[getdul981]

Originally Posted by LndLocked

Not exactly true. Some photocells actually start to slowly increase the voltage to the lamp and not just suddenly snap on. You can see examples of this ramping up in the way Mercury Vapor type bulbs in street light flicker before they come on. CFL's do not react well to a ramping up of voltage.


Intermatic Dusk-To-Dawn Photocell Light Sensors - Twist Lock and Surface Mount Photocell Sensors and Mounting Sockets at Green Electrical Supply

The article you refer to indicates that some sensors do not completely shut off. This is true. The ramping up of power will have no effect on whether the light turns on or not. If, on the other hand, it does not turn completely off, like with a dimmer switch, the light may flicker during the day, but you probably will not ever see it. We have a CFL in the light in the kitchen nook and it flickers very dimly all the time. That does not bother me because it does not matter whether it is an incandescent or CFL, the electricity is still flowing. The incandescent just doesn't get enough to light up. The CFL has a capacitor that charges and discharges constantly, even when turned off. Very dimly, though and most people probably wouldn't notice it.