What Is a DMX Dimmer?
An electrical device that changes the luminous flux of a light source and adjusts the illumination level in a lighting device. A large-capacity system is called a dimming device. Its basic principle is to change the effective value of the current of the input light source to achieve the purpose of dimming.
Light modulator
- Dimmer: English name dimmer. The purpose of the dimmer is to adjust the different brightness of the light. By reducing or increasing the RMS voltage, the average power of the light produces different light output. Although variable voltage devices can be used for various purposes, this regulation is intended to control lighting.
- The range of dimmers are: small size normal light switches are used for home lighting, high power units are used in large theaters or architectural lighting facilities. Small unit dimmers are usually controlled directly, while high power units use remote control systems. Modern professional dimmers generally use digital control systems like DMX or Ethernet.
- The change in intensity in the professional lighting industry is called "disappearing" and can be "disappearing" or "disappearing". The dimmers directly control the number of restrictions directly, their speed can be different, but this problem has been basically eliminated by modern digital forces (although the very fast brightness change may still be able to avoid affecting the bulb for other reasons life).
- Modern dimmers are built by thyristors (1373) instead of potentiometers or variable resistors because they have higher efficiency. The variable resistor will dissipate heat (low efficiency 0.5). By switching on and off, the silicon controlled rectifier is theoretically no longer hot (the efficiency is close to 1.0).
- The earliest recorded dimmer was Weywood's "safe dimmer", published in 1890. Prior to this, dimmers could cause fires. Early dimmers were large dimmer boards that controlled the operation manual directly, which meant that all power came through the position of the lighting control, which could be inconvenient and potentially dangerous, especially with systems with a large number of channels, high power lights or two (Such as a stage ballroom or other similar venue).
- When a TRIAC dimmer is put into use, it is possible to simulate a remote control system (usually a lighting control system at 0-10V). Compared to the previous heavy power cable lighting system, the control system of this line is much smaller (low current and lower danger). Each button has its own control line which means that a large number of wires leave the position of the lighting control and each of the dimmed operations. Modern systems use digital control protocols such as DMX512, ETCnet, or ETCnet2 [1] to control a large number of dimmers (and other stage equipment) through a single cable.
- In 1961, the founder of Lutron Electronics, Joel Pila, invented the first solid-state dimmer. Its current switch is turned off 120 times per second, saving energy and allowing the dimmer to be installed in a standard appliance. In the box.
- The dimmer can be classified according to the control mode and the use occasion. According to the control method, it can be divided into resistance dimmer, voltage regulator dimmer, magnetic amplification reactance dimmer and electronic dimmer; according to the use occasion, it is divided into civilian dimmer, film and television stage dimmer, airport lighting dimmer And daylight integrated control system.
- The resistance dimmer connects the resistance in series between the incandescent light source and the power supply. Changing the resistance value can adjust the current in the light source to achieve the purpose of dimming. Its disadvantages are high energy consumption, low efficiency, large size, and inconvenient control. The advantage is that AC and DC power sources can be used without radio interference. Can be used in laboratories, e-learning demonstrations, and marine navigation equipment.
- An autotransformer that regulates voltage and dimmer. The secondary voltage is changed by adjusting the contact position of the brush and the coil wound around the transformer yoke. It has the advantages of less energy consumption, high efficiency, and increasing the load within the rated power does not affect the original dimming level. The disadvantage is that it is only suitable for AC power, heavy and heavy non-ferrous and ferrous metals, and cannot be controlled from a distance.
- The magnetic amplification reactance dimmer changes the inductive reactance of the AC winding by changing the magnitude of the current in the DC winding wound on the iron yoke. It has good dimming performance and easy control, but it is bulky and bulky and has been replaced by electronic dimmers.
- Electronic dimmers used thyristors as switching elements in the early days, and later used thyristor elements. This kind of dimmer has the advantages of light weight, small size, high efficiency, easy remote operation, etc., and is widely used. Its disadvantage is that if no effective filtering measures are taken, radio interference will be generated, and the gas discharge light source such as