0-10V lighting control
Encyclopedia
0-10 V is one of the earliest and simplest electronic lighting control signaling systems; simply put, the control signal is a DC voltage
that varies between zero and ten volt
s. The controlled lighting should scale its output so that at 10 V, the controlled light should be at 100% of its potential output, and at 0 V it should at 0% output (i.e. “Off”). Dimming devices may be designed to respond in various patterns to the intermediate voltages, giving output curves that are linear for: voltage output, actual light output, power output, or perceived light output.
There are two variations to the 0 to 10 V system, 0 to -10 V and 0 to +10 V. Despite being incompatible with each other, both systems were widely implemented by lighting manufacturers.
Dimming fluorescent ballasts and dimming LED drivers often use 0-10 V control signals to control dimming functions. In many cases, the dimming range of the power supply or ballast is limited. If the light output can only be dimmed from 100% down to 10%, there must be a switch or relay available to kill power to the system and turn the light completely off.
Most 0-10 V controllers offer either a built-in line voltage relay or an external line voltage relay. Depending on the application, these options should be considered.
In production lighting this system was replaced by analog multiplexed systems such as D54 and AMX192
, which themselves have been almost completely replaced by DMX512. For dimmable fluorescent lamp
s (where it operates instead at 1-10 V, where 1 V is minimum and 0 V is off) the system is being replaced by DSI
, which itself is in the process of being replaced by DALI
.
When using this system, one must take into consideration the actual application, since controlling office lights is not the same as controlling theatrical lighting. 0-10 V lighting control is widely used in commercial and industrial lighting by ballast manufacturers such as GE
, Philips
, Universal, Metrolight, and Sylvania
. There are distributed control approaches on the market today that can be installed inside or very near the fixture(s) to be controlled thus eliminating the wire runs and the voltage drop.
per control channel (plus a common return wire), a sophisticated system could have hundreds of wires, requiring expensive multicore
cable
s and connectors
. Over a long cable, the voltage drop
requires every channel of the receiving device to be calibrated
to compensate for the voltage losses. (This is only a theoretical limitation as the resistance of the thinnest practical wire is around 20 Ω/1000 m.) Interference from nearby ac power cables can affect the signal to the fitting and even cause flickering. Signal wire running parallel to power cables for a fair distance would need to be screened.
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
that varies between zero and ten volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
s. The controlled lighting should scale its output so that at 10 V, the controlled light should be at 100% of its potential output, and at 0 V it should at 0% output (i.e. “Off”). Dimming devices may be designed to respond in various patterns to the intermediate voltages, giving output curves that are linear for: voltage output, actual light output, power output, or perceived light output.
There are two variations to the 0 to 10 V system, 0 to -10 V and 0 to +10 V. Despite being incompatible with each other, both systems were widely implemented by lighting manufacturers.
Dimming fluorescent ballasts and dimming LED drivers often use 0-10 V control signals to control dimming functions. In many cases, the dimming range of the power supply or ballast is limited. If the light output can only be dimmed from 100% down to 10%, there must be a switch or relay available to kill power to the system and turn the light completely off.
Most 0-10 V controllers offer either a built-in line voltage relay or an external line voltage relay. Depending on the application, these options should be considered.
In production lighting this system was replaced by analog multiplexed systems such as D54 and AMX192
AMX192
AMX192 is an analog lighting communications protocol used to control stage lighting. It was developed by Strand Century in the late 1970s. Originally, AMX192 was only capable of controlling 192 discrete channels of lighting. Later, multiple AMX192 streams were supported by some lighting desks...
, which themselves have been almost completely replaced by DMX512. For dimmable fluorescent lamp
Fluorescent lamp
A fluorescent lamp or fluorescent tube is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor. The excited mercury atoms produce short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing visible light. A fluorescent lamp converts electrical power into useful...
s (where it operates instead at 1-10 V, where 1 V is minimum and 0 V is off) the system is being replaced by DSI
Digital Signal Interface
Digital Signal Interface is a protocol for the controlling of lighting in buildings . It was created in 1991 by Austrian company Tridonic and is based on Manchester-coded 8-bit protocol, data rate of 1200 baud, 1 start bit, 8 data bits , 4 stop bits, and is the basis of the more sophisticated...
, which itself is in the process of being replaced by DALI
Digital Addressable Lighting Interface
Digital Addressable Lighting Interface is a technical standard for network-based systems that control lighting in buildings. It was established as a successor for 0-10 V lighting control systems, and as an open standard alternative to Digital Signal Interface , on which it is based...
.
When using this system, one must take into consideration the actual application, since controlling office lights is not the same as controlling theatrical lighting. 0-10 V lighting control is widely used in commercial and industrial lighting by ballast manufacturers such as GE
Gê
Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay....
, Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, Universal, Metrolight, and Sylvania
Sylvania Electric Products
Sylvania Electric Products was a U.S. manufacturer of diverse electrical equipment, including at various times radio transceivers, vacuum tubes, semiconductors, and mainframe computers...
. There are distributed control approaches on the market today that can be installed inside or very near the fixture(s) to be controlled thus eliminating the wire runs and the voltage drop.
Advantages and disadvantages
The simplicity of the lighting system makes it straightforward to understand, implement and diagnose, and its low current (typically 1 mA) means it can be run along relatively thin cables with little voltage drop. However, since it requires one wireElectrical wiring
Electrical wiring in general refers to insulated conductors used to carry electricity, and associated devices. This article describes general aspects of electrical wiring as used to provide power in buildings and structures, commonly referred to as building wiring. This article is intended to...
per control channel (plus a common return wire), a sophisticated system could have hundreds of wires, requiring expensive multicore
Multi-core (computing)
A multi-core processor is a single computing component with two or more independent actual processors , which are the units that read and execute program instructions...
cable
Cable
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry...
s and connectors
Electrical connector
An electrical connector is an electro-mechanical device for joining electrical circuits as an interface using a mechanical assembly. The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, require a tool for assembly and removal, or serve as a permanent electrical joint between two wires or...
. Over a long cable, the voltage drop
Voltage drop
Voltage drop is the reduction in voltage in the passive elements of an electrical circuit. Voltage drops across conductors, contacts, connectors and source internal resistances are undesired as they reduce the supplied voltage while voltage drops across loads and other electrical and electronic...
requires every channel of the receiving device to be calibrated
Calibration
Calibration is a comparison between measurements – one of known magnitude or correctness made or set with one device and another measurement made in as similar a way as possible with a second device....
to compensate for the voltage losses. (This is only a theoretical limitation as the resistance of the thinnest practical wire is around 20 Ω/1000 m.) Interference from nearby ac power cables can affect the signal to the fitting and even cause flickering. Signal wire running parallel to power cables for a fair distance would need to be screened.
See also
- DimmerDimmerDimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light. By decreasing or increasing the RMS voltage and, hence, the mean power to the lamp, it is possible to vary the intensity of the light output...