CFL /T5/T8 lamps on Architectural Dimmer

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by bijoykr, Jun 3, 2010.

  1. bijoykr

    bijoykr

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    Dear Friends,
    Can any one give a solution for connecting the CFL /T5/T8 lamps on Architectural Dimmer.
    Is it possible? as per the compatible load mentioned in the catalogue its not possible. Is there any way to overcome the situation?

    Regards

    Bijoy
     
    bijoykr, Jun 3, 2010
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  2. bijoykr

    bijoykr

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    L5112D16B2 is the model
     
    bijoykr, Jun 3, 2010
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  3. bijoykr

    Newman

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    You're going to need to provide a bit more information for us to be able to help you.

    If you have ballasts and lamps that are compatible with phase-control dimming then you can connect them up to the dimmer cards of the Architectural dimmer.

    A much better way is to use 0-10, DSI or DALI ballasts for your tubes and fit ballast cards to your Architectural dimmer in lieu of regular phase control dimmer cards. This will give you addressable control of each of your fittings if you want it.
     
    Newman, Jun 7, 2010
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  4. bijoykr

    Newman

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    Ah, sorry, just re-read your posts. The model number you're referring to is the old Professional Architectural Dimmer.

    For this particular dimmer the only method is to get ballasts and tubes that are compatible with Leading Edge Phase Control dimming. If you're going to need quite a few you might be able to get your ballast supplier to let you test a few different models out first.
     
    Newman, Jun 8, 2010
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  5. bijoykr

    bijoykr

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    Only ON/OFF

    Thanks for the support,

    Sir the requirement is only ON/OFF, no need to dim the lights from L5112D16B2, we are using the 5504AMP to dim the same circuit, but need to switch ON/OFF from the architectural Dimmer.
    Is there any problem in connecting the fluorescent circuit to the Dimmer with ON/OFF control? Any compatability problem? will the dimmer hang because of this?

    Thanks & Regards
     
    bijoykr, Jun 8, 2010
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  6. bijoykr

    Newman

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    How the dimmer channel interacts with the fluorescent ballasts is a bit hard to predict, so you would need to test it carefully.

    The main issue is that "off" on a dimmer is not completely off, as EMC filter components are still present across the dimmer terminals. This small amount of power leaking through the dimmer channel may upset the ballasts.

    I'd install a C-Bus relay unit and avoid any potential problems.
     
    Newman, Jun 8, 2010
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  7. bijoykr

    ashleigh Moderator

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    It is also usually the case that fully ON with a dimmer is not always full mains conduction either.

    Many dimmers when fully on will only actually switch on for about 8 or 9 milliseconds in each 10 millisecond 1/2 cycle.

    On an incandescent or LV lamp you will never b able to see the difference between this "almost fully on" and "fully on". BUT some fluroscent lamps do see the difference, and they DO NOT like it.

    I had a fluoro lamp running off a dimmer channel for a long time (configured to act as hard OFF / hard ON with no dimming). It worked fine.

    Then one day the lamp died and I bought a replacement, fitted it, and the fluoro never worked properly. It would flicker and not start properly, it hated being on a dimmer channel. I put in a new starter, and a new (magnetic) ballast. All failed. The only solution was re-wire it to a plain switch / relay.

    Lesson: Be careful. It might work, and it might not. And it might work for a while and then stop working later.
     
    ashleigh, Jun 9, 2010
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  8. bijoykr

    bijoykr

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    Thanks

    Thanks for the support.
     
    bijoykr, Jun 13, 2010
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