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Author Topic: Dimmer choices Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-25-2002 09:47 AM                     What is the general consensus for a 3 step dimmer recommendation? I have been very pleased with Lindsey/Fairbanks dimmers, but they do not have a manual override on the box itself. Ash/Stevenson dimmers are also quite reliable and do have an override. What are your thoughts for the best bang for the buck? I am only interested in 3 step dimmers and NOT digital dimmers. Please note whether there are manual override buttons for UP/MID/DOWN on the box.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-25-2002 11:32 AM                     For the most part, I'm pleased with the Kelmar dimmers in their LCS line. They have many models to accommodate the features you value as important. They also have a no-frills model in the "Architectual" line that does not buttons on the box. Steve  |  IP: Logged Anthony Hopland Film Handler Posts: 2 Registered: Feb 2000 posted 11-25-2002 11:38 AM                     Manual controls are (or was) an option from LFI. It adds cost but if you need them it is nice to have it come that way from the factory.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2002 04:00 PM                     Bang for the buck the Ash dimmer is the best deal and has the best noise filtering out there  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-25-2002 04:07 PM                        I've never had a problem with Ash Stevenson archetectual or stage dimmers. The oldest ones I've used, from 1988, still work perfectly. They've never given me a reason to look for others.  |  IP: Logged Rick Long Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 759 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Nov 1999 posted 11-25-2002 04:52 PM                     We have used Ash-Stevenson dimmers for years with virtually no problems. I like the ability to adjust the up / down speeds as well as, of course, the three individual level settings.  |  IP: Logged Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 11-25-2002 05:47 PM                     I agree with the Kelmar LCS series. Very easy to install, reliable, simple, and has manual buttons, too.  |  IP: Logged Don Sneed Master Film Handler Posts: 451 From: Texas City, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2001 posted 11-25-2002 06:10 PM                        I like the Strong & Christie dimmers, easy to install, has good control on both, same problem with all dimmers the triac goes out from time to time but easy to repair...as for noise...I have not had any in any of these two dimmers even when a dimmer is near the sound rack....  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2002 06:15 PM                     I also vote for the Kelmar dimmers. Have literally put in hundreds of the 2 Channel DeLuxe model and never had to go back to fix one of them. The Stan Ash dimmers are ok but do not have the high build quality of the Kelmars. My second choice would be the Strong/Eprad dimmers. They too are pretty much bullett proof. Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2002 08:13 PM                     Come on mark the Ash is a better built dimmer than Kelmar any day better design and better rated components  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2002 08:16 PM                     Sorry Gord, but the Kelmars have been the least problem dimmer I've ever worked with. Build quality is actually much better as is the cabinet quality. In Boise there were quite a few Stan Ash problems to work out. Mark  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2002 09:16 PM                        Brad needs a Ward-Leonard resistance board. One (sort of) local theatre has had one for 76 years without a failure, which I think is a pretty good reliability record. I bet it can even be controlled with the CA21 and some custom hardware!  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 11-25-2002 09:33 PM                    No no, a motor-driven variac. No RFI.  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 11-25-2002 09:35 PM                     I have found the Frank Adam "Major System" board to be excellent for reliability as well as providing an excellent source of heat back stage. Frank Adam Electric board in the Temple Theatre, Saginaw MI. This board still works 100% and when a power surge took out the solid state dimming system, this old board ran the whole stage show. The settings are limited only to the operator's ability to pull the levers that operate the resistance pancakes. New in 1927 Still goin'. The solid state system is a Strong Mantrix.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2002 09:58 PM                     Kenneth, Part of my last job was as a Strand service technician(Colortran also) . The Mantrix board is now obsolete, something which Strand is famous for doing quickly. You should see the computerized board that replaced it . They are still trying to get it to work right after nearly two years. When you call Strand technical support you might be lucky to get the one person that really knows how it should work, but mainly you end up with voice mail or getting someone that hasn't a clue about anything to do with it . With the older CD80 series dimmer racks they rarely will be able to supply a part . Other companies are doing well making computer retrofits that are reliable to replace the aging, sometimes troublesome computers in these racks . While the lighting community needs these computer based lighting systems to pull off really large complicated shows the average smallish theatre should stick with something more old fashioned. They will experience far fewer problems if they do . Mark  |  IP: Logged

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