Review: GE Dimmable R30 CFL Floodlight

This review evaluates the GE "energy smart" dimmable CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) floodlight. This R30 sized bulb replaces 65w incandescent floodlights found in recessed and tracked lighting fixtures. GE identifies this bulb as model #21710 and you can find the technical specifications here.

I purchased this bulb as a possible replacement for the 65w incandescent bulbs in my 20 recessed lighting fixtures controlled by dimmers. I paid $11.96 for one bulb at my local Wal-Mart. I wanted to test one bulb before committing to a large purchase. I needed to evaluate: 1) dimming; 2) color temperature of light; and 3) warm up time to full output. While I wanted the energy savings of 15w verses 65w and the long life of CFL bulbs I did not want to sacrifice to much overall performance compared to the incandescent bulb.

I have 20 recessed lighting fixtures that take R30 size bulbs, all controlled by dimmers. Like many people I tried a typical CFL bulb in one of these fixtures and discovered they do not dim. So my recessed lights remained populated with incandescent bulbs.

Once you take the bulb out of the package you can see GE placed a typical spiral CFL inside an R30 size reflector.

I installed the bulb in one of my recessed ceiling fixtures. I rotated my dimmer switch from off to maximum to compare the CFL with my incandescent bulbs. The CFL begins to light well after the incandescent bulbs. The GE CFL bulb does show a range of brightness, but I estimate this range at less than half of the incandescent bulbs. You can obtain a greater range of light by rotating the dimmer to maximum and then lowering. However, at these lower levels of light you can hear an audible buzzing from the bulb. A ceiling full of these lights buzzing away would be annoying.

The bulb lit to full output without too much of a delay. I could certainly live with the delay. Several of the early CFL bulbs I purchased took so long to warm up they were unusable.

GE states these bulbs have a 2700k color temperature described as "soft white". The color temperature was fine and seems to be "soft white" as advertised. I noticed little difference compared to the incandescent lights with regard to color temperature.

In conclusion I cannot recommend the GE R30 dimmable CFL. The color temperature and warm up period were fine, but the lack of dimmability prevents me from using this bulb to replace all of my incandescent lights. If I changed all of my ceiling fixtures to the GE R30 size CFL I would no longer be able to use my dimmers the way I do now.