Control/Dimming Something Like a Lutron Grafik Eye

I'm looking for a very small dimmer system for a permanent installation, something similar to a Lutron Grafik Eye 3000/3500 but I also want DMX input which had incorrectly thought the GRX3000/3500 had an external option for.

I'm looking for:
6-8 channels, 500W/ch is plenty. I'm planning on a S4(Par) lamped at 375 per channel.
Ability to adjust individual levels to build presets from the dimmer/controller or adjust channel levels live.
DMX input

An ETC SmartPack Wall mount would work but is higher capacity (and price) than I was hoping for.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Philip

Are you sure that system doesn't allow DMX input? My local High School uses it for House/Lobby lighting & I thought there was an option for DMX in also, but haven't pursued lately.

FTR: I saw a SmartFade 1248 on eBay the other day at $305 bid; that and a pair of Leprecon 360s would be big enough, no?

lighthouse said:

Are you sure that system doesn't allow DMX input? My local High School uses it for House/Lobby lighting & I thought there was an option for DMX in also, but haven't pursued lately.

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That's what I remembered as well however the last page of this PDF http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Education-Training/Documents/DMX%20webinar_7-29-2010.pdf from Lutron seems to say no:

Jay Ashworth said:

FTR: I saw a SmartFade 1248 on eBay the other day at $305 bid; that and a pair of Leprecon 360s would be big enough, no?

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I'm looking for a hardwired type dimmer rather than "shoe boxes". There's also the advantage for this installation that a Grafix Eye that's screwed to the wall can't easily walk off or get broken faders.

Philip

Basically looking for a SmartPack with Smartlink button stations. Depending on your dealer you are in the 3k range

tyler.martin said:

Basically looking for a SmartPack with Smartlink button stations. Depending on your dealer you are in the 3k range

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Yep, except that the Grafik Eye runs under $1k, and will run on a single 20A circuit which is plenty for my planned loads.

Philip

lighthouse said:

Are you sure that system doesn't allow DMX input? My local High School uses it for House/Lobby lighting & I thought there was an option for DMX in also, but haven't pursued lately.

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I have been checking for years and have not found a way yet to connect graphic eye to DMX control boards.

lighthouse said:

Are you sure that system doesn't allow DMX input? My local High School uses it for House/Lobby lighting & I thought there was an option for DMX in also, but haven't pursued lately.

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You may have a graphic eye station somewhere in your system, but most likely you also have a panel somewhere that does the actual dimming. Their panel based system can use an ODMX device to take DMX into a Lutron system.

With Lutron you have to get very specific as to which product. A 3000 is far more limited than a 3500 or a QS; and both are completely separate from the 4000 or 7000 series.

I would normally say call Lutron and ask the support staff. Then call Phillips Lightolier and Leviton which both have similar products.

But you should really look at Doug Fleenor www.dfd.com multi dimmer boxes. 8 or 24 low wattage dimmers in an installable box. Ad a P10 controller and your set to go.

I thought of Fleenor first thing but his dimmers are for low power loads and not really main stream quartz units. I believe both are total of 20 amps across all dimmers and know the 8 channel is max 2 amps a channel - so no go for 373. A pair of the 4 way Smart dimmers from ETC is about an ideal match.

I forgot the OPs 375 comment and focused on "20A is enough." Might be worth a call to them anyway as they love to customize.

Of course a graphic eye won't meet the higher load either. 6-8 @ 375 = 2250-3000W well over the 1920 allowed on a normal 20A. We have some conflicting information.

They could link 2 together. But by then you might as well go with SmartPack wall mount. (portables are frowned upon as well)

RickR said:

I forgot the OPs 375 comment and focused on "20A is enough." Might be worth a call to them anyway as they love to customize.

Of course a graphic eye won't meet the higher load either. 6-8 @ 375 = 2250-3000W well over the 1920 allowed on a normal 20A. We have some conflicting information.

They could link 2 together. But by then you might as well go with SmartPack wall mount. (portables are frowned upon as well)

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Thanks for catching that 6*375 is more than 1920. I wish I knew why I hadn't caught that.

You are correct that at the point of going to two Grafix Eye's I migth as well get "real" dimmers. At least if I can figure out where to get the power from. When talking with our facility electrician we looked at the closet panel and it's already got some tandem breakers in it so getting a 2 or 3 phase breaker in for a Smart Pack will be interesting. Of course with the 12 circuit Smart Pack I can pick up some of the existing room lighting on the dimmer so I can "reuse" that capacity in the panel.

Thanks

Philip

You are not necessarily limited to 1920 watts especially for cord and plug connected stage lighting, but 8 at 375 is still over one 20 amp dimmer.