Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Luxtrol dimmer

This is topic Luxtrol dimmer - contol by automation? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Steven J Hart (Member # 2340) on 06-01-2004, 09:33 AM:

I recently purchased a used Superior Electric Luxtrol house light dimmer. I plan to use this to dim my Auditorium lights. Currently the dimmer is set up with latching relays that will only allow full up and full down operation. I would like to interface it with my Kelmar Series 2 automation and figure out a way to program it to dim the house lights to half for the trailer program. My idea to accomplish this is to remove the latching relays from the circuit, and attach a time - delay relay to the "house to half" terminal in the automation. I'd then set this relay for the amount of time it takes for the Luxtrol to dim down to half (about 1.5 seconds)

Currently my auditorium lights are controlled by a three pole relay so they are either on or off. A modern solid state dimmer would not do the job for me because I have 3600 watts of incandescent lights broken down into 3 120 volt circuits, all fed by different legs of the 3 phase. The Luxtrol unit I purchased is a 3 gang unit rated for 2000 watts per gang.

Will my scheme work? I'm open to all suggestions!

Thanks
Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-01-2004, 09:11 PM:

That should work fine. I'd select a relay that allows it to go full off in case you want to adjust it to do that.... Down to half in 1.5 seconds... hats really fast. You ought to try to slow it down a bit if possible... thats pretty much the same as just shutting off the lights with a switch...... stretch it out a bit and build some showmanship into it if at all possiible.

Mark @ CLACO