Lighting control with Larnitech home automation systems

Real life experience by Comfort Life installation company
The main purpose of this article is to show how and by what devices lighting can be controlled in a smart home. After reading this article, you will gain a clear understanding of different connected schemes, as well as an insight into apartment plans that have lighting controls in place.

Our goal is to examine possible options for integrating lighting into a smart home. It is pertinent to keep in mind that this article is a review of our experience with lighting, not a comprehensive review of all existing control standards. We only consider wired lighting control options in this article.

For convenience, you can quickly move to the desired section.
1. Non-dimmable lighting control
Non-dimmable lighting is lighting that has two states: either “on” or “off”.

This is the most popular smart home solution on the market. In most cases, when they talk about lighting control, they mean a simple on and off.

As a device, relays are used with installation on a DIN rail. By closing and opening the phase wire, we turn the lamp on or off.

  • Most often controlled by LED lamps. It is very important that the relay holds the starting currents of the LED lamps.

1.1. Advantages of non-dimmable lighting control


  • It's harder to mess up the implementation when the light is controlled via a relay. In fact, a properly selected relay that holds the load and inrush currents will allow you to control the lighting for as long as possible.
  • Most cost effective control compared to other lighting control methods.
  • 99% of luminaires can be controlled via relays.
1.2. Cons of controlling non-dimmable lighting

  • It is important to understand that, in essence, we are simulating a switch being pressed. In this connection, the light lights up immediately at 100%, which in some cases can hit the eyes.
  • With relay control of power supplies, there is a delay when the LED strip turns on.
  • Relays take up a lot of space in the switchboard. Because of this, the dimensions of the distribution board can be large.
  • An incorrectly selected relay will stick, causing the light to stay on all the time. Until the power supply stops.
  • Relays make a sound when closed. Powerful relays, make a loud sound. This can be annoying in some situations.
1.3. When is non-dimmable light control most commonly used?

  • In situations where it is necessary to reduce the budget for smart home control. Since the control relay is not an expensive smart home device (compared to dimmers). Also, lamps without the ability to adjust the brightness are cheaper.
  • Management of landscape and technical lighting on the site. Home lighting.
  • Inside the apartment - these are laundry rooms, corridors, sconces in the rooms, any decorative and locally located lamps, hatch lighting in the bathroom and sometimes cabinet lighting.
  • Illuminated mirrors not made to order.
  • In commercial projects where only switching on and off is necessary (business centers, hotels, apartments, etc.)
  • In projects of novice integrators. Since, control through a relay is the simplest both in physical implementation and in software.
1.4. Basic schemes for controlling non-dimmable lighting

Consider Larnitech equipment for a smart home, namely the basic schemes for connecting the lighting of one lamp. The main task is to demonstrate what is the minimum set of equipment needed to control one luminaire.

As a basic lighting control relay at Larnitech, we use a 10-channel DW-LC10 relay. According to the technical documentation, the relay holds an inrush current of up to 120A (20 ms).
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (2 pcs.)
2. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (2 pcs.)
3. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
4. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
5. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
6. Relay Larnitech DW-LC10 (1 pc.)
7. Terminal WAGO 2003-7646 (1 pc.)
8. End cap WAGO 2003-7692 (1 pc.)
1.5. Examples from practice. Non-dimmable lighting control at Larnitech
Plan with non-dimmable Larnitech lighting
In total, 8 lamps are controlled in the project
Diagram with non-dimmable lighting Larnitech
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Automatic machine ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)
2. Larnitech DW-LC10 relay (1 pc.)
3. Terminal WAGO 2003-7646 (8 pcs.)
4. End cap WAGO 2003-7692 (1 pc.)
5. Jumper WAGO 2002-408 (1 pc.)
6. Cross-module Legrand 4Px7 (1 pc.)
1.6. How much space does non-dimmable lighting take up in the distribution board

In home automation, they try to make sure that most fixtures are dimmable, so lighting that just turns on and off is not much.

But if we are talking about commercial facilities or home automation facilities, where the principle position is to make it as simple as possible, then in such situations the amount of equipment used and the space occupied in the distribution board increases greatly.
1.7. Distribution board at Larnitech
  • First distribution board at Larnitech. Apartment 205 sq.m. All lighting is controlled by turning it on and off. Brightness adjustment is not provided.
Equipment + terminals occupies 64 modules.
68 groups of luminaires are controlled from the board without dimming by 220V

  • Second distribution board on Larnitech. Apartment 250 sq.m. Relays are installed only on lamps that cannot be dimmed without serious alteration.
Equipment + terminals occupies 9 modules.
8 groups of luminaires are controlled from the board without dimming by 220V

1.8. Larnitech equipment for non-dimmable lighting

The image shows the following relays:

  • Larnitech DW-LC07 (7 channel relay)
  • Larnitech DW-LC10 (10 channel relay)
  • Larnitech DW-LC18 (18 channel relay)

2. Control of dimmable lighting by 220V

2.1. Advantages of controlling 220V dimmable lighting


  • Perfectly dimmable for incandescent and halogen lamps. At what it is dimmed in the range from 0 to 100 percent. In this regard, such lamps are considered predictable, and there will be no problem adjusting the brightness on a large chandelier. The main thing is to choose the right dimmer power.
  • Most automation systems have 220V dimmers.
  • Lots of LED lamps for various sockets, which are well dimmable at 220V.

