How to Power and Dim Your LED Light Panels for Stone Backlighting

Choosing the correct power supply and dimming system is an important part of any architectural LED backlighting project.

There is no single power supply or control system that must be used with every Nu World installation. The correct solution depends on the LED panels being supplied, operating voltage, total electrical load, desired dimming method and any lighting-control or home-automation system already specified for the project.

At Nu World Custom Lighting and Design, we have specialized in architectural backlighting for more than 17 years. We work with homeowners, architects, interior designers, lighting designers, contractors, electricians and control-system integrators to determine the appropriate power and control solution for each project.

We have standard components that we regularly use and recommend, but we are not limited to those products. If another driver, dimming module or lighting-control system has already been specified, send us the product information and we can review it for compatibility with the LED panel system.

Mean Well PWM-120 — Our Go-To Dimmable Power Supply

For architectural projects requiring conventional dimming, our go-to power supply is the Mean Well PWM-120 series.

The PWM-120 is a 120-watt constant-voltage LED driver with PWM output. Different voltage versions are available, allowing us to select the appropriate driver to match the LED panel system being supplied.

For Nu World installations, this typically means:

Project-specific specifications always take precedence.

The standard PWM-120 version provides 3-in-1 dimming, supporting:

• 0–10V DC dimming
• 10V PWM signal
• Resistance dimming

For projects using conventional architectural wall dimming, 0–10V control is one of the most common solutions we use.

Multiple PWM-120 drivers can be used where the total LED load requires more than one power supply or where separate lighting zones are required.

The PWM-120 is our go-to dimmable driver, but it is not the only power supply or dimming solution that can be used with Nu World Frameless LED Light Panels.

Standard Wall Plug-In Power Supply — Simple Non-Dimming Option

Not every backlighting project needs dimming.

For straightforward installations, Nu World can supply a wall plug-in, non-dimming power supply matched to the voltage and electrical load of the LED panels.

This is a simple and practical option for projects where the lighting only needs to be switched ON and OFF.

Typical applications include:

• Smaller residential installations
• Simple ON/OFF backlighting
• Projects where dimming is not required
• Testing LED panels prior to final installation
• Installations using an appropriately controlled receptacle

The power supply supplied with the project is selected to match the voltage and electrical requirements of the LED panels.

We Can Work With Other Dimming and Control Systems

The Mean Well PWM-120 is our standard go-to dimming solution when a project does not already have another control system specified.

However, many residential and commercial projects already have a lighting-control or automation system selected by the homeowner, architect, lighting designer, electrical engineer, contractor or automation company.

We can work with those systems as well.

This can include projects using equipment from companies such as:

• Lutron
• Crestron
• Control4
• Other architectural lighting or automation systems

Compatibility is determined by the specific equipment being used, not simply by the brand name.

If your lighting designer, electrician or automation contractor already has a particular driver, dimming module, controller or interface in mind, send us:

• Manufacturer
• Model number
• Product specification sheet
• Proposed control method

We can compare those requirements with the Nu World LED panels being supplied and confirm whether the equipment is compatible or whether another interface or component is required.

This allows the backlighting system to be designed around the overall project rather than forcing the project to use one particular Nu World power supply.

Our objective is simple: make sure the LED panels, power supplies, dimming equipment and control system are designed to work together correctly.

12V vs. 24V — The Power Supply Must Match the LED Panels

The required voltage is determined by the LED system being supplied. It should not simply be selected according to the physical size of the project.

The power supply must always match the voltage and electrical requirements of the LED panels.

If another power supply or control system is being considered, we can provide the necessary panel voltage, wattage and electrical information so compatibility can be confirmed before installation.

How Many Power Supplies Will My Project Need?

The number of power supplies depends primarily on:

• Total LED panel wattage
• Capacity of the selected power supply
• Number of lighting zones
• Panel layout
• Control requirements

A small installation may require only one power supply.

A larger kitchen island, multiple countertops, backlit bar, feature wall or combination of illuminated surfaces may require several.

Separate power supplies can also be used where different areas need to operate as independent lighting zones.

Where practical, we generally design systems around the fewest practical power supplies and electrical connections while still providing the capacity and control required for the project.

Keep Power Supplies Accessible

Regardless of which power supply or control system is used, power supplies and other serviceable electrical components should remain accessible after the stone and cabinetry have been installed.

Typical locations can include:

• Accessible cabinetry
• Utility spaces
• Electrical or equipment areas
• Other accessible locations approved by the project electrician

Power supplies should not be permanently buried behind stone or other inaccessible finished surfaces.

A power supply is a serviceable electrical component and may eventually require inspection or replacement.

Keeping it accessible allows servicing to take place without disturbing the LED panels, stone or finished installation.

Wiring Between the Power Supply and LED Panels

There is no single wire gauge that is appropriate for every LED backlighting installation.

Conductor sizing depends on factors including:

• System voltage
• Electrical load
• Distance between the power supply and LED panels
• Number of panels
• Circuit configuration
• Selected control equipment
• Applicable electrical requirements

Longer low-voltage wire runs can experience voltage drop, making correct conductor sizing increasingly important as distance and electrical load increase.

The project’s licensed electrician should determine the final wire size and wiring method for the installation.

Nu World can provide the electrician with the LED panel voltage, wattage, layout and power-supply information required for electrical planning.

Integrating Lutron, Crestron, Control4 and Other Systems

Higher-end residential and commercial projects frequently have a lighting-control system designed before the LED backlighting is finalized.

Nu World can work with the project’s lighting designer, electrician or control-system integrator to determine the appropriate interface between the LED panels and the specified control system.

For example, a project may use Lutron, Crestron, Control4 or another control platform, but the exact method of controlling the backlighting depends on the particular modules and interfaces being used within that system.

We therefore do not make blanket compatibility claims based only on the brand.

Send us the technical information for the equipment being proposed and we can review it against the LED system.

This is particularly important when determining:

• Required input and output voltage
• Dimming method
• Driver compatibility
• Control interface
• Number of lighting zones
• Total electrical load

The earlier this information is coordinated, the easier it is to integrate the backlighting into the overall lighting and automation design.

Dimming Can Help Fine-Tune Backlit Stone

Dimming is useful for more than simply changing the brightness or mood of a room.

With highly translucent materials such as Cristallo Quartzite, Onyx and certain translucent marbles, adjustable light output can also help fine-tune the finished appearance.

Every natural stone slab transmits light differently.

Factors such as veining, mineral deposits, fissures, resin, mesh backing, stone thickness and natural variations within the slab can all influence how light passes through the material.

The ability to adjust overall light output gives the homeowner, designer or installer greater control over the finished appearance.

Dimming cannot guarantee perfectly uniform illumination, but it can be a useful tool for balancing the lighting with the natural characteristics of the stone.

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