7.0 Troubleshoot the luminaires exhibiting a wave dimming effect when using EnOcean switches

Owned by Tharushi Arachchige
Last updated: Aug 17, 2023 by Abdallah Hammad (Deactivated)

7.1. Problem

The continuous dimming issue happens when relayed dimming messages are sent by an EnOcean switch by holding the dim+ / dim- buttons. An installation becomes more susceptible when the message is received by multiple nodes within the same zone at the same time and these dimming messages can continue to circulate for longer periods of time. There are two types of wave/cyclic dimming issues observed,

7.1.1. Long or Continued wave dimming

In this type of continued dimming the problem can persist and continue until manually intervened. The way it presents itself is that when EnOcean switch is used to send dimming commands (+ or -) a sensor node* or multiple sensor nodes can enter a continued relay state where they can keep on sending relay commands for other nodes.

*The sensor node could be one of the paired nodes or one of those nodes that directly received message in zone pairing mode.

This problem is seen in conjunction with the use of the EnOcean switch and has been reported to have been reported for projects with firmware versions as below,

  1. 184 PIC & 20 Nordic

  2. 185 PIC & 21 Nordic

Fixed in 186 + 22.

7.1.1.1. Troubleshooting

Use the troubleshooting steps mentioned below to resolve this issue;

  1. Send a specific dim percentage command to all nodes if sending a relay is possible for all the nodes at the same time. To do this go to light output go to a particular node set a light output percentage and relay. If that is not possible,

  2. Power cycle all the nodes such as in a small installation switching through a circuit breaker. This will stop the source from sending any command. In case of multiple floors remember to power off all nodes prior to turning them back on as if the source is from another floor e.g. such that in case of wirelessly linked nodes the message will start to circulate again.

  3. Ensure to use switch ID pairing to avoid sending messages from an EnOcean switch to multiple nodes (pair one node in each room to its EnOcean switch)

With the release 23 MAY 2022 (Firmware PIC 186 & Nordic 22) : We will include a fix for this type of wave dimming and help alleviate the problem from happening too often.

7.1.2. Short wave dimming

This happens when several nodes in a zone receive dim+ or dim- command from the EnOcean switch and the messages travel across the whole zone several times. This happens because the concept of the latest message always prevails in organic response sytem and relay messages can travel between the sensor nodes thinking that their message is the latest. This problem only lasts for a short period of time which is proportional to the number of nodes in a zone. In small meeting rooms with 4-8 nodes the nodes may take upto a few minutes until all nodes in the same zone settle to a dimming percentage. The final outcome may be that not all the nodes are at the same dim percentage but in this case, no nodes are stuck in a continuous relayed message state.

7.1.2.1 Troubleshooting

Use the troubleshooting steps mentioned below to resolve this issue;

  1. Use on/auto to bring the nodes back to the operational mode.

  2. Once the problem is resolved,

    1. Avoid sending continued dim+ or dim- and instead do step iterations if this problem is encountered again.

    2. Use switch ID pairing for one or a smaller number of nodes in a zone.