A system for controlling a level of light output by a solid state lighting load controlled by a dimmer includes a phase angle detector and a power converter. The phase angle detector is configured to detect a phase angle of the dimmer based on a rectified voltage from the dimmer and to determine a power control signal based on comparison of the detected phase angle with a predetermined first threshold. The power converter is configured to provide an output voltage to the solid state lighting load, the power converter operating in an open loop mode based on the rectified voltage from the dimmer when the detected phase angle is greater than the first threshold, and operating in a closed loop mode based on the rectified voltage from the dimmer and the determined power control signal from the detection circuit when the detected phase angle is less than the first threshold.