What Is the Difference between 0/1-10V and PWM Dimming?

0/1-10V dimming and PWM dimming control are two different dimming methods, and there are significant differences between them. Here is a detailed comparison of the two dimming methods:

Definition and Working Principle

0/1-10V Dimming

Definition: 0-10V dimming, also known as 0/1-10V dimming, is an analog dimming method.

Working principle: By changing the voltage of 0-10V or 1-10V to control the output current of the power supply, so as to achieve the effect of dimming. When the voltage changes, the control chip in the power supply will adjust the output current accordingly, thus changing the brightness of the LED. The 0-10V dimmer turns off the lamp output at 0V, while the 1-10V dimmer does not have a switch function and cannot turn the lamp to the lowest off state.

PWM dimming

Definition: PWM dimming, that is, pulse width modulation dimming, is a digital dimming method.

Working principle: The PWM waveform is turned on and off the LED to change the turn-on time of the forward current, so as to achieve the effect of brightness adjustment. A PWM signal consists of a series of pulses whose period (or frequency) is fixed, but the width of each pulse (i.e. how long the high level lasts) is variable. By adjusting the width of the pulse (duty cycle), the average brightness of the LED can be controlled.

Performance characteristics

0/1-10V Dimming

Advantages: Simple application, good compatibility, high precision, and good dimming effect.

Disadvantages: The construction requirements are high, the signal line needs to be distributed separately, and single light control cannot be achieved in the dimming system. In addition, the 0-10V dimming power supply and 1-10V dimming power supply are different in the turning on and turning off voltage, and it is necessary to pay attention to matching.

PWM dimming

Advantages:

High efficiency and energy saving: Brightness adjustment is achieved by controlling the on-time of the LED, which can reduce energy consumption and reduce heat generation more effectively than the traditional analog dimming method (such as changing the current size).

Brightness stability: It can keep the light color stability of the LED under different brightness, avoid color deviation, and improve the lighting quality.

Flexible adjustment: By adjusting the duty cycle of the PWM signal, the brightness of the LED can be accurately controlled to achieve a wide range of brightness adjustment.

Wide application range: suitable for a variety of LED lighting application scenarios, such as stage lighting, cinema and TV backlight, smart home lighting system, automotive lighting system, etc.

Disadvantages: Although PWM dimming has many advantages, in some specific application scenarios, it may need to pay attention to its potential electromagnetic interference problems and the impact on the life of the LED (although this impact is usually small and can be reduced by reasonable circuit design).

Application Scenario

0/1-10V dimming: Mainly used in the need of high-precision dimming control, such as commercial lighting, home lighting and so on. In particular, 0-10V dimming is more popular because of its switching function.

PWM dimming: It is widely used in situations that require precise control of brightness and color, such as stage lighting, cinema and TV backlighting, smart home lighting systems, and automotive lighting systems.

In essence, a clear distinction can be drawn between 0/1-10V dimming and PWM dimming control, encompassing their definitions, underlying principles of operation, distinctive performance features, and the diverse scenarios in which they are utilized. The determination of which dimming mode to employ necessitates a thorough consideration of the specific application context and associated requirements.