Dimming and DALI

Being able to adjust the lighting in a room to match the needs of a specific task or atmosphere is incredibly useful! It allows you to use the same lights for multiple purposes, making your space more versatile. In today’s world, dimmers have become almost essential in both homes and commercial environments.

Dimming technology for lighting has been around for many years, originally developed to reduce energy use in incandescent bulbs. While those old bulbs are now a thing of the past, LED technology has taken over, and the main purpose of dimmers today is to offer flexibility in light levels rather than just saving energy.

The market for dimmers is vast, with many different types available. This can make it confusing to know which dimmer works best with your lighting system. That’s why Secto Design has put together this guide to explain the most common options and how they differ, so you can make an informed choice.

Before diving into the types of dimmers, it's important to note that not all light bulbs are dimmable. If you want adjustable lighting, always check that your bulbs are labeled as dimmable.

There are several types of dimmers, each working in a slightly different way:

• Phase dimming – These include knob-controlled dimmers, which work by cutting part of the AC wave. There are two main types: trailing edge and leading edge.
• Step dimming – These use a switch that you press multiple times to cycle through brightness levels.
• DALI – A digital system that allows for advanced control and communication with lighting setups.

Precise tayloring requires a lot of light.

Trailing Edge or Leading Edge for Phase Dimming?

When it comes to phase dimming, there are two main types: trailing edge and leading edge. The difference lies in which part of the AC waveform is cut off during dimming.

Trailing Edge

Trailing edge dimmers cut off the second half of each AC cycle. They are ideal for modern LED lights, offering smooth and quiet operation. Secto Design recommends using trailing edge dimmers, and many of their lamps are designed to work with them.

Leading Edge

Leading edge dimmers, on the other hand, cut off the beginning of each AC cycle. These were commonly used with older halogen bulbs but aren’t as compatible with modern LEDs due to their higher minimum load requirements.

The Aspiro pendant comes with a built-in step dimming.

Step Dimming

With step dimming, you simply press the wall switch multiple times to adjust the brightness. For example, one press turns the light on at full brightness, another brings it down to 70%, the next to 30%, and the fourth turns it off completely. Some of Secto Design’s lamps support this type of dimming.

DALI Systems

DALI stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface. It's a two-way communication system that lets you control and manage lighting from a central point. With DALI, you can send commands like “turn off all lights in this room” and the system will respond automatically. This makes reconfiguration much easier, as you don't need to change wiring—just update the settings.

DALI is especially useful in larger spaces such as offices, commercial buildings, and apartment complexes. However, for most home setups, traditional phase dimming systems are more than sufficient and cost-effective.

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