Dimmable LED Drivers

Dimming with dimmable LED Drivers

Controllability unlocks the vast benefits of dimmable LED lighting, allowing for dynamic and energy efficient systems that also improve wellbeing.

In short: LED Dimming
Dimming LED fixtures depends on the LED driver that is being used to control the fixture. All LED fixtures need a driver, and its primary function is to run the LEDs at the correct voltage and current.
The best way to dim LED fixtures is to use a dimmable LED driver. A dimming driver performs two functions: it is both a driver and a dimmer.
As a driver, it converts the mains input to a low voltage DC output. As a dimmer, it reduces the amount of electrical energy flowing to the LEDs, thereby causing them to dim.
Our portfolio offers controllable dimmable LED drivers from 25W to 150W with various output current and protection options:
For achieving Human Centric Lighting, iC dimmable LED drivers for Tunable White can use DALI Type 8 (Dt8) commands to control colour temperature and intensity.
For independent dimmable LED lighting and Tunable White control, we offer Helvar Switch-Control, Switch-Control 2, and Direct Control enabled drivers.
For a smooth and atmospheric lighting experience, you can use Helvar’s Push to Fade. This function allows drivers to offer additional fading effects between different lighting states, easily controlled with a simple push-button.

Learn about DALI LED dimming technologies

What are the different dimming methods in LED drivers?

At Helvar, we have a passion for the best quality light output, and we’ve been developing various LED dimming methods to reach those goals. Our latest DALI-2 drivers use amplitude dimming technology for completely flicker-free LED dimming. Filtered and hybrid dimming technologies combine different ways to get continuous dimming and quality of light. How do the dimming methods differ from each other? How is amplitude dimming different from hybrid dimming? Here, you can learn more about our solutions for the best quality dimming for different solutions.

What is amplitude dimming?

Amplitude dimming is flicker-free, bringing the highest quality LED dimming.
Amplitude dimming is your choice when you need absolutely zero flickering in your LED lighting at the lowest dimming levels. Our DALI-2 drivers with amplitude dimming technology ensure visually perfect, safe LED lighting.
Helvar amplitude dimming* DALI-2 controllable LED drivers, offer the best available technology for dimming the light output in an accurate and flicker-free way. Amplitude dimming implements a technique for adjusting the DC supply for the LED modules stably down to 1 %. So, this means visually flawless light output, that does not pose any risk to human eyesight or camera recording applications and naturally complies with, e.g. IEEE 1789-2015 standard about minimizing flicker. Amplitude dimming ensures constant light levels in all situations and lighting environments.

Dimming curve with amplitude dimming by Helvar

Unique filtered dimming feature

Filtered dimming is a combination of some best practices of two LED dimming methods. Our filtered dimming meets the IEEE 1789-2015 standard, ensuring safe dimming at the complete 1% to 100% dimming range without potential flicker-induced impairments.
Helvar’s filtered dimming technology takes the linear amplitude* dimming safely down to 3%. From 3% to 1%, the dimming is filtered, stabilizing output and decreasing the modulation index drastically. With these products, you achieve extremely high-quality light output even at the lowest dimming levels. Furthermore, this unique feature creates flicker-free, safe lighting according to IEEE 1789-2015 standard. Therefore, you can meet even the highest standards for light quality, the modulation frequency between 1 % and 3 % dimming levels is as high as > 2 kHz.

Filtered dimming is combining best practises

Enhanced hybrid LED dimming technologies for better light quality

Helvar offers a selection of LED drivers with unique dimming capabilities to ensure safe, healthy, and high-quality lighting at the full 1% to 100% dimming range.
Helvar hybrid dimming products combine the best features from linear amplitude* dimming and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) dimming. Amplitude dimming is a very efficient technique for dimming the light output, especially on a higher range. On the lower range, the hybrid dimming products implement high-frequency PWM dimming to ensure high quality dimming from 20 % down to 1 %. With our latest products, the dimming range from 10% to 20% performs on 8 kHz, and the dimming range from 1% to 20% on 1 kHz – 8 kHz, accordingly.

Hybrid dimming combines CCR + PWM dimming methods

Helvar iC Product range for Tunable White

Tunable White colour temperature control

Our iC LED drivers for Tunable White can be used with DALI Type 8 (Dt8) commands to control colour temperature and intensity. Bringing Human Centric Lighting to your spaces.

Read more about Tunable White

Lighting Control without DALI

Our LED drivers offer various methods to control light levels, with or without DALI. The following features are excellent for simple lighting control and LED dimming needs, such as single rooms, corridors, classrooms, or luminaire-based controls. See also our solutions for wireless lighting control.

Switch-Control 2

Lighting control made simple

Our Switch-Control 2 and first-generation Switch-Control enabled LED drivers to provide a valuable option for installations without DALI. Drivers with Switch-Control are directly connected to the mains switch and can change dimming levels and colour temperature with a simple retractive switch.

Direct Control

Easiest luminaire-based control possible

Helvar’s innovative Direct Control behaves much like the Switch-Control. However, the control is more straightforward. Instead of using the mains voltage, a simple retractive switch is connected to the Iset / LED-Iset terminal of Direct Control enabled LED drivers. Therefore, Direct Control is ideal for easy-to-use luminaire-based switches, such as pull cord or local dimming push buttons.

Push to Fade

Turn lighting into an experience

Helvar’s Push to Fade technology is an additional fading effect, dimming smoothly between different light levels. Push to Fade is an easy and cost-efficient way to enhance the lighting comfort and atmosphere in commercial, hospitality or residential lighting. This technology is built into a selection of our dimmable LED drivers and needs just a simple retractive switch to create the dimming effect.

Explore our offering of dimmable LED Drivers:

DALI-2 LED Drivers

Explore DALI-2

DALI LED Drivers

Explore DALI

iC Tunable White

Explore Tunable White

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