Dimming CFLs and LEDs

Light Control Education

Dimming CFLs and LEDs

Dimming saves energy while setting the right light level to improve mood and ambiance. Screw-in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and screw-in light emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) are a great energy-saving alternative to incandescent or halogen light sources; however, dimming them may be difficult. Lutron’s new C•L™ Dimmers for dimmable CFL and LED bulbs have HED™ Technology which helps alleviate your CFL and LED dimming challenges.

Challenges of Dimming CFLs and LEDs with Standard Dimmers

Energy-saving CFLs have been in the marketplace for many years but a broad range of dimmable bulbs has only recently become available. LEDs are even newer to the market and dimmable versions are also only recently available.

These dimmable bulbs, especially CFLs, have historically presented problems when used on standard incandescent dimmers.

Common issues include:

Reduced dimming range: Incandescent/halogen bulbs will typically dim lower than CFL or LED bulbs. Most dimmable CFLs will dim down to 10% to 30% measured light output. Early versions of dimmable LEDs on the market have the ability to dim lower than CFLs and can reach levels as low as 5% to 15% measured light. The actual dimming range is dictated by the bulb’s circuitry.

Lights dropping out: As CFL or LED bulbs are dimmed, they will sometimes turn off before the slider reaches the bottom. Referred to as “drop out,” this makes it extremely difficult to set the dimmer at the right level without bulbs turning off.

Lights not turning on: After being dimmed to a low light level and switched off, sometimes CFL or LED bulbs will not turn on until the dimmer’s slider is moved up. This is referred to as “pop-on,” which is especially challenging in 3-way situations where lights can be turned on/off from different locations, not just using the dimmer.

Lights turning off unexpectedly: Dimmable CFL and LED bulbs can be influenced by line voltage fluctuations. As your incandescent bulbs will sometimes dim or flicker when a device such as air-conditioning or a hair dryer is used, a dimmed CFL or LED can actually turn off or flicker excessively in those situations.

Note: Actual performance of any CFL or LED will vary from bulb type to bulb type and among different manufacturers. It is important to note that only bulbs that have been designed as dimmable should be used on a dimmer. To find out if your bulb is dimmable, please check the package, the bulb itself, or call the bulb manufacturer directly.

New Dimmers from Lutron

To help combat these issues, Lutron has developed a family of C•L dimmers for dimmable CFL and LED bulbs. By incorporating HED Technology, these dimmers improve the dimming performance of dimmable CFLs and LEDs compared to standard dimmers by:

Keeping the lights on as they are dimmed
Making sure the lights turn on at all light levels
Eliminating/reducing excessive flicker
Keeping the lights on even with line voltage fluctuations


Diva® C•L™ Dimmer Diva C•L Bulb List	Skylark Contour™ C•L™ Dimmer Skylark Contour C•L Bulb List

Ariadni®/Toggler®C•L™ Dimmer Ariadni/Toggler C•L Bulb List	Credenza® C•L™ Dimmer Credenza C•L Bulb List

Luméa® C•L™ Dimmer Luméa C•L Bulb List	Maestro® C•L™ Dimmer Maestro C•L Bulb List

Maestro Occupancy Sensor C•L Dimmer Maestro Occupancy Sensor C•L Dimmer Bulb List	Skylark C•L Dimmer Skylark C•L Dimmer Bulb List

About HED Technology: HED Technology features advanced dimming circuitry that is designed for compatibility with most high efficacy light bulbs.

Lutron C•L dimmers with HED Technology also provide full-range dimming for halogen and incandescent bulbs, ensuring today’s dimmer is compatible with tomorrow’s light sources. The dimmer can even dim a mixed load of light sources (i.e. LED and halogen or CFL and LED bulbs on the same circuit). C•L dimmers are available in our Maestro®, Diva®, Skylark Contour™, Luméa®, Ariadni®/Toggler® and Credenza® product families.

Dimming Range Adjustment

Because performance is varied from bulb to bulb and manufacturer to manufacturer, adjustable low-end trim allows dimmer to accommodate a broad range of dimmable bulbs. Lutron C•L dimmers allow you to set the bottom of the dimming range for your particular bulb. Dimmers feature an easy to utilize adjustment dial, while the Maestro C•L digital dimmer is adjusted through simple button presses.

Download how to use the adjustment dial (PDF, 176 KB)

C•L Dimmers: Setting the dimming range

Maestro® C•L Dimmers: Adjusting the dimming range

Bulbs Approved for Use with this Dimmer

Per UL standard 1472, Lutron must test each bulb to ensure its compatibility with our C·L dimmers. For a list of compatible bulbs click on the link below. This list will be updated as Lutron tests more bulbs. Please check back regularly for updates.

C•L Dimmers Approved Dimmable CFL/LED Bulb List (PDF, 360 KB)

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