What Are The Triac Dimmer, LED 0-10v Dimming, PWM Dimming?

This article is compiled by TJ2 Lighting, led lighting manufacturer, lighting manufacturer in Taiwan | 東捷生活科技

What Is Dimming?

In the realm of lighting control, technological advancements have given rise to various dimming methods, each tailored to meet specific requirements. Triac dimmers, 0-10V dimming, and PWM dimming are the most popular techniques that are pivotal in adjusting luminous flux and illuminating levels for different lighting applications.

What Is The Difference Between Triac Dimmer, LED 0-10v Dimming, PWM Dimming?

Triac Dimmer

The most common LED dimmers are phase-cutting dimmers.

All phase-cutting dimmers work by switching the AC mains supply to the LED lamp on and off twice in every mains cycle. This has the effect of reducing the flow of electrical energy to the LED lamp or fixture, so reducing its light output.

There are two types of phase-cutting dimmers:

• Leading edge phase-cutting dimmers (also known as triac dimmers and rising edge dimmers). These work by switching the current off at the zero-crossing point (see diagram) and on again later in the same mains cycle. The amount of energy flowing to the LEDs depends on the duration of the “off” period. The longer the off period the dimmer the LEDs will appear to be.

From: https://www.nvcuk.com/technical-support/view/what-is-dimming-11

From: https://www.artisticcontrols.com/articles/leading-edge-dimmer-vs-trailing-edge-dimmer/

Leading-edge dimmers are cheaper and simpler than trailing-edge and were used originally to dim incandescent and halogen bulbs or magnetic low-voltage transformers. The leading edge dimmers use a ‘TRIAC’ (Triode for Alternating Current) switch to control power and are sometimes called TRIAC dimmers.

They have a much higher wattage range suitable for incandescent and halogen lighting (typically between 400W and 1,000W). Many existing leading-edge dimmers have a relatively high minimum load, which often can cause problems if they are used with LED lighting circuits. If the total loads of the particular LED lighting circuits are too low and there will likely be flicker, and possible noise like a buzzing sound when dimmed.

• Trailing edge phase-cutting dimmers. These work by switching the current on at the zero crossing point (see diagram) and off later in the mains cycle. Usually, this is done with an electronic component called an isolated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). The amount of energy flowing to the LEDs depends on the duration of the “off” period. The longer the off period the dimmer the LEDs will appear to be.

From: https://www.nvcuk.com/technical-support/view/what-is-dimming-11

From: https://www.artisticcontrols.com/articles/leading-edge-dimmer-vs-trailing-edge-dimmer/

Trailing-edge dimmers are more sophisticated and more expensive than leading-edge dimmers. They have several advantages over leading edge dimmers including smoother control, soft start and silent running when in operation. A trailing-edge dimmer has a lower minimum load than leading-edge dimmers, making it a better choice for dimming modestly sized low-powered lighting circuits.

Both types of dimmer can work with dimmable LEDs however due to its advantages, trailing edge is preferred and as such LED manufacturers have designed their retrofit lamps to be compatible with trailing edge dimmers.

Looking into the future Trailing-edge dimmers are a more popular choice for LED light sources. Trailing-edge dimmers use a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) or IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) switch rather than a TRIAC and coil. This gives them their much-smoother dimming control, with no buzzing noise.

【Reference】

https://www.nvcuk.com/technical-support/view/what-is-dimming-11
https://www.artisticcontrols.com/articles/leading-edge-dimmer-vs-trailing-edge-dimmer/
https://leapfroglighting.com/trailing-edge-or-leading-edge-led-dimming/

LED 0-10v Dimming

LED technology is getting popular every day for commercial as well as residential lighting. Due to its popularity, the 0-10V dimming system is also getting much attention to control and maximize the light output of an LED fixture.

0-10V LED dimmer uses the DC voltage to control the output of the light fixture. This is one of the most straightforward and earliest lighting control systems. 0-10V dimming allows the smooth operation of light and dimming at the light levels of 10%, 1%, and 0.1%.

From: https://www.upowertek.com/what-is-0-10v-dimming/

This system connects to your LED fixture, which allows you to choose the right light level based on your needs at the moment. For example, at 8V then the light fixture is at 80% output. If the signal is brought down to 0V, the light is at the minimum dim level, which could vary from 10% to 5% to 1%.

From: https://www.upowertek.com/what-is-0-10v-dimming/

0-10V is one of the easiest methods to reduce power consumption is to utilize dimming in your lighting system. Because LEDs are current-driven, when the lights dim you reduce the power, and your lamps will remain efficient as a result. Using less energy not only saves you money, it also extends LED lamp life.

【Reference】

https://revolveled.com/blogs/shop-talk/lets-know-about-0-10v-dc-dimming-for-led-lighting
https://www.upowertek.com/what-is-0-10v-dimming/
https://www.prolighting.com/blog/2020/03/25/understanding-0-10v-dimming-with-todays-led-commercial-fixtures/

PWM Dimming

PWM dimming achieves the same effect by varying the duty cycle of a constant current in the string to effectively change the average current in the string.  Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is a common type of dimming used to adjust the current in white-LED driver devices. PWM dimming takes a rectangle waveform with a variable positive duty cycle (D) and adjusts the LED current proportionally.

The two key parameters in PWM dimming are the duty cycle and frequency.

Duty Cycle

The duty cycle is defined as the ratio of the amount of time the signal remains high to the total time of the cycle. It is expressed as a percentage and determines the illuminating level of a light source. A higher duty cycle results in a brighter light, while a lower duty cycle results in a lower illumination. For example, if the signal is constantly on, it is a 100% duty cycle.

From: https://www.upowertek.com/what-is-pwm-dimming/

Duty cycle = (Active Time of the signal)/(Time-period)

From: https://www.quora.com/What-is-PWM-dimming

Frequency

The pulse width modulation (PWM) signal frequency is another crucial element. The PWM frequency determines how quickly a period—the amount of time it takes for the signal to turn on and off.

https://www.upowertek.com/what-is-pwm-dimming/

PWM As LED Driver Output

When the PWM signal is converted into a DC voltage and used as an output for an LED driver, pulse width modulation occurs. The PWM output circuit cuts off the current between the on and off states of the DC LED current at a high frequency. Therefore, the flicker that causes changes in LED light output is invisible or hard to aware to the human eye.

【Reference】

https://www.upowertek.com/what-is-pwm-dimming/
https://www.quora.com/What-is-PWM-dimming
https://www.ledyilighting.com/zh-TW/led-pwm-dimming/

Conclusion:

In the evolving landscape of lighting control, the choice of dimming method depends on the specific requirements of the application. Triac dimmers, 0-10V dimming, and PWM dimming each bring their own set of advantages, offering flexibility and customization for various lighting solutions. As technology continues to advance, the lighting industry will likely witness further innovations in dimming methods, contributing to enhanced energy efficiency, improved user experience, and innovative lighting designs.

More Information:

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10 Tips For Entryway Lighting-Lighting Design

10 Great Uses For LED Lighting In Interior Design

Illuminating Choices: Dimmable Lights Vs. Tunable White Lights

作者: Jason謝易芨 | Co-Founder/Manager at TJ2 Lighting, LED Lighting Manufacturer, lighting manufacturer and led lighting supplier in Taiwan.

| TJ2 Lighting東捷生活科技

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