Energy saving: at the touch of a button
June 01st 2005 The Touch and Dim ballast from Philips Lighting was developed in response to customer demands for a more simple, affordable solution for personal dimming of fluorescent lighting. The main system requirements were reduced hardware and installation costs, simple end user operation and reduced energy costs. The objective was to achieve this without any specialist lighting control devices using only readily available switches. The result is dimming made easy. Luminaires using the Touch and Dim digital ballast are switched and dimmed via a switched live from a simple switch. To maximise reliability and ease of installation the ballast is dedicated to this type of control. The power supply to the luminaires is not switched and can come from anywhere including existing supply wiring making it ideal for refurbishments. Such simple dimming allows personal control and reduction in energy consumption at a low initial installed cost.
Touch and Dim control is ideal in offices, conference rooms, lecture theatres, hospital wards and hotel rooms.
User comfort: is well understood that workers need different light levels based on eyesight and age. Touch and Dim lighting allows users to set their own lighting level based on their personal preference or the task they are performing. In addition the lighting system is flicker free in starting and operation and fades down to off. For a modest outlay the working environment can be enhanced and the workers empowered.
Advanced technology makes Touch and Dim simple to use: Touch the switch and the lights switch on or off – and the lights always switch on at your last preferred level even after power failure.
you push the switch when the lights are bright they dim down - if they are dim they dim up.
Design Freedom: Touch and Dim digital high frequency ballasts are available to operate wide range of lamps including T5, T8 and compact fluorescent. This allows luminaries for most fluorescent lamp types to be purchased from any reputable luminaire maker – just specify luminaries with Philips Touch and Dim ballasts.
Touch and Dim ballast Simple control wiring reduces installation costs: If there are existing light switches in use then the switch can be replaced with a “push-to-make” one and the wiring down the walls can be used without disturbing the wall’s d e c o r a t i v e finishes.
If control of the lights is required from two or more p o s i t i o n s then push buttons can be connected in parallel. Luminaire makers can also supply Touch and Dim luminaires for three phase dimming circuits.
Reduced running costs: Touch and Dim ballasts have a programmed start which increases lamp life by around 25%. Touch and Dim ballasts like all HF ballasts reduce installed lighting load by 25% but when they are dimmed the load reduces further (see Graph).
For even greater energy savings the system can be used with standard switching PIR movement detectors. This is because the ballast memory is not lost at switch off and the PIR will always switch lights back on to the previous setting..
Compliance with standards: It is a requirement of Part L1 that each work station is within 8m of a means of controlling the lighting. It makes sense to add dimming at the same time by using Touch and Dim luminaries.
In addition to compulsory EMC requirements the ballast also complies with EN55022B which supports the explosion in telecommunication developments such as WiFi hotspots.
Touch and Dim ballasts are in CELMA class A2 and will not be banned like the C class electromagnetic types. The ballasts also comply with the RoHS requirements. In addition the Philips fluorescent lamps contain the lowest levels of mercury.
Installation diagram for T&D Light level vs Energy consumption More articles from Philips Lighting: | 
