Table of Contents
Do you know how to control dimmable LED strips?
Since LED strips generally use low voltage lighting, they are more energy-efficient and cost-effective than traditional bulbs. The dynamic control of dimming of dimmable LED strips can meet the needs of brightness and create mood lighting.
Therefore, using LED strips to light homes is becoming more and more popular. But “How do I set up LED strips for dimming?” This is often a confusing question.
This article introduces a variety of methods for dimming dimmable LED strips. You can choose the most effective method with advice on dimmable LED strips.
What Are Dimmable LED Strips?
Dimmable LED strips refer to LED strips that are dimmed by a dimmable LED driver or LED dimmer. Most LED strips are dimmable.
The power supply for dimmable LED strips is usually designed to provide a constant voltage (5V, 12V, 24V or 36V). Most dimming must be done on the low voltage side, and if the input voltage goes low, the LED strip brightness will dim.
Dimmable LED Strip Benefits
- First, the brightness can be adjusted. For example, you want to turn up the light when reading, and you want to dim the light when watching TV—how convenient is that?
- Second, dimmable LED light strips are more energy-saving, especially long-term low-voltage use, which saves more electricity.
- Third, set the perfect atmosphere! You can meet different needs by adjusting the brightness of each LED light strip.
Dimmable LED Strip vs. Non-dimmable LED Strip
There are many types of LED strips, dimmable and non-dimmable. So which one is your right choice?
—I recommend you to choose dimmable LED strips. Because compared with non-dimmable LED strips, there are many advantages. Please see the comparison table Dimmable LED Strip vs. Non-dimmable LED Strip below. This table compares the differences between dimmable LED strips and non-dimmable LED strips in terms of brightness, adjustable atmosphere, energy efficiency, price, application scenarios, and brand.
| Feature | Dimmable LED Strip | Non-Dimmable LED Strip |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | Adjustable based on needs, wide range | Fixed brightness, no adjustment |
| Adjustable Atmosphere | Can adjust ambiance for various purposes | Suitable for consistent lighting experience |
| Energy Efficiency | More efficient at lower brightness | Generally good efficiency, but no adjustment range |
| Price | Usually higher, but saves on electricity long-term | Typically lower cost |
| Application Scenarios | Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, theaters | Offices, retail stores, hallways |
| Brand Recommendations | Philips Hue, Govee, LIFX | Osram, GE, Sylvania |
Importance of Dimming
When you ask consumers who choose dimmable LED strips, why do they choose this? Most people will say because of the atmosphere. It is really pleasant to change from bright white to a dark tone that creates atmosphere.
But that’s not all. There are two other benefits.
If you install dimmable LED strips, you will save more energy costs. Because when the strips burn at a lower wattage, the energy consumption is greatly reduced. This will undoubtedly save electricity and money.
In addition, dimmable LED strips usually have a longer lifespan than non-dimmable LED strips. This is because the less energy consumed, the longer the lifespan – it’s that simple!
Method 1: TRIAC Dimming
Does your dimmable LED strip use a wall dimmer? Most wall dimmers today use a TRIAC dimming signal. If a traditional TRIAC wall dimmer is preferred, it must be used in conjunction with a universal AC dimmable power supply.
The dimming power supply is so important for its two functions.
1) Converts the 120V/220V AC signal to a 12/24V DC signal for the LED strip.
2) The LED driver is able to interpret the TRIAC dimming signal from the TRIAC wall dimmer to adjust the brightness of the LED strip’s lights.
The TRIAC dimming power supply is directly connected to the TRIAC wall dimmer and the output of the power supply is connected to the LED strip. Also, to avoid voltage drops, make sure the power supply unit is close to the strip.
There are two types of Triac dimming options in the wiring diagram you can refer to. One is connected Triac dimmer without a neutral wire and another one is connected Triac dimmer with a neutral wire.
This solution may require some expertise, if you are not familiar with electronics or need help, feel free to contact Suntech Lite or contact a local electrician.
