This is a very simple IR light dimmer that you will wish to have sooner or later, especially those who are lazy enough to get up and turn off the lights. There are two versions of PCB for two sizes of capacitors, so PCBs are: 32.5 x 26.5mm and 28.5 x 27mm.
You can download the project files at the bottom of this page by clicking on red "download" button.
Features of current beta version of firmware:
- Soft start (gradually turning on the light bulb)
- Soft down (gradually turning off the light bulb)
- Learning IR codes from RC5 and NEC remotes
- Dimming in 10 levels by using only IR remote
- Previous dimm-level remembering when operating with remote
- Sleep timer in duration of 1.6min for 60Hz version and 2min for 50Hz version
- ON/OFF control with wall pushbutton
Dimmer is connected to existing home wiring installation inside a junction box, which is usually located above the light switch. In order to properly connect the dimmer to installation one should follow the schematics provided for that purpose. If connected differently there is a very big chance of some freaky side effects such as burned PIC microcontroller, serious fire and who knows what else.
Learning remote control IR codes (programming procedure)
After connecting dimmer to installation you must program the remote control buttons. Here is how to do that:
1. Hold the wall pushbutton for 11 sec so that dimmer can enter programming mode. After those 11 sec, LED will start to blink fast, and light will dimm to third (3.) level. Now you have 11 sec to complete the programming sequence:
2. Press the first button on your remote that will increase light level or turn on the light when it is turned off (ON/UP)
3. Press the second button on your remote that will be used to decrease the light level (DOWN)
4. Press the third button that will be used for activating/deactivating sleep mode (SLEEP)
5. Finally, press the fourth button that will be used to turn off light completely (OFF)
During programming, both the light bulb and LED will blink to confirm IR code reception. If your remote control does not have all 4 buttons that you can use, you can repeat previous button but that will cancel out some features. For example, if your remote has only two buttons (A and B), and if during programming you press: A A A B, that means that key A will be used for ON/UP function, and key B will be used to completely turn off the light. If you choose combination A B B B, it means that the key A will be again used for ON/UP function, and key B will be used to decrease light level (it will also turn the light off completely in 10 button presses - until zero level).
Programming notice: If during programming, you notice that LED blinks even when you don't press any buttons on your remote control, it is probably because you used TSOP11xx instead of TSOP17xx receiver module. In that case, you will probably not be able to program your dimmer properly.
If you are not satisfied with your choice of remote controller buttons, you can repeat the learning procedure as much as you like.
If you are planning to use your TV's remote controller, you should probably choose those teletext buttons: red, green, yellow and blue to avoid, for example, switching channels when operating the dimmer.
Sleep timer
Sleep timer can be activated by a bit longer wall-pushbutton press, more than 1.8 sec to be precise, or by pressing the appropriate button on the remote controller. Sleep timer cancellation is accomplished just like the activation. It is possible to increase/decrease the light level when sleep timer is active. Dimmer will automatically set the light level to six (6) when entering the sleep mode, but only if previous level was greater than 6.
Important notice: This device is connected to mains power line, so it requires a lot of respect. If you are not sure in what you are doing, you better leave the installation part to the experienced electrician.
Dimmer in operation:
Note: Dimmer works better with TIC206 rather than TIC216!
Author (sent by): Trax
Download counter: 55,348
Rating: 
(3.00, votes 8215)
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Date: 07-02-2009
Lokalna verzija ove stranice: IR dimmer svjetla v1
By the Way Trax...Do you know any circuit to do just the "Soft Start/Down" part ? I
love this effect and would like to add it to all my house lights. I want to put Your digital
Dimmer on my living lights and soft/start/down on all the others. lol. :) Is there any simple
way to do it ? BTW : Now i've realised you're the Author of the Article/Circuit. Thanks to be
so kind sharing it and helping me out. :)
IP: 187.9.44.150
Thanks again Trax. Hmm. Because of my first problem i've Re-writen the PIC many times, and
Erase-it and Re-write, and Erase-it, so on... So, the calibration value is gone forever for
that Pic ? Do i need to trow it on the trash and get another one in place in order to read the
right calib ? :( Anyway, i will build the circuit now and do my tests. ;)
IP: 187.9.44.150
I guess you should do a READ PIC first, that way the calibration value will be read and you
will know it for future. That calibration value is very important because it is used for time
measurement used by IR receiving routine, so you shouldn't rewrite it. Yes, you better use the
default calibration value from the mentioned location.
IP: n/a
Hi. The CP option works. No errors now. Thanks Trax ! But i have another question...When starts
the write process the Picburner software asks that : No "Oscillator Calibration
Value" found. Do you want to use value from file (3FFFh) instead? --- What could be the
right answer for that ? :) Tnx again. I will try yes and no anyway. ;)
IP: 189.62.107.252
Thanks a LOT Trax. I will teste using this option you've mentioned.
Sorry. The wrote the Pic name wrong. :( I am using Exactly the 12F629 and burning with a
Serial PicBurner. Trying to burn the 60Hz version of it. (I am from Brazil).:) Wish me luck !
Iam dreaming to build this unit sucessfully. It will help me a lot on my home project ! Thanks
again to the autor and Trax. :)
IP: 187.9.44.150
The HEX file is OK. Turn off the "CP" (Code protect) checkbox before programming and
it will verify! And it is not 626, it is PIC16F629 or F675.
IP: n/a
Hi. I have problems burning the 626 HEX for the 60Hz version...It keeps me bugging with a
messagem about 0000h empty, something like that... Is this a problem with the HEX file ? :(
Sorry about my english. And Thnks for ANY help !
IP: 187.9.44.150
Crkao ti je PIC, to ti garantujem. Pored toga, probaj naci TIC206 jer sa njim radi bolje.
Znaci, probaj novi PIC i pazi kako spajas, radi se o visokom naponu!
IP: n/a
Trax. Da, stavio sam TIC216 i 1k u gate (nisam našao 820E SMD). Ima još nešto, kod prvog
uključivanja su mi bile zamijenjene diode, znači: na mjesto zenner diode je bila 1N4007, a na
mjestu 1N4007 je bila zenner dioda 5,6V. Budući da uređaj nije radio potražio sam grešku i
vidio da su diode zamijenjene. Zamijenio sam diode (koje su ostale ispravne) i opet ništa. Tek
nakon toga sam išao mjeriti napajanje PIC-a. Bilo je 5V. Sad razmišljam da li je PIC mogao,
na taj način, dobiti veće napajanje,
IP: n/a
Da, morao bi raditi i samo sa tipkom. Kakav si triac stavio? Stavi TIC206 jer sa TIC216 mnogi
imaju problema!!!
IP: n/a
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