dimmen

Dimmen is the adjustment of light intensity, reducing the brightness of a lamp relative to its maximum. It is used in residential, commercial, architectural, and stage lighting to create ambience, improve visual comfort, and save energy. Dimming can be achieved at the source or through the lamp’s driver, and it often depends on the type of lighting technology.

For traditional incandescent and halogen lamps, dimming is typically accomplished by reducing voltage with devices such as rheostats, transformers, or phase-cut dimmers. Phase-cut methods include leading-edge (triac) and trailing-edge dimming, which control when during each AC cycle the current is allowed to pass. For LEDs and other solid-state lighting, dimming relies on appropriate LED drivers and control signals, usually through pulse-width modulation (PWM) or by reducing current while maintaining constant voltage. LED dimming requires compatibility between the driver and the dimming method to avoid flicker, color shift, or driver instability.

Control systems range from simple wall dimmers to sophisticated digital networks. Digital protocols such as DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) and DMX enable scene setting and centralized control, while wireless standards (Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi) support smart-home and building automation integrations.

Standards and considerations include IEC 60929 for mains dimming of electrical loads and IEC 62386 for DALI. Proper specification of lamp type, dimmer compatibility, and driver capabilities is essential to ensure smooth operation, energy savings, and user comfort.