF bulbs with.

Now the questions. Why is this so? These switches are basically just switches,
right? I understand why dimmers don't work, but these things are just on/off
switches. Does anybody (preferably UK based) make a similar device which will
work with CF bulbs? Also, anybody know of a cheap source (UK based, again) of
CF bulbs? These things are unbelievably expensive in high street electrical
shops (eg. 11w bulbs - 15.50 pounds each).

					Steve.
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