Specifications

Glossary
22
RADIA Lighting Control System
Electronic Transformer - A transformer that reduces the voltage output when the primary voltage of the
transformer is reduced. This causes the secondary output of the transformer to reduce its voltage through
electronic means. Electronic transformers should be specifically designed for standard dimming. Some
electronic transformers are not dimmable or exhibit poor dimming performance.
Enclosure - The UL-approved box into which Radia Lighting control cards, modules, and accessories are
installed.
Fade - A steady change in lighting levels expressed in seconds of time. A fade can encompass an individual or
group of dimmers. A preset can be set to fade into another preset where one or more lights dim, increase in
brightness, or stay at the same level.
Fade Rate - The amount of time it takes to change from one preset to another, or from one level to another,
and is expressed in seconds.
FDB Ballast - FDB ballast are made by Lutron Electronics. The ballast are controlled using a switched hot
and a dimmed hot in combination. An RDM-FDB module is one that dims FDB ballast with an AC current
using a solid state dimmer and a switched feed through a relay. Lutron ECO-10 ballast are also controlled in
the same manner.
Fluorescent Lights or Lamps - A lamp that produces visible light by fluorescence (producing light when
acted upon by radiant energy). The lamp consists of a glass tube, the inner wall of which is coated with a
material that fluoresces when bombarded with secondary radiation generated by a gaseous discharge within
the tube. Control systems affect the ballast, not the lamp.
Halogen Lights or Lamps - A halogen lamp is a type of incandescent light source that uses halogen gas in an
enclosed capsule. It uses the halogen regenerative cycle to prevent blackening of the lamp envelope during life.
Halogen lamps are dimmed using a standard incandescent dimmer.
Integrated Dimmer Module - A Radia Lighting device that contains both a six-channel master controller and
dimmers on the same package. They will have a PROlink address and can be on AxLink. The RDD-DM4/
series and the RDD-DM6/ series are integrated dimmer modules, and they all take up two module spaces.
Level Time - A Radia Lighting default parameter. Level time is the time it takes for a dimmer to reach its
assigned level after receiving a level command.
Line - The wire or circuit that supplies power to a dimmer or electrical device. The line wire often comes from
an electrical circuit breaker panel.
Load - The particular device or resistance of a device to the power being delivered. Also the total amount of
devices connected to the output of a dimmer or switch. The load wire connects from the dimmer to the lamps.
Lights are common loads along with motors and other power equipment.
Master Controller - A Radia Lighting device capable of six channels of control, an AxLink connection,
PROlink connection, and a dry closure connection. Same as Controller.
Magnetic Transformer - A coil-core transformer that dims a light when the primary voltage from the
transformer is reduced, causing the secondary output of the transformer to reduce its voltage through magnetic
coupling. Incandescent dimmers can be used to control magnetic transformers.
Metal Halide - A HID lamp that uses radiation of metal halides in combination with metallic vapors like
mercury. Not normally a dimmable lamp, and requires long start up times.
Module - A Radia Lighting dimmer or switch designed for installation in a Radia Lighting enclosure. Most
modules are on a standard 2.75" x 10" enclosure plate or heatsink; some modules require two standard spaces.
Neon - A light source made from high voltage excitation of neon gas enclosed in a glass tube. Neon is a type of
lamp that uses a step-up transformer to operate the lamp. Neon transformers can be dimmed.
Pack - A Radia Lighting Central Controller consisting of six channels of control on the PROlink control bus.
Pack settings of 1 through 10 allow for 10 six-channel packs for a total of 60 channels of control on one
PROlink bus.
Peak Switch - A switch that opens or closes at the height of the AC cycle, as opposed to the zero-cross point
of the AC cycle.
Phase Dependent - A dimmer module must have its supply voltage on the same phase (A, B, or C) as the
electricity supplied to the controller. Only dimmer modules are phase-dependent.
Port (Control Port) - A four-pin connector used to connect a Radia Lighting module to a controller. There is
a maximum of six ports on the Central Controller.