Dimming Fluorescent Lamps
uch...@uncmed.med.unc.edu
solved before. We have a lecture hall that has some 24 fixtures of the 4
x 48 inch, 40 watt fluorescent lamps. These require dimming to varying
degrees depending on the format and subject matter being taught.
Heretofore we have been using a special dimming ballast which will service
4 of the fixtures at a time. We are down to zero spares and the
manufacturer does not sell these anymore and will not even make a special
run (at inflated prices) for us.
It is critical that we somehow maintain the ability to dim the lights in
the room. One alternative we are studing is to simply make the
fluorescent lamps on/off and install incandescent "down lights" which we
will then have easy control over.
Isn't there now a relatively inexpensive way to dim fluorescent lamps? Or
was I just dreaming?
AdvThanksance,
Chuck Bennett INTERNET: uch...@med.unc.edu
Medical Sciences Teaching Labs BITNET: uchuck@unc
CB# 7520 University of NC PHONE: 919-966-1134(w)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7520
I want to be eating rich soup in another town
->We have a problem that maybe some of you may have run across and have
->solved before. We have a lecture hall that has some 24 fixtures of the 4
->x 48 inch, 40 watt fluorescent lamps. These require dimming to varying
->degrees depending on the format and subject matter being taught.
->Heretofore we have been using a special dimming ballast which will service
->4 of the fixtures at a time. [...]
on a side note, just how does a dimming ballast work?
mike
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John Whitmore
>solved before. We have a lecture hall that has some 24 fixtures of the 4
>x 48 inch, 40 watt fluorescent lamps. These require dimming to varying
>degrees depending on the format and subject matter being taught.
>Heretofore we have been using a special dimming ballast which will service
>4 of the fixtures at a time. We are down to zero spares and the
You should ask an architect or mechanical engineer (after all,
that's who'd normally specify such an item for new construction) to
check for suppliers of dimmers for fluorescent lamps.
Failing that, you could install standard fluorescent lamps on
four circuits; switch one turns on four tubes, switch two turns on
eight, switch three turns on sixteen, and switch four turns on
thirty-two. It's primitive, but it'd give you some control.
I may be mistaken, but I thought fluorescent lamp dimmers
were relatively simple items, just had a different turn-on phase for
the SCR; such an item wouldn't work right on incandescent bulbs
(and an incandescent dimmer would burn up if connected to a
fluorescent fixture). Although a home fix-it store wouldn't
carry such specialized items, probably a builder's hardware store would.
John Whitmore