I replaced the old light bulbs in the kitchen with Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs). The kitchen has six bulbs wires to one switch. I had to replace all of the old bulbs because the CFLs wouldn't work properly when they shared the switch with the older less efficient bulbs. My guess is that the switch was either sending too much energy to the CFLs or not detecting them at all when it detected the 100 watt older bulb. So after I put in 6 CFLs I still had problems. I had to set the dimmer to a precise setting and the lights didn't dim. The lights would often flicker in quick succession. About a year ago, I went out and paid $10 for a single dimmer CFL bulb from Wal-Mart and viola, the lights functioned perfectly, for awhile at least. I was using the one dimmer CFL and 5 regular CFL's that when connected to the same switch dimmed with the dimmer. The dimmer bulb that is supposed to last a decade just died and I don't know if I have a wiring problem, a defective bulb, or something else. I want to use energy efficient bulbs but I don't want to be constantly replacing expensive light bulbs.
Should I buy 6 dimmer CFL, or perhaps LED now, light bulbs this time and try again? 1 dimmer and 5 non-dimmer CFL's or LEDs? Go back to the less efficient light bulbs?
____
The five non-dimmer CFL's were 13 watt and the one dimmer CFL was 25 watt.