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Topic:
URC Dimmers LED Compatible?
This thread has 14 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Monday February 13, 2012 at 14:50
Slimfoot
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As the topic says, are the URC dimmers compatible with recessed LED lights?
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Post 2 made on Monday February 13, 2012 at 15:08
jzoz01
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Really depends on the bulb.  Most should be fine as long as they are dimmable bulbs and you're using a couple of them to hit the minimum load.
Post 3 made on Monday February 13, 2012 at 15:33
TRCGroup
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If they are dimmable, then it should work just fine. Dimming quality, however, depends on the manufactureer of the bulb. I use Philips, since they went to Lutron to make sure their bulbs would dim correctly with Lutron's dimmers.

As a side note, if you have more than 6 LED bulbs on a circuit, you will have to change out the dimmer and install a Neutral-Dimmer in it's place.
"You can't fix stupid."
Post 4 made on Monday February 13, 2012 at 15:51
Bubby
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On February 13, 2012 at 15:33, TRCGroup said...
If they are dimmable, then it should work just fine. Dimming quality, however, depends on the manufactureer of the bulb. I use Philips, since they went to Lutron to make sure their bulbs would dim correctly with Lutron's dimmers.

As a side note, if you have more than 6 LED bulbs on a circuit, you will have to change out the dimmer and install a Neutral-Dimmer in it's place.

There must be different levels of Philips bulbs. I have Lutron HW dimmers (the non-neutral variety) and I put 2 Philips Recessed LED's in a circuit and while the bulbs worked fine, the LED on the dimmer flickered. Not wanting to harm the expensive dimmer, I removed the bulbs.
Post 5 made on Monday February 13, 2012 at 16:53
NEZBO
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Absolutely will not work right. at least not yet. What will happen is, when you dim down to the lowest setting, some will flicker between off, and low light and some will just go out some will stay on. Don't do it!
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OP | Post 6 made on Monday February 13, 2012 at 17:10
Slimfoot
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On February 13, 2012 at 16:53, NEZBO said...
Absolutely will not work right. at least not yet. What will happen is, when you dim down to the lowest setting, some will flicker between off, and low light and some will just go out some will stay on. Don't do it!

I can testify to the above, I just tried it with two different brand bulbs. Bulbs are the Home Depot recessed with integrated trim. Commercial Electric brand and Ecosmart. 65 watt rated equivalent.
Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
Abraham Lincoln
OP | Post 7 made on Monday February 13, 2012 at 23:17
Slimfoot
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Decided to use a Lutron Diva CL Dimmer (DVWCL-153LH-WH). Works great. I'll be on the look out for the URC LED Dimmers when they get around to making them.
Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
Abraham Lincoln
Post 8 made on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at 00:47
TRCGroup
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On February 13, 2012 at 15:51, Bubby said...
There must be different levels of Philips bulbs. I have Lutron HW dimmers (the non-neutral variety) and I put 2 Philips Recessed LED's in a circuit and while the bulbs worked fine, the LED on the dimmer flickered. Not wanting to harm the expensive dimmer, I removed the bulbs.

Did you use bulbs that were marked dimable? Because, not all of them are. I've use them on Spacer, Maestro, Ra, and Ra2 with no problems.
"You can't fix stupid."
Post 9 made on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at 08:14
Bubby
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On February 14, 2012 at 00:47, TRCGroup said...
Did you use bulbs that were marked dimable? Because, not all of them are. I've use them on Spacer, Maestro, Ra, and Ra2 with no problems.

Yes, they were marked dimmable. And the bulbs themselves dimmed very well. It is just the LED's on the dimmer flickered. Probably because they were unable to bleed current though at a steady rate.

I put them in a fixture with a "switch" which has a neutral and they and the switch operated just fine. I may have to order some of the resistors that allow current to bleed through.
Post 10 made on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at 09:38
mr2channel
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On February 13, 2012 at 16:53, NEZBO said...
Absolutely will not work right. at least not yet. What will happen is, when you dim down to the lowest setting, some will flicker between off, and low light and some will just go out some will stay on. Don't do it!

+1 and for certain they do not work with seagull LV ballasts....ask me how I know :)
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Post 11 made on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at 09:50
jzoz01
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http://www.kimberlyledlighting.com/

Check out Kimberly LED, made inthe USA, right here in Michigan.  Costs a couple bucks more than the China made bulbs, but is well made, fully dimmable and works slick with the Lutron dimmers.  5 Year replacement warranty.  

**Not affiliated in any way with the company, just appreciate a high quality American made product.  Got to play with them pretty extensively at one of our dealers, who sells them with every Ra2 system they do.
Post 12 made on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at 10:02
BisyB
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A little O/T but some helpful links to PDF's for checking compatibility. (Not URC but Lutron/Philips)

Lutron's approved LED's and CFL's:
[Link: lutron.com]

Philips' approved Dimmers for EnduraLED:
[Link: usa.lighting.philips.com]

The Philips link has information on lamp-totals and flickering. Good info.

From experience, the Maestro Wireless dimmers do not work well with the Ecosmart (Cree built) LED downlights. Flickering once you're down to about 10% and massive amounts of dimmer-hum once you're below about 70%.
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Post 13 made on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at 14:09
Ernie Gilman
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I'm involved in a system that will run off of 220 volts. The guys doing the theater buildout, and specifying the dimmable LED lighting, not only found that currently sold dimmers would not work properly, they found that certain transformers had to be ordered to get things to work.

They were in contact with Lutron to develop a dimming system that will work with Homeworks. This has definitely NOT been worked out!

I'd call Lutron, get technical types on the phone, and ask them what they've got or when they will have it.

Expect mixing brands, or even light models, to bring failure in the sense of different lights operating differently on the same controller.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
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Post 14 made on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at 18:38
ichbinbose
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this probably won't help here, however some companies make dimmers that are for dimmable CFl's & dimmable LED's
[Link: control4.com]
Post 15 made on Monday August 22, 2022 at 18:19
PTotaro
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I realize this is an old post but thought this may be helpful to others trying to use URC Dimmers (600M/6MLV) for LED Lighting.
I could not find the minimum load requirement for these dimmers and after talking to Lutron they also had no documentation on the minimum load requirements, but going off their RadioRa line said it is probably 50 watts minimum load. The higher the load (watts / number of bulbs) of the LED lighting you are trying to control, the better your dimming results will be.

Using a Lutron LUT-MLC (resistor) will let the led bulbs turn completely off and help with dimming a little (got me to about 50% before flickering the bulbs). Others have also suggested using a 1.5 kOhms ±1% 25W Wirewound Chassis Mount Resistor (RH0251K500FC02 / KAL25FB1K50 )

Using a Lutron LUT-LBX Synthetic Minimum Load For use with Reverse and Forward Phase Dimmers will let the led bulbs turn completely off and help with dimming better than the LUT-MLC. The LUT-LBX got my LED bulbs dimming down to about 15% with no flickering. EBay is your cheapest bet for the LUT-LBX. The LUT-LBX requires a double gang box for in-wall or surface mounting, but can be added anywhere after the dimmer switch and the first lamp.


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