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hammer408(at)comcast.net
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 Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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Bob:
My instrument panel is about 80% complete and the next piece of hardware is
the dimmer system. I've been looking at numerous systems and controllers:
ACS has many types...
Ameri-King Light Dimmers Solid State Light
Kits
Lc-40E/LC-40 Lighting Controllers Val CLA 500 Solid
State Assembly
Multiple Circuit Solid State Dimmers
MAX DIM DIMMER Control Unit
B&C's Dimmer System
VANS ES Dimmer
Is one better than another: i.e. solid state vs using rheostats?
My plan is to have 2 systems: 1 for flight instruments and 1 for
radio/gps/transponder.
What experience or suggestions do you or anyone have....
Henry
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Terry Watson
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 290
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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I'm not Bob and this doesn't directly answer your question, but I saw an ad
in the current (8/0 issue of Sport Aviation, page 17, for a new dimmer
that looks interesting. http://pilotlights.net/
They sell various lights and light strips and stuff too.
Terry
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psamuelian(at)charter.net
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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Henry:
Re: My instrument panel is about 80% complete and the next piece of hardware is
the dimmer system. I've been looking at numerous systems and controllers:
[b] Is one better than another: i.e. solid state vs using rheostats?
My plan is to have 2 systems: 1 for flight instruments and 1 for
radio/gps/transponder.
What experience or suggestions do you or anyone have....
Rheostats are inefficient in that they convert energy into heat while dimming. Heat is not a good thing behind your panel. A rheostat can get so hot that you can smell it while flying. This can be disconcerting, to say the least.
Solid state units usually have heatsinks, indicating that they are also inefficient, but not as bad as rheostats.
Other considerations are size. Rheostats are relatively small, while solid state units are usually 2 pieces (large control circuit with heat sink and small rheostat or pot in the panel).
The latest unit on the market as you mentioned is the MaxDim. It is completely solid state and self contained. It fits in the same space as a rheostat. There is no heat, no heatsink, no space penalty, weighs 1 ounce. It is an FAA-PMA part and STCd for certified aircraft. That means it has gone through rigorous testing and passed. There is no EMI as with some other solid state units to interfere with your radio systems.
Extremely easy wiring: 3 wires... Ground, power, and dim.
And now the shameless plug... I'm a dealer for this product and sell them on ebay below ACS' price.
The other issue re lighting your radios... most radios and some instruments have built in lighting controlled by a built in photocell that adjusts its own lighting level. All you do is hook up your system voltage (12 or 24) to the correct pin and forget about it. It has been my experience that the instrument/radio manufacturers system works quite well.
Phil
RV7 emppanage/wing ... Cessna 177
[/b]
[quote][b]
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Peter Laurence
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 50
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:03 am Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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Try here.
http://www.a-and-t-labs.com/
Peter Laurence
Henry:
Re: My instrument panel is about 80% complete and the next piece of hardware is
the dimmer system. I've been looking at numerous systems and controllers:
Is one better than another: i.e. solid state vs using rheostats?
My plan is to have 2 systems: 1 for flight instruments and 1 for
radio/gps/transponder.
What experience or suggestions do you or anyone have....
[quote][b]
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longg(at)pjm.com
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:50 am Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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Henry/Phil,
Wow, 80% finished! Only 80% to go J Just kidding, great progress. I recently installed the B & C job which touts itself as being a true voltage regulator rather than a resistor/rheostat which burns your fingers when you’re working on it in the dark because it failed. Today’s equipment is so well backlit and internally controllable, the demand for these seems to be waning. I use it for my compass backlight, interior light and the buttons on the Garmin equipment. For such a small job the little 1.5 volt job works great, generates almost no heat and should last longer than I. After all the hype and thought over dimming I find I mostly just set it and forget it.
If you’ve been around a while you should already know rheostats don’t belong in airplanes. They are best used on fans to chase away flies in your barn. I’ve flown more than one plane at night in which an attempt to use the trusty rheostat caused the lights to go out completely. Like the old cars, they corrode over time and are problematic.
A hassle free no brainer at less than $40. Read the diagram carefully as it may trick the intrepid.
Glenn
From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Phil Samuelian
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 12:54 PM
To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Dimmer Control Units
Henry:
Re: My instrument panel is about 80% complete and the next piece of hardware is
the dimmer system. I've been looking at numerous systems and controllers:
Is one better than another: i.e. solid state vs using rheostats?
My plan is to have 2 systems: 1 for flight instruments and 1 for
radio/gps/transponder.
What experience or suggestions do you or anyone have....
Rheostats are inefficient in that they convert energy into heat while dimming. Heat is not a good thing behind your panel. A rheostat can get so hot that you can smell it while flying. This can be disconcerting, to say the least.
Solid state units usually have heatsinks, indicating that they are also inefficient, but not as bad as rheostats.
Other considerations are size. Rheostats are relatively small, while solid state units are usually 2 pieces (large control circuit with heat sink and small rheostat or pot in the panel).
The latest unit on the market as you mentioned is the MaxDim. It is completely solid state and self contained. It fits in the same space as a rheostat. There is no heat, no heatsink, no space penalty, weighs 1 ounce. It is an FAA-PMA part and STCd for certified aircraft. That means it has gone through rigorous testing and passed. There is no EMI as with some other solid state units to interfere with your radio systems.
Extremely easy wiring: 3 wires... Ground, power, and dim.
And now the shameless plug... I'm a dealer for this product and sell them on ebay below ACS' price.
The other issue re lighting your radios... most radios and some instruments have built in lighting controlled by a built in photocell that adjusts its own lighting level. All you do is hook up your system voltage (12 or 24) to the correct pin and forget about it. It has been my experience that the instrument/radio manufacturers system works quite well.
Phil
RV7 emppanage/wing ... Cessna 177
| Quote: | | http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List |
0123456789
[quote][b]
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Eric M. Jones
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Dimmer Control Units |
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I sell hundreds of these guys.
EGPAVR: Extremely General Purpose Adjustable Voltage Regulator as a replacement for the smoking hunk of porcelain Cessna used. See:
http://www.periheliondesign.com/
Free shipping.
"....be sure to make a copy of everything before getting rid of it."
--Samuel Goldwyn
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_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
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hammer408(at)comcast.net
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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Phil:
I curious, where on ebay are you selling them?
Henry
[quote] ---
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psamuelian(at)charter.net
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:34 am Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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Phil:
I curious, where on ebay are you selling them?
Henry
You can find the MaxDim product on ebay by doing an ebay search.
Phil
RV7 empannage/wing ... Cessna 177
[quote][b]
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Bruce(at)glasair.org
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:19 am Post subject: Dimmer Control Units |
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Just do a search for Maxdim.
Bruce
www.Glasair.org
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
[quote]
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