Response time is the time required for a dimmer to turn on a load from off to its level, when commanded to do so via a DMX512 level change. Thyristor dimmers are typically very fast (20-50 milliseconds), while sine wave and IGBT dimmers may be slower, due to the fact that they must limit inrush current from a cold lamp filament to protect the transistor power handling devices in the dimmer. Inrush current from a cold filament may be 20X normal lamp operating current.
Response time should never be confused with rise time, which is the turn-on (or turn-off in a reverse phase-control dimmer) time in each half cycle of the power devices in a phase-control thyristor or IGBT dimmer. Rise times are measured in microseconds, while response time is typically measured in milliseconds.
Response time should never be confused with rise time, which is the turn-on (or turn-off in a reverse phase-control dimmer) time in each half cycle of the power devices in a phase-control thyristor or IGBT dimmer. Rise times are measured in microseconds, while response time is typically measured in milliseconds.