Dimmer offers a softer transition
A
Finder product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Nov 26, 2007
Device can operate both as a simple step relay and as a sophisticated dimmer to offer flexible control.
The 13.51 step relay dimmer from Finder can operate both as a simple step relay and as a sophisticated dimmer to offer flexible control of lighting.
Step relay dimmers are smart lighting circuit components that can either be used as part of a wall-mounted dimmer unit, or more flexibly, as one of several controllers in a lighting console for a larger room or small building.
The 13.51 is based on MOSFET devices, which offers a softer transition when turning the light on or off, and also has a memory feature which returns the lighting level to a preferred value each time it is switched on.
Additional benefits compared with conventional triac-based dimmers include a 54% reduction in power switching losses and the elimination of the familiar buzzing noise caused by EMC suppression filters.
The step relay dimmer is a three terminal electronic lighting control module for use on a 230V AC supply.
One terminal connects to the live supply (live in), another connects to the lamp load (live out) and the third terminal connects to a controlling pushbutton.
The other connection from the pushbutton can be returned to either the L or the N of the mains supply.
When the 13.51 is used as a step relay, the lamp load is alternately turned on and off by a succession of short pulses on the pushbutton control.
Within this function there are two possible modes of operation.
In "with memory" mode a short pulse on the button causes the load to alternate between the off state and the previously memorised on state, allowing the preferred lighting level to be set using the dimmer and memorised, removing the need for the level to be adjusted each time the light is turned on.
In "without memory" mode, a short pulse on the button causes the load to toggle between the full on state and full off state in the manner of a conventional light switch.
The desired mode can be selected using a simple setup routine.
By exerting pressure on the pushbutton control for a longer interval the dimmer function can be activated, causing the lamp output to progressively increase or decrease alternately from the previous level, over a maximum of 10 incremental light levels between fully off and fully on.
However, for safety reasons the dimmer is not able to reduce the level to complete darkness: prolonged pressure on the button when decreasing the lighting level will only reduce it to the 10% level.
However, a subsequent momentary pulse on the button will then turn the light off completely, if that is required.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
