Tunable White – Achieve color temperature from 2700K to 6500K with one LED module

Tunable White is becoming a big trend in residential and office lighting. I introduced one color-changing LED product, Dim-to-Warm LED, in the earlier post.  In this post, I will tell you about the Tunable White module. Its color temperature can be changed freely from 2700K to 6500K. This means that you can achieve warm light like an incandescent lamp and daylight with only one module. In addition to changing the color temperature, you can also dim the brightness.

Why color changing and Tunable White is a trend? How does it impact humans?  Let me shed light on that.

As we know human mind reacts to the brightness and temperature of light. Cool light (e.g., daylight) has a refreshing effect and helps us work at school or the office wherever effective work is needed. Where cool light refreshes, the warm light has a comforting and relaxing effect. Naturally, these lights are presented in the daytime during sunrises and sunsets.

How to use Tunable White?

With the Tunable White module, you can create better environments for both working and living. You can maximize productivity and improve concentration. Here are just some examples of the usage, but really there are countless ways to use Tunable White. 

One great use for Tunable White is offices. You need a lot of concentration to work effectively. This can be achieved with decent lighting. With this module, as said before, you can control the cool and warm light and dim the brightness. This gives the opportunity to select the right color temperature for the office during the daytime.

In residential usage, Tunable White gives a possibility to simulate circadian rhythm. Connect the Tunable White to a control unit, it can change the color temperature automatically during the daytime. This way you can enjoy cold refreshing light by midday and get the comforting feeling of warm light by evening.

Now we know some examples, but what kind of luminaires Tunable White is suitable for? The Tunable White module is very small sized. This gives options to use it in a wider range of luminaire types.

Here are some examples:

• Downlight
• Spotlight
• Indirect lighting
• Table light
• Decorative light

How does it work?

Citizen Tunable White module is made by using “multi-chip” technology. That means it’s made of tiny LED chips combined into the same module. Because of its very small size (LCN-C01A is only 15×15 mm), smaller luminaires can be made more than before. The small size also gives more even light. The spots between cool and warm dies are almost invisible, which guarantees more smoothly light.

It is made from cool (6500K) and warm (2700K) diodes. The color temperature changes by controlling the output of the two different colored LEDs. LED’s brightness depends on the current; by reducing the current the brightness reduces. These features give the option to dim and change the color temperature of the LED.

The Tunable White module has a linear color curve because it has two primaries (6500K and 2700K). The advantages of the two primaries are greater efficacy and simplicity. As seen in the diagram above, the linear color curve is located under the Black Body Locus (B.B.L.). That affects the color of the light and brings some colors up. You can get white light without a greenish tint. This improves contrast in other colors.

A suitable driver needs to have two channel outputs to control CCT and light intensity. So, you need 1-10V, DALI, or another two-channel driver to control the Tunable White luminaire.

Our high-quality Moons S Series Intelligent Drivers have great compatibility with the Tunable White module. They also have deep dimming from 100 % even to 0,1 %. You can program correct tuning and dimming curves for your luminaire. With Moon’s drivers, you can get everything out of this LED module.

If you have anything to ask, please don’t hesitate to contact us. For more information please download the presentation and the datasheets link down below.

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