The 4 channel AC Dimmer is designed to control the alternating current voltage for 4 independent loads, which can transfer current up to 4A. In most cases, Dimmer is used for adjusting voltage levels and turning the power ON/OFF for lamps or heating elements, it can also be used in fans, pumps, air cleaners, e.t.c.
Lately, Dimmer has become an often used decision for smart home systems. For example, when you need to smoothly change the light brightness. The lamp is slowly turning ON or OFF, creating a comfortable atmosphere. Dimmer works most effectively with filament lamps. It’s less stable with low brightness dimmable LED lamps, but with moderate and high brightness it will perform a solid job. Note that luminescent lamps (gas discharge lamps) do not support dimming.
The power components of dimmer are isolated from the control part, to exclude the possibility of high current disruption to a microcontroller.
The logical level is tolerant to 5V and 3.3V, therefore it can be connected to the microcontroller with 5V and 3.3V level logic.
In Arduino, the dimmer is controlled with RBDdimmer.h library, which uses external interrupts and process time interrupts. It simplifies the code writing and gives more processing time for main code. Which is why you can control multiple Dimmers from one microcontroller.
You can download RBDDimmer.h library and a few examples in «Documents» or on GitHub. We are constantly updating our library, so we recommend checking for website updates or subscribing to our newsletter.
Dimmer is connected to Arduino controllers via two digital pins. First (Zero) to control the passing of Phase Null of AC, which is used to initiate the interrupt signal. Second (DIM/PSM) to control (dim) current.
Note that Zero requires connection to designated microcontroller pins (which are different depending on the model of Uno, Nano, Leonardo, and Mega) since it is tied to microcontroller interrupts.
ATTENTION: With dimmer can use only DIMMABLE LED BULB. The simple LED bulb, luminescent lamp or any other lamp with built-in power regulator CAN’T to dimming!
Which way you can use the dimmer?
Dimming is an easy way to enhance a room or create the right light for any activity.
Make your home project for Light control with Arduino and Dimmer.
With a dimmer, you can control light automatically:
At night, switch on and off lighting smoothly and comfortably for your eyes.
To adjust the lighting level depending on light brightness from a window. Create your comfort with a sensor.
Save energy on lighting, when have is daylight from the street and when it is necessary for you the muffled light in a corridor or in the children’s room.
Start Your Smart Home with Arduino Light Dimmer
In the kitchen, lower lights for dining
In the family room, brighten lights for homework, then dim for movie night
In the bathroom, dim lights to gently start your day
In the nursery, dim lights to check on a sleeping baby
Control with voice
Tell your voice assistant (Siri, Alexa, Alisa) what lighting you want for viewing of the TV, for kitchen or a workplace, in the children’s room.
How does it work?
Step 1: Connect a Dimmer to your microcontroller board (Arduino Leonardo, Mega, UNO, ESP8266, ESP32, M0, Arduino Zero, Arduino Due, STM32, etc)
Step 2: Download examples and library from GitHub: https://github.com/RobotDynOfficial/RBDDimmer
Step 3: Create an awesome project with more functions and controls.
Step 4: Joint to a DIY community.
Also can control
AC motor
Air fan
Pump
Water and air heater
Vacuum cleaner
Characteristics
Power: 400V – 4A per channel
AC frequency: 50/60 Hz
TRIAC: BTA16 – 600B
Isolation: Optocoupler
Logic level: 3.3V/5V
Zero point: Logic level
Modulation (DIM/PSM): logic level ON/OFF TRIAC
Signal current: >10mA
Environment: ·For indoor and outdoor use
Operating temperatures: -20°C to 80°C
Operating humidity: Dry environment only
ROHS3 Compliant
Dimmer Library (RBDdimmer.h): https://github.com/RobotDynOfficial/RBDDimmer
This library can simplify user code with following functions:
1. Function dimmerLamp - this function initializes the number of operating pin and is defined by the user
Example:
a.dimmerLamp dimmer(4); dimmer output DIM/PSM is initialized on the pin 4 for the bords WITHOUT changable ZERO-CROSS input pin (AVR, Ard. M0/Zero)
b.dimmerLamp dimmer(4, 2); dimmer output DIM/PSM is initialized on the pin 4 and zero-cross initialized on pin 2. Only for boards whith changable zero-cross(ESP32, ESP8266, Ard. Due)
2. Function begin port initialization, timer and external interrupt from zero-cross.
Example:
dimmer.begin(NORMAL_MODE, ON/OFF); port initialization, work mode choice, ON/OFF.
Parameter 1: dimmer working modes consist of two choices - NORMAL_MODE and TOGGLE_MODE
a. NORMAL_MODE to make dimmer work in defined value from 0 to 100 (%) (integer)
Example of this mode located in \RBDdimmer\examples\SimpleDimmer
b. TOGGLE_MODE smooth change of dimming value up or down in a defined range. This solutions implies change of dimming values by means of hardware timer, without using the cycle code.
Example of this mode located in \RBDdimmer\examples\SimpleToggleDimmer
Parameter 2: ON/OFF.
a. ON - turns timer ON, allows to use dimmer.
b. OFF - turns timer parameters OFF, prevents the use of dimmer.
3. Function setPower sets dimming value from 0 to 100%
Example: dimmer.setPower(90);
4. Function getPower to display current dimming value
Example: Serial.print(dimmer.getPower()); Result 0~100 int
5. Function setMode sets and changes the work mode (NORMAL_MODE and TOGGLE_MODE)
dimmer.setMode(NORMAL_MODE/TOGGLE_MODE)
6. Function getMode displays values of current work mode
Example: Serial.print(dimmer.getPower()); Result 0 (NORMAL_MODE) or 1 (TOGGLE_MODE)
7. Function setState sets dimming state ON/OFF
Example: dimmer.setState(ON); delay(100); dimmer.setState(OFF);
8. Function getState displays current state of dimmer
Serial.print(dimmer.getState()); Result 0 (OFF) or 1 (ON)
9. Function changeState changes dimmer state to the opposite one
Пример dimmer.setState(ON); delay(100); dimmer.changeState; delay(100);
10. Function toggleSettings smooth change of dimming value up or down in a defined range
Example located in \RBDdimmer\examples\SimpleToggleDimmer
AC Light Dimmer Module for PWM control, 4 Channels, 3.3V/5V logic, AC 50/60hz, 220V/110V
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