Physics was never my strongest subject, so I turn to others for advice ..........
We've got one of those 'mother & child' standard lamps in the living-room i.e. with a bright up-lighter on top and a reading lamp sprouting from the side. The uplighter is as bright as the rising summer sun and is normally kept under control by the dimmer switch.
Whilst hoovering dead insects from the up-lighter part, I noticed that the bulb is a R7s halogen linear job rated at 300 watts ....... not good for the electricity bill. I note that smaller wattage bulbs are available e.g. I'm sure a 120 watt would do nicely.
The question, before I go out and purchase a smaller bulb, ....... when the light is dimmed - say to 50% brightness - am I actually saving electricity, or is half of it being dissipated as waste heat by the dimmer? If the latter were the case, I may as well simply get a smaller bulb.
Thanks.
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