Practical Dimming

This important and easy to read title covers the history of electrical and electronic dimming, how dimmers work, current dimmer types from around the world, planning of a dimming system, looking at new sine wave dimming technology and distributed dimming. Integration of dimming into different performance venues as well as the necessary supporting electrical systems are fully detailed. Significant levels of information are provided on the many different forms and costs of potential solutions as well as how to plan specific solutions. Architectural dimming for the likes of hotels, museums and shopping centres are included. "Practical Dimming" is a companion book to "Practical DMX" and is designed for all involved in the use, operation and design of dimming systems.

Table of Contents:
PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR INFORMATION 1 INTRODUCTION; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Applications; 1.3 Suppliers; 1.4 Topics Covered; 1.5 Summary 2 HISTORY OF DIMMERS; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 History of Resistive and Other Types of Dimming; 2.3 History of Electronic Dimming; 2.4 Further Historic Information 3 UNDERSTANDING DIMMERS; 3.1 General Dimmer Considerations; 3.2 Power Control Section; 3.3 Interference Suppression; 3.4 Acoustic Noise; 3.5 Dimmer Law; 3.6 Dimmer Sizes; 3.7 Heat Dissipation Considerations; 3.8 Ratings of Dimmers; 3.9 Design Considerations for Building a Dimmer Room; 3.10 Dimmer Diagnostics and Fault Reporting; 3.11 Non Dims,Switches and Relays; 3.12 Conclusions 4 DIMMING SYSTEM DESIGN; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Electrical Power Requirements and Venue Design Light Levels; 4.3 How to Calculate the Size of Supply Required; 4.4 Example 1:Typical Medium Size School Hall Stage; 4.5 Example 2:Multi-Purpose Large School or College Hall Stage; 4.6 Example 3:Medium Sized City or Civic Theatre; 4.7 Example 4:High Grade Conference Centre; 4.7 Example 5:News and Current Affairs TV Studio; 4.8 Conclusions; 4.9 Further Reading 5 ARCHITECTURAL DIMMING; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Wall Box Dimmers; 5.3 UK Wall Dimmers; 5.4 USA Wall Dimmers; 5.5 Commercial Lighting Dimmers; 5.6 Commercial Lighting Controllers; 5.7 Dimming Fluorescent Lamps; 5.8 Conclusions; 6 TYPES OF DIMMERS; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Individual Dimmers; 6.3 Portable Packs - Standard; 6.3 Portable Packs - Rack Mount; 6.4 Professional Portable and Rack Mount Packs; 6.5 Flight Cased Dimmers; 6.6 Medium Density Hard Wired Cabinet Dimmers; 6.7 High Density Modular Dimmers; 6.8 Conclusions; 6.9 Useful Contact Details 7 NEW TECHNOLOGY DIMMERS; 7.1 Introduction to Transistor Dimming; 7.2 Reverse Phase Transistor Dimming; 7.3 Sine Wave Dimming; 7.4 Distributed Dimming; 7.4.1 Initial Cost? 7.4.2 Required Turn-around Time? 7.4.4 Re-use of Existing Cabling or Fit New Cabling?7.4.5 Is this a new installation or an addition to an existing installation? 7.4.6 Quality of Required Dimming Solution and Acceptable Acoustic Noise levels? 7.4.7 Other Considerations 7.5 Other Distributed Solutions 7.6 Conclusions; 7.7 Useful Contact Details; 8 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS; 8.1 Introduction; 8.2 Electrical Supplies; 8.3 Harmonic Distortion and Power Factor; 8.4 Electrical Protection and Distribution Boards; 8.5 Residual Current and Earth leakage Issues; 8.6 Phasing Performance Venue Electrical Installations; 8.6.1 Example 1:European Black Box Drama Studio; 8.6.2 Example 2:Large College Stage in the UK; 8.6.3 Example 3:Hotel Ballroom used as a Performance Space with Three Partitioned Areas; 8.6.4 Example 4:600-seat Repertory Theatre; 8.6.5 Example 5:Performance Space within Shopping Mall; 8.7 Socket Outlets and Wall Boxes; 8.8 Cable Sizes; 8.9 Earthing; 8.10 Geographic Layout; 8.11 Electrical Diversity; 8.12 Non Dimmed Supplies; 8.13 Working Lights; 8.14 House Lights; 8.15 Conclusions on Electrical Systems 9 SETTING UP A SYSTEM AND FAULT FINDING; 9.1 Introduction; 9.2 Routine Maintenance; 9.2.1 Portable Packs in Small Systems; 9.2.2 Rack Mounted Packs; 9.2.3 Wall Mounted Dimmer Racks; 9.2.4 Flight Cased Dimmers; 9.2.5 High Density Cabinet Dimmers; 9.2.6 Distributed Dimmer Bars and Packs; 9.2.7 Other Tests for all Types of Dimmers; 9.3 Commissioning an Existing System; 9.4 Commissioning a New System; 9.4.1 Installed System; 9.4.2 Temporary System; 9.5 Conclusions USEFUL CONTACT ADDRESSES GLOSSARY

About the Author :
Nick Mobsby graduated in electrical and electronic engineering in 1972 and spent his early working life in the theatre. In the mid-seventies he started Eurolight Ltd, specialising in designing and installing lighting systems for theatres, performance venues and TV studios. During the 1980s his time was split between designing systems and lighting productions for TV, theatre and product presentations which were staged around the world including the USA, UK, Far East and Europe. Many of these involved the use of analogue and early data networks prior to his use of DMX solutions. In 1985 he was appointed Managing Director of Eurolight, overseeing the acquisition of Green Ginger and Lytemode and incorporating these into the Eurolight Group. The company then produced a number of innovative products and designed many installations that are still in everyday use. Some of the products, such as Wallrack and Micropack dimmers and the Microset and Arena DMX control desks, were at the forefront of DMX technology and brought this within the realms of lower cost systems. Since 1991 Nick has been Projects Director for LSI Projects, designing and installing a considerable number of TV studio, theatre and entertainment related lighting systems across the world. For these projects he has been responsible for designing installed and distributed dimming systems, being one of the first to work with transistor and sine wave solutions. His considerable experience in entertainment venue electrical system design provides a unique insight into dimming system designs over the past 30 years. His current projects include a number of major new theatre and TV studios in the UK and Middle East. In his spare time Nick is a keen collector and restorer of Lotus cars. His first book Lighting Systems for TV Studios was published in 2001 and is now in its second edition. He has recently updated his title Practical DMX to include the recently ratified Remote Device Management (RDM) standard. He is currently completing the Followspot Handbook due for publication in late 2006.