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sus_see · Oct 7, 2011, 08:17 PM

Two weeks ago I changed the incandescent light bulb in a ceiling fan, to a compact fluorescent bulb. This evening I walked by the room & noticed the bulb flickering even though the switch was off. I put back in an incandescent and when I screw the bulb in or out it flickers for a second but then no more. I've used the same brand of fluorescent bulbs in other locations and have never seen such a thing.

Is there something going on with the ceiling fan bulb assembly or is the problem located at the light switch, which by the way is a fancy Harbor Breeze button plate system for both ceiling fan & light. The previous owners apparently were very hip on unconventional lighting systems and when my mom purchased the townhome several years ago she never had an electrician do a survey of the house. I now live with her and have zero experience as I've always had a landlord to deal with such things. Thanks for your help!

CliffARobinson · Oct 7, 2011, 08:35 PM

More than likely it is the "fancy" switch which is allowing enough energy to leak through in the off position which the more sensitive CFL is affected by. If so, your solutions would be to either use an incandescent bulb, or, change out the switch to a normal one.

Note: the flickering will wear down the CFL and defeat the economics of purchasing it.

sus_see · Oct 7, 2011, 09:28 PM

The "switch" isn't a switch at all but buttons, such as this model from Lowe's:

... don't know if it makes a difference whether it's a regular switch or a button. Thanks for letting me know that this issue will wear down the bulb, I've taken it out for the time being.

tkrussell · Oct 8, 2011, 03:58 AM

Did you read the reviews on the link you provided? Others have had issues with the light dimmer also.

All of this junk is made in China, what did you expect?

If you can tolerate the flickering, I would not worry about wearing out the bulb. A CFL is rated for 10,000 hours, if the flickering uses up even 100 hours, a insignificant loss.

Be sure the CFL is rated Dimmable.

Aplonis · May 3, 2012, 02:14 PM

I too tried replacing the wasteful tungsten incandescent bulbs in a ceiling fan having a Harbor Breeze controller. Being an engineer, I purposely used DIMMABLE CFLs. Even with the dimmable CFL's, I still get the flickering when off.

Know that I'd never have chosen these Harbor Breeze controllers for myself but several of them came with the house I just bought. If money wasn't so tight after the recent financing, I'd be replacing the whole lot of them.