Method 2: Low Voltage PWM Dimming
PWM is short for “Pulse Width Modulation”. Low voltage PWM dimmers are very easy to assemble and connect to power supplies and LED strips.
PMW is a digital signal that “talks” to the power supply of the strip to adjust the brightness. A PWM LED strip dimmer can be installed between a standard non-TRIAC dimming power supply and the LED strip. It usually consists of a dial (potentiometer) that adjusts the brightness of the LED strip. The power supply can be any standard DC power supply and does not need to be dimmable.
These power supplies are generally lower cost and readily available than TRIAC dimmable power supplies. They are suitable for small or portable installations where the dimmer does not need to be built into the wall.
You can refer to the PWM dimmable LED strip dimmer wiring diagram below.
Why is PWM so popular?
PWM dimming does not require load matching. Consistent full range dimming is obtained regardless of driver capacity and/or load. Different size drivers operated by the same dimmer to achieve the same dimming level are allowed. For example, you can have a 200W driver running a 100W load, and a 150W driver running a 100W load, and both LED strips dim at the same rate. Providing 0-100% dimming with no flicker.
However, it should be noted that due to the low voltage DC, the PWM dimmer must be placed relatively close to the LED strip. Otherwise, there will be a voltage drop problem.
Method 3: Remote Control RF Dimming
While traditional dimming requires wires, RF dimming uses radio frequency signals to control lights. The dimming mode of the controller or LED controller can be anything, such as PWM or TRIAC.
RF dimming is not a dimming technology, but a way to send commands to a dimmer that is always connected to the light fixture. Therefore, it is a wireless way to send commands to the dimmer.
One of the main advantages of RF dimming is the ability to control the light remotely, usually with a remote control. The second is that it is compatible with a wide range of LED lights. Not all kinds of LED strips can be dimmed using conventional techniques like PWM and 0–10V.
The main disadvantage of RF dimming is the possibility of interference. RF dimming systems may operate on the same frequency as other wireless devices such as Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth devices. This may cause interference and negatively affect the performance of the dimming system.
Another disadvantage may be that the range is too short. RF has a range of 10 to 30 meters. The distance range is similarly divided in half by each wall.
Method 4: Wi-Fi Dimming
Wi-Fi dimmers are essential for smart home or office lighting. Wi-Fi technology eliminates the distance limitations of Bluetooth or infrared remote controls by allowing wireless communication over home and business internet networks.
Wi-Fi dimming lets you wirelessly control color changes, dimming, and automation using a mobile app. You can also adjust brightness through Alexa or Google Assistant voice control.
Wi-Fi dimming also has disadvantages. For example, it is heavily dependent on Wi-Fi networks. If the internet goes down, Wi-Fi dimming will also stop functioning. Its performance is affected by the distance from the router and the amount of network traffic. And network connections increase potential security risks. Be sure to set up password protection to prevent unauthorized access.
Method 5: Bluetooth Dimming
Bluetooth Dimming provides direct wireless communication between a remote lighting system and a control device such as a mobile phone. Bluetooth Dimming is easier to configure than Wi-Fi Dimming and is a simple way to wirelessly control LED strips.
The main advantage of Bluetooth Dimming is a direct point-to-point connection between the controller and the phone or tablet. Usually a range of 30 feet for wireless control of color changes and dimming. Multiple devices can be paired for shared control.
Bluetooth Dimming is a lower power communication method than Wi-Fi Dimming. And it is very easy to set up. A simple pairing process connects the phone and the light. No passwords, IP or settings adjustments are required.
Distance range limitation is the main disadvantage of Bluetooth. The maximum control range of Bluetooth Dimming is about 30 feet. Walls and obstacles will further affect the connection distance. Without an Internet connection, Bluetooth cannot achieve remote access. Voice control, system integration, and multiple device compatibility are still limited.
Method 6: 0-10V Dimming
0-10V dimming is a type of dimming. In which a dimmer is used to change the control signal of the dimming line. The brightness is adjusted by changing the DC voltage that powers the LED strip.
0V means “off” and 10V means 100% brightness output.
