Dimmer Packs

Ed Wall

New Member
I run Lighting in our church. We have 2 NSI 2408 controlled with a 16 channel board in the sound booth.
We recently replaced most all of the house lights including fixed spot lights with LED lights. Of course you know the problem the resulted: blinking light when dimming - full on is okay and partial dimming is okay but only to a point. Full off does not occur -only almost off.
All new LED bulbs were purchased by office manager looking for price mainly although he did know to purchase only dimmable LED bulbs.
Any suggestions? we know the problem is probably caused by diminished amperage draw and we are about to try adding one regular bulb (not LED) to one circuit to see if that additional amperage helps.
 
It is worth trying a dummy load (like an incandescent bulb). However, most inexpensive dimmable LEDs aren't made to work on theatrical dimmers. Household dimmers work differently, and they are setup to work that way. ETC has an extensive database of lamps they've tested with their dimmers. You're not using those, but it is a good place to start your search.

As a note, a traditional bulb doesn't fix things (usually) because it draws more amperage, it helps clean up the dimming curve by being a purely resistive load, and dimmers like that.
 
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The easiest full fix is likely to get new dimmers for the houselights. The reduced wattage will let you gang circuits 2-4 into one, or use smaller cheaper dimmers. All that assumes your system is DMX and not analog or 'microplex'.

The ETC Foundry 'phase adaptive' 600W dimmer has a nice feature set and price.

Trying several sets of replacement bulbs is a common thought. But you have no guarantee that anything that works in a test, will work on full circuits. Then some will go out and the same ones won't be available. All in all, that's an expensive, labor intensive, and risky move.
 
Take one LED lamp out and replace it with one of the old ones. One that’s easily changed when it dies.
 
What is better a Dimmer Pack or a Dimmer Rack. I know with DImmer Packs you have more choices on where you can put things cause the lights can be movied around as can the dimmer packs but which are more reliable Dimmer Racks or Dimmer Packs? Or is just a matter of preference?
Completely situational. Packs are for small and quick gigs racks are for more permanent. However racks can be mobile and provide better quality electronics. While packs are limited to the constraints of their size and can use fairly cheap electronics so you get what you pay for.
 
Also depends if you're looking at "shoebox" dimmer packs at the economy end of the market or the likes of Avolites Powercubes, LSC gen VI, Zero88 betapack packs etc at the better end of the market.
 

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