What is triac dimming?

Triac dimming is a method of dimming lights or other electrical devices using a triac, which is a type of semiconductor device used to control the power flow in electronic circuits. Triac dimming is commonly used in residential and commercial lighting applications as a cost-effective and efficient way to control the brightness of light fixtures.

In a triac dimming system, the triac acts as a switch that rapidly turns the power on and off to the light fixture. By varying the timing of these on/off cycles, the amount of power flowing to the fixture can be controlled, thereby adjusting the brightness of the light.

One of the advantages of triac dimming is its compatibility with existing wiring and fixtures, making it easy to retrofit older lighting systems with dimming capabilities. Triac dimming is also known for its smooth dimming performance and ability to dim LED and other solid-state lighting sources without flickering or buzzing.

However, triac dimming may not be suitable for all types of loads, as it can cause issues with some electronic devices and may not provide as precise control as other dimming methods such as 0-10V dimming or DALI. Additionally, triac dimming systems may require special dimmer switches and may not be compatible with all types of light fixtures.

Overall, triac dimming is a widely used and reliable method for dimming lights that offers good performance and ease of installation for many applications.