LED lighting cannot be dimmed directly from a traditional wall dimmer. Incandescent dimmers were designed for lamps connected straight to 120V/230V AC. LED modules and LED strips operate on low‑voltage DC, so they always require a driver or power supply that converts AC into DC.

Because of this, dimming LED lighting happens either before the driver (AC side) or after the driver (DC side), depending on the dimming system.

1. Power Supplies & Drivers

AC → DC Conversion

 Our LED strips and LED modules never connect to the wall socket. They require a power supply that converts: AC mains voltage → low‑voltage DC

 24 Volt Constant Voltage (CV) Drivers matching the

• Total wattage

• Dimming method

2. Dimming Systems Overview

Different dimming systems exist because LED lighting requires a control signal that the driver can interpret. Below are all suitable dimming systems, how they work, and when they are used.

3. PWM Dimming (DC Side)

PWM = Pulse Width Modulation A digital dimming method installed after the power supply.

How it works

• You use a standard non‑dimmable DC power supply

• The PWM dimmer sits between the power supply and the LED strip

• It adjusts brightness by rapidly switching the LED on/off at high frequency

Advantages

• Works with any standard DC power supply

• No need for a dimmable driver

• Cost‑effective

• Very simple wiring

• Ideal for small or portable installations

Types of PWM dimmers

1. RF Dimming

   • Remote control

   • Range up to ±20 meters

   • No wall installation required

2. WiFi / Smart Dimming

   • Controlled via mobile app

   • Works with Alexa / Google Assistant

   • Suitable for smart home or office environments

4. TRIAC Dimming (AC Side)

TRIAC = phase‑cut dimming This is the traditional wall dimmer method used for incandescent bulbs.

• The TRIAC dimmer modifies the AC input

• A TRIAC‑compatible LED driver interprets the dimming signal

• The driver outputs a dimmed DC voltage to the LED strip

Wall dimmer → TRIAC dimmable driver → LED strip

• The driver must explicitly support TRIAC dimming

• Keep the driver close to the LED strip to avoid voltage drop

• Suitable when clients want a standard wall dimmer

5. 0–10V Dimming

A low‑voltage analog control signal ranging from 0V (off) to 10V (full brightness).

• A 0–10V compatible driver

• A 0–10V dimmer or control system

6. DALI Dimming

DALI = Digital Addressable Lighting Interface A professional lighting control protocol used in architectural and commercial environments.

• Central controller for building‑wide lighting

• Individual zone control

• Perfect for offices, hotels, galleries, and public spaces

• Very stable and precise dimming

• DALI drivers

• DALI wiring

• DALI controller

7. DMX Dimming

DMX 512 is a digital protocol used in performance lighting.

• Controls up to 512 channels

• Ideal for theatres, events, large installations

• Allows independent control of many zones

• Still widely used for complex lighting setups

• DMX controller

• DMX receivers

• Compatible drivers or DMX dimming modules

8. Multi‑Zone Control

Some dimming systems allow multiple zones to be controlled independently:

• PWM → limited multi‑zone unless using multiple dimmers

• TRIAC → single zone per dimmer

• 0–10V → multiple receivers on one control line

• DALI → full digital addressing of each fixture

• DMX → up to 512 channels

For architectural projects, 0–10V, DALI, and DMX are preferred.

9. Surge Wattage & Flicker

When other appliances switch on, they create temporary resistance in the home’s wiring. This can cause a momentary voltage drop in LED circuits.

• Flicker is most visible at low brightness levels

• At higher brightness, flicker is rarely noticeable

• Good drivers minimize this effect

Summary

LED lighting requires the correct driver and dimming system. The choice depends on installation size, control needs, and the type of LED module.

Small projects:

• PWM dimming

• TRIAC dimming

Architectural or multi‑zone projects:

• 0–10V

• DALI

• DMX

Correct driver selection ensures stable, flicker‑free, and smooth dimming performance.