We are being told of the advantages the new compact spiral florescent light bulbs have over regular incandescent bulbs, which may become obsolete.

I use incandescent bulbs in lamps with two-way (on-off) sockets. Some of my lamps have high-low dimmer switches in the power cords. Those switches allow different levels of brightness. At high, it is the full wattage of the bulb. At low, it is less than the full wattage of the bulb.

Will the new compact florescent light bulbs operate efficiently in lamps with high-low dimmer switches? Or, must they be used without the dimmer switches?

Are the new compact spiral florescent light bulbs being manufactured for use in three-way sockets (high/medium/low/off) for three wattages, such as 50/100/150. If so, would they operate efficiently in lamps with high-low dimmer switches?

To the bes of my knowledge, some do and some don't. I am sure that this os a detail that will be worked out, however, and these bulbs save a great deal of money. I have had some last about 10 years, and they were on the entire time.

As Dorian says, some do, some don't you might want to read this about how to choose and precautions concerning disposal and/or breakage.
Compact fluorescent bulbs.

I know of people who say their bulbs have burned out just as fast as regular bulbs, and personally I am not thrilled by their quality -they seem much dimmer than their supposed equivalent in regular bulbs.
Also, you are recommended not to use them in closed fixtures or with dimmer switches, for the most part. Just be sure to read the packaging on the bulb, it'll tell you what sorts of fixtures you can use.
There are three-way CFL's, but I haven't been able to find them in any stores yet, just on-line.

I tried them and hate the "light" they give off so much that I passed mine on to someone else and went back to regular incandescents- I recycle, I compost, I mostly use rags and real napkins instead of paper towels,I use "green" cleaners for most tasks but, not even in the name of being earth friendly will I live with light that is as cold and colourless as if it were reflected off a snowbank...and dimmer than my beloved Reveal and full spectrum plant lights of the supposed same effective wattage.

They're the very devil. They take ages to warm up to their full output.One result is that we leave ours on all the time, being too idle to climb up and change them back,so the net gain in efficiency and cost is probably lost by their constantly being on

Nanny Europe has declared that ordinary bulbs should not be available here in a couple of years or so. Who's for a black market in tungsten bulbs?

We use our lovely spiral energy-saving bulbs where we can...overhead lighting in big areas, the porch light, etc...but I agree they don't put out the right INDOOR light.

I need bright light to do my stitchery, etc., so for THOSE applications, I still use bright bulbs Have to, or I'd be blind in a couple of years

My household is doing all they can to save energy..and if I have to use regular bright light bulbs now and then for my stitchery, it's not gonna make me feel bad!

We also just bought some...I didn't know they weren't good for closed fixtures..is it safe to use them in a closed one or is it just not recommended for the light it gives?

In any case I'm not overly fond of them...they are dim and give off a weird light.

I read an anti-CFL's article in which someone's closed fixture apparently caught fire while a CFL was in it. No mention of whether there was faulty wiring or any other possible cause, but the CFL was the scapegoat. The women who bought it complained that she didn't know she couldn't use it in closed fixtures -despite the clear warning on the packaging. She said the warning was "so tiny." She also broke one, and now believes that her daughter's room is a hazmat situation and has it closed off because she can't afford to have it professionally cleaned -despite the fact that this is entirely untrue and unnecessary. The article made me so mad I wanted to drive to New Hampshire and just shake her.

That said, kittypal, I don't think you should use them in closed fixtures unless the packaging says you can. Read what it says you can and can't do, and you should be all good.

Thanks Elixina!

Thanks to all for your comments and the information I needed.

Multiple wattage bulbs do exist. I've been told that there are 40/75/150 watt, and 55/85/105 watt bulbs that will work in three-way sockets. However, those bulbs will NOT work with a high/low in-line dimmer switch when it is in the LOW setting. It must be in the HIGH setting. Would be best used without the high/low switch. It looks like I will be replacing the in-line high/low switches with regular on-off switches. It will be easier than rewiring the lamps.

I can do without dimmable bulbs which require digital dimmer switches.

Thank you much.

I have a CFL in a 3-way lamp, but I just use it on the highest setting (which isn't all that bright, honestly) and plug the lamp into a socket controlled by a wall switch. That's an option, if you have that sort of set-up.