Accelerometer | ADC | ADXL | Adxl20 | AVR | BasicStamp | BX-35 | BX28 | BX35 | COM3 | Compiler | Downloader | EEPROM | Electromagnet | GetADC | GP2D1 | GPS | I2C | IDE | Keypad | LCD | LCD+ | MIDI | Motors | Multitasking | Netmedia | Networking | PCB | PID | PlaySound | PWM | Relays | RTC | Servo | ShiftOut | SitePlayer | SPI | Stack | Timer | USB

Hello there, I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap solution to dim the two bulbs. I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for over $200. Any other ideas? Thanks, Cynthia

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

I would use a zero crossing solid state relay that only required an LED type of input level to control up to 10 amps AC. You could change the duty cycle to dim the lights and let the relay take care of any noise issues. Crydom is one of the manufacturers to look at. Best regards, Steve Thatcher >--- Original Message --- >From: "VelvetyOne" <> >To: >Date: 6/10/02 1:19:08 PM >Hello there, > >I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. > >I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap >solution to dim the two bulbs. > >I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for >over $200. > >Any other ideas? > >Thanks, > >Cynthia

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

have you looked at the 10x stuff. I do not know if they have a dimmer though. --- Steve Thatcher <> wrote: > > I would use a zero crossing solid state relay that only required > an LED type of input level to control up to 10 amps AC. You could > change the duty cycle to dim the lights and let the relay take > care of any noise issues. Crydom is one of the manufacturers > to look at. > > Best regards, Steve Thatcher > > >--- Original Message --- > >From: "VelvetyOne" <> > >To: > >Date: 6/10/02 1:19:08 PM > > > > >Hello there, > > > >I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt > bulbs. > > > >I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find > a cheap > >solution to dim the two bulbs. > > > >I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only > found for > >over $200. > > > >Any other ideas? > > > >Thanks, > > > >Cynthia > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

how about a triac or solid state relay controlled by pwm pin of chip ? Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: "VelvetyOne" <> To: <> Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 4:19 PM Subject: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > Hello there, > > I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. > > I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap > solution to dim the two bulbs. > > I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for > over $200. > > Any other ideas? > > Thanks, > > Cynthia

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

A triac circuit would be your best bet. Somewhere out there in webland is a stage lighting dimmer board schematic using a Triac and a few other components per channel. I'll check with archives to see if I can find it. You may want to search Google for "stage lighting dimmer schematic" or "Triac dimming circuit". These two pages also have a lot of possibilities. http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~RAS/Docs/space/dimmer.html http://www.epanorama.net/links/lights.html#dimbasic Good luck Don. > -----Original Message----- > From: VelvetyOne [SMTP:] > Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 5:19 PM > To: > Subject: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > Hello there, > > I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. > > I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap > solution to dim the two bulbs. > > I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for > over $200. > > Any other ideas? > > Thanks, > > Cynthia > >

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

Hummmmm...I only see midi control these days for stage lights. I say that cuz I see them all the time. My son is lead guitarist for CORVUS (www.CORVUSrocks.com , sorry..free plug for the band). He gigs all the time and we're right there with him either backstage or at the soundboard. Midi is the standard protocol in that business. Even the little hole-in-the-wall bars use midi control these days. Now they will at times interface midi controllers to older light controller units and will trigger a dim or color change over to a relay but almost everything is mostly midi controlled. It easier to manage at the soundboard. Cynthia.... If you plan on going the midi route as previously posted your not out in the cold there either. My own music studio is all midi controlled...PCs, synths, audio capture, editing, etc..... I even read a post once that Jack Schoof of NetMedia dabbles in it and has a midi synth. I dont see why you couldn't control your bulbs with midi and a BX. The timing of the midi stream is the only hill to cross over...its a weird baud rate. Scan the forum for "midi" for more info on BX/midi interfacing. Id go the X10 route first off like Tony posted. X10 has dimmers and light controllers. Go to X10.com or your local Home Depot. Home Depot carries X10 devices in the lighting section. The BX supports X10 directly. Midi would be harder since you'd have to manage everything yourself in logic. Hope this helps! .db. -----Original Message----- From: Munn, Donald D [mailto:] Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 7:08 AM To: ' Subject: RE: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs A triac circuit would be your best bet. Somewhere out there in webland is a stage lighting dimmer board schematic using a Triac and a few other components per channel. I'll check with archives to see if I can find it. You may want to search Google for "stage lighting dimmer schematic" or "Triac dimming circuit". These two pages also have a lot of possibilities. http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~RAS/Docs/space/dimmer.html http://www.epanorama.net/links/lights.html#dimbasic Good luck Don. > -----Original Message----- > From: VelvetyOne [SMTP:] > Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 5:19 PM > To: > Subject: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > Hello there, > > I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. > > I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap > solution to dim the two bulbs. > > I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for > over $200. > > Any other ideas? > > Thanks, > > Cynthia Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

