Dimming t5 ballasts

[cl0wn]

getting seriously into the planning stage of the t5 unit and was just wondering what would be required to dim the t5's. would it just be a case of a couple of lcd timers and some circuits, or is it much more complicated than that. know a few on here (john michael etc) are good with electronics. also what sort of costs are involved? cheers in advance.

[robjag]

Hi,
You have to have a dimmable ballast to dim flourescent lighting if you have a standard electronic ballast you need to replace it.
Also you will need some kind of dimmer switch and a timer, may be able to get a timer with built in dimming capacity but not sure.

Regards,
Rob

[cl0wn]

it's gonna be a diy ati type build and i'm just wondering whether to upgrade to dimmables and try to get some cicuits to dim them or just go for regular ballasts and not bother dimming.

[Guest101]

Dimming them is really easy you just need a PIC with a PWM output and a few other parts, if you want them to do it automatically at a set time then you also need a RTC(Real time clock) and an LCD display and the PIC needs to be I2C compatable, Then you just need a few lines of code to program the PIC with.

The computer that I have designed and built has 4 PWM outputs designed to run either dimmable ballasts or Tunze streams as they work on the same principles

john

[mousehunter22]

Dimming them is really easy you just need a PIC with a PWM output and a few other parts, if you want them to do it automatically at a set time then you also need a RTC(Real time clock) and an LCD display and the PIC needs to be I2C compatable, Then you just need a few lines of code to program the PIC with.

The computer that I have designed and built has 4 PWM outputs designed to run either dimmable ballasts or Tunze streams as they work on the same principles

john

John you realy are just too briany mate!!!!!:D:D:D:D
Im interested in making my own lighting unit as buying one seems the expensive option so when your ready to start buying gear pete give me a shout and if we go in for 2 lots it may save us a few quid:D

[cl0wn]

John you realy are just too briany mate!!!!!:D:D:D:D
Im interested in making my own lighting unit as buying one seems the expensive option so when your ready to start buying gear pete give me a shout and if we go in for 2 lots it may save us a few quid:D

great idea, will do mate.

[cl0wn]

Dimming them is really easy you just need a PIC with a PWM output and a few other parts, if you want them to do it automatically at a set time then you also need a RTC(Real time clock) and an LCD display and the PIC needs to be I2C compatable, Then you just need a few lines of code to program the PIC with.

The computer that I have designed and built has 4 PWM outputs designed to run either dimmable ballasts or Tunze streams as they work on the same principles

john

how much would this cost, john? more info on the computer please!

[Guest101]

The price of the parts is minimal I think the total amount for part on my computer is about 30 quid its the programming that takes up the time, the program for the computer is over 4000 lines and over 4 months to write and it still not finished,
The computer has

4 x light timer design at the moment to run LED light but I have a plug bar in the making.
4 x Tunze stream outlets that are 100% customizable (you can make them do what ever you want).
2 x PH monitors one controls a solenoid valve for a CO2 reactor.
240v outlet for heaters upto 12000 watts.
12v outlet for PC fans.
Auto topup with 3 float switches.

so far ive built the board and havnt conected it to my tank yet as I always seem to have other things to do:D

heres a pic of the board

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/johnl69/PC134080.jpg

[cl0wn]

wow, now i know why you've been a bit quiet recently. you gonna be selling these? if so pm me details bud.

[Guest101]

Not sure yet, its still along way from being finished and with my work comitments I only get 1 day a week to myself so thing like this just get further down the list of things to do :D