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orchidman

Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 277
Location: Oklahoma City - KRCE

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: Dimmers

I can't find that much on this subject via 'Search' so I am asking the experts   

I am at the point of identifying what type of dimmer(s) I am going to go with.  Van's has a single channel for $20 and a 4 channel for $115.  The catalog lists the 4 channel as a Pulse Width Modulation which sounds good but in the archives here there is one comment about a PWM unit having problems with a 430W.  Paul says that they have a dual channel unit for $75 and it sounds like it is a voltage regulation type.



Price wise the Van's single unit is the cheapest available but it doesn't say anything about if it is a PWM or a standard type voltage regulation unit.



My questions are, which method of control is better, voltage regulation or PWM, and how many circuits are people usually going with?



I will have a dual AFS system, 430W, SL40, 327, PM8000B, TT ADI and other rather standard cockpit lights.



Thoughts please.

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_________________
Gary Blankenbiller
RV10 - # 40674
(N2GB Flying)

pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth.
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: Dimmers

I had a nice schematic for a transistor dimmer, but I can't find it.  

Here's a more complex but very workable design from Aeroelectric.com.

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/Dimmers/9013_Ins.pdf

Linn



orchidman wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



I can't find that much on this subject via 'Search' so I am asking the experts  [Laughing] 

I am at the point of identifying what type of dimmer(s) I am going to go with.  Van's has a single channel for $20 and a 4 channel for $115.  The catalog lists the 4 channel as a Pulse Width Modulation which sounds good but in the archives here there is one comment about a PWM unit having problems with a 430W.  Paul says that they have a dual channel unit for $75 and it sounds like it is a voltage regulation type.



Price wise the Van's single unit is the cheapest available but it doesn't say anything about if it is a PWM or a standard type voltage regulation unit.



My questions are, which method of control is better, voltage regulation or PWM, and how many circuits are people usually going with?



I will have a dual AFS system, 430W, SL40, 327, PM8000B, TT ADI and other rather standard cockpit lights.



Thoughts please.



--------

Gary Blankenbiller

RV10 - # 40674

Fuselage SB

(N410GB reserved)





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=163325#163325

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orchidman

Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 277
Location: Oklahoma City - KRCE

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Dimmers

 	  pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth. wrote: 	
		  I had a nice schematic for a transistor dimmer, but I can't find it.  

Here's a more complex but very workable design from Aeroelectric.com.

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/Dimmers/9013_Ins.pdf

Linn 	


I have seen this but I was hoping that I would not have to 'role my own'.  Plus this one requires a heat sink equaling heat and higher wattage consumption.

My hope is that I could get some discussion about the Pulse Width Modulation types and if there are any negatives.

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_________________
Gary Blankenbiller
RV10 - # 40674
(N2GB Flying)

pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth.
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject: Dimmers

orchidman wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		      	  Quote: 	
		  --> RV10-List message posted by: "orchidman" <gary(at)wingscc.com> (gary(at)wingscc.com)

pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth. wrote:

        	  Quote: 	
		  I had a nice schematic for a transistor dimmer, but I can't find it.  

Here's a more complex but very workable design from Aeroelectric.com.

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/Dimmers/9013_Ins.pdf

Linn

    	
   

I have seen this but I was hoping that I would not have to 'role my own'. 	
 	
 I think Aeroelectric sells it built.  Or maybe they used to.

  	  Quote: 	
		      	  Quote: 	
		    Plus this one requires a heat sink equaling heat and higher wattage consumption. 	
 	
 The power has to go somewhere.  The old potentiometer type dimmers were a really high watage variable resistor that also got pretty hot ....

  	  Quote: 	
		      	  Quote: 	
		  My hope is that I could get some discussion about the Pulse Width Modulation types and if there are any negatives. 	
 	
 The only negative I can think of is that switching on/off like that  might produce ripple (read noise) on the power bus.  You can use a 555 timer (Radio Shack) to drive a power transistor (the 555 won't handle a lot of current), but we're back to the heat sink if there's a lot of incandescent lamps.  If you go to LED lighting, the power consumption will be less, and lessen the need for a heatsink.

 [quote]    	  Quote: 	
		  



--------

Gary Blankenbiller

RV10 - # 40674

Fuselage SB

(N410GB reserved)





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=163369#163369



  	
 [b]

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Tim_Lewis(at)msm.umr.edu
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: Dimmers

I'm using the $115 one from Vans.  The instructions include a very 

modest modification (2 resistors, one capacitor, details at 

http://fdatasystems.com/Manuals/LC-40_Garmin.pdf) to use the PWM signal 

with the Garmin 400/500 series units.  I elected to follow the dimmer 

manufacturer's suggestion, however, and just use the built in photocell 

in my 530W to dim the unit automatically.  I can always tie it in to the 

dimmer later if desired.



