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Last modified by Alexander Mott on 2024/01/05 18:55
From version 13.1
edited by Alexander Mott
on 2022/04/14 17:20
Change comment: There is no comment for this version
To version 14.1
edited by Alexander Mott
on 2022/04/15 20:13
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

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1 -Phase Dimming Troubleshooting (WIP)
1 +Phase Dimming Troubleshooting
Content
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21 21  1. Identify the module and output that should be dimming the fixtures
22 22  1. Disconnect the switch leg to the fixture
23 23  1. Connect a multimeter to the switch leg output of the module
24 -1. Measure the AC output at various brightness levels
24 +1. Measure the V AC output at various brightness levels
25 25  1*. If the system has been partially or fully commissioned, it may be possible to use the showrunner™ UI to adjust the brightness
26 26  1*. Alternatively, some modules have physical buttons that can be used to adjust their brightness:
27 27  1**. Press the button to toggle the output on or off. A small LED light on the module will indicate current output on/off status.
28 28  1**. Once the output is on, press and hold the button to cycle dim the output (first press and hold will lower the output, subsequent press and holds will toggle between raising and lowering the output)
29 -1. The AC
29 +1. The measured V AC should decrease with lower brightness levels, but does not necessarily have a linear relationship to the brightness (e.g., output at 20% brightness will be a lower voltage than at 100% brightness, but will not necessarily be 20% of the voltage).
30 30  1*. Chief Integrations has recorded actual AC outputs for a few different 120V Crestron modules, available at the bottom of this article.
31 31  
32 -Below is a table of how to interpret troubleshooting results:
33 -
34 -|(% style="width:209px" %)**Result**|(% style="width:321px" %)**Interpretation**|(% style="width:453px" %)**Next Steps**
35 -|(% style="width:209px" %) |(% style="width:321px" %) |(% style="width:453px" %)(((
36 -
37 -)))
38 -|(% style="width:209px" %) |(% style="width:321px" %)(((
39 -
40 -)))|(% style="width:453px" %)(((
41 -
42 -
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44 -)))
45 -
46 46  = Verifying Fixture Wiring and Compatibility =
47 47  
48 48  == Troubleshooting Phase Dimming Wiring ==
49 49  
50 -There are a number of wiring and hardware issues that may result in fixtures not behaving as expected. Described below are some techniques that can help determine issues with wiring or hardware, however due to the wide variety of available fixtures and drivers it is not comprehensive.
36 +There are a number of wiring and hardware issues that may result in fixtures not behaving as expected. If fixtures are flickering rapidly as they are dimmed, then fixture compatibility with the dimming module should be verified. Check for incorrect wiring in the field by powering off the circuit for the fixtures, disconnecting the wiring from the module to the fixtures, and then powering the circuit back up. If the wires going to the fixtures still have voltage on them, then they are receiving power from some other source besides the module, which will result in dimming and control issues.
51 51  
52 -|(% style="width:273px" %)**Result**|(% style="width:317px" %)**Interpretation**|(% style="width:393px" %)**Next Steps**
53 -|(% style="width:273px" %) |(% style="width:317px" %) |(% style="width:393px" %)
54 -|(% style="width:273px" %) |(% style="width:317px" %) |(% style="width:393px" %)
55 -
56 56  == Determine Fixture Compatibility ==
57 57  
58 58  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
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67 67  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
68 68  Verify that the type of phase dimming required (forward or reverse) matches the type of phase dimming being output by the module. Many Crestron modules are universal phase dimming which should auto-detect the required dimming, but sometimes it will detect the incorrect dimming and must be forced to the correct mode. Consult the installation guide for each module to determine how to check and force the dimming mode.
69 69  
52 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
53 +It is also possible that there is a compatibility issue between the LED driver and the fixture. There are two types of LED driver: constant current and constant voltage. Constant current drivers dim the LED fixtures by varying the voltage output to reduce power while keeping current constant. Constant voltage drivers dim the LED fixtures by rapidly pulsing a constant voltage output. If the incorrect type of driver is used to power the fixtures (e.g. a constant current driver used for fixtures which require constant voltage), then the fixtures will not dim correctly. Verify that the drivers used are compatible with the fixtures.
54 +
70 70  = Specific Crestron Modules =
71 71  
72 72  The below sub-sections cover specific dimming procedures for various phase dimming controllers produced by Crestron.
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105 105  
106 106  = Real World Phase Dimming Data =
107 107  
108 -Below is a table of actual phase dimming readings at various percentage brightness for some Crestron lighting controllers. Measurements were taken from 120V modules operating in forward phase mode.
93 +Below is a table of actual phase dimming readings at various percentage brightness for some Crestron lighting controllers. Measurements were taken from 120V modules using a true-RMS meter (note that the oscilloscope graph appears high because it is reading the peak voltage).
109 109  
110 -|=Percentage Brightness|=CLX-2DIMU8 Oscilloscope Output|=(% style="width: 86px;" %)CLX-2DIMU8 Reading|=(% style="width: 83px;" %)DIN-1DIMU4 Reading
111 -|100%|[[image:1649956710772-275.png]]|(% style="width:86px" %) |(% style="width:83px" %)
112 -|80%|[[image:1649956722651-285.png]]|(% style="width:86px" %) |(% style="width:83px" %)
113 -|60%|[[image:1649956734539-236.png]]|(% style="width:86px" %) |(% style="width:83px" %)
114 -|50%|[[image:1649956742753-637.png]]|(% style="width:86px" %) |(% style="width:83px" %)
115 -|40%|[[image:1649956753212-813.png]]|(% style="width:86px" %) |(% style="width:83px" %)
116 -|20%|[[image:1649956765039-459.png]]|(% style="width:86px" %) |(% style="width:83px" %)
117 -|0%|[[image:1649956845393-707.png]]|(% style="width:86px" %) |(% style="width:83px" %)
95 +|=(% style="width: 99px;" %)Percentage Brightness|=(% style="width: 764px;" %)CLX-2DIMU8 Oscilloscope Output|=(% style="width: 119px;" %)CLX-2DIMU8 Reading (V AC)
96 +|(% style="width:99px" %)100%|(% style="width:764px" %)[[image:1649956710772-275.png]]|(% style="width:119px" %)~~118
97 +|(% style="width:99px" %)80%|(% style="width:764px" %)[[image:1649956722651-285.png]]|(% style="width:119px" %)~~112
98 +|(% style="width:99px" %)60%|(% style="width:764px" %)[[image:1649956734539-236.png]]|(% style="width:119px" %)~~97
99 +|(% style="width:99px" %)50%|(% style="width:764px" %)[[image:1649956742753-637.png]]|(% style="width:119px" %)
100 +|(% style="width:99px" %)40%|(% style="width:764px" %)[[image:1649956753212-813.png]]|(% style="width:119px" %)~~74
101 +|(% style="width:99px" %)20%|(% style="width:764px" %)[[image:1649956765039-459.png]]|(% style="width:119px" %)~~47
102 +|(% style="width:99px" %)0%|(% style="width:764px" %)[[image:1649956845393-707.png]]|(% style="width:119px" %)~~0.005
118 118  
119 119  
120 120  )))