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Author Topic: Dimmable CFL's in the auditoriums Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-21-2008 11:14 AM                        Oh, I forgot to mention how much more difficult it is to get the RF noise they generate from getting into sound systems. Stick 200 of those suckers in a house light array and you can bet it won't be pleasant listening to that BUZZZZZZ.  |  IP: Logged Bruce McGee Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1776 From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular. Registered: Aug 1999 posted 08-21-2008 06:40 PM                     We have CFS automation. Not sure about the trigger rate change adjustment, Gordon. I hadn't even thought about noise in the sound system. I will check that out and get back to you guys the first of the week on this.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-21-2008 08:27 PM                     We have had no noise issues with the cfl lamps the lamps we are using are made in china for a company called U Lighting America The colour temp is very good The CFS dimmer is the same as the Raven and it may have issues with the amount of inductive load  |  IP: Logged Thomas Pitt Master Film Handler Posts: 266 From: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Registered: May 2007 posted 08-22-2008 06:16 PM                     Here's a thought. I read Lyle's post about LED arrays, and thought that idea could be applied to CFL lamps as well. Instead of having a single lamp and trying to dim it, have two or three different lighting circuits - switching them off individually. Intermission - all lights on Trailer level - Half the lights on Movie - all lights off (except maybe one for safety reasons) It's important to space out the CFL lights evenly like this, so that when you turn off one circuit it doesn't create bright spots and uneven lighting in the auditorium.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-24-2008 03:32 PM                        I'm pretty sure that I speak for Monte and other old-timers like myself: Almost all the neighborhood theatres used a multi color system like described above. We didn't have a dimmer, "This is where we came in!" It would be possible to use a white LED array along with zener diodes to switch on another group of LEDs at ever increasing voltages. Dimming LEDs doesn't work very well as any user of AW3 platters can attest. Louis  |  IP: Logged Bruce Hansen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 847 From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-24-2008 06:16 PM                     LEDs can be dimmed smoothly from full on to full off, but they are diodes, and therefore they are avalanche mode devices. They are current dependent, not voltage dependent. They may not be very happy with an SCR/TRIAC type dimmer.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-25-2008 08:13 PM                     We recently did a 7 plex were we recreated a 1940's fixture getting the original maker (VOIGHT LIGHTING) to build the metal work to our specs and they are using dimmable CFL lamps for the white circuit and Red and Blue LED modules (TEMPO LIGHTING) for the two colour effect They are controlled by 2 standard TEC8112 Stan Ash dimmiers with no issues at all We had no issues to date with over 1000 modules we used  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-25-2008 11:11 PM                        Very sweet Gordon. And they dim out completely without flicker? Who manufactures the CFLs? Are they custom spec-ed or off the shelf. And the LED modules -- same question. We are looking to put dimmable light in our drapped side panels but there is an issue of incandescent fixtures generating heat too too close to the velour. LEDs, even CFLs would be ideal. Tempo carries an off the shelf line of LED modules?  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-26-2008 10:31 AM                     We use the tempo serries of modules that fit into a track designed for cove lighting the fade very smoothly right out The CFL dim smoothly nto 30 volts then drop off they are from an online source U Lighting America  |  IP: Logged Gordon Bachlund Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 696 From: Monrovia, CA, USA Registered: Aug 1999 posted 08-29-2008 08:47 PM                        Gordon, it’s gratifying to see someone finally pay attention to the aesthetics of theatre lighting. The fixtures you replicated indeed harken back to the wonderful neighborhood theatres of the 1930s and 40s when atmosphere and showmanship were essential to successful theatre operation. Recent improvements of the design of CFLs and their efficiency, especially in combination with the efficiency of LEDs, afford opportunities for significant energy savings while creating a pleasant ambience that will welcome customers. Well done, sir! Well done!!  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 08-29-2008 11:41 PM                        I recommend using real light bulbs (re: incandescent). They won't pull this type of BS, are loads cheaper and easier to deal with. You are not saving the planet by using CFLs.  |  IP: Logged Gordon Bachlund Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 696 From: Monrovia, CA, USA Registered: Aug 1999 posted 08-30-2008 02:38 PM                        My endorsement of CFLs and LEDs is not driven by politics but by the hard reality of life-cycle cost. Most CFLs are rated at about 8,000 hours, while most standard incandescent lamps are rated at about 800 hours. Higher life rated incandescent lamps are available but sacrifice lumen/watt efficiency, and often color temperature, for the added hours. Most LEDs are rated at about 100,000 hours. The cost to re-lamp the fixtures (every 800 hours versus every 8,000 hours) and the improved lumen/watt efficiency at a time when energy costs are rising make a compelling case for the use of CFLs.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-31-2008 04:03 PM                     The other big issue was heat Modern laqured coloured lamps fade and loss the hue so that entailed LEDs for the colour circuit At the same point incadescent white circuit would have generated too much internal heat in the fixture for the LED modules to survive  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-01-2008 05:55 PM                        No question, heat is a major consideration in some situations. We have four 20 foot curtains on either sides of the auditorium. They are recessed so that they are flush with the wall. They cover what used to be windows, now bricked up. We would have liked to light them when we did the refurbishment a few years ago, but the depth of space in which they sit isn't deep enough to put incandescent fixtures which would be too close to the velour material. It is conceivable however, that we might be able to use LED arrays to light these curtains, top and bottom, which could dim with the houselights. The much lower operating temp could make all the difference.  |  IP: Logged

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