Different dimming types you should know

Choosing the right dimmer for different bulb and capsule light types is very important and can be difficult if you are not informed. A dimmer is used to adjust the level of brightness in any room, which can create a wide range of lighting moods. Dimmers can create more accommodating lighting and help you save energy and extend the life of your light bulbs. The below guide will breakdown the various types of dimmers available, and help you better understand your dimmer needs.

Dimming your LED depends first on what kind of driver it has. All LEDs have drivers and they are either incorporated or external. Each dimmable fixture has certain technology within it that determines the type of dimmer to use. It’s important that the dimmer matches up to the fixture technology in order for it to work properly (line voltage, low voltage magnetic, low voltage electronic, 0-10V LED, or fluorescent power supplies). Not all bulbs are dimmable, and not all dimmers dim all bulbs. Check the dimmer and fixture/bulb specifications and instructions to know.

Some other key points to keep in mind when selecting a dimmer is how much of a load you will be putting on the dimmer. For example, if you have ten recessed cans that are 50 watts each, you will need at least a 600-watt dimmer to carry that load.

Keep in mind that when you put multiple dimmer switches in the same box, you de-rate the dimmers down. If the dimmer is located on the end of the box, your 600-watt dimmer becomes a 500-watt dimmer. If located in the middle with other devices on either side, a 600-watt dimmer becomes a 400-watt dimmer. You must also consider if the fixtures can be controlled by one or more locations (single pole dimmer or 3-way, etc.).

What are the advantages of using dimmers?
Dimming your lights not only allows you to create the mood and atmosphere of a room but it also saves energy and the lifetime of the bulbs inside the fixture. Having a fixture on a dimmer at its full brightness level saves 4-9% in electricity. Dimming a fixture 20% saves 20% in energy—simple as that!

Different types of Dimming

Phase-Cut Dimming (Trailing Edge/Leading Edge)
The most basic form of dimming, originally developed for incandescent loads. This is your typical domestic type dimmer. No additional wiring other than standard 2C+E. The dimmer simply “chops” or “cuts” the voltage signal going to the light fitting. Dimmer is simply added to the Active line.

• No extra wiring is required.
• Standard Trailing Edge/Universal Dimmer can be used.
• Available in outputs ranging from 350mA – 750mA

Push DIM

Is one of the simplest types of dimming available on the market, and is suitable for use in small to medium-sized installations. No low voltage cables or no digital controllers are required – Each downlight requires a standard 2C+E plus a 1 or 2 Core Switch wire, a “normally open” type push button switch is required to operate a Push DIM system. Don’t mix different Push DIM drivers on the same circuit.

• Additional 1-2 Core Switch wire is required.
• Dimming occurs through the use of a “normally open” type push button switch
• Available in outputs ranging from 350mA – 1400mA

1-10V Dimming

1-10V (Analogue) Dimming uses an analogue signal rather than a digital signal. It is a universal protocol, so all 1-10V drivers operate in the same manner. Each downlight requires a standard 2C+E plus two control lines to carry the low voltage signal (polarity sensitive). You will also require a potentiometer (or some other 1-10V Dimming controller).

• Additional 2-Core LV control cable is required.
• Dedicated 1-10V interface or potentiometer is required to control this driver
• Available in outputs ranging from 350mA – 1400mA

DALI

Digital Addressable Lighting Interface – DALI – is a universal protocol (IEC 62386), designed to allow varying manufacturers products to all work on the same system. So it doesn’t matter whose light fitting you are using, if it is DALI it will work on a DALI controlled system. Up to 64 light fittings can be controlled per DALI line, buildings can have multiple DALI lines. Wiring to a DALI downlight requires a standard 2C+E, plus two DALI control lines (not polarity sensitive).

• Additional 2-Core control cable is required.
• Dedicated DALI interface or Control System is required to control this System
• Available in outputs ranging from 350mA – 1400mA

DSIDigital Serial Interface – DSI – is a proprietary protocol of Tridonic. It was largely the precursor to the DALI system. Unlike DALI each fitting is not addressable, so each circuit must be controlled as a whole in the same manner. Again, each downlight requires standard 2C+E plus two DSI control lines (not polarity sensitive).

• Additional 2-Core control cable is required.
• Dedicated Control System is required to control this System
• Available in out-puts ranging from 350mA – 1400mA

Switch DIM

Switch DIM is a proprietary term of Tridonic’s, and essentially allows simple dimming through push button control, no low voltage cables or no digital controllers are required – Each downlight requires a standard 2C+E plus a 1 or 2 Core Switch wire, a “normally open” type push button switch is required to operate a Switch DIM system. Don’t mix different Push DIM/Switch DIM drivers on the same circuit.

• Additional 1-2 Core Switch wire is required.
• Dimming occurs through the use of a “normally open” type push button switch
• Available in out-puts ranging from 350mA – 1400mA

Fireflier lighting provide 0-10V dimming, PWM dimming, Dali dimming for our LED High Bay Luminaire series. Below are some items for your reference:

0-10V/PWM dimming UFO LED High Bay Light:

Dali dimming UFO LED High Bay Light:

0-10V/PWM dimming E39 E40 LED High Bay Bulb: