Dimmable LED Panel

Dimmable LED panel: how to choose the dimming system

A dimmable LED panel is a large surface fitting, in 60x30, 60x60, 120x30 or 120x60 cm, whose driver allows the light level to be varied from an external control. The important decision here is not the wattage or the size, but the dimming protocol: TRIAC, PUSH, 0-10V or DALI. Each one needs a specific driver and, in some cases, its own wiring, so it has to be decided before installation: changing system once everything is mounted means replacing the driver and, if a control signal is needed, running new cables.

Dimming serves three concrete purposes: matching the light level to the task, saving when maximum output is not needed, and going from task light to mood light without changing the fitting.

The four protocols, one by one

• TRIAC: phase cut dimming with a conventional 230 V wall dimmer. It is the domestic and refurbishment option, because it does not force you to run any new cable. It does require compatibility between driver and dimmer.
• PUSH: dimmed with an ordinary push switch. A short press switches on and off; a long press raises or lowers the intensity. Widely used in homes because it reuses the mechanism already on the wall.
• 0-10V: an analogue signal reaching the driver through an extra pair of wires. Simple and robust, common in professional installations where control cable can be run.
• DALI: a digital, addressable protocol. Each fitting has its own address, so you can command one panel separately, group several and create scenes. It is the standard in offices and buildings with centralised management.

Which protocol fits each scenario

In homes and refurbishments, TRIAC and PUSH resolve almost everything. If you already have a rotary dimmer on the wall, the short route is a TRIAC dimmable LED panel compatible with it. If what you have is a push switch, a PUSH driver makes use of it with no building work.

In offices, retail and commercial buildings the approach changes. With 0-10V you get reliable zone dimming with very little electronics in between. With DALI you make the jump to centralised management: individual addressing, groupings, scenes and scheduled timetables. If the project includes a building control system, a DALI LED panel is the choice that will not fall short.

Format, mounting and colour temperature

An LED panel gives an even, diffuse light spread across its whole surface, not a directional beam. It recesses into a modular suspended ceiling, with the 60x60 fitting the accessible grid, or mounts on the surface with a specific kit. On colour temperature, 4000K neutral is the reference in offices, 2700-3000K warm suits waiting areas and 6000K cool is kept for technical tasks. The service life of the LED sits between 15,000 and 25,000 hours.

Before ordering your dimmable panel

Confirm three points: the protocol the installation is going to use, that the driver supplied is the one for that protocol, and the model's dimming range, because they do not all go down to the same minimum.

At FactorLED you have dimmable LED panels in TRIAC, PUSH, 0-10V and DALI, in every size and with each driver's spec sheet clearly shown. Tell us which control system you are going to fit and we will confirm the compatible model.

Frequently asked questions about dimmable LED panels

Can I dim an LED panel with any dimmer?

No. The dimmer has to match the driver's protocol: TRIAC needs a compatible phase cut dimmer, PUSH needs a push switch, and 0-10V or DALI need a controller for that system.

What is the difference between DALI and 0-10V?

0-10V is an analogue signal that dims everything connected to that line equally. DALI is digital and addressable: it controls each fitting separately and lets you group them and program scenes.

Which protocol should I choose for a home?

TRIAC if there is already a wall dimmer installed, and PUSH if what you have is a push switch. Both make use of the existing wiring.

Does the protocol have to be decided before buying?

Yes. It determines the driver and the control wiring, so it is the first decision in the project. Changing it later means replacing the driver.