2.2. Cons of controlling 220V dimmable lighting


  • Dimmers must be checked for compatibility with lamps. Moreover, if the dimmer must control a group of 10 lamps, then it is necessary to check the entire chain of 10 lamps. There is a chance that there will be no problems with one lamp, but with 10 there will be.
  • Small dimming range. As a rule, if for an incandescent lamp, the range is from 0 to 100 percent. That for an LED lamp, rather from 40 to 100%.
  • Flickering LED lamps. Flickering may appear on a small part of the range, for example, from 50 to 70 percent it flickers. In this case, everything above or below this range is dimmed normally.
  • High-frequency squeak of power supplies during dimming. This applies to both LED lamps and LED bulbs. Moreover, the squeak appears only when the brightness is below 100%.
  • You can't just choose a luminaire according to the characteristics on the box. Even if it says on it that it is dimmable. There is a high probability that the lamp will not work correctly with the dimmer.
  • Declared characteristics of inexpensive LED lamps may not correspond to the actual ones. What can lead to situations where the dimmer goes into overcurrent protection and you cannot control the lighting
  • Everything related to the dimming of 220V LED lamps is an engineering function that is difficult to predict in terms of design. Even if you work with the same fixture and dimmer manufacturers. At some point, changing the circuitry in the luminaire's power supply unit can lead to incorrect operation of the function. We have encountered this more than once.
  • Control of 220V dimmable lighting is not cheap. In terms of the cost of adjustment for 1 channel, this method loses to DALI, 1-10V control and dimming of LED strips. At the same time, the result of such a brightness adjustment is the most unpredictable of all the above systems.

2.3. When is dimmable light control most commonly used?


  • Everything written below is typical for any way to adjust the brightness
  • One of the most popular features is the smooth turning on of the lamp. Many do not like the abrupt switching on of the lamp
  • Use of different brightness values ​​when working with lighting scenarios. Situations when several lamps are involved in the scenario, some of them are dimmed by a certain percentage, some are turned on at 100%, and some are turned off
  • Use of dimming in night mode. For example, at night, the lights turn on at minimum brightness.
  • Forced dimming on very bright fixtures. Most often, the brightness decreases by 10-20%

To adjust the brightness, switches with a return key are usually used.

2.4. Tips for those who want to use 220V dimming


  • Check the dimmer for compatibility with fixtures and lamps beforehand. If there are several luminaires in a dimmable group, then it is necessary to check the dimming of all luminaires at once.
  • Try to minimize 220V dimming. Use more predictable dimming standards such as DALI and 1-10V. Replace 220V dimming with 24V or 48V LED strip dimming. Thus, you will predictably get a good result.
  • If there is no way without dimming, then take fixtures in which LED lamps of popular formats are screwed in (E27, E14, GU10, etc.). Even if the lamps of one manufacturer do not fit. There is a high probability that lamps from another manufacturer will fit.

2.5. 220V dimmable lighting control equipment (Larnitech)


Consider the basic wiring diagrams for lighting 1 lamp. The main task is to demonstrate what is the minimum set of equipment needed to adjust the brightness of 1 lamp.

Basic circuit for Larnitech (220V dimming)

The diagram uses the following equipment:


1. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (2 pcs.)

2. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (2 pcs.)

3. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)

4. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)

5. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)

6. Dimmer Larnitech DW-DM06 (1 pc.)

7. Terminal WAGO 2003-7646 (1 pc.)

8. End cap WAGO 2003-7692 (1 pc.)

2.6. Examples from practice. Control of 220V dimmable lighting at Larnitech (250 sq.m facility in St. Petersburg)


Let's take the following object as an example:

Apartment 250 sq.m. at Larnitech. 11 groups of 220V dimmable lighting


In this project, 11 groups of LED lamps were dimmed at 220V.

LedMonster PONY BLACK 3000K model was used as fixtures

Models Larnitech DW-DM04 (2 pcs.) and Larnitech DW-DM05 (1 pc.) were used as dimmers.

The number of fixtures, location and name of the rooms, you can see on the plan below.

Plan with 220V dimmable lighting at Larnitech

In total, in the apartment, 11 dimmable 220V lamps.

