DALI/PUSH/1-10V dimming: What’s the difference and which to choose?

A range of our luminaires can be used with a choice of dimmable drivers. Below is an explanation of the differences between the most common types of dimming controls to help you choose the option that best suits your requirements. As always for more information please refer to the datasheet of the product you are wishing to add a dimming system to.

DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface)

These dimmer switches use a digital protocol to send a dimming control signal to a driver down separate wires to the mains supply. They do not directly control the energy passed to the driver. Lamps are never (directly) DALI dimmable. DALI is a standard so any DALI dimmer switch will work for a DALI dimmable driver.

1-10V Dimming (analogue)

These dimmer switches are similar to DALI but send an extra low voltage analogue control signal (1-10V) to a driver down separate wires to the mains supply. They do not directly control the energy passed to the driver. Lamps are never directly 1-10V dimmable. 1-10V is a standard so any 1-10V dimmer switch should work for a 1-10V dimmable driver. 1-10V dimming systems require a switch that controls the mains supply on/off and the separate 1-10V dimming signal

PUSH Dimming (Switch Dim, Analogue)

A dimming method using a simple retractive (non-latching) switch. The input from the switch to the driver is in addition to the main power supply to the driver. With Primary PUSH dimming, an additional live with a retractive switch and a neutral are connected to the driver. Normally a short push of the switch turns the driver on/off, while a long push dims up and down. The switch operation is the same with Secondary PUSH dimming but the supply to the switch comes from and returns to the driver via the retractive switch, usually at a reduced voltage. PUSH dimming may also be called Switch DIM.

Dimmable Switches – for our dimmable drivers there is NO set recommended dimmer switch. All you will need is a DALI switch for a DALI driver, a 1-10V switch for a 1-10V driver and a retractive switch for PUSH dimming. For more detailed information on the switches, such as the number of switches needed per install we always recommend going to the manufacturer’s documentation