Dimmable Fluorescent Lights

[TheatreProd]

hello,

I am trying to work out how to wire up standard fluorescent strip lights into a Theatre set up.

I have mains powered fluorescent baton lights that I am putting on a 13amp plug.

I then plan to plug these into a 13amp socket to 16amp plug and then plug these into the Theatre sockets. Ideally I’d like to two lights to one channel.

Will this Work?

Cheers

[ddproduction]

Standard florescent lights are not dimmable. You can get dimmable florescents but they get expensive quickly.

You may wish to look at LED tape mounted inside a suitable enclosure, which can be dimmed with a dedicated LED driver.

No disrespect but your language would suggest that you're not an expert - if you're not sure what you're doing, DO NOT experiment with electricity, ask someone qualified.

[gyro_gearloose]

Besides, dimmable flourescents don't dim smoothly from 100% to 0%. They snap on and off at around 10%-15%. Our house lights do this and it doesn't look that great.

[adam2]

Agree, standard fluorescent lights are not dimmable.

 

Special dimmable fluorescent lights exist but are not the norm.

 

 

 

[timsabre]

Special dimmable fluorescent lights exist but are not the norm.

 

Even the special dimmable ones cannot be dimmed from a standard theatre lighting dimmer as the OP was hoping.

[dbuckley]

Besides, dimmable flourescents don't dim smoothly from 100% to 0%. They snap on and off at around 10%-15%. Our house lights do this and it doesn't look that great.

 

Your "dimmable" fluorescents may do that, but you can dim a fluorescent all the way down, and up from zero, no snap. Depends on the ballasts.

[DNT]

hello,

I am trying to work out how to wire up standard fluorescent strip lights into a Theatre set up.

I have mains powered fluorescent baton lights that I am putting on a 13amp plug.

I then plan to plug these into a 13amp socket to 16amp plug and then plug these into the Theatre sockets. Ideally I'd like to two lights to one channel.

Will this Work?

Cheers

 

As has been said already, normal fluorescent lamps are not dimmable, and I think it would be dangerous to try to do so, but I have used Phillips philinea lamps for that purpose in the past. They are incandescent tubes which are dimmable and can look great when set up in particular configurations on a set. However, they are now discontinued in incandescent form. The last time I asked in my local suppliers, they said the new LED versions are not dimmable, but I have now just looked online and see that dimmable versions are available. You might be lucky enough to get old stock of the incandescent ones somewhere, and if so I would recommend using them. They come in various lengths with a terminal at each end and they can be placed in lines right against each other, so for example I have made up some 3 metre legths on a batten to put on flats. You need to get specific fittings for them, and they are delicate, but can be very effective.

 

 

Denis

[musht]

Dimmable ballasts aren`t as rare or expensive as they were, but the control format is usually not convenient, DALI, DSI or what looks like 0-10V but is actually a pot across the ballast.

 

http://www.tridonic.com/com/en/data-sheets-dimmable-ballasts.asp

 

DMX to DALI interfaces do exist but milky plastic and LED strip with DMX driver is going to be a lot easier.

[jack2609]

Hello,

 

You could consider the Quasar Science Q LED XFADE series. Link here My link.

 

They look like a traditional fluorescent. It is a tubular soft light with an LED source. It is color tunable from 2000K to 6000K. You CAN dim these from most theatrical dimmers.

 

Jack

[back_ache]

I would go with the LED option too as you will be able to re-use/re-purpose/canabalise for other things afterward where as FL's don't have a long-future ahead of them and are not very flexible

[mitchino]

I am selling a large job lot of dimmable and colour mixable Anytronics Anycolour DFBs and 2 x interfaces. See the classified section and ebay.