hmmmm well that's for sure, MIDI is the way to go for a production, but if all you want to do is control a few light, you don't need the MIDI overhead if you have the microcontroller signals right there. For home built and simple production work (i.e. backlot and "intimate" community theater) old "analog" and early non-MIDI digital boards work fine, you just have to actually use your hands, but certainly not recommended for music shows. (tried it once, never works well). If you look at the first link posted, it shows a "cheat" way to use a standard household dimmer (from Home Depot) with a Stamp (close enough). Should be pretty relevant to what you want to do. The X10 control would also work well if you already have the extra cash to spend. (which is not much really, like $13 a channel) Good luck. > -----Original Message----- > From: Dan Bielecki [SMTP:] > Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 1:04 PM > To: > Subject: RE: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > Hummmmm...I only see midi control these days for stage lights. I say that > cuz I see them all the time. My son is lead guitarist for CORVUS > (www.CORVUSrocks.com , sorry..free plug for the band). He gigs all the > time > and we're right there with him either backstage or at the soundboard. > Midi > is the standard protocol in that business. Even the little > hole-in-the-wall > bars use midi control these days. Now they will at times interface midi > controllers to older light controller units and will trigger a dim or > color > change over to a relay but almost everything is mostly midi controlled. > It > easier to manage at the soundboard. > > Cynthia.... If you plan on going the midi route as previously posted your > not out in the cold there either. My own music studio is all midi > controlled...PCs, synths, audio capture, editing, etc..... I even read a > post once that Jack Schoof of NetMedia dabbles in it and has a midi synth. > I dont see why you couldn't control your bulbs with midi and a BX. The > timing of the midi stream is the only hill to cross over...its a weird > baud > rate. Scan the forum for "midi" for more info on BX/midi interfacing. > > Id go the X10 route first off like Tony posted. X10 has dimmers and > light > controllers. Go to X10.com or your local Home Depot. Home Depot carries > X10 devices in the lighting section. The BX supports X10 directly. Midi > would be harder since you'd have to manage everything yourself in logic. > > Hope this helps! > > .db. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Munn, Donald D [mailto:] > Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 7:08 AM > To: ' > Subject: RE: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > A triac circuit would be your best bet. Somewhere out there in webland > is > a > stage lighting dimmer board schematic using a Triac and a few other > components per channel. I'll check with archives to see if I can find > it. > You may want to search Google for "stage lighting dimmer schematic" or > "Triac dimming circuit". > > These two pages also have a lot of possibilities. > > http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~RAS/Docs/space/dimmer.html > http://www.epanorama.net/links/lights.html#dimbasic > Good luck > Don. > > -----Original Message----- > > From: VelvetyOne [SMTP:] > > Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 5:19 PM > > To: > > Subject: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > > > Hello there, > > > > I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. > > > > I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap > > solution to dim the two bulbs. > > > > I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for > > over $200. > > > > Any other ideas? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Cynthia > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

