The Evolution of Warm Dim & Tunable White LED Technology

Creating the right ambiance is all about lighting, and some spaces may need to cater to different atmospheres throughout the day. Crisp white light helps us focus and feel awake, while warm light creates an intimate and soothing environment.

 

Unlike older incandescent lighting, which provided a “warm” atmosphere when dimmed, standard LEDs don’t inherently change their color through dimming. However, Warm Dim and Tunable White LED technologies offer two different ways to mimic the results of luminaires used in the past.

 

Warm Dim Applications

 

Both Warm Dim and Dynamic White LED strips can be used to create warm dim applications, where the light output mimics the aesthetic of incandescent lamps by providing warmer CCTs as the light is dimmed. Both LED strip technologies feature pairs of cool and warm diodes that work together to produce the desired effect.

The strips translate the input signal from the power supply; at full intensity power the cooler chip is fully illuminated and the other chip is off. As the light is dimmed, the cool chip’s intensity goes down and the warm chip’s intensity goes up, creating a blend. Low on the dimming curve, the cool chip turns off and the warm chip dims until the light is off.

 

QTL’s Warm Dim strips are available in two CCT ranges:1900K-2700K and 1900K-3000K. Warm Dim strips can be powered by 0-10 input or 2-wire phased dim drivers, or a non-dim power supply paired with a SW SCENE Dongle.

 

QTL’s Dynamic White strip offerings include more options for high efficacy and color temperatures, with the largest CCT range being 2700K-5500K. To create a warm dim application with Dynamic White Strips, a QTM-eLED+WD or QZ-DW should be specified. 

 

Tunable Applications

Only Dynamic White strips can be used to create a tunable application. A tunable driver allows for the full range of color temperatures which can be adjusted without dimming the ouput. In contrast to warm dim applications, the intensity and the color temperature of the LED strip can be controlled separately using two separate 0-10v channels of control. Allowing users to have full control over a range of color temps provides users more flexibility when it comes to applications like circadian lighting design. This has made tunable white LEDs a popular choice in commercial settings.

 

Dynamic White strips utilize 3-wires, which allows for the option to independently control the CCT and intensity, allowing for the transition from one CCT to another while maintaining full intensity. To properly power a DW strip in a tunable application, pair a Non-Dim power supply with an AW SCENE Dongle, or select a 0-10V Adjustable White or Tunable driver.

 

As the sophistication of controls and understanding of the impact of CCT on inhabitants grows, demand for warm dim and tunable options will continue to expand. Wondering which strip is right for your project?  We can help.