LED fittings dim in four common ways: Triac over existing mains wiring and wall dimmers, 0-10V with two analogue control wires for group dimming, DALI with a two-wire digital bus for individual control and scenes, and Bluetooth for app-based control without new wiring. The right choice depends on whether the building already has dimmers, how much control you need and whether new control wiring is possible. KELVANO fittings are available with all four, depending on the series.
The four systems at a glance
| Triac (phase-cut) | 0-10V | DALI | Bluetooth (BLE) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control signal | Cuts the mains waveform | Analogue voltage on 2 wires | Digital bus on 2 wires | Wireless |
| Extra wiring | None | 2 control wires | 2 control wires | None |
| Control level | Group, from a wall dimmer | Group | Individual or group, addressable | Individual or group, via app or gateway |
| Scenes and feedback | No | No | Yes, with fault reporting | Scenes via app |
| Typical use | Refits with existing dimmers | New builds, simple groups | Larger buildings, offices, hotels | Retail and hospitality refits |
| Cost of control | Lowest | Low | Higher | Moderate |
Triac: dimming on existing wiring
Triac dimming cuts part of the mains waveform to reduce power. It uses the existing two mains wires and a wall dimmer, so it is the simplest option for refits.
- Choose LED-rated dimmers. Trailing-edge dimmers generally suit LED drivers better than leading-edge types.
- Check the minimum load. A dimmer designed for large incandescent loads may flicker with a few low-wattage LED fittings.
- Keep one fitting type per dimmer circuit so every fitting dims the same way.
Our dimmable recessed spotlight has Triac dimming as standard.
0-10V: simple group dimming
A 0-10V driver reads a control voltage on two extra wires: 10 V is full output, lower voltages dim. All fittings on the same control pair dim together. It is reliable and inexpensive, but it cannot address fittings individually and gives no feedback. Note that 1-10V is a similar but not identical standard; confirm which one your controller uses.
DALI: individual control and scenes
DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) gives every fitting an address on a two-wire bus. From one controller you can:
- dim or switch any fitting individually,
- group fittings in software and change groups without rewiring,
- store scenes such as opening, trading and cleaning,
- receive fault reports from drivers.
DALI-2 is the current version of the standard, published by the DALI Alliance, with certified interoperability between products from different makers. For larger stores, offices and hotels, DALI is usually the best long-term choice.
Bluetooth: app control without new wiring
Bluetooth (BLE) drivers receive commands wirelessly from a phone app or a gateway, over the specification maintained by the Bluetooth SIG. Fittings can be grouped and scenes set without control wiring, which makes Bluetooth attractive for store and hospitality refits. Check the app and gateway options for your project, and who will manage the system after handover.
Dimming plus switchable settings
Most of our track spot and downlight series can also be supplied with a switch on the fitting for power level and colour temperature, with dimming available alongside. The switch sets the fitting’s maximum output and colour on site; the dimming system then controls the level day to day. Exact combinations are confirmed per model on your quotation.
Which one for your project?
| Situation | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Shop refit, existing wall dimmers, no new wiring | Triac |
| New build, a few groups, simple controls | 0-10V |
| Chain store, office or hotel with scenes and maintenance reporting | DALI |
| Boutique or restaurant refit, app control wanted | Bluetooth |
Should a shop fit-out and a retail estate use the same dimming system?
Usually not: a single shop is decided by the wiring already in the ceiling, while an estate is decided by how scenes are copied and changed across many sites. The comparison below keeps to qualitative points, because wiring and commissioning effort depend on the building.
One shop: the fit-out decision
Existing wall dimmers point to Triac, which suits a dimmable recessed spotlight or LED track lighting fitted into an existing circuit, because the fittings dim on the mains wiring already in place. An app-controlled boutique points to Bluetooth, which adds scenes without new control cable. If the ceiling is being opened anyway, DALI or 0-10V cable can be pulled at little extra disruption, and the choice then rests on how much control the shop will use.
Many shops: the estate decision
An estate, such as the retail store lighting of a chain or the supermarket lighting of a larger floor, needs the same scenes in every store and a way to see what has failed. DALI addresses each fitting on a two-wire bus, so one scene set can be saved once and copied from store to store, and fittings can report faults for maintenance. 0-10V stays useful for simple groups in back-of-house areas, where a single level for the group is enough. Bluetooth can serve a small chain, but each site is commissioned on its own, so changes are made store by store.
Comparison by situation
| System | Extra wiring | Commissioning per site | Changing a scene later | Suits a fit-out | Suits an estate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triac | None | Minimal, set at the dimmer | Not applicable, one level per dimmer | Yes, where wall dimmers stay | Only for simple back-of-house groups |
| 0-10V | Two control wires per group | Light, groups are wired | Rewire or reset the group controller | Yes, for a few simple groups | For simple groups only |
| DALI | Two-wire bus | Addressing and scene set-up on each site | Edit once, then copy to other sites | Yes, when the ceiling is open | Yes, the main choice |
| Bluetooth | None | Pairing and scenes on each site | Changed in the app, site by site | Yes, especially a boutique refit | Small chains |
Ordering the driver for each case
The dimming protocol and the on-fixture switch are chosen together, and both are confirmed on the quotation. Most downlight and track spot series can be supplied with an on-fixture switch for power and colour temperature (three CCT settings), with dimming available alongside. Exact steps are confirmed per model. Shopfitters, wholesale distributors and project contractors can tell us the control system for each case, and the minimum order is 50 units per SKU.
Which KELVANO fittings support which control?
Each family is supplied with one control option per fitting, chosen on the quotation. The recessed downlight, grid and tri-proof families cover all four protocols; the COB track spots, the surface-mounted cylinders and the batten and linear range are non-dimming or Bluetooth (BLE); the high bay is 0-10V or DALI.
| Family | Non-dimming | Triac | 0-10V | DALI | Bluetooth (BLE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track spotlights, KV-TS-101 to KV-TS-103 and the KV-TZ-101 zoom spot | Standard | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| COB track spotlights, KV-TS-104 and KV-TS-105 | Standard | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Available, app, remote or wall panel |
| Grille track spotlights | Standard on KV-TG-102 to KV-TG-104 | Available | Available | Available | Available on KV-TG-102 to KV-TG-104 |
| 48V magnetic track | Confirmed per project | ||||
| Recessed downlights and the pull-out gimbal | Standard | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Dimmable recessed spotlight, KV-SP-104 | Not offered | Standard | Available | Available | Not offered |
| Grid downlights, KV-GR-101 and KV-GR-102 | Standard | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Surface mounted downlights | Standard | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Available, app, remote or wall panel |
| Batten and linear lights | Standard | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Available, app, remote or wall panel |
| IP65 tri-proof lights | Standard | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| High bay lights | Standard | Not offered | Available, specified per order | Available, specified per order | Not offered |
| Floodlights | Confirmed on your quotation | ||||
“Available” means the driver is offered on that series and is specified per order, not that every wattage carries it; the exact driver for each line of your schedule is confirmed on your quotation. Where a family is listed as confirmed per project or confirmed on your quotation, no control option is published for it yet.
Choose the driver with your quotation
Tell us your control system, or the result you want, and we specify the right driver for each fitting. Our LED track lighting, LED downlights and grid downlights are available non-dimming or with Triac, 0-10V, DALI or Bluetooth depending on the series. Quotations within 24 hours.
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