I bought this to control 4 dimmable CFLs in a ceiling fan lighting kit. The dimmer I was using made the lights flicker when they were dimmed below a certain point. This Leviton dimmer purported to correct this problem. When first installed, the CFLs still flickered when dimmed below a certain point. According to the instructions, I set the auto/manual switch to manual, set the dimmer to just before the lights started flickering, and set back to auto. I tried the dimmer, and there was no change.
After a little experimentation, I found that if I started the lights on high and dimmed slowly (not ridiculously so), I could move the dimmer slider to the bottom of its range with no flickering. The lights would dim to the previously set limit. So, the trick is to start on high and dim fairly slowly.
It should be noted that I was using GE dimmable CFLs, which are not one of the 2 or 3 brands/models recommended in the instructions. Also, don't expect dimmable CFLs to have the same range as incandescent bulbs. Incandescents can go from full brightness to barely a glow. You may be able to dim CFLs about 50%.
IMPORTANT: You can only dim CFLs that are marked "Dimmable" on the packaging. Do not try to dim conventional CFLs.
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I tried my old dimmer and changing 4 incandescent bulbs to cfl bulbs in a
overhead fixture. The old dimmer did not work, 3 of the 4 bulbs failed in one way or another. This new dimmer which supports both types of bulb, (can't mix in same circuit) works great. Be certain to buy dimmable bulbs that are recommended in the flyer that comes with the dimmer. You should also only buy UL listed bulbs.
Very satisfied with results of this dimmer.
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as with all the other reviews , it is the best you can find for now , but hope they can get better , would like to turn down lower with out flicker and the like.
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Hi All ... I bought this switch specifically because it said it would work with CFLs, and I bought one of the CFL models that was supposedly supported by the switch(Sylvania CF15EL BR30 Dimmable), but it did not work well at all ... lots of humming and flickering, wouldn't hold the dimness setting, etc. ... after several days of playing with it, including using the tips found in the instructions and elsewhere, I yanked the CFLs and installed incandescent bulbs, but I'm even disappointed with how this switch works with them, because it will only get down to about half brightness ... my old dimmer would get down to almost 0% before finally winking out, so I will probably go back to it if I stay with incandescent bulbs.
I'm using it in a 4-way configuration, and I had the installation checked by an electrician ... there are 4 bulbs (currently 75W BR30) controlled by the switch.
On the plus side, I really like the feel of the slider, and I like the separate on-off switch on the bottom so that you can set the slider at a favorite setting and leave it ... and it will stay at that brightness when turned on by either of the other two switches (standard toggle switches, one 3-way and one 4-way) in the circuit as well. These features are the only reason I gave it 3 stars.
Other reviewers have apparently had success with other "approved" bulbs, but I'm not sure I want to buy any more bulbs without some sort of assurance that they will work.
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I bought this because it was a decent price and touted as being specifically designed for CFl's. I don't like the performance of this product very much. At the high end it flickers and at the low end it buzzes. When starting at the high end, the flickering goes away when it's at 90% but the intensity doesn't start reducing until the switch is below 40%. Intensity drops off rapidly until you get around 10 percent where the CFl's buzz. My only problem is that I don't want to spend another $40 to find out if it's a defective unit or a defective design...
