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Frequently Asked
Questions
- What is the warranty on your CFL lamps?
- Do your CFL’s contain Liquid Mercury?
- Why do my CFL bulbs glow pink at startup sometimes?
- Is there an initial burn-in period for all your dimmable CFL’s?
- Why won’t my new dimmable CFL bulbs dim?
- How many bulbs can I put on one dimmer?
- Why is my dimmer switch making a buzzing noise?
- What is the operating temperature of your CFL bulbs?
- What are the differences between your CFL bulbs and others in the marketplace?
- What is the minimum wattage for a dimmer to work with your CFL’s?
- Why do my CFL bulbs flicker at times?
- What happens if you dim your CFL’s below 10%?
What is the warranty on your CFL lamps?
• Warranty for RESIDENTIAL use: This product is warranted for a period of two years from the date of the original purchase against defects in the materials and workmanship.
In case of a failure simply contact NEPTUN LIGHT at service@neptunlight.com or call
1-888-735-8330 for instructions on product replacement.
• Warranty for COMMERCIAL use: This product is warranted for a period of one year from
the date of the original purchase against defects in the materials and workmanship. In
case of a failure simply contact NEPTUN LIGHT at service@neptunlight.com or call
1-888-735-8330 for instructions on product replacement.
Do your CFL’s contain Liquid Mercury?
No, our CFL bulbs use Amalgam rather than liquid mercury. Amalgam is a metal alloy that
contains a small percentage of mercury as one of its alloy’s for normal operation. The
mercury gas is released when the lamp is turned on and the amalgam is heated up during
illumination. When the lamp is turned off the mercury is reabsorbed by the amalgam and
once again locked inside of the alloy.
Other important facts:
• Amalgam is the same material used in tooth fillings (silver colored)
• Tooth filling Amalgam and liquid mercury thermometers contain nearly 100 times more
mercury than a Neptun CFL
• No liquid mercury spill concerns should a CFL break
Why do my CFL bulbs glow pink at startup sometimes?
The pink glow is from the lack of free mercury in the CFL since it is all absorbed into the
amalgam. The amalgam material is used in our CFL’s to achieve the best lumen output at
high operating temperatures and it requires time to warm up during the start up period.
The CFL’s also have starting amalgam to effectively shorten the pink/dark period to 15
seconds or less. After 100 hours of CFL use the pink/dark time will be minimized.
Is there an initial burn-in period for all your dimmable CFL’s?
An initial burn-in period of 1 – 2 hours is highly recommended for better performance when
dimming the bulbs over their life span.
Why won’t my new dimmable CFL bulbs dim?
There could be several reasons for the bulbs not dimming; an incompatible dimmer switch,
faulty dimmer switch, incandescent bulbs left on the dimming circuit, and potentially an
insufficient burn-in period for the CFL bulb. Please contact NEPTUN LIGHT at
service@neptunlight.com or call 1-888-735-8330 for help in troubleshooting the situation.
How many bulbs can I put on one dimmer?
The number of bulbs that you can place on one dimmer depends on the wattage of the
bulbs and the wattage rating of the dimmer. Your basic 600 watt dimmer will be able to
withstand the following:
| Bulb Wattage |
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Maximum number of bulbs |
| 14W – 16W |
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24 Bulbs |
| 18W – 24W |
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20 Bulbs |
Why is my dimmer switch making a buzzing noise?
The “buzzing” noise comes from the RFI choke (Radio Frequency Interference) located in
the dimmer. The insulation of the RFI choke is insufficient within most dimmers and as a
result a low level noise could be present during operation. The “NEW” Neptun Light dimmer
switch “APOLLO” model #80005 is designed to work with Dimmable CFL bulbs and is
constructed to provide the best quality in dimming available and is “buzzing” noise free.
What is the operating temperature of your CFL bulbs?
The typical operating temperature is 0° to 120°F with exception to some of our enclosed
bulbs which are slightly higher, see our individual boxes for specific ranges.
What are the differences between your CFL bulbs and others in the marketplace?
All models are: Made with AMALGAM – No liquid MERCURY / ENERGY STAR™ Certified /
Equipped with InstantON™ Circuit / Equipped with HOT-RESTRIKE Protection Circuit /
Equipped with ELECTRONIC PRE-HEAT Circuit / Equipped with END OF LIFE (EOL) Circuit /
Certified by UL for Totally Enclosed Fixtures.
* For additional details see our Neptun CFL Advantages sheet on our website.
What is the minimum wattage for a dimmer to work with your CFL’s?
Most standard dimmers need a minimal power requirement to allow the “triac” to function
properly and all differ based upon the manufacturer. Two 14W lamps should provide
enough pull (current draw) for most dimmers to work.
Why do my CFL bulbs flicker at times?
Due to the low power consumption of a dimmable CFL (especially at low levels) they are
more susceptible to natural power line variations which can be caused by appliance loads,
air conditioners, copiers, and alike devices during their normal on/off cycle operation.
What happens if you dim your CFL’s below 10%?
The use of our CFL bulbs at a permanent 10% light level or lower effects the filament material used to warm the lamp prior to the high voltage ignition of the fluorescent. The
filament material will burn at a high rate during this type of operation causing the lamp life
hours to significantly drop in comparison to the rated hours voiding the warranty.
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