The 0-10V LED dimming setting is best suited for large projects. It enables you to synchronize a huge number of dimmable LED strips by connecting several receivers together. A common option for coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, and other establishments is 0-10V dimming.
Here is a simple 0-10V dimmer wiring diagram to help you better understand this dimming method.
Method 7: DALI Dimming
DALI is an “open” IEC62386 standard protocol. The full name is “Digital Addressable Lighting Interface.”
As an open protocol, any manufacturer can create a device that communicates using DALI. The digital two-way conversation The DALI system sends orders from the control system to the lighting and back again via digital signals.
The LED DALI Dimming control system is best suited for large lighting installations in hotels, offices, large stores, etc. One central DALI dimming switch can manage dimmable LED light strips throughout the building.
It is worth noting that the DALI dimming receiver should be connected between the dimmable LED light strip and the transformer. You can connect all DALI receivers together using a signal line and connect them to the DALI dimming switch.
How to wire DALI dimming? Please refer to the single-channel DALI dimming wiring diagram below.
DALI dimming curve follows the logarithmic dimming curve. Therefore, DALI Dimming is the most suitable non-linear dimming for human eye sensitivity. When utilizing a logarithmic curve, the allowed dimming range is 0.1% (1 step) to 100% (254 steps).
Method 8: DMX Dimming
To connect incompatible dimming systems, DMX (“Digital Multiplex”) control was born.
“DMX 512” also dims by adjusting the voltage in the transformer. Like DALI, the DMX standard allows digital control of individual fixtures via a low-voltage communication protocol. But DMX has 512 unique addresses, while DALI has 64.
DMX Dimming is mainly used in large lighting facilities, such as large architectural, stage, festival, and other performance venue lighting.
Unlike DALI Dimming, DMX Dimming data signals are polarized, and fixture-to-fixture connections must always be daisy-chained. Suntech Lite offers several types of DMX controllers, such as XB-Z2, MR-218DW, T790K, XB-C100, MR-ZJ61WH, etc. Here, XB-Z2 is used as an example. Please see the typical DMX dimming daisy chain connection wiring diagram.
Note: What is DMX daisy-chain connection?
The daisy-chain method requires that the wires of each fixture be connected from the loop of the previous fixture. By wiring in this way, you get a line of fixtures. This line is connected to the receiver, decoder, and console of the DMX system. However, you cannot connect more than 32 fixtures in a chain. Exceeding this limit will hinder the signal strength required for DMX communication.
If you need to connect more than 32 fixtures, DMX splitting is required. Splitting allows the communication network to be expanded by duplicating the DMX output multiple times.
If you want to know more about DMX512, please click here. How Does DMX512 Work?
Method 9: Resistor Dimming
Resistor dimming is a dimming method that reduces the current and thus adjusts the brightness of an LED by introducing a variable resistor between the power supply and the load.
Although now obsolete, resistor dimming is the simplest dimming method – just connect a variable resistor. If you are just testing the dimming range or output of an LED lamp, resistor dimming is very suitable.
Although this method is not usually used anymore, I hope you will also know about it. The figure below is a simple resistor dimming connection diagram.
The brightness of the LED is controlled by limiting the current through a variable resistor. In this circuit, there are 10 super bright white LEDs D1-D10. The R1 variable resistor is used to control the current or brightness of the LED. Each LED is configured with a separate current limiting resistor R2-R12 to protect them from the maximum current output.
If you want to dim the LED, just increase the resistor. But this depends a lot on the brightness of the LED in its original state.
Method 10: Custom Dimming
If you are an experienced electrical engineer, you can customize the dimming to your own needs.
If you don’t want to customize the dimming settings yourself, please consult our professional LED engineer team. We will provide you with as much help as possible.
Final Considerations
After reading this article, are you interested in how dimmable LED strips work?
Different dimming methods work for different LED strip products. We strongly recommend testing dimming compatibility before doing any permanent or large-scale builds.
If you need some dimmable LED strips, please contact us
If you encounter any LED dimming issues, please contact us!