Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Electronic Dimmers and Old Wiring

This is topic Electronic Dimmers and Old Wiring in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 11-28-2002, 01:12 AM:

All of the house lights in our theatre are on resistance dimmers. I have been told that converting to solid state dimmers could cause problems in our 74 year old wiring due to inductive spikes caused by the pulsing current of modern dimmers. Is this a real possibility or B.S. ?

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 11-28-2002, 01:21 AM:

Never heard that one before in regards to an ordinary filiment lighting circuit..... I'd be more concerned for your 74 year old wiring!! [Smile]

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-28-2002, 10:25 AM:

The wiring isn't what I'd be most concerned about. I'd go for autoformer dimmers in your case (Luxtrol style). You run manual anyway and the Luxtrols are the cleanest dimmers around...no nasty choppy BS like with "modern" triac style dimmers.

http://www.superiorelectric.com/WEB_voltage/luxtrol-c.pdf

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-28-2002, 10:50 AM:

I second what Steve said. If you are oncerned with possible problems go this route, or use an electronic dimmer with lots of output filtering on it.
Mark

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 11-28-2002, 03:15 PM:

If the dimmers are properly grounded and the neutral is good then well filtered electronic dimmers should not have any problem

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-28-2002, 04:35 PM:

No matter how well you filter them, nothing beats the autoformer for clean output.

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-28-2002, 04:56 PM:

I've never seen an old building with a decent ground, many still ahve a high leg on 3 phase too.
Mark