Tridonics's newly released LED driver 'ready2mains'  integrates controlling and dimming  with one single control unit. (Tridonic/LEDinside)

The new ready2mains technology from Tridonic enables data to be transmitted in digital form via the existing mains. Dimming commands can therefore be easily transmitted and executed without the need for expensive rewiring. Electricians will benefit from this new technology, as will users looking for greater convenience from their lighting systems. Conventional non-dimmable lighting can now be replaced easily and cost-effectively with state-of-the-art dimmable LED lighting.

 As LED technology becomes more and more widespread there are increasing opportunities for creating flexible application-oriented lighting systems in all areas, including everything from workshops and offices to museums and shops. Up to now, replacing a lighting system took a great deal of time to complete the rewiring and therefore involved high costs.

 Now Tridonic offers a simple cost-efficient solution for upgrading lighting systems in the form of ready2mains technology. All that is required is to remove the existing conventional luminaires and install new dimmable LED luminaires. The associated Drivers must be equipped with ready2mains functionality, such as the LED Drivers in the EXCITE and PREMIUM series. The interface between the control unit and the luminaires is the ready2mains Gateway which transmits the dimming commands in digital form via the mains cable ensuring reliable and robust data transmission. There is no need for any additional data cables such as DALI/DSI or 1-10V systems.

 Conventional pushbuttons can be used as the control units, and sensors for detecting presence or daylight, for example, can now be easily integrated. Integration in a DALI network is also possible via the one4all interface at the Gateway. The interface also adds DALI, DSI, switchDIM and corridorFUNCTION functionality.

A single control unit is capable of controlling or dimming all the connected luminaires in a room. Multiple control units or Gateways can be used in parallel, if required. The total connected load of a Gateway in the ceiling installation housing is 400 VA so up to 15 LED luminaires with ready2mains functionality can be connected. The maximum cable length is 250 m.

 Ready for ready2mains™

This digital interface is already integrated in all TALEXXdrivers in the EXCITE and PREMIUM series. The constant-current LED Drivers have outputs of 10 W to 150 W, covering the most important application-oriented sectors. The devices in the EXCITE series – which are actually cost-effective switchable LED Drivers – are equipped with an additional dimming function thanks to ready2mains, so connected luminaires can be dimmed from 100 percent to around 15 percent via the mains. The PREMIUM devices with the one4all interface are intended for customers who want maximum convenience but wish to avoid the hassle and cost of rewiring. Data transfer is possible here either via the one4all interface or via the ready2mains interface. The dimming range is from 100 percent to 1 percent, irrespective of which of the interfaces is used.

 Different housing versions for the TALEXXdrivers are available to suit various luminaire types. Linear low-profile housings (lp), for example, are ideal for efficiency-oriented office applications. Thanks to their dynamic operating ranges they cover the entire output spectrum with maximum efficiency.

 With ready2mains, luminaires can be dimmed directly via the mains. Upgrading an existing non-dimmable lighting system to the latest dimmable LED generation is now much easier and more cost-effective than ever before. Apart from dimmability, the benefits of modern LED lighting include lower energy consumption, the long life of the light sources, high reliability and greatly reduced size. Additional energy savings can be made if sensors such as presence detectors or daylight sensors are used because these sensors ensure that the light is automatically switched on only when it is needed.

 ready2mains technology also makes it easier to configure the Drivers during luminaire manufacture. The advantages over the old method of setting the current manually are obvious. Data transfer is rapid and much less susceptible to error because no manual operations are required at all. Simple integration in automated workflows results in huge potential cost savings in the production of LED luminaires.