Dimmer Question
 

I have a dimmer that is supposed to dim a three bulb fixture. Sometimes it will light all three bukbs or only one or two. Any ideas how this happens? The fixture is in a condo that we rent out and I have to fix it (without an electrician)

Check the wiring in the fixture and or the socketts that do not work.

Blue Jay, that is the problem they all work but they intermittently and wiith no apparent pattern.
Graham

If even one lamp is coming on then the dimmer is not your problem. The problem is in the fixture.
What type of lamps are they? If they are CFL then the could be intermittent unless fully turned on.

either change all the bulbs or change out the fixture if you can't find the source of the problem. The problem is not with the dimmer switch.

Can you use a dimmer on CFLs?

In most cases no. They will flicker or the dimmer will hum. There is a new one out that can be dimmed. It will say so right on the box.

That's what I thought. Thanks.