The Eternal Dimming Struggle

Great lighting design components, but brightness still to be tuned.

I thought that by now we should have evolved to a stage within the LED era that we can have peace of mind in regard to the use of dimming systems in our commercial projects. But no…it seems we still come across contractors and suppliers who still have not mastered the process of properly installing dimmable LED lighting technology. I would say the “established brands” probably have, however there are many players, specifically if you look at it geographically.

Over the past week I visited two of our project sites, one in Perth, Australia and another in Dongguan, China. Two vastly different projects, one a small storage facility, the other a huge, sprawling hotel resort covering several hectares. Yet in essence the issue was the same, the lack of familiarity with what it takes to smoothly install and dim lighting from 100 to 0%.

As a principle we make sure that whomever we recommend for the dimming systems, checks that the light fittings that we have specified can properly be addressed and controlled, We connect both manufacturers and ask them to report back to us if any significant issues were encountered in dimming the proposed light fixtures.  Generally this testing takes place at the premises of the dimmer “guys”. Sometimes we are physically present, sometimes time and locations does not allow us to do that in which case we ask for a report and when possible video evidence. 

In case of the China project our “regular” dimmer system recommendations were rejected by the client due to costs and as a result we were stuck with two companies (fairly well know actually but) with no real experience in high end hotel projects. The site engineers sent to assist in programming seem to have little understanding of our scene setting specifications taking ages to find and programming circuits…that is if the circuit was actually properly wired to be controlled by a control panel. Not only that, we found in most cases the light was not dimming properly, showing hardly any dimming from 100 to 40%, then cutting of abruptly while still fairly bright. 

Which is another issue often encountered, the local contractors are still living in the old days of dimming (if at all) and don’t seem to be bothered to read drawings and as a result just wire the lights as they seem fit, not the way you show in your drawing, leaving out control wires in the process. We often discover this on site and then re-wiring becomes a big time and cost hurdle to chase. Contractors by definition, always cut corners when they take on a contract at a fixed sum.  

The case in our Australia project was of lesser impact. The contractor was just unfamiliar with the Dali dimming system and its required wiring and programming. With a bit of help and direction however, this could be quickly remedied. We will be needed to assist in the programming and scene setting but at least we are confident the equipment which is as specified will do its job.

It still seems that regardless how well you specify and anticipate, you still encounter unwilling and unexperienced contractors and suppliers that can undo all the hard design work you put in…