Phasecut

TRIAC (Triac Alternating Current Switch) and ELV (Electronic Low Voltage) dimmers are often installed to control the brightness of incandescent and halogen lamps. As so-called phasecut dimmers, these devices regulate the transmitted power by blocking-off parts of the alternating current (AC) sine wave. 50 Hz 230V AC mains power, consisting of 100 sinus half-waves per second, is thus temporarily cut-off 100 times per second. By varying the cut-off duration, the transmitted power, and thus the illuminant’s brightness, is regulated. LEDs, alas, cannot be used directly with phasecut dimmers. As they require direct current (DC) rather than alternating current (AC), one needs to interpose a LED driver. Constant Current (CC) Phasecut LED Drivers enable the control of many standard LED illuminants with phase-fired dimmers. ProConnecting stocks a wide variety of phasecut-compatible CC LED power supplies from SC Power and Mean Well. Phase-angle control dimmers feature current levels from 500mA to 2400mA. Nominal outputs between 15W and 60W are guaranteed by SC Power and MeanWell devices.