Dimming down lights

[gselectrical]

Evening all.

I am in the process of wiring a (large) barn conversion, loads of bleedin downlights!

One room has 36 down lights. Another has the same amount. They are all switched/dimmed from the same location due to the nature of the building. They want to be able to dim the lights. I plan to install 12v 35w halogen fittings (fire rated). They are in rows of 3, so I hope to have 6 dimmers, one controlling each row.

Looking at different grid-switch ranges, most seem to have a maximum load of 400w. The load on each dimmer will be 420w (assuming 35w lamps) Although probably should allow for 50w, which will be 600w per dimmer switch. This obviously exceeds 400w.

Does any body know of any dimmer switches (grid) that can dim a higher load?

Or does anybody have any other ideas on how I can dim the lights? I dont really want to install more than 6 dimmers.

Cheers

GS

 

[Zeespark]

What about installing LED lighting GS?

AndyGuinness

 

[steptoe]

6 rows of 3 doesnt equate to 36 fittings. :C

also, if 6 fittings per row, = 300w @ 50w per fitting by my calcs, dunno where you are getting your numbers from,

 

[m4tty]

Sorry to be negative but won't a rewire have to comply with the 75% energy efficient or is that newbuilds only?

 

[Zeespark]

Lamps now Matty, rather than fittings.

AndyGuinness

 

[m4tty]

What do you mean zee. Don't quite get ya

 

[Zeespark]

At you point you had to install 75% of lighting as energy efficient lighting, these babies

6" & 9" Lighting Pendants

But now you can fit a standard fitting with low energy lamps.

AndyGuinness

 

[m4tty]

But what low energy lamps can you fit to 72 downlighters ?

 

[wozz]

Hamilton do 600w dimmers on a single module and higher on a double module.

 

[Zeespark]

Wait a minute, scratch My idea, you can't dim LED's, but I have seen 1000 Watt Dimmers, I think Hamilton do them. Matty, the average consumption of an LED is in the 4-10 Watt range.

AndyGuinness

 

[Badfish]

If you install 230v led lamps from Kosnic, they do a 5w dimable which is very good. Or check out Aurora as they do a 1000w dimmer. It is like a large transformer if you look at my pictures on my profile you can see a picture of 3 of them in a cupboard.

 

[Adrian]

6 rows of 3 doesn't equate to 36 fittings. :C also, if 6 fittings per row, = 300w @ 50w per fitting by my calcs, dunno where you are getting your numbers from,

12 lights per row x 3 rows =36 lights x 2 rooms = 72 Lights

I had a similar problem as this, the thing you have to be careful about is, you need to space each dimmer apart because of the heat they produce.

 

[Dan007]

Hi gs

Richmond lighting do a GRID700 Richmond Lighting | Grid 700 but it takes up 2 modules or GRID500 and comes with adaptors for most makes of grid systems (not cheap)

Or there is a company called phaseliner ..:: Phaseliner ::.. that do an SDG600 with an adaptor for MK grid system much more reasonably priced which you can get through C.E.F the code that C.E.F recognise is MKGRID600

Hope that helps

 

[batty]

Thet must have plenty of doh running all that lighting. 36 downlights in one room whats it a football pitch.

 

[NozSpark]

How about something like this

Just googled "remote dimmer pack"

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 21:12 ---------- Previous post was made at 21:09 ----------

Are you not bothering to comply with Part L of the building regs then?

 

[wozz]

Oops when I said Hamilton I meant richmond i always get them two confused for some reason.

 

[gselectrical]

Sorry steps. I mean 3 rows of 12. Each dimmer controlling a row. GS

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 22:42 ---------- Previous post was made at 22:38 ----------

How about something like thisJust googled "remote dimmer pack"

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 21:12 ---------- Previous post was made at 21:09 ----------

Are you not bothering to comply with Part L of the building regs then?

Does it apply to rewires noz? Gs

 

[batty]

Richmond do ones that fit on MK grids best give them a ring thats generally what i do for advice with dimmers and they may even have some ideas of dimming those sorts of loads.

Richmond Lighting | Dimmers

 

[NozSpark]

Does it apply to rewires noz? Gs

GH,

All the appropriate building regs apply to any alterations that are being carried out to a building

 

[gselectrical]

GH,All the appropriate building regs apply to any alterations that are being carried out to a building

Will have to speak to the architect then. Most of the other rooms are low energy fittings. All outside lights are 28w 2d fittings. Just kitchen / dining has all these downlights.

Cheers. GS