To be honest...Personally?.... Id go the X10 route instead of midi in this case if It was a project of mine. Much easier to interface. I just got the impression that things were pointing more towards the a midi-controller route just to control a light bulb.....I didn't want to make the job harder then it really is. Midi seemed like overkill in this case. Besides, I got to plug the band. Free exposure. See? I know most of you have checked out the link by now........or will at some point. Anyone reading this is just the type of guy (or gal) that clicks on just about link posted here at least once. Hey all...Thanks for the web hits! I'll take any feedback (good and bad) off-forum at and pass it on to them directly since they have some tunes you can download at the site. I see them everyday....day after day after day after day.........after about the second year at it, I stopped holding back and being nice and "positive" all the time and started telling them like I see and hear it....helps build character and improve their performances. My son Chris (yeah...the long haired one.....) may not always like it but he does listen and pass it one to the others after sugar-coating it..... ... and yes.... that really is Dave from Megadeth in the pix......He lives here in Phoenix....is friends with the Corvus band.....shows up at gigs at times (hence the pix) ....asked them to be in their latest video not too long ago...the one just released.....The Corvus boys are up front and center stage posing as headbangers in that. Dave likes their sound and my son's hair...Duhhhh, wonder why..... and Corvus can play any of their tunes.....or just about any metal tune....Pantera, Metalica...you name it....Its like having all the bands right in yer face..... Thank god the entire family is into metal......and as you can imagine, the neighbors and us really get along.....NOT! Would be worse if thats what I did for a living instead of software design...... Okay...enuff plugging on my part.....its a BX forum. .db. -----Original Message----- From: Munn, Donald D [mailto:] Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 11:31 AM To: ' Subject: RE: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs hmmmm well that's for sure, MIDI is the way to go for a production, but if all you want to do is control a few light, you don't need the MIDI overhead if you have the microcontroller signals right there. For home built and simple production work (i.e. backlot and "intimate" community theater) old "analog" and early non-MIDI digital boards work fine, you just have to actually use your hands, but certainly not recommended for music shows. (tried it once, never works well). If you look at the first link posted, it shows a "cheat" way to use a standard household dimmer (from Home Depot) with a Stamp (close enough). Should be pretty relevant to what you want to do. The X10 control would also work well if you already have the extra cash to spend. (which is not much really, like $13 a channel) Good luck. > -----Original Message----- > From: Dan Bielecki [SMTP:] > Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 1:04 PM > To: > Subject: RE: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > Hummmmm...I only see midi control these days for stage lights. I say that > cuz I see them all the time. My son is lead guitarist for CORVUS > (www.CORVUSrocks.com , sorry..free plug for the band). He gigs all the > time > and we're right there with him either backstage or at the soundboard. > Midi > is the standard protocol in that business. Even the little > hole-in-the-wall > bars use midi control these days. Now they will at times interface midi > controllers to older light controller units and will trigger a dim or > color > change over to a relay but almost everything is mostly midi controlled. > It > easier to manage at the soundboard. > > Cynthia.... If you plan on going the midi route as previously posted your > not out in the cold there either. My own music studio is all midi > controlled...PCs, synths, audio capture, editing, etc..... I even read a > post once that Jack Schoof of NetMedia dabbles in it and has a midi synth. > I dont see why you couldn't control your bulbs with midi and a BX. The > timing of the midi stream is the only hill to cross over...its a weird > baud > rate. Scan the forum for "midi" for more info on BX/midi interfacing. > > Id go the X10 route first off like Tony posted. X10 has dimmers and > light > controllers. Go to X10.com or your local Home Depot. Home Depot carries > X10 devices in the lighting section. The BX supports X10 directly. Midi > would be harder since you'd have to manage everything yourself in logic. > > Hope this helps! > > .db. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Munn, Donald D [mailto:] > Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 7:08 AM > To: ' > Subject: RE: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > A triac circuit would be your best bet. Somewhere out there in webland > is > a > stage lighting dimmer board schematic using a Triac and a few other > components per channel. I'll check with archives to see if I can find > it. > You may want to search Google for "stage lighting dimmer schematic" or > "Triac dimming circuit". > > These two pages also have a lot of possibilities. > > http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~RAS/Docs/space/dimmer.html > http://www.epanorama.net/links/lights.html#dimbasic > Good luck > Don. > > -----Original Message----- > > From: VelvetyOne [SMTP:] > > Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 5:19 PM > > To: > > Subject: [BasicX] dimming 300 W. bulbs > > > > Hello there, > > > > I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. > > > > I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap > > solution to dim the two bulbs. > > > > I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for > > over $200. > > > > Any other ideas? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Cynthia > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

