Power source for intels

[Tex]

My beam has 110 outlets so I have my Studio Spots circuited to constant power. My electrics have no outlets, only dimmed circuits. I'm running some LED Pars and a Studio Color on the first and second electrics. Would it be better to run constant power from a remote outlet or to use a dimmer set as a non-dim to power those fixtures? I'm not too worried about the LED's, but I wouldn't want to damage the Studio Color...
EDIT: Should have searched first. The accepted method is to plug into constant outlet power, but if a non-dim will provide a constant 110 , it can be used.

[NickJones]

Setting your dimmers to Non-Dim should work fine, I have non dimmed power available at my patch bay, so I just plug them into that instead of the dimmers. That's what the Non-Dim setting on your dimmers is for. That said I read somewhere here that non-dim is not ideal, I'm sure that someone will know more about this,
Nick

[Chris15]

If your non dim setting invokes a relay to hard switch clean mains through you will be fine. If it merely sets the dimmer to "100%", then you are getting a chopped waveform and that will not impress the electronics of the active fixtures...

[Kelite]

Originally Posted by Chris15

If your non dim setting invokes a relay to hard switch clean mains through you will be fine. If it merely sets the dimmer to "100%", then you are getting a chopped waveform and that will not impress the electronics of the active fixtures...

I'm with Chris. Though a manufacturer may agree that a 'locked on full' circuit is just that, the waves are clipped ever so much.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by NickJones

Setting your dimmers to Non-Dim should work fine, I have non dimmed power available at my patch bay, so I just plug them into that instead of the dimmers. That's what the Non-Dim setting on your dimmers is for. That said I read somewhere here that non-dim is not ideal, I'm sure that someone will know more about this,
Nick

Sorry Nick but you couldn't be more wrong. It's a common misconception that setting a dimmer to non-dim is the same as if the power was not dimmed at all. Setting a dimmer to non-dim mode is simply telling the dimmer 0= off and 1%-100%=100%. It doesn't actually change what happens to the power inside the dimmer. You may get lucky (as Nick has ) and it doesn't effect the device or it may damage the device, there's no way of knowing. Some devices will also work in really weird ways (see recent posts on mirror ball motors and ghost loads). You should NEVER plug anything into a dimmed circuit that isn't designed to be dimmed... as has been previously said chopped up wave forms are very bad for electronics.

That said, most modern dimmer racks have optional "non-dim" or "constant" modules. You can simply swap out the dimmer for one that is safe to use. They come int two varieties. One is just always on. Mine you can see inside the module and it's literally just a circuit breaker and wires. You can also get them that are a constant module with a DMX controlled switch. So you have a true on/off with DMX control. These can be expensive to buy and may not be an option... contact your manufacturer or local dealer to find out what is available and a price. I think I paid around $500 for a module that you can turn on and off and around half that for an always on module for my Strand Rack.

[JChenault]

Originally Posted by Kelite

I'm with Chris. Though a manufacturer may agree that a 'locked on full' circuit is just that, the waves are clipped ever so much.

Keith
What is the source of your clipped sine wave? It does not match my vague memory of looking at an oscilloscope output on some of the old Kliegl dimmers of my youth.

John

[Pie4Weebl]

What kind of dimmer rack are you using?

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Pie4Weebl

What kind of dimmer rack are you using?

Colortran ENR

[derekleffew]

As the ENR is a discontinued product, and the likelihood of finding a relay or constant circuit (if Colortran ever even made them) is virtually nil...

It's possible, under the supervision of a qualified individual, to convert any SSR-based dimmer module into a constant circuit. Control Booth's Safety Policy prohibits discussion of how exactly to accomplish this.

Such a modification WILL void any warranty or listing of the product, and if done improperly, has the capability to cause injury, death, or burn the theatre to the ground.

[Les]

I looked at the Leviton site, and did not find any ENR relay modules, but I did find that they are still manufacturing the dimmer modules!

ENR Dimmer Modules > Dimmers > Theatrical Equipment > Lighting Management Systems > All Leviton Products from Leviton Electrical and Electronic Products