Table 1. COMPARISON BETWEEN BALLAST CONTROL METHODS. |
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| Digital | 0-10V | Two-wire phase Control | Three wire phase control | Infrared control |
| Dimming range: 1%-100% dimming ballasts are available. |
Dimming range: 3%-100% ballasts are available for T8 lamps; 1%-100% ballasts are available for T5HO lamps. |
Dimming range: 5%-100% available for T8 lamps; 1%-100% available for T5HO lamps. |
Dimming range: 1%-100% available. |
Dimming range: 1%-100% available. |
| Wiring configuration: It is recommended that a five wire Class 1 rated cable is used. The ballasts and control devices must be Class 1 rated. Otherwise, the control wires have to be routed separately from the power wires. |
Wiring configuration: Two power wires are run through the conduit carrying line voltage wires. The control wires are Class 2 and are not allowed in the same conduit. Some local codes require a separate Class 2 conduit. |
Wiring configuration: Both power and control are routed through the same line-voltage wires. This ballast wires the same way as a conventional non-dim ballast. |
Wiring configuration: All wires are Class 1, and relative to the phase control ballast, there is an additional control wire which is routed in the same conduit as the other wires. |
Wiring configuration: No additional wires are required outside the fixture. The dimming device is either integral to the ballast or a separate interface within the fixture. |
| Typical applications: Small and open offices where users can control their own lighting; conference rooms and classrooms that require different lighting scenes for multiple types of use; supermarkets and certain retail spaces where merchandising and layout changes frequently. | Typical applications: Ideally suited for energy management systems. New construction and retrofit installations: auditoriums and training areas, conference rooms and boardrooms, department and specialty stores, education, healthcare, hotels, houses of worship, private and executive offices, restaurants. | Typical applications: While two-wire ballasts can be incorporated into building-wide control systems, according to their primary manufacturer they are ideally suited for architectural dimming, stand-alone, retrofit and low-cost projects. New construction and retrofit installations: auditoriums and training areas, conference rooms and boardrooms, department and specialty stores, education, healthcare, hotels, houses of worship, private and executive offices, restaurants. |
Typical applications: Ideally suited for architectural dimming. Conference rooms, boardrooms, patient/examination/treatment rooms, houses of worship, theaters, convention areas, restaurants, air traffic control centers, industrial control rooms, partitioned meeting rooms, graphic art workstations, CAD/CAM workstations, private offices. | Typical applications: Ideally suited for spaces where individual control is desired without additional wiring. Conference rooms, board rooms, open and private offices. |
| Controlled by: Building automation system or lighting automation system. Occupant override through PC or local preset controller. |
Controlled by: Energy management systems and occupants. |
Controlled by: Local controls accessible to the occupants. |
Controlled by: Central control systems and local controls accessible to the occupants. |
Controlled by: Individual controls (infrared transmitters) given to the occupants. |
| Available from Advance, Lutron, OSRAM Sylvania, Tridonic, Universal. |
Available from Advance, Lutron, OSRAM SYLVANIA, Tridonic, Universal. | Available from Advance, Lutron, OSRAM SYLVANIA. | Available from Lutron. | Available from Lutron. |
| Bottom line: Installed component cost can be higher than comparable 0-10VDC systems due to power supply/router requirements, but the total installed cost can be significantly less after considering the wiring labor for group and scene control. Flexible system that offers individual ballast control and status feedback. Allows software configuration of lighting groups, presets matching the lighting to the space usage, and integrated energy management functions. May be configured as a large networked system requiring commissioning and training or as simple stand-alone room preset dimming controls requiring no special tools or PCs. Components of different manufacturers can be combined in the same installation. |
Bottom line: Energy savings through building management system and occupant control. |
Bottom line: Architectural dimming system, ideal for conference rooms, etc. as well as stand-alone and retrofits, and can be integrated into a buildingwide system. |
Bottom line: Architectural dimming system that can be integrated into a buildingwide system. |
Bottom line: Individual control system which can also be integrated into a buildingwide control system. |