It sounds as if you may have higher wattage bulbs and/or the wrong type of bulb installed in the can fixtures than the recessed cans are rated for.
When the wattage of the bulbs is higher than the rating of the fixture, and/or the wrong bulbs are being used, the recessed can's thermal overload device will shut off the light, to prevent damage and a possible fire situation.
It is unlikely that you've got a faulty dimmer, since you state that not all of the lights go off at once, thus it can be narrowed down to each can and thus the thermal overload being the culprit.
I would suggest you look inside the recessed can light fixture and determine what the maximum wattage bulb you can use, (60, 75, 90 watts, etc.) and use the next lower wattage bulb instead. I also install only Halogen bulbs in recessed cans, (they have a flat lens vs. a rounded bulb lens area like PAR type bulbs). Halogen bulbs are also the most efficient incandesent bulb that provides the whitest light possible and directs more light (and thus heat) downward away from the recessed can.
I avoid using a standard light bulb or PAR type bulbs in any recessed can fixtures as they tend to heat up quite a bit and cause the thermal protection to trip frequently.
As a Master Electrician that has installed literally thousands of recessed fixtures and dimmers, I can say that my customers prefer the Halogen light over standard bulbs and they last longer too.
I hope you find this Very Helpful and best regards!
When using a dimmer and the new dimmable CFL bulbs, the quality isn't as quite up to par as when using standard incandesant bulbs and a dimmer. That being said, the bulbs that you got are made in China for Home Depot and they haven't got the quality issues down yet.
I've seen the flickering/strobing issue your having with the CFL's happen when a customer wanted to change out their standard incandesant bulbs for the new dimmable CFL's, with their existing dimmer switch, all in the name of saving some money.
I've advised folks that by just using a dimmer at 50% or less light level, you're saving a ton on energy versus being on at full (light) blast all the time. In kitchens and offices, I try to gently suggest that folks use a Halogen incandasant bulb instead of going for the Dimmable CFL's as the light from the CFL's isn't the most pleasing and frankly, the Halogen provides the better looking, warmer, whiter light that people like in places such as kitchens and office spaces.
If it were me, I'd return the dimmable bulbs and get the Halogen for your kitchen, no higher wattage than 65 or 75 watts, (again staying under the rated wattage for the reccessed cans you have). I know it will solve the flickering issue and will allow a fuller range of light dimming.
CFL's can't dim as much as a standard bulb, due to their vary design nature. You're getting about the best range they are presently able to offer, when installed in a circuit of more than 3 bulbs. One last suggestion is to try switching the bulbs that are flickering/stobing (when dimmed) to the locations that seem to be fine. It could be just a quality issue with the bulbs, but frankly, I prefer to use Halogen bulbs for your application.
Hope this helps and sorry, I'm a long way away up the East Coast, so a house call won't work.
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You could try this. Replace the dimmer with a standard switch. If they then work then the problem is in the dimmer switch...hope this helps you...
Hi
Please check this video for bulb replacement, it's an
example though:
Hope this helps...please post back with manufacturers name
and model no. for further assistance.
Daniel
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OK, I got the new bulbs. I went for 65watt CFLs (90watts of light) that actually said "dimmable" on the bulb, new for the 40-sized bulbs. I thought that since I was replacing 125 watt bulbs, they would throw a comparable amount and quality of light. All under the guidance of the Home Depot electrical guy (by the way, he apologized and said their guy was wrong about the dimmer & you were right!). Now, they work, but they don't dim all the way. They have a range of about 50% & up. To get them lower than 50%, I have to switch them all the way off. Also, at the lowest point on the dimmer, two of them actually started strobing on & off quickly (not like before where they'd just shut off periodically to cool off). This is making me nuts. NOW what's wrong? Do you make house calls to the Tampa area? HELP!!!!!!!!!
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