Earn your right to choose! Here we give you a comparison of dimmable control system that best suits your requirement.

Dimming control varies the light output over a range to provide the desired light level. There are a variety of dimming methods. Always select your type depending on your personal preference and based on the lighting set up you are working with.

DC Dimming

This is the simplest dimmer (diy dimmable LED light panel) that we used in our 6th grade science project

 

Created by Subhashini Rajendran

Created by Subhashini Rajendran

  • The graphite is the DC dimmer.
  • Simple to implement, Inexpensive
  • Very difficult to install for a sophisticated wiring system as 100s of wiring would be required for installation
  • Polarity dependent.

DMX

DMX is Digital Multiplex Interface. Here is an illustration of a simple diy dimmable LED light panel

Created by Subhashini Rajendran

Created by Subhashini Rajendran

It works like a postman delivering letters to apartments. The light panel is the apartment and the lights are the houses. Address is given through the controller.

DALI (Allows remote device monitoring)

Advantages

  • Simple wiring (Each device has a control input and a power input)
  • Control of individual lights
  • Flexible group control (Groups can be stored and altered) and reconfiguring
  • Less maintenance, two way communication.
  • Pricing of ballasts similar to 0 – 10 V dimmers
  • Scheduled switching
  • Day light and occupancy sensors can be directly connected.

Working of DALI LED light panel control

Created by Subhashini Rajendran

Created by Subhashini Rajendran

TRIAC dimming control

Trailing edge triggering Leading edge triggering
 

Created by Subhashini Rajendran

Courtesy :Wikipedia

 control3Courtesy : Wikipedia
Device turned OFF at the end of the AC wave Device turned OFF at the beginning of the AC wave
Used for capacitive loads Used for inductive loads
——- High inrush of current
——- Causes buzzing sound when dimmed

 

Below is a detailed comparison to choose the best lighting system for your home!

Type ofcontrol/ (Dimming range) Application Installation Special data cable Compatibility Components required Individualy addressable Challenges to be faced
0 – 10 V dimming(analog)5% to 100%

Interval of subsequent control levels is less. 5%, 25%, 45%, 65%,etc

Architectural, receded housing, General purpose receded housing, retrofit applicationsResidential, road and street lighting Anytime NO Fluoroscent lamps, Halogen lamps, Dimmable LED with 0 – 10 V driver. LED driver,Dimmable LED Light panel,DC and AC isolatorA control switch

LED lights

NO Voltage drop across cablesPolarity dependentNeeds an AC – DC isolator
DALI(Digital) 

Continuous interval, from 1% to 100%

Buildings with multi function rooms that require different lighting options in different occasions or timings, domestic tenants asking for more personalized control, Outdoor lighting like stadium, beach restauraunts, etc. Building design phase – The Best Time NO(Can be installed with line voltage) Ballast, Any  device with a dimmable driver, Dimmable LED light panelBallastsConfiguration softwareDALI controller  YES
DMX(Digital)Continuous interval, from 1% to 100% Stage and Effect lighting, architectural, dancing fountains Anytime YES Dimmable LEDs, surface mounted lights,Pool lights, in-ground, above – ground lighting Dimmable LED light panelDMX controllerRGB dimmer

LED

 

YES Requires a terminator (120 ohm resistor) in the final loop of every DMX driver.
Triac dimming control(Analog)Interval of subsequent level is less Commercial and residential applications Anytime NO Incandescent lights and halogen lamps TRIAC,separate overvoltage detector,  LED dimmable LED  panel light,LEDPower Electronic transistors for triggering NO Minimum load must be 10 – 30 watts.Flickering and buzzing when dimmer placed at 0-1 level of controlNeeds an AC – DC isolator
KNX(Digital) Indoor lighting, Office cabins, Intelligent buildings Anytime NO Can work with any LED or electrical device. Accepts twisted pair wiring dimmable LED  panel light, LED, controller software, YES

 

 

 

Subhashini

Techno freak designed to design technology. An electronic design engineer, passionate about writing!

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