Dimmer and neon

SOL-7000 was designed with two separate outputs for lighting control. To physically recognize the sockets and wiring, see also Electrical connections.

• Lamp output, dimmable, used to create sunrise and sunset;
• Neon output, ON/OFF, used to control the main lighting during the day when the system requires it.

Because there are two exits

In the past, sunrise and sunset were normally achieved with incandescent lamps.

These lamps allowed a gradual change in brightness, but consumed a lot compared to the light produced. For this reason it was not convenient to leave them on at maximum power all day.

The traditional solution was to use:

• a dimmable incandescent lamp for dawn and dusk;
• one or more neon lights for the main light during the day.

The programmer automatically managed the transition: at the end of dawn it turned on the neon and managed the lamp according to the chosen mode; before sunset prepared the reverse process, so the dimmable lamp could realize the gradual dimming of light.

Use with modern LED lamps

With dimmable LED lamps, maintaining two separate systems is not always necessary.

A dimmable LED lamp can realize dawn, daylight and dusk with much lower consumption than old incandescent lamps.

For this reason SOL-7000 allows you to choose the most suitable configuration for the installed system.

Menu path

Route:

MENU -> Usage Mode

Displayed screen:

• Use mode

With UP and DOWN you choose the operating mode. With ENTER it is confirmed.

Available modes

Display value	Meaning
Lamp+Neon	traditional operation: sunrise and sunset on the lamp, daylight on the neon
Only lamp	dawn, day and dusk achieved by the dimmable output alone
Lamp(ON)+Neon	dimmable lamp and neon lit together during full light

Lamp + Neon

This mode maintains the classic operation of Season Generator programmers.

The lamp is used for dawn and dusk, while the neon output manages the main lighting during the day.

It is a useful configuration in existing systems or when, in addition to dimmable lamps, you want to use neon or other specific light sources.

The transition between lamp and neon is managed automatically by the programmer.

LED Lamp only

This mode is designed for systems made exclusively with dimmable LED lamps.

In this case it is sufficient to use the lamp output. The same output manages:

Sunrise -> Daylight -> Sunset

Once dawn is over, the lamp remains lit at the expected brightness throughout the day. At the programmed time, sunset begins, with progressive reduction until it switches off or turns on at night.

It is not mandatory to install a second lighting system connected to the neon output.

However, on farms it is advisable to install at least two dimmable LED lamps, for example at both ends of the room. In this way the light is better distributed and, in the event of a lamp failure, another light source remains available.

In this configuration the Lamp limit menu is also available, which allows you to choose a fixed or seasonal maximum.

Lamp ON + Neon ON

This mode allows you to use both light sources simultaneously during the day.

The dimmable LED lamp runs normally at dawn. When it reaches maximum brightness, the programmer also turns on the neon output.

During the full light period the following remain on:

LED + Neon Lamp

This way you can get the maximum amount of available light during the day.

As sunset approaches, the programmer automatically manages the sequence necessary for the dimmable lamp to progressively reduce brightness.

This configuration is useful when dimmable LED lighting alone is not sufficient or when you also want to maintain and use the existing neon system.

Dimming type

Path:

MENU -> Dimming type

The screen identifies the profile used for the dimmable lamp. In reference firmware B136, the available choices are:

Display value	Use
SG-LMP-0001	verified LED lamp profile
SG-LMP-0002	second verified LED lamp profile
Incandescent	incandescent or compatible halogen lamp

Choose only the profile matching the exact lamp installed. From this screen, press MENU to open Mains frequency.

In summary

The choice of mode depends on the type of system and the amount of light needed in the environment.

Mode	Recommended use
Lamp+Neon	sunrise and sunset on the lamp, daylight mainly via neon
Only lamp	dawn, daylight and dusk entirely on the dimmable LED lamp
Lamp(ON)+Neon	lamp and neon lit together to get more light during the day