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I need a simple way of dimming 12V Halogens
- 01-04-2007
- nicholaslealand
January 4, 2007, 8:35 pm

I work with a preformance arts company doing shows in the scottish
highlands and due to the massive amount of rain fall we need to use
water-prof lighting.
We have been using 12v hallogens with some success but I cant find any
pre-built 12v dimmers. I have found several that use 240v dimmers and
then drop the voltage down to 12v but none so far that start with a 12v
input.
My limited understanding of switch mode power suplys makes them seem
like the logical solution but I dont know enough to pick the right
chip.
I have found some that require only couple of external componets and
only a small heat sink.
If someone could point me in the right direction it would save me a
great deal of heart ache.
Thank you for your time.
Nik

Re: I need a simple way of dimming 12V Halogens
** Groper alert:

** Are you using 12 volt batteries or AC power ?

** It is generally not practical to *directly dim* 12 volt lights used in
stage performances. Any dimming is done at the much higher AC supply
voltage level.
The problem is excessive "voltage drop" in the cables feeding the lights. A
voltage drop ( due to cable resistance and dimmer losses) of 5 to 10 volts
in a 230 volt system has very little consequence, but in a 12 volt system
it would be a disaster.
This is why you always see 12 volt halogen lamps sited very close to their
step down transformers.
....... Phil
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