Circuit with 220V dimmable lighting at Larnitech

The diagram uses the following equipment:


1. RCD ABB F202 AC-25 0.03 (1 pc.)

2. Automatic ABB S201 C6 (3 pcs.)

3. Dimmer Larnitech DW-DM05 (1 pc.)

4. Dimmer Larnitech DW-DM04 (2 pcs.)

5. Cross-module Leagrand 4Px7 (1 pc.)

6. Terminal WAGO 2003-7646 (11 pcs.)

7. Jumper WAGO 2002-410 (1 pc.)

8. Jumper WAGO 2002-402 (1 pc.)

2.7. Photos of installed dimmable luminaires

An example of a group of lamps installed in the living room
An example of 220V dimmable LED spotlights from Led Monster. Model PONY BLACK 3000K (220V(RLC TRIAC) 7W 3000K 550lm 46° 90+Ra BRIDGELUX IP57 59x50mm (Ø52mm)
An example of a group of lamps installed in the hallway
An example of a group of fixtures installed in a guest bathroom
An example of a group of luminaires installed in a corridor
Dimming by Larnitech + LedMonster didn't do too bad on this project. The only thing, if you look closely, then at the level of 70% brightness there were small ripples in the lamps. In the rest of the range, dimming proceeded normally.

Why was 220V dimming used instead of DALI protocol? The fact is that all the lamps in the apartment were purchased from the same brand (except for a few chandeliers and wall sconces). And at the time of this project, LedMonster did not have luminaires controlled by the DALI protocol.
2.8. How much space do 220V dimmers take up in a smart home panel (Larnitech)

Dimming lamps at 220V is a rare function of a smart home. It is used in situations where there are no other dimming options, or when dimming halogen and incandescent lamps.

Therefore, this equipment takes up little distribution board space.
Distribution board at Larnitech
First distribution board at Larnitech. Apartment 109 sq.m.

Equipment for dimming 220V + terminals occupies 14 modules.
5 luminaires with 220V dimming are controlled from the board

The second distribution board on Larnitech. Apartment 250 sq.m.

Equipment for dimming 220V + terminals occupies 14 modules.
The board controls 14 groups of luminaires with 220V dimming
2.9. Which smart home equipment from Larnitech is suitable for 220V dimmable lighting
The image shows the following 220V dimmers:

  • Larnitech DW-DM02 (2 channel dimmer 4.5A per channel)
  • Larnitech DW-DM04 (4 channel dimmer 2.2A per channel)
  • Larnitech DW-DM06 (6 channel dimmer 0.9A per channel)

3. LED strip control

Smart home LED strips are one of the most popular lighting solutions today. The main lighting is lighting along the perimeter of the ceiling, backlighting, lighting cabinets, shelves, kitchen backsplash, mirror lighting and night lighting along the plinth.


At the same time, there is a wide variety of tapes both in terms of power, and in terms of light and color. By combining different ribbons in the interior, we get a wide variety of lighting schemes.

3.1. Advantages of LED lighting control


  • Excellent dimming. If you want to adjust the brightness with a guaranteed result, then choose LED strips. Unlike most LED fixtures, LED strips are adjustable over a wide range.
  • Convenience in organizing the management of multi-color ribbons is achieved by the fact that we can control each channel of the ribbon separately. This applies to RGB, RGBW, WW, RGB+WW and other tapes.
  • In addressable LED strips, we can control each LED individually. At what both brightness, and color. That allows you to create various interesting effects. Most often, such tapes are used in staircase lighting and in decorative cabinet lighting.

3.2. Cons of LED lighting control


  • Driving LED strips requires a lot of equipment in the form of power supplies, amplifiers and strip control modules. Which you need to install somewhere and think about access to them.
  • The need to correctly calculate the voltage drop from the power supply to the tape (no more than 5%). In this regard, it is necessary to carefully approach the design, namely, the choice of cable and power supply.
  • If long tape segments (5 meters) are incorrectly connected, we may see different levels of brightness at the beginning and end of the tape.
  • Ill-conceived cooling of the power supply or incorrect calculation of the load will lead to failure.
  • Incorrectly prepared base for the installation of the LED strip can lead to failure due to overheating of individual segments of the strip or its peeling when it is on the ceiling.
  • When buying low-quality tape, we will see a different level of LED glow temperature. Despite the fact that the model of the tape is the same.
  • Due to the low voltage (12V, 24V) and the high power of the tape, large currents pass through the wires. With an incorrectly selected wire cross-section, these currents can melt the wires and lead to negative consequences.

