What exactly is phase cut and phase on?
By Esther / September 10, 2024
Basically, there are two general ways to dim lighting. Phase on and phase off. Both ways are suitable for a different type of light source. What the difference is between these ways and which way is best for you we explain here.
What is phase cut-off?
Phase cut-off is a technique used in dimmers to control the brightness of a lamp. It works by cutting off part of the alternating current cycle, reducing the amount of energy going to the lamp. This can be done in two ways:
Precut: Precut involves cutting off the beginning of the alternating current cycle. This type of dimmer is often used with traditional incandescent lamps and some halogen lamps. It can cause problems with sensitive electronic devices such as LED lamps because the sudden voltage spikes can cause malfunctions.
End cut-off: End cut-off involves cutting off the end of the alternating current cycle. This more modern method works better with electronically controlled lamps such as LEDs. It provides a smoother dimming curve and reduces the risk of interference and flicker.
Phase cut dimming
Dimmers with phase cut-off are marked with the letters RC. These dimmers are suitable for incandescent bulbs, 230-volt halogen bulbs, 12-volt halogen bulbs, dimmable LED bulbs, and dimmable energy-saving bulbs.
By dimming lights using the phase cut method, you can save energy. With a dimming range of 100%, you can fully dim the lamp until it is off.
Almost all dimmable lamps from Lampenlicht are dimmed based on the cut-off principle. When you choose phase cut, you choose the most energy efficient principle, because it reduces the load on the lamp and can extend the life of the lamp.
What is phase cutting?
Phase cut is a technique used in dimmers to control the brightness of lamps. It works by cutting off part of the alternating current cycle at the beginning, reducing the amount of energy going to the lamp. With phase cut, current is passed through only after part of the alternating current cycle has begun. This means that the dimmer slows the flow of current for a few milliseconds. As a result, the lamp receives less power, reducing brightness. Phase cutting works well with traditional incandescent lamps and some types of halogen lamps. Many modern LED bulbs do not work well with phase cut, because the sudden current spikes can cause problems in the LED's electronics.
Phase-cut dimming
Dimmers with leading-edge dimming are marked with the letters RL. These dimmers are suitable for traditional incandescent bulbs and some halogen bulbs. Dimming lighting using the leading-edge method can help you save energy. With a dimming range of 100%, you can dim the light all the way down until it turns off. When you choose leading-edge dimming, you’re choosing a reliable method that’s particularly suitable for older and less sensitive bulbs, although it can cause malfunctions, flickering, and buzzing in some modern LED and energy-saving bulbs.
