Best way to wire for lighting with dimmer boxes.

[jimmol]

What is the best way to wire for lighting when using dimmer box in a gym steel truss ceiling?
Run the power as close to the dimmer location (in the center of the lights it will serve) as possible and use extension cords, say 10 to 20 ft. at most, to the lights? Or try to keep the power cords to the lights to a minimum distance?

Being new to all of this, I could use some guidance when it comes to wiring for our gym.
We have an Elation 24 slider controller, 3-415 dimmer packs (have a used DMX20L I can use in place of a 415), 4 par 64 (500w), and 8 par 56 (300w) lights.
We have a licensed electrician who is volunteering his time to hook things up the way we want. We have 3 plugs boxes installed in the ceilings each with it's own 20 amp circuit breakers. From these we could run conduit to any location we need.

[Footer]

You either want all the dimmers right next to each in an easily accessible place or you want the dimmers right next to the lights. You don't want to create a 3rd place that is hard to get to. These dimmers have fuses in them, so if one blows your going to have to go up and fix it. From the sounds of it, you already have the power up in the celing, so that decision has already been made. I would get the dimmers as close to the lights as possible so you have less cabling to run. Just be sure when you actually go to plug stuff in, don't use regular extension cord. You need to get 12/3 SO or S00W cable. It can be found at home depot or lowes and is usually around 1.50 a foot there.

[mrb]

where are you located? What is the ambient temperature right under the roof where you propose to place the dimmers?

[jimmol]

Originally Posted by Footer

You either want all the dimmers right next to each in an easily accessible place or you want the dimmers right next to the lights.

The rear lights are spread out every 12 ft along 50 ft of the truss, the front ones along 30 ft of the front truss. Even if I put it in the center of 4 lights, I will still have one 12 and one 15 ft cord carrying 5 amps to get power to the light.

Originally Posted by Footer

From the sounds of it, you already have the power up in the celing, so that decision has already been made.

The electrician said he could run flex conduit to put power anywhere I want.

Originally Posted by Footer

I would get the dimmers as close to the lights as possible so you have less cabling to run.

The way the lights are set up, there are two lights of every 4 light group that would plug right into the dimmer w/o extension cords, the others two 25 and four 15 ft.

Originally Posted by Footer

Just be sure when you actually go to plug stuff in, don't use regular extension cord. You need to get 12/3 SO or S00W cable. It can be found at home depot or lowes and is usually around 1.50 a foot there.

When we put our first 4 in, the electrician made up his own cord, I would think that it was as you mentioned.

Thanks for your input.

[jimmol]

Originally Posted by mrb

where are you located? What is the ambient temperature right under the roof where you propose to place the dimmers?

We are locate outside of Flint, MI. I put a thermometer 6 inches from the ceiling - 22.5 ft from the floor - with the room temp set at 68 and it was 77 degrees. I am sure it may get up to 85 for a bit after the heat has been running to bring the temp up. This mounting options gives the best protection from stray balls.
We could mount the dimmers on the lower part of the trusses, but still in the truss, which would put them about 2 ft below the ceiling which would allow for more air circulation and the need for additional protection.

Your thoughts?