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0-10V LED dimmer

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Ponchik

Ponchik

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Location
CA
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Electronologist
I have an existing dimmable fluorescent fixture that used three wire for the dimmer Hot lead, Neutral lead and dimmer lead.

I need to update to LED retrofits but seems like the 0-10V dimmers use (four) wire control. Hot lead, Neutral lead, dimmer positive lead and negative lead.

Any 0-10V dimmers that you know of that will work with my existing 3 conductor set up?

Thank you
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

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Retired Electrical Contractor
edward said:
I have an existing dimmable fluorescent fixture that used three wire for the dimmer Hot lead, Neutral lead and dimmer lead.

I need to update to LED retrofits but seems like the 0-10V dimmers use (four) wire control. Hot lead, Neutral lead, dimmer positive lead and negative lead.

Any 0-10V dimmers that you know of that will work with my existing 3 conductor set up?

Thank you
Click to expand...
All the ones I have seen need 2 control conductors and 120v constant feed
 
synchro

synchro

Senior Member
Location
Chicago, IL
Occupation
EE
The GRX-TVI unit from Lutron at the link below will convert the output of phase-controlled dimmers to a 2-wire 0-10V signal. See pages 6 to 11 for wiring diagrams with various dimmers.

https://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/grx-tvi.pdf

It might not be practical or cost effective to have a GRX-TVI at each fixture if there are many of them. But you could have one GRX-TVI and connect it to all fixtures with 2-wire 0-10V cables distributed above the ceiling, for example.

There's also this dimming adapter which was described in a post recently, I think from someone who's associated with the company that makes and/or distributes it.
I don't know anything more about it.

https://www.ledsmagazine.com/direct...ures-eliminates-control-cable-wiring-in-walls
 
Ponchik

Ponchik

Senior Member
Location
CA
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Electronologist
synchro said:
The GRX-TVI unit from Lutron at the link below will convert the output of phase-controlled dimmers to a 2-wire 0-10V signal. See pages 6 to 11 for wiring diagrams with various dimmers.

https://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/grx-tvi.pdf

It might not be practical or cost effective to have a GRX-TVI at each fixture if there are many of them. But you could have one GRX-TVI and connect it to all fixtures with 2-wire 0-10V cables distributed above the ceiling, for example.

There's also this dimming adapter which was described in a post recently, I think from someone who's associated with the company that makes and/or distributes it.
I don't know anything more about it.

https://www.ledsmagazine.com/direct...ures-eliminates-control-cable-wiring-in-walls
Click to expand...
Thank you. I will look into these.
 
Ponchik

Ponchik

Senior Member
Location
CA
Occupation
Electronologist
Dennis Alwon said:
All the ones I have seen need 2 control conductors and 120v constant feed
Click to expand...
Can the two control conductors be low voltage cable (say a two conductor thermostat cable) Or I need to use 4 conductor MC cable or similar?
 
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Flicker Index

Flicker Index

Senior Member
Location
Pac NW
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Lights
edward said:
I have an existing dimmable fluorescent fixture that used three wire for the dimmer Hot lead, Neutral lead and dimmer lead.

I need to update to LED retrofits but seems like the 0-10V dimmers use (four) wire control. Hot lead, Neutral lead, dimmer positive lead and negative lead.

Any 0-10V dimmers that you know of that will work with my existing 3 conductor set up?

Thank you
Click to expand...
Three wire is analog, but it is like PWM and it uses phase angle as control signal, which is unaffected by resistance. So Lutron 3wire type control does well over distance, as does 0-10v that works like automotive controls that uses % on vs % off ratio vs the analog voltage. The "dimmed hot" was used for signaling the ballast, so the load was not carried on it.
 
G

gar

Senior Member
Location
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Occupation
EE
211027-1032 EDT

edward:

In your first post you failed to mention that the fixture had a built in 0-10 V dimmer, thus you were s0 to 10 Vtuck with that limitation.

Now that we known that, then if you feed no external signal or device to control voltage input, then what happens if you leave that 0-10 V input open? If full brightness occurs, then can you apply a phase controlled AC input to the light, and get effective dimming control? If so, then see how your present dimmer works with the fixture. It may be necessary to change the present AC dimmer to one that requires, or can make use of a neutral connection.

.
 
Flicker Index

Flicker Index

Senior Member
Location
Pac NW
Occupation
Lights
gar,
LED luminaires marketed for commercial and industrial installations that have dimming capability have sort of standardized on 0-10v, as well as dimming fluorescent ballasts.

LED elements do not have the endurance of super T8 GSFL so some luminaires incorporate long term LED degradation compensation such as nLight N80. High wattage LED luminaires that have to handle high ambient generally already have burnout protection which activates dimming function to prevent the elements or the LED ballast from frying out. So, adding dimming is just a matter of adding connection interface. This is why it is so common.
 
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