User Guide

Appendix B: AMX Lighting Curves

MX Lighting PROlink/AXlink Programming

Each curve allows a dimmer to change its output characteristics in relation to the amount of

dimming. For example, the standard dimming curve at 50% could make a light brighter than

another curve also at 50%.

Each AMX Lighting control channel has three dimmer characteristics; AC dimming, DC dimming,

and switching. These are the three primary control methods for most lighting systems worldwide.

The first characteristic is the output level in volts RMS. This is represented by the following Curve

charts showing the Y-axis in (Dimmer) Output Level in Volts RMS (0-120VAC). The second

characteristic is displayed on the second curve chart with the (Dimmer) Output Level in Volts DC

(0-12VDC). The third characteristic is the turn on level for the switched (relay) aspect and is noted

in text as the Relay Turn On Level.

These three characteristics are applied to different AMX Lighting dimmers to change the way the

dimmers perform. The first characteristic is most often used for incandescent dimming. All that is

needed is a variable high-voltage output to one Hot wire connected to the incandescent lamp. The

curve determines the amount of high-voltage applied to the dimmer's output in relation to the

control level. The second dimmer characteristic applied to low-voltage output of the AMX RAD-

VDR module is commonly used for fluorescent ballasts that require a low-voltage control signal to

vary the output of the ballast. The third dimmer characteristic merely turns a relay on or off at a

specified level. Except for special cases, this third characteristic is usually set at a level of 1. The

combinations of these characteristics allow AMX to tailor the outputs of different AMX Lighting

dimmers.

The RAD-INC and RAD-INC6 modules only require the first characteristic that controls the high

voltage output of a dimmer. All the internal dimmers in the AMX Lighting MC packs also use the

first characteristic to determine dimmer output. All curve diagrams that use this characteristic are

labeled in Volts RMS.

The RAD-SWM module uses the third dimmer characteristic of switching a relay on or off. The

relay turn on level indicates the level at which the RAD-SWM turns on. This is usually set to 1,

except for Curve N, which is set at Level 9.

The RAD-FDB module uses a combination of the first and third characteristics to send a variable

high-voltage output along with a single switched output. The RAD-FDB module is a combination

of two devices in a single package. One device is an incandescent dimmer like the RAD-INC, and

one device is a relay like the RAD-SWM. These devices combine to switch power on and off to a

ballast, and at the same time deliver a high-voltage reference signal to the dimming ballast. The

RAD-FDB module also works with several lighting interfaces made by others.

FIG. 13 Basic dimming curve