Dimming Units

4 Channel Remote Dimming Unit

An Easy Way to Balance LED and Incandescent Lighting Circuits

Vehicle Dimmer Unit, 4 channel 2.5Amps per channel

The new Remote Dimming Unit (RDU) by Blue Wolf eases balancing issues when utilizing mixed LED and incandescent bulb-type lighting circuits.

Many vehicle dimmers, aircraft dimmers, or any other type of instrumentation dimming technology normally have only one output channel. However, that one output channel supplies both incandescent and LED lighting circuits with the same output voltage, but these two types of lighting bulbs do not produce the same amount of lumens when increased proportionally.

Generally LEDs produce a linear light output as the dimmer voltage is turned from 0% to 100%. Incandescent lights, on the other hand, do not produce light at lower voltages. First, the filament has to heat up, and then after doing so, the filament starts producing light at a more exponential rate, with an increasing voltage. This incandescent lighting has more of an increasing curve rather than a linear output, like an LED, as the voltage or pulse modulation is increased.

This new RDU allows system designers to skew the voltage outputs between four different channels (eight channels with an optional expansion pack) and produce equal levels of light output via one dimming control knob if desired. This new RDU works perfectly as an NVG dimmer for systems with both types of lighting circuits. It also has the ability to do zone control lighting and Blackout Mode lighting configurations too.

With Easy Balance™ each channel has movable lighting curve points and can be assigned to any dimmer input. This allows for an adjustable uniform light output between all channels as a “single dimmer” is rotated from 0% to 100%. In retrofit or new designs mixing incandescent and LED lights is especially an issue. One bulky solution is to add multiple dimmers to each of the lighting circuits but that now leaves several full-sized power dimmers that require constant individualized adjustments. This new RDU provides a simple, space saving, and single unit system for easy balancing of dissimilar lighting zones using 1 dimmer knob if desired.

Dimming Unit

RDU QUICK SPECIFICATIONS

Small Size: 2.13” x 1.15” x 4.63”
Blackout Mode options available
2.5Amps per channel
Weighs only 7 ounces
28 Vdc
Operating Temp -40 to 55C
Configurable line segments for each channel (adjustable slope/channel)
3 Dimmer Inputs
Short Circuit & Overload protection on all channels.
Each Channel can be set at a Fixed maximum output Voltage
NVIS/NVG Dimmer Compatible

Chart showing the difference in LED and Incandescent bulb lighting outputs

LED vs Incandescent Lumen Output Level

Configurable Channel Outputs

The RDU is configured using a built in USB port that connects to a computer or laptop running any standard VT100 Terminal program for communication. This allows for easy setup, and once the RDU is configured with Easy Balance™, everything is permanently stored in memory. Besides having many other options in the RDU, every channel output has four line-segment points that can be adjusted for defining specific lighting slopes.

Utilizing these variable line segments, individual slopes for each channel can be customized to deliver an output voltage based on an assigned dimmer input signal. This is how LED and incandescent lighting circuits can be “balanced” to provide the same light output for a specific dimmer input signal. The other benefit of the RDU is that no heavy gauge wire has to be used when connecting to the dimmers. Instead, the RDU uses each dimmer input as a “control” signal but takes care of any heavy output currents at each channel directly (2.5Amps/channel).

Output Channels can also be set for a maximum output value too. For example, one channel can be set to provide 28Vdc when a dimmer input reaches 70%. Another channel can be set to only reach 5Vdc for the same corresponding dimmer input.

Chart showing configurable curve points on Blue Wolf's Remote Dimming Unit

Configurable Points on RDU

Image of a 4 channel aircraft dimming unit. This RDU can be used for NVG dimmer circuits - by Blue Wolf

Optional Expansion Module

An optional expansion module is available that provides four additional Channel outputs, giving a maximum of eight configurable outputs with Easy Balance™.

Basic Setup Concept

This is a very basic configuration option with four output zones being controlled by either one or two dimmers. Channel outputs are independent and can be wired to anything designated for that channel (typically LED or Incandescent). The outputs are NOT device-type specific, and even small heated seat pads or blower motor fans can be controlled by the RDU. With Blackout Mode, Auto Level Start and more, this RDU provides a multitude of configurable options.

Basic dimming setup for Remote Dimming Unit (RDU) by Blue Wolf

RDU Evaluation Test Panel

If you would like to schedule a time to evaluate the RDU, please contact us using the form below.

This RDU Test Panel allows system integrators to see the full functionality of the RDU. The test panel has 4 lighting zones, and 2 dimmer inputs for simulating different lighting scenarios. Both LED and incandescent bulbs can be mixed and matched to create a variety of lighting output curves using the built in Easy Balance software.

For example (along with controlling each channel's output curve independently):

Dimmer #1 can be setup to control all 4 lighting zones as a global dimmer, or just 1 zone.

Dimmer #1 can be setup to slowly dim Zone-1 Circuit as Zone-4 begins to slowly illuminate.

Dimmer #1 can control the Forward lighting area while Dimmer #2 controls Aft area lighting. Or, they can be swapped around easily by just changing a number in the Easy Balance software - without changing any wiring.

There are also many other additional functions available within the RDU to experience.

For additional heavy load current testing, the RDU can be easily removed from the panel for your own in house load testing. (2.5 Amps per channel or 280 Watts in total)