Low voltage dimmer
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Posted by DrK on June 6, 2007, 12:57 am
Please log in for more thread options circuits that I plan to use for lighting. I would like to control the 2 load 12V sides independently. Is there a comercial dimmer (X-10 or eqivalent) that will control the LV load side? If not a dimmer, is there a remote switch that will do it? Thanks, | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Marc_F_Hult on June 6, 2007, 11:38 am
Please log in for more thread options Please give us a few more specifics. What's your application? One of the biggest advantages of low voltage is that you can use DC power from batteries. Is that your intention? If so, TRIAC-based dimmers like those used in most conventional dimmers won't work. Like the X-10 signal itself, they need AC. Or are you using low voltage for safety or other reasons? Or a new-fashioned fixtures and lamps with (eg) exposed conductors that have become fashionable. I think they'll be neato at least for a while ;-) If it's just because you have the transformer, you might reconsider. In the US, the National Electrical Code (NEC) allows for 'interesting' configuration of low-voltage ( =<50volt) lighting circuits, but the principal section pertaininf to low-voltage lighting requires that the entire system -- transformer and all -- be UL listed as a system. Presumably your transformer isn't so listed or you would already have access to the dimmers. If you are in US and need to conform to NEC, this might be a deal-breaker. I have a distributed nominal 24VDC lighting system that uses nominal 24VDC-in to 0-12VDC out CE and RU-listed dimmers. The dimmers are in commercial rack-mounted units from a surplused DMX512 lighting system that previously powered 24 individual 12vdc lights in a floating exhibit in Disneyland. These dimmers require DC, not AC and use 0-10vdc control signal (which can be created by DMX512. Note that the wire sizes required to carry low-voltage at high current can get very large quickly. All else equal 24VDC requires half the copper of 12VDC. You two nominal 12VDC windings could be used to make a (2x12)*1.4)vdc 0.6 vdc = 33vdc supply. But if you want a battery backed system, consider starting with a UL-listed battery charger/supply (That's what I did. 'Course I think you want to use the transformer ;-) My kids called this building a car because you found a hood ornament when I did comparable things <joke intended>.
HTH .. Marc Marc_F_Hult www.EControl.org | ||||||||||||||||
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>circuits that I plan to use for lighting. I would like to control the
>2 load 12V sides independently. Is there a comercial dimmer (X-10 or
>eqivalent) that will control the LV load side? If not a dimmer, is
>there a remote switch that will do it?
>
>Thanks,