3.3. Where and what power are the tapes used


  • In our practice, we often encountered tapes of the following power:
  • 9.8 W/meter - decorative cabinet lighting, various light lines on the walls
  • 14.4 W/meter - contour lighting on the ceiling, mirror lighting. Mainly used as additional decorative lighting.
  • 28 W/meter - used as main lighting
  • The most commonly used LED strip light temperature is 3000K. Exception, DimToWarm tape with temperature from 1800K to 3100K
Example of decorative lighting in the bathroom (9.8 W / meter)
Example of contour lighting on the ceiling (14.4 W / meter)
An example of the main lighting with LED strip (28 W / meter)
DimToWarm Tape Example (14.4W/meter)
3.4. Features of the use of LED strips

  • Take power supplies with 30% power reserve.
  • Choose power supplies with adjustable output voltage. So, if the tape is far away and a thin cable is laid to it, you can compensate for the losses by increasing the PSU output voltage.
  • For ceiling or decorative lighting, use 24V or 48V tape. The higher the voltage of the tape, the lower the losses on the cable.
  • Connect tape segments over 3 meters on both sides. Thus, you will ensure the uniformity of the glow of the LED strip.
  • Laying a cable with a cross section of 1.5 or 2.5 mm to the tape from the distribution board. sq., be sure to make the transition to a cable with a cross section of 0.75 mm. square, it will be much more convenient to solder it to the tape.
  • Mount the tape on an aluminum profile. The tape needs to cool down. So it will last longer.
  • Be sure to degrease the aluminum profile base before sticking the tape to it. The chances that the tape will not peel off during operation are greatly increased.
  • The more tapes used in an apartment, the more power supplies needed. If all power supplies are installed not far from the tapes, then they must be freely accessible for subsequent replacement. On average, a properly designed power supply, with constant use, can live 5-7 years.
  • Avoid using tapes from unknown manufacturers. The fact is that even if the packages of tapes are exactly the same, you can get different light temperatures. This will be very noticeable if the tapes are located next to each other.
  • Before sewing the ceiling, be sure to hang pieces of tape on the cable outlets and check that everything works. At this stage, it is much easier to correct the mistakes made.
3.5. Basic schemes for connecting LED strips to a smart home

3.5.1. Basic circuit for Larnitech (dimming LED strips) without amplifier
Control via Larnitech, single color tape and DimToWarm tape
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Automatic ABB S203 C16 (1 pc.)
2. MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply (1 pc.)
3. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (1 pc.)
4. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)
5. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
6. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
7. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
8. LED dimmer DW-RGB03 (1 pc.)
9. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (1 pc.)
10. End cap WAGO 2002-2292 (1 pc.)
Control via Larnitech, two-color tape without amplifier
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Automatic ABB S203 C16 (1 pc.)
2. MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply (1 pc.)
3. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (1 pc.)
4. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)
5. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
6. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
7. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
8. LED dimmer DW-RGB03 (1 pc.)
9. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (2 pcs.)
10. End cap WAGO 2002-2292 (1 pc.)
Control via Larnitech, RGB tape without amplifier
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Automatic ABB S203 C16 (1 pc.)
2. MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply (1 pc.)
3. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (1 pc.)
4. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)
5. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
6. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
7. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
8. LED dimmer DW-RGB03 (1 pc.)
9. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (3 pcs.)
10. End cap WAGO 2002-2292 (1 pc.)
3.5.2. Basic circuit for Larnitech (dimming LED strips) with amplifier
Single Color Ribbon and DimToWarm Amplifier Ribbon Control
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Automatic ABB S203 C16 (1 pc.)
2. MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply (1 pc.)
3. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (1 pc.)
4. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)
5. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
6. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
7. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
8. LED dimmer DW-RGB03 (1 pc.)
9. Amplifier WB-AMPLED (1 pc.)
10. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (1 pc.)
11. End cap WAGO 2002-2292 (1 pc.)
Amplifier Dual Color Ribbon Control
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Automatic ABB S203 C16 (1 pc.)
2. MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply (1 pc.)
3. Cross-module Legrand 4Px11 (1 pc.)
4. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (1 pc.)
5. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)
6. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
7. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
8. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
9. LED dimmer DW-RGB03 (1 pc.)
10. Amplifier WB-AMPLED (1 pc.)
11. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (2 pcs.)
12. End cap WAGO 2002-2292 (1 pc.)
Amplifier RGB Tape Control
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Automatic ABB S203 C16 (1 pc.)
2. MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply (1 pc.)
3. Cross-module Legrand 4Px11 (1 pc.)
4. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (1 pc.)
5. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)
6. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
7. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
8. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
9. LED dimmer DW-RGB03 (1 pc.)
10. Amplifier WB-AMPLED (1 pc.)
11. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (3 pcs.)
12. End cap WAGO 2002-2292 (1 pc.)
3.6. Оборудование Larnitech для управления LED лентами
The image shows the following dimmers for LED strips:
  • Larnitech DW-RGB03 (9 channel dimmer 3A per channel)
3.7. Wiring diagram for LED strips with redundant power supply

