Triac Or DALI Dimming For Commercial Track Lighting
Both are offered on our track heads and both must be chosen at order. This is how to decide which one belongs in your project.
The Decision Cannot Wait
Dimming is built into the driver inside the head. A standard head cannot be converted to a dimmable one after delivery, and a Triac head will not work on a DALI system. The choice belongs in the order, alongside the wire count and the beam angle.
Triac In Short
Triac dimming works on the mains circuit with a wall dimmer, the same way traditional dimmers worked with halogen. It is cheap, familiar to any electrician, and needs no extra control wiring. The trade-offs are limited smoothness at the bottom of the range and sensitivity to which dimmer model is used.
DALI In Short
DALI is a digital control protocol on its own two-core control bus. Each fitting has an address, so scenes and groups can be defined in software and changed later without rewiring. It costs more to install and commission, and it is the right answer for hotels, large retail and anywhere the client expects lighting scenes.
How To Choose
If there is one wall dimmer and a small run of heads, use Triac. If there is a control system, multiple scenes, or a client who will want to re-zone the space later, use DALI. If the project is large enough for a lighting control contractor to be involved, they will normally have already decided, so ask before ordering.
Dimming And Wire Count Are Separate Questions
Wire count controls how many groups can be switched on and off. Dimming controls the level within a group. A four-wire rail with non-dimmable heads gives three groups at full output; a two-wire rail with DALI heads gives one switched group with full scene control. Most retail projects want some of both.
Fixtures Mentioned In This Guide
4 Wire 40W LED Track Light
30W Zoomable LED Track Light
40W Zoomable LED Track Light
Industries And Solutions
Retail Store Lighting
Track and downlight packages for fashion, jewellery and speciality retail where merchandise colour has to survive the lighting.
Hotel And Hospitality Lighting
Low-glare recessed downlights and aimable track heads for lobbies, corridors, guestrooms and restaurants.
Track System Selection And Compatibility
Getting the wire count, adapter and rail profile right before the order, so nothing is discovered on a ladder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add dimming to a fixture later?
No. The dimmable driver is inside the head, so it has to be specified at order.
Which of your track lights are dimmable?
Triac and DALI versions are available on most track head models. The option is listed on each product page.
Will a Triac head work on a DALI system?
No. The two are not compatible. Choose one and order the whole run to it.
Does dimming affect the colour temperature?
The fixtures dim in output. Colour temperature is fixed at production, so tell us the CCT you need with the order.
Send Us The Project And We Will Check The Specification
Ceiling plan, ceiling height, target lux level and what is on display. We will return a fixture schedule with beam angles.