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
- 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
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
TRIAC dimming control
| Trailing edge triggering | Leading edge triggering |
|
Courtesy :Wikipedia |
 Courtesy : 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 |
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