  • Periodically, power supplies fail and the question arises of how to design the connection of the tape so that when the power supply fails, the light continues to work.
  • For such tasks, power supplies are used that are connected to each other and can be combined into one large power supply. At the moment, we only know about the company MeanWell, which produces such blocks.
  • How it works. All power supplies are connected by a special two-wire bus. Further, the pros and cons of power supplies are separately combined.
Diagram from the data sheet to the MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply
An example of combining power supplies with a scheme for combining pluses and minuses on a separate cross module
How does it work. The pros and cons of the power supplies are driven by a 2.5mm cable. sq. to WAGO 2006-1201 terminals. Terminals with pluses and minuses are combined with each other using a WAGO 2006-402 jumper. Next, we connect the WAGO terminals and the Legrand cross-module with a 6 mm cable. sq. In the future, the pros and cons of the combined power supplies are distributed to other devices.

Also, such power supplies have a special output that indicates a malfunction of the power supply. Thus, you can connect this output to a smart home and set up appropriate notifications.
3.8. Examples of controlling LED strips from objects made at Larnitech
Plan with dimming single-color LED strips at Larnitech
In total, in the apartment, groups of 14 LED strips are controlled.
Scheme with adjustable brightness of single-color LED strips at Larnitech
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. MeanWell TDR-960-24 power supply (3 pcs.)
2. Amplifier for LED strip ARLIGHT CT-30A (4 pcs.)
3. Automatic ABB S203 C16 (1 pc.)
4. Larnitech DW-DALI control unit (1 pc.)
5. Terminals WAGO 2004-1201 (12 pcs.)
6. Jumper WAGO 2004-402 (6 pcs.)
7. Cross-module Legrand 4Px11 (1 pc.)
8. Dimmer DALI INTELLIGENT ARLIGHT Dimmer DALI-104-1.5kHz-PD-DIN (5 pcs.)
9. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (14 pcs.)
10. Jumper WAGO 2002-403 (1 pc.)
11. Jumper WAGO 2002-402 (5 pcs.)
3.9. How much space do LED strips take up in the control panel

LED strip control is the largest part of automation, provided that all equipment is located in the switchboard. It is a very common occurrence when the tape control is placed in a separate distribution board.

The minimum panel depth at which high power DIN rail power supplies can be positioned is 275 mm. At this depth, power supplies can be covered with a plastron.

If you take a distribution board of lesser depth, you will have to cut a hole in the plastrons for power supplies.
3.10. Boards at Larnitech with LED lighting control
First distribution board on Larnitech (left). Apartment 40 sq.m. All control of LED strips is located in the distribution board.

Equipment + terminals occupy 36 modules.

6 single-color ribbons are controlled from the distribution board

Second distribution board on Larnitech (on the right). Apartment 250 sq.m. This is the second panel in the apartment, which houses the control of LED strips and the control of track lights.

Equipment + terminals occupy 74 modules.
14 single-color ribbons are controlled from the distribution board.
3.11. An example of calculating power supplies for an LED strip

Consider an example of calculating power supplies for an LED strip in an apartment of 250 sq.m.

You can see the control panel for LED strips and track lights in this photo
MeanWell TDR-960-24 PSUs were used as power supplies. These are three-phase power supplies with the possibility of parallel connection to each other. Their total power is 2,880 watts.

In order to understand which power supply to take, you need to write out all the LED strips that will be installed and calculate the power of each strip.

For the convenience of counting and recording the fixtures and ribbons used at the facility, we use Google spreadsheets.
To calculate the total power of the tape, you need to take its length and multiply by the power consumption. For example, we have a tape of 14.4 W / meter, 5 meters long. This means that the total power of the tape is 14.4 * 5 = 72 watts. Power data is written on the packaging of the LED strip.

Then we add up the power of all tapes and get the final figure. In our case, this is 1776 watts.

According to the recommendations of PSU manufacturers, they must be taken with a 30% margin. In our case, it turns out 1776 W * 30% = 2308 W.

We took 3 power supplies of 960 W with a total power of 2,880 W. A larger power reserve is due to the fact that the blocks are installed in the distribution board without forced ventilation.

And one more recommendation, if the apartment has a 3-phase network, then it is better to take three-phase power supplies. In this case, we get uniform consumption in three phases at once.
3.12. The sequence of selection of equipment for controlling LED strips

1. First, mark all the places where the LED strip will be installed. At this stage, it is important for us to know the number of individually controlled LED strips.
2. Select the required tape voltage (12V, 24V, 48V)
3. Calculate the power of each tape
4. Calculate the length of the cable from the power supply to the LED strip.
5. Add up all the power received and add 30%. So you get the total power of the power supplies. If the tapes are controlled from the distribution board.
If the tapes are managed locally, then also add 30% to the resulting tape power. You will receive a figure that you need to focus on when buying a power supply. You can take more, less is not desirable.
6. Using an online calculator, calculate the voltage drop across the tape. To do this, you will need the power of the tape, the length of the cable to the tape and its cross section. Try to keep the voltage drop below 5%.
If it is larger, then either it is necessary to change the output voltage on the power supply, or increase the cable cross-section from the power supply to the tape.
7. Knowing the power of each tape and its voltage, select the necessary dimmers and amplifiers.

