Lutron Skylark Contour C-L Dimmer Improves the Dimmability of CFLs and LEDs

Summary: Tom Kraeutler from The Money Pit demos Lutron’s new Skylark Contour Dimmer. which improves the dimmability of CFLs and LEDs.

TOM: Hey, it’s Tom Kraeutler from The Money Pit and I’ve got a tip on how you can save some money with your lighting bill and still get great functionality when it comes to dimmers.

Now, as you may have heard the 100-watt light bulb is being phased out at the end of this year. That will be followed by phase-outs of other incandescent bulbs. They’re being replaced in large part by CFLs and by LEDs, but the problem with these bulbs is that they’ve not been terribly dimmable.

There have been issues. They will sputter, they will flicker, they will flash, they won’t come on when they’re supposed to. There is a solution, though, and it’s called Skylark Contour, it’s part of the C•L dimmer series.

Now, the Skylark Contour is the newest addition to the Skylark slide dimmer family of products from Lutron. It’s got an updated look, it’s got a rocker switch, it works with dimmable CFLs and LED bulbs, and it totally improves the dimming performance of the dimmable CFLs and the LEDs.

Let me show you how it works. When you install the Skylark Contour there’s an adjustment and you adjust it so that when you click the switch on, the light comes on instantly. You get the complete dimming range because you adjust that as well. There’s a little wheel right behind this base plate that allows you to do that. Same thing with LEDs.

Now, the Skylark Contour and the C•L series also works with a complete mixed load of light, so you can have a CFL in one fixture, you can have an LED in another fixture — you can use incandescents, even halogens.

Easy to install, Lutron actually has a tech support number that you can call and they’ll give you some tips on how to get the installation done. It’s available for a great price, under $23 at the Home Depot.

Skylark Contour is the style, C•L is the series and the technology behind that makes it possible to match that up with dimmable CFLs and dimmable LEDs and you’ve got a great lighting solution for your home.