Dimming Singals: Analog Dimming and Digital Dimming

Dimming Singals: Analog Dimming and Digital Dimming

There are different methods for dimming, but do you know which kind of dimming signal before you buy a smart LED lighting fixture with dimming systems?
The dimming signal can be divided into: analog dimming and digital dimming.

Analog and Digital Dimming Singal
Analog and Digital Dimming Singal

1. Analog dimming

Analog dimming is to modulate the bias of the base of the transistor or the gate of the MOS tube according to the change of the corresponding load to achieve the change of the on-time of the transistor or MOS tube, thereby changing the output of the switching power supply.

Analog Dimming Curve
Analog Dimming Curve

2. PWM dimming

PWM dimming uses simple digital pulses to repeatedly switch on/off the white LED drivers to dimming.
The dimming control system only needs to provide wide and narrow digital pulses, which can simply change the output current to adjust the brightness of the white LEDs.

PWM Dimming Brightness
PWM Dimming Brightness

Comparison of analog dimming and PWM dimming

Advantages of analog dimming:

1. Avoid the noise generated during dimming.
2. Effectively reduce the energy consumption of the white LED.

Disadvantages of analog dimming:

1. The white LED driver is always in the working mode, the power conversion efficiency is reduced, and the energy consumption of the entire system is increased.
2. The accuracy of analog dimming is not high.

Advantages of PWM dimming:

1. There will be no LED chromatographic shift.
2. High dimming accuracy.
3. Dimming in a wide range without flickering.
4. It can be combined with digital (DALI/DMX 512) control technology.

Disadvantages of PWM dimming:

1. When the working frequency is low, the human eye will feel flicker.
2. Howling caused by dimming, when the frequency is in the range of 20HZ to 20kHz, the howling caused by dimming will be heard.

If you have any questions about dimming LED lighting products, welcome to contact us directly.

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