Actual Use CFL with INSTEON Lamplinc V2

A Philips Marathon Classic 65 Dimmable Energy Savings Reflector Flood BR30 and an Ecosmart soft white R30 Flood were tested with an INSTEON LampLinc V2 home control lamp module.  Both bulbs were Energy Star rated Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) devices.  The Philips bulb was 16 Watts with 630 Lumens equivalent to a 65 Watt incandescent.  The Ecosmart was 16 Watts with 750 Lumens equivalent to a 75 Watt incandescent.

The Ecosmart was not usable as a dimmable lamp.  It turned off completely below 30% brightness and its intensity seemed to only change about 10% between 30% and 100% brightness. The brightness levels were varied in the LampLinc with a SimpleHomeNet EZServe controller. The bulb was quite bright, noticeably brighter than the Philips.  

The Philips is acceptable for a dimmable lamp.  It turned off completely below 17% brightness and its intensity seemed to change about 50% between 17% and 100%.  This is not as nice as an incandescent but is acceptable.  The bulb appeared to have the same brightness as a 65 Watt incandescent.

Both bulbs were purchased from Home Depot. The Ecosmart will be returned.  The Philips cost $11.99, the Ecosmart cost $9.97.  The Ecosmart would be better in a non-dimmed use since it was cheaper and brighter for the same Wattage consumption.  Both bulbs advertise an 8000 hour lifetime. No testing was done to compare the amount of potentially interfering RF that the bulbs might put on the power line.