400w Dimmable Halides
- Thread starter chiefzod
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AQD_ottawa
New member
Yep there are google dimmable ballasts and a few come up but you have to dig deep!
BUT if you actually saw the effect dimmable MH produce you probably would not want to spend the money!
BUT if you actually saw the effect dimmable MH produce you probably would not want to spend the money!
Hi Michael,
Yeah I have he Sfiligoi ACLS units at the moment and that cost me about $3000 AU to be able to dim 2 x 400w bulbs. But yeah I actually like the effect and would like to be able to integrate it into my Profilux (don't think the ACLS will). If you could point me in the right direction brand and link wise it would be greatly appreciated.
Yeah I have he Sfiligoi ACLS units at the moment and that cost me about $3000 AU to be able to dim 2 x 400w bulbs. But yeah I actually like the effect and would like to be able to integrate it into my Profilux (don't think the ACLS will). If you could point me in the right direction brand and link wise it would be greatly appreciated.
AQD_ottawa
New member
I think this is a good example of what money can buy, the best i have experienced cost 10% of that so I can fully imagine the great effect you must get.
So from what i can assertain you have a system that does dim MH ballasts? If that is the case, for this to hook up to the profilux it must have a 1-10V interface, if this is the case then all you need is an interface card that is always available.
But as far as i know the ACLS is a system all of its own with its own built in control system?
As you can gather my knowledge of this system is weak, but if you can shed a bit more light then maybe we can look at it further, but I think your assumption is correct in repect to not hooking up.
So from what i can assertain you have a system that does dim MH ballasts? If that is the case, for this to hook up to the profilux it must have a 1-10V interface, if this is the case then all you need is an interface card that is always available.
But as far as i know the ACLS is a system all of its own with its own built in control system?
As you can gather my knowledge of this system is weak, but if you can shed a bit more light then maybe we can look at it further, but I think your assumption is correct in repect to not hooking up.
Hi Michael,
Yeah the ACLS does a lot of (cloudy days, sunset/sunrise, can control moon lights and dimmable T5's and new bulb mode etc) and is a very nice piece of equipment.
It has a RS485 port and you can link it to PC software to control it also but i've never done anything with it. If only it had a 1-10v control i would be laughing but it doesn't as it's a all in one unit as you said.
I'm happy with everything it does but i wanted to be able to link it with the cloud features and storms etc of the Profilux. Nothing major i know but just one of those things that would be cool. Rather than have the halides turn off during a storm or a cloud (still haven't worked out how to that though lol) i could have them dim down etc.
Guess i may have to keep looking or stick with the way it is.
Yeah the ACLS does a lot of (cloudy days, sunset/sunrise, can control moon lights and dimmable T5's and new bulb mode etc) and is a very nice piece of equipment.
It has a RS485 port and you can link it to PC software to control it also but i've never done anything with it. If only it had a 1-10v control i would be laughing but it doesn't as it's a all in one unit as you said.
I'm happy with everything it does but i wanted to be able to link it with the cloud features and storms etc of the Profilux. Nothing major i know but just one of those things that would be cool. Rather than have the halides turn off during a storm or a cloud (still haven't worked out how to that though lol) i could have them dim down etc.
Guess i may have to keep looking or stick with the way it is.
AQD_ottawa
New member
If the unit has timers, which i am certain it does then there is nothing stopping you matching it up with the profilux, so when your lights fade etc you can use the effect lights of the profiLux.
As you know the ProfiLux already does all the controlling you mention the ACLS does and at the fraction of the cost, the only difference is the expensive electonic interfaces incorporated in the ACLS to make MH ballasts act correctly when dimmed, I think this is where the expense of the ACLS comes in as it is not just a lighting function controller. impressive unit for sure
As you know the ProfiLux already does all the controlling you mention the ACLS does and at the fraction of the cost, the only difference is the expensive electonic interfaces incorporated in the ACLS to make MH ballasts act correctly when dimmed, I think this is where the expense of the ACLS comes in as it is not just a lighting function controller. impressive unit for sure
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Hi Michael,
Unfortunately when they designed this thing they didn't expect that you would want alter it's functions. ie that it does the cloudy days etc at random points for you. So from a control point of view all i can really set is how long i want the sunset or sunrise to go for, the maxium full power time. I can set a other thing like power limiting overall, new bulbs, summer to winter etc but i can't really add extra dim points to do what i want.
Essentially i don't care about all the normal features that you link products into as all i want to do is dim the halides which is what i currently do. The profilux can control everything else for me. If i could rip the thing apart and do what i want i would but i wouldn't know where to to start. The on part after the storm etc is fine as the unit does a quick 15min 0-100% so i guess i can just work with that.
I'm thinking maybe i want to much lol.
Unfortunately when they designed this thing they didn't expect that you would want alter it's functions. ie that it does the cloudy days etc at random points for you. So from a control point of view all i can really set is how long i want the sunset or sunrise to go for, the maxium full power time. I can set a other thing like power limiting overall, new bulbs, summer to winter etc but i can't really add extra dim points to do what i want.
Essentially i don't care about all the normal features that you link products into as all i want to do is dim the halides which is what i currently do. The profilux can control everything else for me. If i could rip the thing apart and do what i want i would but i wouldn't know where to to start. The on part after the storm etc is fine as the unit does a quick 15min 0-100% so i guess i can just work with that.
I'm thinking maybe i want to much lol.
AQD_ottawa
New member
EEK ripping 3K of lighting controller apart is not something i would even consider unless you really knew your stuff.
I have a client in Toronto who wants the exact same as you do, its just as I said at the start the MH ballasts are just not there yet for acceptable dimmable lighting for reef systems without highly expensive electronic stability controllers such as the ACLS.
I guess we all must wait for future to catch up with our own reefing demands!
I have a client in Toronto who wants the exact same as you do, its just as I said at the start the MH ballasts are just not there yet for acceptable dimmable lighting for reef systems without highly expensive electronic stability controllers such as the ACLS.
I guess we all must wait for future to catch up with our own reefing demands!
Hi Michael,
Yeah i know what your saying.
Yeah it looks as though that will be the case. Yeah the ACLS dims the bulbs perfectly in my opinion.
Yeah guess i'll just have to wait and see. Maybe Sfiligoi will make an update or something that links to the RS485 that will allow what i want. One can hope anyway.
Thanks for all your help.
Yeah i know what your saying.
Yeah it looks as though that will be the case. Yeah the ACLS dims the bulbs perfectly in my opinion.
Yeah guess i'll just have to wait and see. Maybe Sfiligoi will make an update or something that links to the RS485 that will allow what i want. One can hope anyway.
Thanks for all your help.
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