Tim



-- 

Tim Lewis -- HEF (Manassas, VA)

RV-6A N47TD -- 1000 hrs

RV-10 #40059 under construction



orchidman wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I can't find that much on this subject via 'Search' so I am asking the experts  [Laughing] 

 I am at the point of identifying what type of dimmer(s) I am going to go with.  Van's has a single channel for $20 and a 4 channel for $115.  The catalog lists the 4 channel as a Pulse Width Modulation which sounds good but in the archives here there is one comment about a PWM unit having problems with a 430W.  Paul says that they have a dual channel unit for $75 and it sounds like it is a voltage regulation type.



 Price wise the Van's single unit is the cheapest available but it doesn't say anything about if it is a PWM or a standard type voltage regulation unit.



 My questions are, which method of control is better, voltage regulation or PWM, and how many circuits are people usually going with?



 I will have a dual AFS system, 430W, SL40, 327, PM8000B, TT ADI and other rather standard cockpit lights.



 Thoughts please.



 --------

 Gary Blankenbiller

 RV10 - # 40674

 Fuselage SB

 (N410GB reserved)





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=163325#163325

- The Matronics RV10-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV10-List

Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2882

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: Dimmers

Van's, and Stein both sell some dimmers that work well for

most instrument and radio lighting.  Especially if you use

LED's, it's not like you're going to be drawing a lot of

power.  I'm sure all of my dimmable circuits likely come to

less than 1A by a fair margin.

Make sure you evaluate your panel in full before worrying

too much about dimmers. I have 2 dimmers, small ones, and

they are for instrument lights, and one for the overhead

lights.  Most avionics will auto-dim, or have their own

adjustment.  So, you're only really looking at things

like the compass, ADI, CDI, and perhaps one or two other

small things that will even have a dimmer hooked up to it.

Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

do not archive

linn Walters wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   orchidman wrote:

> 

> pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth. wrote:

>   

>> I had a nice schematic for a transistor dimmer, but I can't find it.  

>> Here's a more complex but very workable design from Aeroelectric.com.

>> http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/Dimmers/9013_Ins.pdf

>> Linn

>>     

>

> I have seen this but I was hoping that I would not have to 'role my own'.

 I think Aeroelectric sells it built.  Or maybe they used to.

>   Plus this one requires a heat sink equaling heat and higher wattage consumption.

 The power has to go somewhere.  The old potentiometer type dimmers were 

 a really high watage variable resistor that also got pretty hot ....

> My hope is that I could get some discussion about the Pulse Width Modulation types and if there are any negatives.

 The only negative I can think of is that switching on/off like that  

 might produce ripple (read noise) on the power bus.  You can use a 555 

 timer (Radio Shack) to drive a power transistor (the 555 won't handle a 

 lot of current), but we're back to the heat sink if there's a lot of 

 incandescent lamps.  If you go to LED lighting, the power consumption 

 will be less, and lessen the need for a heatsink.

>

> --------

> Gary Blankenbiller

> RV10 - # 40674

> Fuselage SB

> (N410GB reserved)

>

>

> Read this topic online here:

>

> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=163369#163369

>

>   

 *

 *

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orchidman

Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 277
Location: Oklahoma City - KRCE

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: Dimmers

 	  Tim_Lewis(at)msm.umr.edu wrote: 	
		  I'm using the $115 one from Vans.  The instructions include a very 

modest modification (2 resistors, one capacitor, details at 

http://fdatasystems.com/Manuals/LC-40_Garmin.pdf) to use the PWM signal 

with the Garmin 400/500 series units.  I elected to follow the dimmer 

manufacturer's suggestion, however, and just use the built in photocell 

in my 530W to dim the unit automatically.  I can always tie it in to the 

dimmer later if desired. 	


Tim, thanks for the link.  That lead me also to the main manual.  Both have given me the information I need to evaluate this option.  Looks good.

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_________________
Gary Blankenbiller
RV10 - # 40674
(N2GB Flying)

tdawson-townsend(at)auror
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:22 am Post subject: Dimmers

I like the dimmers from Perihelion:  http://www.periheliondesign.com/egpavr.htm    

   

   

TDT  

   

Tim Dawson-Townsend  

40025 Almost done with Wheelpants!  

   

tdt(at)aurora.aero (tdt(at)aurora.aero)   

617-500-4812 (office)  

617-905-4800 (mobile)  

   

      [quote][b]

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