Zigbee 12V PWM (Led) Dimmer
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 12:15 pm
Hi,
Years ago I struggled with building an X10 LED dimmer. (domoticaforum.eu/viewtopic.php?f=19& ... 822#p37822).
Things getting much better with Zigbee technology:
- No need for wiring the 230V to the unit; 12V DC will do.
- Smooth dimming: 256 steps instead of 20 (with X10)
- Reporting of the unit state (On/Off/Dim level)
- Much faster: with X10 a Dim/Bright command could take seconds, with Zigbee it's milliseconds
- Much higher reliability (acknowledged transmissions, Mesh network)
Some pictures of the unit: The 2 buttons are for local control, the connectors are for 12V in and PWM out
Here you can see the NetVox Z100A Zigbee module and the N-channel Mosfet for driving the load.
The Mosfet can drive many Amps without a problem (very low on channel resistance)
The design fits nicely in a Hammond box.
The unit confirms to the Zigbee HA profile. The device ID: 0x0003 (Level Controllable Output) and supports the clusters Basic, Identify, OnOff, Level Control, Groups and Scenes.
I'm going to use the unit for driving LED strings.
With some changes of the firmware it should be possible to build a 230V (Triac) unit too (though the power supply could be a problem).
Years ago I struggled with building an X10 LED dimmer. (domoticaforum.eu/viewtopic.php?f=19& ... 822#p37822).
Things getting much better with Zigbee technology:
- No need for wiring the 230V to the unit; 12V DC will do.
- Smooth dimming: 256 steps instead of 20 (with X10)
- Reporting of the unit state (On/Off/Dim level)
- Much faster: with X10 a Dim/Bright command could take seconds, with Zigbee it's milliseconds
- Much higher reliability (acknowledged transmissions, Mesh network)
Some pictures of the unit: The 2 buttons are for local control, the connectors are for 12V in and PWM out
Here you can see the NetVox Z100A Zigbee module and the N-channel Mosfet for driving the load.
The Mosfet can drive many Amps without a problem (very low on channel resistance)
The design fits nicely in a Hammond box.
The unit confirms to the Zigbee HA profile. The device ID: 0x0003 (Level Controllable Output) and supports the clusters Basic, Identify, OnOff, Level Control, Groups and Scenes.
I'm going to use the unit for driving LED strings.
With some changes of the firmware it should be possible to build a 230V (Triac) unit too (though the power supply could be a problem).