--- In basicx@y..., "VelvetyOne" <cynthia@c...> wrote: > Hello there, > > I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt bulbs. > > I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap > solution to dim the two bulbs. > > I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found for > over $200. > > Any other ideas? > > Thanks, > > Cynthia The MIDI interface standard is great for sound, but the use of a MIDI device for actual light control (as contrasted to using a MIDI interface to device that in turn outputs standard 0-10VDC analog or DMX-512 lighting control signals )is non-standard. Check out the LC-1212 for $62 at http://www.cheaplights.com/catalog/catalog_pages/section09.html which has two channels @ 1800 watts total, using a standard 0-10VDC control signal. (Two $19 380watt 0-10VDC input Velleman K8003 dimmers would work if you could live with lower output; the DMX-LOG-DIM4 for $112 at cheaplights.com has four dimmer outputs @ 2400 watts total and includes both DMX-512 and 0-10vdc inputs. What I received was actually a Chauvet DMX-35 http://www.chauvetlighting.com/Product% 20Pages/DMX%20ControllersRelayDimmers/Resources/DMX-35UserGuide.pdf) Provide the 0-10VDC control signal to the LC-1212 (or Velleman or Chauvet DMX-35) using the BX-24 psuedo-analog output through an opamp with a gain of about 2.5. Alternatively, you can provide the 0-10vdc control signal from wiper of a 10K linear motorized pot(4.8VDC to 6VDC motor ) -- these cost $4 at http://www.allelectronics.com/pdf/pot.pdf) The pot motor can be turned using the BX-24 to provide dimmer control. An easy way to do this is with two relays: use one SPST relay between one motor winding and 5VDC ( for on/off) and a SPDT to select 10VDC (one direction of rotation) or 0VDC (the other direction). This can also be done with a half-H bridge using transistors or FET's. The motorized pot provides for both manual and computerized adjustment of the dimmer, should that be useful to you. HTH ... Marc

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

it has been quite helpful, and enlightening... I think I was able to find a midi-controlled dimmer (like a power strip) which I can borrow for this time. For the future, I might try this motorized pot... thank you, all. I'll report back on what I ended up using... Best, Cynthia On 6/13/02 3:39 AM, "hult" <> wrote: > --- In basicx@y..., "VelvetyOne" <cynthia@c...> wrote: >> Hello there, >> >> I'm using my BX-24 to interface between a sensor and 2 300 Watt > bulbs. >> >> I have the sensing part figured out, and I'm trying to find a cheap >> solution to dim the two bulbs. >> >> I've looked for cheap midi-controlled dimmers, and have only found > for >> over $200. >> >> Any other ideas? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Cynthia > > The MIDI interface standard is great for sound, but the use of a MIDI > device for actual light control (as contrasted to using a MIDI > interface to device that in turn outputs standard 0-10VDC analog or > DMX-512 lighting control signals )is non-standard. > > Check out the LC-1212 for $62 at > http://www.cheaplights.com/catalog/catalog_pages/section09.html > which has two channels @ 1800 watts total, using a standard 0-10VDC > control signal. > > (Two $19 380watt 0-10VDC input Velleman K8003 dimmers would work if > you could live with lower output; the DMX-LOG-DIM4 for $112 at > cheaplights.com has four dimmer outputs @ 2400 watts total and > includes both DMX-512 and 0-10vdc inputs. What I received was > actually a Chauvet DMX-35 http://www.chauvetlighting.com/Product% > 20Pages/DMX%20ControllersRelayDimmers/Resources/DMX-35UserGuide.pdf) > > Provide the 0-10VDC control signal to the LC-1212 (or Velleman or > Chauvet DMX-35) using the BX-24 psuedo-analog output through an opamp > with a gain of about 2.5. > > Alternatively, you can provide the 0-10vdc control signal from wiper > of a 10K linear motorized pot(4.8VDC to 6VDC motor ) -- these cost > $4 at http://www.allelectronics.com/pdf/pot.pdf) The pot motor can be > turned using the BX-24 to provide dimmer control. An easy way to do > this is with two relays: use one SPST relay between one motor winding > and 5VDC ( for on/off) and a SPDT to select 10VDC (one direction of > rotation) or 0VDC (the other direction). This can also be done with > a half-H bridge using transistors or FET's. The motorized pot > provides for both manual and computerized adjustment of the dimmer, > should that be useful to you. > > HTH ... Marc

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

All, Thank you for the wonderful solutions to dim 300 W. bulbs... I ended up borrowing a MIDI light dimmer, using the BX to generate Midi out - where velocity = intensity of light. send out a number between 0 & 127 - works like a dream. I look forward to trying some of the more analog electronics ideas sent to the list - for more permanent solutions - I'm sure I'll be back with questions then! :) best, C.

(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )