Industry Comment
A need for standards in LED dimming
As LED lighting grows in popularity, particularly as an alternative to incandescent lamps, it’s important to be able to offer the same functionality. Adrian Kitching (pictured), of Megaman, explains why a mismatch between LEDs and dimmers presents a challenge
installers and end users. Wholesalers and installers are able to provide their customers with a better solution whilst maintaining a decent margin, while those customers get the benefit of efficient performance and longer lamp life. However, it’s important to note that the
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performance of LEDs is influenced by other factors, such as how they are controlled. In commercial and industrial lighting applications sophisticated control protocols such as DALI enable light output levels to be controlled very precisely. In the domestic sector though the situation is quite different. People who are replacing incandescent (GLS, halogen) lamps with LEDs in their homes will often want to be able to dim their new lighting in the same way they could with their more traditional light sources. The problem is that they are reliant on their dimmer switch being compatible with the LEDs they have purchased, or had installed by a contractor. This presents something of a problem, insofar
as there is no IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard covering dimmers. This means that dimmers from different manufacturers may interact with LED lamps in different ways. As a result, it can be difficult to predict which dimmers can be used with which retrofit LED lamps or LED luminaires. Clearly this presents a problem for wholesalers when asked by their customers which products they should purchase together to create a dimmable lighting solution. Electricians are faced with the same dilemma and may well be expecting the wholesaler to be able to advise them. Whilst there are several reasons for the
relatively low penetration of LEDs into the domestic sector (around 30% according to recent market research) this uncertainty around controllability is almost certainly one of them. In an attempt to manage this situation the leading LED lamp manufacturers are continually
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here are very few people who would question that LED lighting brings significant benefits for wholesalers,
testing their products with a wide range of dimmers, and trying to keep up as new dimmer designs are introduced. However, it only takes a relatively small change to a dimmer’s design, such as introducing an indicator light, to adversely affect the ability of the dimmer to work with LED lamps. In an ideal world the dimmer manufacturer would share this information with lamp manufacturers but this simply doesn’t happen in most cases. In parallel, LED lamps continue to develop and
improve rapidly so that there is an ongoing ‘disconnect’ between the evolution of these two technologies.
A case in point is the recent introduction to
the market of LED lamps that provide a warmer, lower colour temperature, light output as they are dimmed, in the same way as happens with an incandescent light bulb. This is something that homeowners, hoteliers, restaurateurs and many others appreciate, as they typically dim their lighting when they want to create a warmer, cosier ambience. However, this colour temperature change
during the dimming process requires two circuits, so they are slightly more complex to dim. Nevertheless, there is a clear demand from the industry’s customers so I would suggest there is an onus on the industry to address this issue. In fact, as indicated earlier, all it takes is better communication between lamp manufacturers
and dimmer manufacturers with a view to developing a standard that all parties can then adhere to. Sadly, our attempts to instigate meaningful dialogue have proved challenging, though as manufacturers, we are able to advise wholesalers on which dimmer products are compatible with our lamps. This issue reinforces a wider consideration when selling LED lighting; namely which LED lamps are going to provide their customers with the best value, and which manufacturers are able to provide the necessary technical support to underpin that. As we’ve touched on before in Electrical Wholesaler, LEDs are more complex than more traditional light sources, so that there are more factors that can impact on overall performance. Consequently, it is essential that the lamp manufacturer invests in comprehensive product testing, including aspects such as compatibility with control devices, so that the lamps will deliver stated performance and the wholesaler does not end up with disappointed customers. Such investment clearly has cost implications
but it’s important to differentiate between price and value, and the likelihood is that a very low- priced LED product has not benefited from appropriate levels of investment in its development and quality of manufacture.
www.megamanuk.com September 2015 electrical wholesaler | 27
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