4. DALI lighting control in a smart home

When it comes to dimming in a smart home, we immediately suggest considering DALI-controlled luminaires.

In essence, DALI is a very undemanding two-wire bus to which luminaires are connected. Luminaires can be connected in series, star, tree. The main thing is not to ring the tire.

It looks like this in real life. In spotlights and conventional fixtures, power supplies for LED strips, track fixtures, etc., in addition to the power terminal, an additional terminal is installed into which two wires are connected, through which the DALI lamp is controlled.

The most important advantage of DALI is that the brightness control is correctly implemented in the fixtures. Those. brightness is adjustable in a wide range, without flickering and unnecessary sounds from the driver.

If you are planning on dimming your lighting, then consider DALI control.

Next, consider the pros and cons of implementing such lighting.
4.1. Advantages of DALI lighting control

  • Only two devices are needed for control. Gateway and power supply to it. Sometimes it's just one device. They usually don't take up more than 5-7 units wide in a distribution board. Which is quite compact, provided that one gateway can control 64 lamps.
  • In terms of cost per control channel, DALI is considered one of the most cost effective solutions.
  • In most cases, DALI is a guaranteed and correct luminaire dimming. This allows you to plan the management of objects long before their final implementation.
  • There are many different manufacturers of luminaires using DALI on the market. As a result, the lamps have a high interchangeability. You can replace a DALI luminaire from one company with a luminaire from another company
  • DALI is an industry standard with a long history. This protocol implements control in large buildings: shopping and business centers, sports fields, hotels, etc. This means that in the case of implementing control of a large country house or apartment, preference is given to this protocol.
  • DALI allows direct control of luminaires. This is especially pronounced in groups of spotlights. Often 10 - 15 spotlights can be included in one group. In a standard electrician, we would turn on / off all the lights at once. With DALI we can control each luminaire individually
  • With the help of DALI, in a track luminaire, you can set one brightness level for different types of luminaires. The fact is that in track lighting, different lamps can be inserted into one busbar. And at the same brightness level, a linear and spotlight will glow differently. With the help of DALI and smart home scenarios, it is possible to make the luminaires appear to have the same brightness level.
4.2. Cons of DALI lighting control

  • Track lights or multi-colored ribbons take up many channels at once. For example, we decided to install a 4-color RGBW strip. For a DALI gateway, it will take 4 channels. The same applies to some track systems, in which each lamp has its own address. And if you have a track with 10 lamps in your room, then one group of light will occupy 10 addresses out of 64. But, on the other hand, you can control each lamp separately.
  • Some DALI gateways cannot control 64 luminaires on one bus. For example, the gateway from Larnitech has two outputs, one of which can pull 40 devices, and the second - 24 devices. Without knowing this nuance, you can incorrectly design and lay the bus from the gateway. Thus, at the risk of not starting the system.
4.3. When is DALI lighting control most often used?

In smart homes, DALI is used in cases where it is necessary to dim LED lighting.

Most often this applies to recessed spotlights and track lights.

DALI is also used to control LED strips. This usually happens in cases where it is necessary to make control through a smart home cheaper than if LED dimmers from an automation manufacturer were used.

DALI is used in cases where the size of the control panel is limited. It is not always possible to place control in the switchboard through standard smart home automation (relays, dimmers). For these purposes, the luminaires are selected in such a way as to maximize the use of control via DALI.
4.4. Basic scheme for connecting DALI to a smart home (Larnitech)
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. RCD ABB F202 AC-63 0.03 (2 pcs.)
2. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (3 pcs.)
3. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (2 pcs.)
4. UPS WB-UPS v.2 (1 pc.)
5. Controller Larnitech DE-MG (1 pc.)
6. Gateway Larnitech DW-DALI (1 pc.)
7. Terminal WAGO 2003-7646 (1 pc.)
8. End cap WAGO 2003-7692 (1 pc.)
9. Terminal WAGO 2002-2201 (1 pc.)
10. End cap WAGO 2002-2292 (1 pc.)
4.5. Larnitech equipment for DALI lighting control

The peculiarity of the gateway is that it controls DALI lamps not on one, but on two lines. At the same time, more than 40 lamps cannot be connected on one line, respectively, on the second - no more than 24 lamps. This division complicates the design of the project.

In other gateways, all 64 luminaires can be controlled from one line.
The image shows the following control units for DALI luminaires:
  • Gateway Larnitech DW-DALI2
4.6. Boards on Larnitech with lighting control according to the DALI protocol
First distribution board at Larnitech. Apartment 56 sq.m.

