Description
The Ekinex® EK-GA1-TP dimming actuator allows to command and regulate the light
intensity of 2 groups of lighting devices. The device is suitable for the control of
resistive, inductive and capacitive loads powered with 230 Vac. Different types of
loads can be connected to different channels. The device is fitted with membrane
pushbuttons for manual command and LEDs for status indication; a pushbutton allows
the switching between automatic or manual operation modes. The device integrates
a KNX bus communication module and is realised for mounting on a standard 35 mm
DIN-rail. The device is powered by the KNX bus and requires an additional 230 Vac
power supply to operate the loads.
Main features
• Plastic casing
• Frontal programming pushbutton and LED
• Membrane keyboard with LEDs for status indication of outputs
• Pushbutton for switching operating mode (normal / programming)
• Connection to bus line with KNX terminal block
• Connection of outputs and 230 Vac power supply with screw terminals
• Installation on 35 mm rail (according to EN 60715)
• 4 modular units (1 MU = 18 mm)
• IP20 protection degree (installed device)
Technical data
Power supply
• Voltage (loads): 230 Vac 50/60 Hz
• Voltage (electronics): 30 Vdc by KNX bus
• Current consumption from bus: < 13 mA
• Max. power from bus: 320 mW
Outputs
• Number: 2
• Max. controlled power: 300 W
• Min. controlled power: 10 W
Products included
Delivery includes a terminal block for connection to the bus.
+
-
KNX
EK-GA1-TP
2xDimmer 20-300W
230Vac ~ 50/60 Hz
-
+
-
+
~/
3
4
C1
~/
5
6
C2
1
2
L
N
C1
C2
bus KNX
230V~ 50/60Hz
L
N
230 Vac
50/60 Hz
N
230 Vac
50/60 Hz
Versions
Code
EK-GA1-TP
Documentation
For further details, consult the technical sheet
STEKGA1TP_EN.pdf, available for download from www.ekinex.com
Dimming
The lighting system is designed to provide the maximum required illumination,
although in many situations this is not actually necessary. Alongside quantity,
a higher quality of light is increasingly appreciated; for this, it is necessary to
overcome the traditional concept of control which only allows switching on and
off. The light intensity emitted by the lighting fixtures can be controlled thanks to
dimming, individually or in groups, and this can satisfy different needs: for example,
greater visual comfort, providing exactly the amount of light needed where and
when required. In other cases, dimming is useful when there is great availability of
natural light that can be exploited, reducing the component of artificial light. Where
non-negligible power requirements or long turn-on/ turn-off times are at stake, the
brightness control is also effectively used to save energy and extend the useful life
of light sources and electronic components: this is the typical case, for example, of
office environments or production areas.
Traditional techniques
Leading edge phase dimmers reduce the current flow that feeds the load; for a long
time this technique has been used for the dimming of incandescent and halogen
lamps. For this purpose, the power supply wiring of the lamps is used; due to the ban
imposed on these sources by many countries (in the EU starting from the Commission
Regulation 244/2009), this type of dimming has rapidly decreased in importance.
The 1... 10V analog interface represented another very common technique in
combination with fluorescent tubes and dimmable electronic ballasts (EVG) equipped
with the appropriate interface. In this case, the reactor supplies the control voltage
which can be modified by means of a regulation device based on the variation of the
electrical resistance; for this purpose, a separate additional electrical connection is
required, while the switching on and off takes place through the connection of the
230 Vac power supply network.
The arrival of bus systems for building automation has made it possible to use
actuators / dimmers, with dedicated 1 ... 10V control outputs, and to connect them
to the network for group controls, lighting scenarios and coordinated operation with
other functions. The diffusion of digital communication interfaces on board of the
lighting bodies - in particular those with DALI standard - is reducing the use of the
1 ... 10V dimming technique.
Hue and colour adjustments
LED lamps have quickly become the most popular light sources on the market; they
offer a number of adjustment which previously were difficult to realize, such as
such as warm / cool white light and color control. Applications that reproduce the
variation in colour temperature typical of natural light in indoor environments, such
as HCL control, have become possible at very affordable costs. There is a difference
in control between the modes:
• DIM TO WARM: with the “dim to warm” control the colour of the light becomes
warmer as the brightness is reduced;
• TUNABLE WHITE: With the “tunable white” control the brightness and colour of
the light are set separately.
Special features of LED sources
From a technical point of view, LEDs are ideal to dimming, a feature that is not true
for all light sources, as in the case of discharge lamps. However, there are different
types of LED sources such as:
• LED lamps without integrated driver;
• LED lamps with integrated driver and 230 Vac mains voltage power supply;
• LED lamps with integrated driver, very low voltage power supply (12 / 24V).
Only some of the most common control systems are automatically suitable for
dimming LED lamps: to define the most suitable solution, it is therefore always
necessary to check in advance the compatibility between sources and control devices.
The LED sources can be dimmed either by analog dimming by adjusting the current
or by using the PWM technique (pulse-width modulation). In the latter case, the
current flow through the LED is interrupted rhythmically with a certain frequency.
The greater the intervals between the current delivery phases, the lower the actual
and average current through the LED and therefore the perceived brightness. PWM
frequencies higher than 300 Hz are not perceptible to the human eye and therefore
no flickering is noticeable, despite a modulation in progress.
Light adjustment
DIMMER
I
t
100 %
I
t
80 %
I
t
20 %
Analog LED dimming
I
t
100 %
I
t
80 %
I
t
20 %
PWM LED dimming
EVG
EVG
EVG
EVG
EVG
EVG
Actuators / dimmers with
bus communication and
control output 1...10V
Control
signal 1...10V
230 Vac
power supply
Dimmable electronic ballasts
with 1...10V interface
Gateway
KNX
DALI
DALI
- - - - -
- - - - -
DALI
EVG
DALI
EVG
DALI
EVG
DALI
EVG
DALI
EVG
DALI
EVG
DALI
EVG
DALI
EVG
max. 64 DALI ballasts
2-fold dimming actuator
DIMMERS
SMART LIGHTING
SMART LIGHTING
64
65