Equipment + terminals occupy 20 modules.
13 DALI lamps + 16 DimToWarm LED strips are controlled from the board.

Second distribution board on Larnitech. Apartment 250 sq.m.

Equipment + terminals occupy 23 modules.
14 groups of DALI LED strips are controlled from the board.
4.7. Examples from practice. DALI control on Larnitech equipment
Plan with DALI dimmable lighting on Larnitech equipment
All 14 LED strips in the apartment are controlled by DALI protocol.
Scheme with DALI dimmable lighting on Larnitech equipment
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. Gateway Larnitech DW-DALI (1 pc.)
2. MeanWell HDR-30-24 power supply (1 pc.)
3. Dimmer for LED strips INTELLIGENT ARLIGHT DALI-104-1.5kHz-PD-DIN (12-36V, 4x5A) (5 pcs.)

5. Lighting control by 1-10V

In our practice, lighting control by 1-10 was quite rare. These were mainly track lights from MonsterLed. Currently, this way of controlling brightness is not often seen in home automation.

Let's take a look at the pros and cons of this solution below.
5.1. Advantages of 1-10V lighting control

  • Guaranteed result in brightness adjustment
  • If you are dimming a track light, you are simultaneously dimming the entire track bus with all lights. Unlike DALI dimming, where each track light occupies a separate gateway address, in 1-10V you dim all the lights at once.
  • Most manufacturers of automation do not have a single device for controlling 1-10V, namely a dimmer and relay in one housing, but it can be assembled as a virtual device from a separate dimmer and relay using software.
  • There are devices on the market with DALI input and 1-10V output with dimmer and relay. That allows you to combine the advantages of the two control systems. For example, with the help of such an “adapter”, we can use only one address to control the entire track light at once.
5.2. Cons of lighting control at 1-10V

  • Due to the lack of addressing when controlling track lighting with different types of luminaires (linear, spot, etc.), when adjusting the brightness, we get a visually different level of illumination, at which it seems that one luminaire shines brighter than another. For some customers, this causes visual discomfort. The way out is either to use DALI or all fixtures must be of the same type.
  • Analogy of the system. In this regard, it is necessary to solve many questions about the location of the dimmer and how the wires go from it to the lamp. Avoiding nearby power wires as much as possible, which can give a pickup, due to which the brightness levels of the lamp may be incorrect.
  • For control it is necessary to use two devices, a dimmer to adjust the brightness and a relay to turn the luminaire on/off completely. With a large number of fixtures of this type, the equipment will take up a lot of space in the distribution board.
5.3. When is 1-10V control most commonly used

  • Most often, 1-10V control is used in cases where other control is not possible. In our practice, we could use 1-10V to adjust the track lighting or not dim at all.
  • Also, 1-10V is used when it is necessary to save addresses on the DALI gateway, for example, when controlling track lights. For example, the track is controlled via a DALI adapter at 1-10V
5.4. Basic scheme for connecting 1-10V to a smart home. Larnitech equipment for 1-10V lighting control
The image shows the following equipment, to control lighting at 1-10V at Larnitech:

  • Larnitech DW-LC10 (10 channel relay)
  • Larnitech DW-010 (4 channel dimmer 0-10V)
5.5. Photos of installed luminaires with 1-10V control

A little lower, let's take a closer look at how 1-10V control is arranged on a track lamp.
5.6. Distribution board on Larnitech with 1-10V lighting control
Lighting control board at Larnitech. Apartment 250 sq.m. in St. Petersburg. This switchboard has power supplies for 7 track lights (all track lights, except for one, have two power supplies each). Dimmers 1-10V are located not far from track lights. The switchboard uses only control relays.

The equipment occupies 6 modules.
7 groups of track lighting are controlled from the distribution board.
5.7. Examples from practice. 1-10V control on Larnitech equipment

Plan with 1-10V dimmable lighting at Larnitech Equipment occupies 6 modules.
7 groups of track lighting are controlled from the distribution board.
Lighting control board at Larnitech. Apartment 250 sq.m. in St. Petersburg. This switchboard has power supplies for 7 track lights (all track lights, except for one, have two power supplies each). Dimmers 1-10V are located not far from track lights. The switchboard uses only control relays.
Circuit with 1-10V dimmable lighting at Larnitech
The diagram uses the following equipment:

1. MeanWell ELG-150-48 power supply for 48V track lights (13 pcs.)
2. Larnitech DW-LC10 relay (1 pc.)
3. Dimmer Larnitech BW-010.A (7 pcs.)
4. Cross module Legrand 4Px7 (1 pc.)
5. Terminals WAGO 2003-7646 (13 pcs.)
6. End cap WAGO 2003-7692 (1 pc.)
7. Terminals WAGO 2002-1401 (8 pcs.)
8. Jumper WAGO 2002-402 (2 pcs.)
9. Automatic ABB S201 C10 (1 pc.)

6. Cables used to control lighting in a smart home

Below you will find out which cables and their cross-sections are most often used in the design of lighting control. In some situations, the cables shown may not be suitable.


It is important to understand that we are giving general recommendations. Always calculate the load and select the appropriate cable.

6.1. Cable for conventional lighting in a smart home

For ordinary lamps, chandeliers, sconces, etc., a monocore cable VVG-ng-(A)-LS 3x1.5 mm is used. sq. It is used in 90% of cases.


If you need a flexible multi-core cable, then pay attention to the KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 3x1.5 mm cable. sq. When using this cable, keep in mind that the cable cores must either be inserted into special terminals, or they must be crimped with a sleeve. For example, NShVI or NCI or others.

6.2. Cable for LED strip in a smart home

To connect the LED strip power supplies, use the VVG-ng-(A)-LS 3x1.5 mm cable. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 3x1.5 mm. sq. with pressing.


If the power supplies are located in the distribution board, then they can be connected with a single-core wire PuGV-ng-(A)-LS 1x2.5 mm.kv. At the same time, there is a wide variety of colors of such a wire on the market, which makes it possible to highlight each conductor with a separate color.


As a cable extending from the power supply or control unit to the LED strip, we recommend using:


  • For single color tape or DimToWarm tape - VVG-ng-(A)-LS 2x2.5 mm. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 2x2.5 mm. sq.
  • For a two-color tape - VVG-ng-(A)-LS 3x2.5 mm. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 3x2.5 mm. sq.
  • For RGB tape - VVG-ng-(A)-LS 4x2.5 mm. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 4x2.5 mm. sq.
  • For RGB+W tape - VVG-ng-(A)-LS 5x2.5 mm. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 5x2.5 mm. sq.

Cable with a cross section of 2.5 square meters. mm. used to reduce the voltage drop on the line. This recommendation is general. In any case, it is necessary to rely on the calculations. A smaller cable may also work.


Important note!


Always calculate the current consumption of the tape and select a cable for it. In some cases, even a cross section of 2.5 sq. mm. before the tape, maybe not enough!

General wiring diagram for a single-color LED strip

6.3. Cable for lighting with DALI control in a smart home

A five-wire cable is used to control luminaires according to the DALI standard. We recommend laying VVG-ng-(A)-LS 5x1.5 mm cables. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 5x1.5 mm. sq. with pressing.

6.4. Cable for lighting with 1-10V system control in a smart home


In our practice, lamps with 1-10V control were not often encountered. The last time it was a track system from MonsterLed. Management was built as follows. The track light received its main power from the ELG-150-48 power supply. The 1-10V control terminals were located separately in the track's bus connector. To completely turn off the track, turn off the ELG-150-48, and to adjust the brightness from 10 to 100%, apply voltage from 1 to 10V to a separate dimmer input.


The cables below deal with just this case. It may be necessary to use other cables for other fixtures.


It is important to understand that 1-10V control is analog. And you need to be very careful about the type and cross section of the cable used. Especially if the distances to the controlled lamp are large enough and the signal cable is located close to the power cables.

As a cable for a track light, we recommend using:

  • Before the power supply: VVG-ng-(A)-LS 3x2.5 mm. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 3x2.5 mm. sq.
  • After the power supply: VVG-ng-(A)-LS 2x2.5 mm. sq. or KGVV-ng-(A)-LS 2x2.5 mm. sq.
  • Control cable 1-10V: Ethernet 5e U/UTP (4x2x AWG24/1) or Ethernet UTP Category 6

7. Why do you most often control lighting through a smart home

  • To be able to use voice control
  • To set lighting scenarios
  • For automatic operation of lighting by motion sensors or in the "Darkroom" mode
  • To be able to use panels instead of switches
  • For organizing day and night modes
  • To implement the work of the script "Good morning" and "Good night"
  • For indication of indicators (a rare option). For example, using RGB tape, you can visually show the temperature or air quality in the room. Good option for children's rooms
  • As a decorative element (for example using NanoLeaf)

8. Conclusions

  • Well dimmable incandescent and halogen lamps. Everything related to dimming LEDs, then choose either fixtures using DALI or 1-10V protocols, or LED strips.
  • Relay control - one of the most reliable and durable, provided that the relays are selected correctly.
  • Although we recommend using LED strips as dimmable lighting, we also note that this is a difficult to calculate lighting. In fact, you select a tape, power supplies, amplifiers, wires, take into account cooling for power supplies. At the same time, a DALI luminaire only needs a 220V power cable (same as for conventional luminaires) and a two-wire control bus.
  • Lighting is one of the most costly parts of a smart home. Usually it takes from 30 to 50% of the budget of all automation.